THE PLOT: ‘Theatre of Marvels’ by Lianne Dillsworth is a historical novel about a mixed-race actress in Victorian London. Zillah has left the slums of St Giles to star as ‘The Great Amazonia’ – a savage from deepest, darkest Africa. However, … Continue reading Review: Theatre of Marvels
THE PLOT: ‘Cecily’ by Annie Garthwaite is a historical novel set during the Wars of the Roses. It follows Cecily, Duchess of York, throughout her marriage to Richard of York – de facto heir to the English throne. Though Cecily’s mother … Continue reading Review: Cecily
THE PLOT: ‘The Mirror & the Light’ by Hilary Mantel is the final novel in the ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy. Set in England between 1536 and 1540, it chronicles the downfall of Henry VIII’s principal advisor – Thomas Cromwell. Born the son … Continue reading Review: The Mirror & the Light
THE PLOT: Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets is the fourth book in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by Alison Weir. Starting with Anna’s life as a princess in the German duchy of Kleve, it follows her short-lived marriage to … Continue reading Review: Anna of Kleve
THE PLOT: Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen is the third book in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by Alison Weir. Starting with Jane’s upbringing at Wulfhall in Wiltshire, the novel depicts her as a meek and timid country girl with a … Continue reading Review: Jane Seymour
THE PLOT: Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession is the second book in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by Alison Weir. Starting with Anne’s early life at Hever, it follows her move to Burgundy to serve Margaret of Austria and then … Continue reading Review: Anne Boleyn
THE PLOT: Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen is the first book in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by Alison Weir. Starting with Katherine’s journey to England to marry Prince Arthur, it goes on to detail her life and, ultimately, her … Continue reading Review: Katherine of Aragon
THE PLOT: The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste is about a young woman during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. Hirut is a maid to a nobleman and officer in Emperor Hailie Selassie’s army. His wife, Aster, is a … Continue reading Review: The Shadow King
THE PLOT: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell is about the family of William Shakespeare. Set in 1596, it tells the fictionalized story of his wife Agnes and the death of their son, Hamnet. Moving backwards and forwards in time, it alternates … Continue reading Review: Hamnet
Amina's Bookshelf 