Historical Tales

[I'm going to split the upcoming books, exhibitions, and events into two posts this month since there are SO many this time!]

Some of these are already out since they were August (or earlier) releases that I just found out about. These first four are already out in both the US and UK and I believe all are available as print and ebooks. (I’ll be linking to the print version, but if you click through you can also see the Kindle versions listed.) I have or will have copies of several of these that I hope to review in the next few months. Of course I have to finally finish writing the three reviews I already have in the queue first!

First up is The Sultan’s Organ: The Diary of Thomas Dallam 1599, put into modern spelling by John Mole. I’ve wanted to learn more about the Tudors’ interactions with cultures beyond Europe and the New World and this looks to be an interesting insight. You can also learn more about the book at the author’s website.

Next up is Henry VIII: His Life and Legacy by Kristin A. Sinclair which is meant to be an introduction to Henry VIII and his successors.

Next is Blood Will Tell: A Medical Explanation for the Tyranny of Henry VIII by Kyra Cornelius Kramer. This work further expands on the theory of Henry VIII having a Kell positive blood type and the possibility he had McLeod syndrome. I will have a guest post on the topic from the author soon!

And finally in the “already out” category – The Merry Wives of Henry VIII: A Tudor Spoof Collection by Ann Nonny and launched by the Anne Boleyn Files (you can learn more about the book here at the site).

And now to the books released in either the US or UK (or both) in September:

Nancy Bilyeau’s debut novel The Crown will be coming out in paperback in the US on September 4 and February 21, 2013 in the UK. Her follow-up The Chalice will be coming next year as well!

Peter Ackroyd is working on an epic History of England series and the second volume, focussing on the Tudors, is out on September 13 in the UK. (The US market seems to be lagging way behind on this series… if I’m reading it right, the print edition of the first volume isn’t even due out until October of this year).

Next is Sarah Gristwood’s Blood Sisters: The Hidden Lives of the Women Behind the Wars of the Roses – technically not Tudor, but of course many women important to the Tudor dynasty are covered! It is also out on September 13 in the UK and will be out next February in the US.

Susan Brigden has a work on Thomas Wyatt coming out on September 20 in both the US and UK entitled Thomas Wyatt: The Heart’s Forest.

And finally…

Tarnya Cooper, the Chief Curator and 16th Century Curator for the National Portrait Gallery in London, has a new book called Citizen Portrait: Portrait Painting and the Urban Elite of Tudor and Jacobean England and Wales out on September 30 in the UK and November 27 in the US.