Rivals in the Tudor Court
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- 8,49 €
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- 8,49 €
Description de l’éditeur
As Queen Catherine's maid and daughter of the Duke of Buckingham, the future seems bright for Elizabeth Stafford. But when her father gives her hand to Thomas Howard, third Duke of Norfolk, the spirited young woman must sacrifice all for duty. Yet Elizabeth is surprised by her passion for her powerful new husband. And when he takes on a mistress, she is determined to fight for her love and her honor. . .
Naïve and vulnerable, Bess Holland is easily charmed by the Duke of Norfolk, doing his bidding in exchange for gifts and adoration. For years, she and Elizabeth compete for his affections. But they are mere spectators to an obsession neither can rival: Norfolk's quest to weave the Howard name into the royal bloodline. The women's loyalties are tested as his schemes unfold-among them the litigious marriage of his niece, Anne Boleyn, to King Henry the VIII. But in an age of ruthless beheadings, no self-serving motive goes unpunished-and Elizabeth and Bess will have to fight a force more sinister than the executioner's axe. . .
Praise for Secrets of the Tudor Court
"A beautifully written story with wonderful attention to detail. I loved the book." -Diane Haeger, author of The Queen's Mistake
"Throbs with intensity as it lays bare the secret delights of Tudor court life and the sudden, lethal terrors. A tale of innocence and ruthless ambition locked in a love-hate embrace." -Barbara Kyle, author of The King's Daughter
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bogdan follows Secrets of the Tudor Court with a stilted prequel exploring the life of Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk, a coldly manipulative man whose desire for power and wealth keep him close to the throne for decades. Raised in an abusive and authoritarian household, Thomas manages a relatively happy marriage despite near-constant familial tragedies. Brokenhearted when his beloved wife dies, he remarries teenage Elizabeth for convenience and connections and later takes a mistress, the very young Bess, only to discover Elizabeth has no tolerance for such behaviors. Told from the points of view of Thomas, Elizabeth, and Bess, Bogdan's version of history is weighed down with wooden dialogue and uninspired characters, though genre fans may enjoy the time spent with pivotal yet lesser-known players in the orbit of Henry VIII, and, despite the flat-feeling narrative, there is a certain car wreck fascination quality to the goings-on.
