History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Jane Seymour: An Illustrated Life Author: Carol-Ann Johnston  Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Pen and Sword History  Release Date: 2025 Pages: 186 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Biography of the third wife of King Henry VIII of England, and the mother of Edward VI who was Henry's only son. Jane Seymour is the wife of Henry VIII we know the least about, often written off as 'Plain Jane'. Queen of England for just seventeen months, during her life Jane witnessed some of the most extraordinary events ever to take place in English history, later becoming a part of them. Jane ensured her place in Henry's affections by giving him his much longed-for male heir only to tragically lose her life twelve days later leaving behind a motherless son and a devastated husband. For the remainder of his life Henry would honor the mother of his only legitimate son and would come to regard Jane as his 'true and loving wife'...

The Favored Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII’s Third Wife Author: Carolly Erickson Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Release Date: 2011 Pages: 304 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: From The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Wife of Henry VIII comes a powerful and moving novel about Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, who married him only days after the execution of Anne Boleyn and ultimately lost her own life in giving him the son he badly needed to guarantee the Tudor succession.      Born into an ambitious noble family, young Jane Seymour is sent to Court as a Maid of Honor to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's aging queen. She is devoted to her mistress and watches with empathy as the calculating Anne Boleyn contrives to supplant her as queen. Anne's single-minded intriguing threatens all who stand in her way; she does not hesitate to arrange the murder of a woman who knows a secret so dark that, if revealed, would ...

Jane Seymour: Henry VIII's True Love Author: Elizabeth Norton Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Amberley Publishing Release Date: 2011 Pages: 288 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: The first ever biography of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, who died in childbirth giving the king what he craved most - a son and heir.       Jane Seymour is often portrayed as meek and mild and as the most successful, but one of the least significant, of Henry VIII's wives. The real Jane was a very different character, demure and submissive yet with a ruthless streak - as Anne Boleyn was being tried for treason, Jane was choosing her wedding dress. From the lowliest origins of any of Henry's wives her rise shows an ambition every bit as great as Anne's.       Elizabeth Norton tells the thrilling life of a country girl from rural Wiltshire who rose to the throne of England and became the ideal Tudor woman.       My R...

Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen (Six Tudor Queens #3) Author: Alison Weir Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Release Date: May 15, 2018 Pages: 557 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Acclaimed author and historian Alison Weir continues her epic Six Tudor Queens series with this third captivating novel, which brings to life Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII’s most cherished bride and mother of his only legitimate male heir.                         Ever since she was a child, Jane has longed for a cloistered life as a nun. But her large noble family has other plans, and as an adult, Jane is invited to the King’s court to serve as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon. The devout Katherine shows kindness to all her ladies, almost like a second mother, which makes rumors of Henry’s lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn—also lady-in-waiting to the queen—all the more shockin...