TudorBlogger aka Helene Harrison, Author

Thank you so much Heidi!

Book Review: “Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block” by Helene Harrison Treason is the crime of betraying one’s country or monarch by trying to overthrow the government or kill a sovereign. While many English dynasties dealt with treason in their ways, the most infamou…

Big thanks to Laura (The Local History Blogger) for having me on her blog to talk about one of the ex*****ons featured in my upcoming book 'Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block' - Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley. A nice tie-in to Laura's own book on Katherine Parr as well!

Click the link below to read.

https://fortheloveofhistoryhome.wordpress.com/2024/07/01/thomas-seymour/

Thomas Seymour A guest post by Helene Harrison, blogger and author. Today I’m going to write a little about Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, one of the ex*****ons covered in ‘Tudor Ex*****ons: From N…

One month today until publication and I'm delighted to see this fantastic endorsement by Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian displayed on the back cover!
Pen and Sword Books

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons-Hardback/p/50862

Beyond excited to see the launch of the at Hever Castle. Years in the making, this project transformed the only extant suite of rooms occupied by the Boleyn family to their 16th-century glory. So proud of Kate McCaffrey 💜 Don't miss it 🙌

Very excited about this one out next year!

On this day in 1533, Mary Tudor, Princess of England, Queen of France, and Duchess of Suffolk, died at her home of Westhorpe.
Mary led an incredible life and I hope I've done her justice in my next book, out early next year.

New review on my blog! I've just finished reading '1000 Tudor People' by the brilliant Melita Thomas - it's a hefty tome but so worth reading for any Tudor nerds!

Thanks to Graffeg Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – ‘1000 Tudor People’ by Melita Thomas What a brilliant book! Despite being a Tudor historian there were quite a few people here I hadn’t heard of, and from all walks of life – kings, queens, nobles, playwrights, poets, pirates, m…

Another exciting event from Natalie Grueninger - Author & Podcaster and Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian - I'm signed up and can't wait to find out which objects you'll be discussing!

ANNOUNCEMENT TIME! Introducing ‘In Conversation with Natalie Grueninger & Dr Owen Emmerson’.

I'm thrilled to share that Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian and I are teaming up once again to bring you a new online event, ‘The Six in 20 Objects’. Join us as we discuss our favourite artefacts associated with the six women who married King Henry VIII and consider what insights they offer into their remarkable lives. A pre-recorded presentation will be followed by a live Q&A session, where participants will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions.

The pre-recorded lecture will be accompanied by discussion/reflection questions. Participants will also be entered into a special giveaway and have access to the recordings for a month after the event ends.

We do hope you’ll consider joining us!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-six-in-20-objects-with-natalie-grueninger-dr-owen-emmerson-tickets-931739316377

Massive thank you to The Tudor Trio (aka Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian, Kate McCaffrey and Nicola Tallis) for this fascinating online event - I particularly loved the sections on the specialist interests of the Trio - books, jewels, and popular culture.

Pity I missed the first half of the quiz due to a family meal, so I’ll have to catch up! I did get full marks on the last 3 rounds though which I’m very proud of! Looking forward to the Q&A this evening 😁 I hope you do more events as this has been thoroughly enjoyable getting the different perspectives!

Today on my blog I have a guest in the wonderful Amy McElroy!
I asked her questions about her latest book ‘Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era’, how she tackles research and what she’s currently working on.
It’s also Amy’s birthday today, so I wish you all the best for a wonderful day, Amy! Happy Birthday!

Guest Post – Amy McElroy on Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era Today I welcome the lovely Amy McElroy to the blog! Amy and I connected when our first books shared a publication day back in January 2023, so I’m delighted to have Amy on the blog to celebrate the…

Big thank you to Amberley Publishing and Nathen Amin - Author for an advance copy of ‘Son of Prophecy’! It looks so interesting!

Check it out! Currently 25% off for ‘Tudor Ex*****ons’ along with books by Amy McElroy and Tudor & 17th century Experience ❤️

(‘Elizabethan Rebellions’ is also included if you haven’t got your hands on it yet!)

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons-Hardback/p/50862

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Elizabethan-Rebellions-Hardback/p/22351

How do you fancy saving 25% off selected Tudor & Stuart history books?! 📚💸

🛒 https://buff.ly/4cceYvi

Ooooh look what just arrived! Massive thanks to History the Interesting Bits and Amberley Publishing!! ❤️

Two more amazing 5* reviews for 'Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block'! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed it so far, or pre-ordered it ready for release!

Pre-order here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons-Hardback/p/50862
Pen and Sword Books

Massive thanks to Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian for this fascinating course 'Thomas Cromwell: Beyond Wolf Hall'! From Cromwell's beginnings and travel abroad, through his role in the Great Matter and the Break with Rome, to his involvement in the downfall of Anne Boleyn and the marriage of Henry VIII to Anne of Cleves, and his downfall and ex*****on.
A brilliant additional discussion between Owen and Kate McCaffrey about their discovery of Thomas Cromwell's Book of Hours featuring in Holbein's portrait of Cromwell.

Congratulations to Tony Riches Author on the publication of ‘Frances: Tudor Countess’!

New release in the Elizabethan series: Frances – Tudor Countess. “A thrilling portrait of a remarkable woman who witnessed the key events of Elizabethan England.”

🇬🇧 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D1YQYL8G
🇺🇸 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1YQYL8G

✨ Throwback Thursday ✨

Last June, a 400-year-old mystery was solved as Thomas Cromwell’s Book of Hours was discovered by Hever Castle's Curatorial team.

Historians at Hever Castle believe that Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon AND Thomas Cromwell all owned a copy of the same prayer book.

Hever Castle's Assistant Curator, Kate McCaffrey, made the link that Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn had copies of the same prayer book back in 2021. She then discovered a third copy of the 1527 Book of Hours, which had been donated to the Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge in 1660.

Hever Castle’s Curator, Alison Palmer, recognised the bejewelled, silver gilt binding of the book from the famous portrait of Thomas Cromwell painted by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8-1543) in 1532-3, which is in The Frick Collection, New York.

A year on we are still in awe!

© The Frick Collection; Photo Michael Bodycomb

How exciting is this??

MAJOR NEW DISCOVERY! 400-year-old portrait identified for the first time by Emma Rutherford and Dr Elizabeth Goldring. Hear the full story on my podcast, Not Just the Tudors.

Flicking through the Pen and Sword Books latest catalogue and came across ‘Tudor Ex*****ons’!

Featuring on the same page as Carol Ann Lloyd-Shake Up History and Rebecca Batley!

First round of proof edits are done! 🖋📚

New reviews in for 'Tudor Ex*****ons'!

You can pre-order here: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons-Hardback/p/50862

You can read my latest book and writing update now over on my blog!

Book and Writing Update Hello everyone! It’s been a really busy few weeks. Those who follow me on Instagram may have seen that I have just completed a full draft of my third book, which is about Anne Boleyn, though not a …

Queen was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1533. I recently had the privilege of holding the truly beautiful replica crown made for the crowing of as Anne Boleyn in BBC’s . Yes, I absolutely did try it on 👑

I am absolutely thrilled and delighted, with 2 months to go until publication, to reveal that 'Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block' has been endorsed by the fantastic and lovely Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian!! A massive thank you to Dr Emmerson for reading the book and writing this amazing endorsement. I have to say I nearly fell off the sofa when I received it!

“Rich in detail and sharp in analysis, this thought-provoking study uncovers how and why definitions of ‘treason’ shifted across the Tudor era, and exposes the brutal consequences for those who fell foul of this mercurial crime. A must-read.”

You can pre-order 'Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block' using this link: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons-Hardback/p/50862

Wow 🤩 my website has reached HALF A MILLION views! Thank you to everyone who has read a blog post, commented, liked, or just scrolled through to see what you fancy. There are new pages dedicated to each of my books too!

https://tudorblogger.com/

19 May 1536
Ex*****on of Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, on Tower Green within the Tower of London.

At around 8am on the morning of 19 May Anne Boleyn left her lodgings in the royal apartments and made her way to a scaffold thought to be located between the White Tower and what is now the Waterloo Barracks. She was wearing a grey damask gown with a red kirtle, and an English hood.

She spoke briefly to the crowd who had gathered to watch her die, then paid the headsman, removed her hood and outer garments, and knelt down. There was no block as she was to be beheaded by a French swordsman. Anne Boleyn was beheaded by a single stroke of the sword.

Her ladies put her body in a coffin that was placed by the scaffold and took her to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula where she was laid to rest in front of the altar, though the exact location of her body today is unclear.

In her final words, she required us to ‘judge the best’ and the surviving contemporary sources like the indictment suggest that Anne was innocent of the charges of which she was accused. Looking at the contemporary sources is hugely important to dispel myths like the idea that Anne was accused of witchcraft, that she was buried in an elm arrow chest, or that her possessions and images were systematically destroyed after her death.

RIP Queen Anne Boleyn, may we all continue to judge the best of you.

Massive congratulations to Dr Owen Emmerson - Historian and Natalie Grueninger - Author & Podcaster on a brilliant lecture series. Looking forward to the live Q&A tomorrow. Lots of brilliant source work, analysis, and myth busting (elm arrow chest, witchcraft, the identity of the woman who may have informed on Anne) - hopefully will encourage more people to look at original sources and not believe whatever they read on Wikipedia or the internet more generally!

So fantastic, congratulations to you both! 👏❤️

I had a little shopping spree on the Hever Castle & Gardens online shop! Only thing missing is the lovely Anne Boleyn rose soap which they’ve run out of!

Oh and this was a condensed shopping basket from all the things I wanted 😂

Another couple of reviews for 'Tudor Ex*****ons: From Nobility to the Block'!

You can pre-order your copy here:-
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tudor-Ex*****ons.../p/50862

Pen and Sword Books