Please help fuel my Tudor addiction

Yes, Jean Plaidy is definitely still in print and some of her books, including all the Tudor one have been recently re-released.

'you're' obviously

Margaret Irwin wrote several novels about Elizabeth I and that era, as well as a biography of Walter Raleigh. They were written in the 1940s and 1950s, so the sex is probably downplayed compared to more recent books, although the grue factor is pretty similar.

I read them as a history-hating teenager, and loved them.

I would also support Alison Wier as a good readble writer on the period (and others).

CJ Sansom is brilliant, I do like most Philipa Gregory, though some aren't so hot.
I also read Jean Plaidy as a teenager (a long time ago) and they are good without so much bodice ripping as the Tudors. (She's also good for the Stuarts) I'm sure she's still in print, and your library will probably have her, mine does.

Am going to Alison Weir now.

I know you've asked for reading material, but if your after fuel to feed a 'Tudor' passion, have you seen the Ray Winston 'Henry VIII"? Fab viewing, as is Cate Blanchett's 'Elizabeth'. Sorry if I've stated the obvious!

oooh I love the Tudors. Expat is the MN tudor expert - shout out for her if you see her on.

Loved CJ Sansom books, am now going to get hold of Wolf Hall, seeing as so many of you are raving about it!

Phillipa Gregory is way more accurate than the Tudors (although I do love the programme!) I actually really like her books.

Alison Weir is very good and I do like David Starky but I have only ever read his books for college work and that was years ago. (I also saw him do a tutorial as a student once!)

CJ Sansom is great! I have read all four of his Shardlake novels, and they paint a very vivid picture of life in Tudor times, at times they are brutal but they are really interesting and detailed and gripping and you can almost experience the sights and smells of Tudor England. definitely recommend. Also really like Antonia Fraser.

have just finished season 3 of Tudors and all the thrill of the soft porn side of it had worn off by then leaving v little entertainment

Gregory much more accurate than Tudors - there is a list somewhere of hilarious things in the tv series, like a radiator in Henry's bedroom and Victorian springs on carriages and tarmac drives and concrete and stuff

Wolf Hall! Wolf Hall! Wolf Hall!

Sharon Penman is utterly marvelous, really wonderful writer.

Also Dorothy Dunnett is just sublime, her Lymond series is set during the Tudor period but covers the French and Scottish courts of the time, even the Russion court of Ivan the terrible. The last book, Checkmate, is set in Marys tudor court.

I cannot recommend them highly enough, pure genious, I challenge you not to fall in love with the lead character.

[swoon emoticon]

If you fancy going back a bit further, Sharon Penman is great. 'The Sunne in Splendour' about Edward iv/Richard iii is marvellous.

I'm not entirely sure of her historical accuracy, but she's a lovely storyteller. She's done various books on Llewelyn of Wales/King John, Simon de Montfort, Henry ii and after each one I've read up on some non-fiction about the era as she presents it in such a fascinating way.

Hmm, bit gushy that

I recently read The Lady Penelope by Sally Varlow.

It was about Penelope Devereux, sister to Earl of Essex, related to QEII - bit later than Henry VIII but still a fascinating insight into the late Tudor period.

Not quite a history book but not a novel. I found it quite readable.

I know what you mean Mazzy. I loved 'The Other Boleyn Girl', tore into a heap of her others and was so disappointed with the writing.

Are Jean Plaidy books still in print. They were supposed to be very accurate and I enjoyed them many many years ago.

Wolf Hall is utterly brilliant.

Alison Weir also good, but I find Phillippa Gregory almost unreadably badly written. It might be accurate, but she sprinkles the facts in so clumsily.

Iva: erm, I have heard it said that Philippa Gregory's novels are more historically accurate than the 'Tudors' series on tv.

I second the recommendation of Alison Weir and also of H Mantel's 'Wolf Hall'.

Am going to follow up other suggestions on this thread too, apart from Fraser (I read her 'Mary Queen of Scots' years ago, and think there's quite a bit of fiction woven into that 'history') and Starkey (haven't read anything by him, but have seen him on tv and I just don't think (heresy) that he's a great historian).

This probably makes me sound really narky! I'm not, honest - and am looking forward to following up a couple of suggestions on this thread!

Second Susan Kays Legacy - its just ace! have read it a few times and in fact now you have reminded me of it, I am going to go and dig it out and read it again!

Also Queen of Subtleties by Suzannah Dunn, fabulous book about Anne Boleyn.

Would second Antonia Fraser- it might make her a questionable historian, but you can tell her books are written from a woman's perspective often and it makes good, thought provoking reading.