The film adaptation of Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl was released this weekend to mixed reviews. Personally, I enjoyed it. The acting was great, the costumes were sumptuous, the scenery and settings were fantastic and although it deviated from the book in several places and condensed the events down in short amount of time, I thought it was pretty good. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction novels (and movies) and whenever I finish a good novel, like The Other Boleyn Girl, I want to know how much of it is based on fact. I want to know more about these fascinating people and their unbelievable lives. Fortunately, Bookmarks magazine is just in time with a list of recommended reading (both fiction and nonfiction) on the Tudors.
For nonfiction try:
The Extravagant Life of Henry by Carolly Erikson
Henry VIII: The King and His Court and The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir
The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives
The Perfect Prince: The Mystery of Perkin Warbeck and His Quest for the Throne of England by Anne Wroe
Queen Elizabeth I by J. E. Neale
The Armada and Catherine of Aragon by Garrett Mattingly
Henry VIII: The Mask of Royalty and A Tudor Tragedy: The Life and Times of Catherine Howard by Lacey Baldwin Smith
For fiction try:
The Secret Lion: The Spymaster Chronicles, Book 1 by C. W. Gortner
Dear Heart, How Like You This? by Wendy Dunn
Murder Most Royal: The Story of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard by Jean Plaidy
The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
I would add Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir. I am also interested in reading Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox about Jane Parker, George Boleyn's wife who reportedly told the king Anne was having an incestuous relationship with her brother.
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