Seeking Cultural Truths
Fiction can be more society shaping than fact, particularly where historical figures are involved. Ask anyone on the street their impression of Henry VIII, and most impressions will come not from historical documentation but popular fictionalized representations of a larger than life tyrant. Perhaps the most accessible contributor to Henry’s maligned reputation comes from The …
English History in the 1500s was not so different than it is now; we face many of the same issues plaguing the court of Henry VIII. In May 1517, there was a large contingent of French and Italian immigrants in London. They were situated near the city’s financial district and providing many services for the …
Henry VII had a problem. He had just taken the throne from Richard III, one of the “sons of York,” and faced uprisings. What did he do? Employ art, of course! Medieval imagery combined history, religion, philosophy, and astrology into dualistic themes intended to cement an agenda. It was common for writers of the period …
I have neglected this blog of late. I'm sorry, but I'm also not. I'm busy. The last eight months have been spent reworking one of my earlier manuscripts, which required more historical research on the side. I can never stop at knowing "a little" and so I have been knee-deep in books on the Tudor …
In this fast-paced world of action-driven films, it’s truly marvelous to come across a character piece. Like a fine piece of art, the first episode of Wolf Hall paints us an impression of Thomas Cromwell, an enigmatic man who plays his cards very close to his chest – when he is not entertaining Cardinal Wolsey …
Every now and again, I revisit the Tudor period and become obsessed all over again with Henry and his wives. Yesterday, I started thinking (not for the first time) about Katharine of Aragon. Anyone who knows me at all knows how much respect I have for her, and how much I greatly admire her both …
Today is the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution. It seems a worthy sort of anniversary… it’s cold and dreary and raining (which happens to be my favorite kind of weather… but then I’m weird). But my mind is indeed drawn to that impetuous, ambitious woman who made an indisputable impact on history. For the most …
Inspiration comes in the most unique of places. It's rather odd that I would discover a spiritual icon thanks to the muddled writing of a series whose primary intention seems to be entwining inaccurate history with smut, but that's how fate works. My interest in the Tudor monarchs began many years ago when I first …
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