Carol McGrath – författare

"One of my favourite Tudor set books . . . A wonderfully vivid read." Nicola CornickYoung widow Elizabeth Williams is determined to make a success of the business she inherited from her merchant father. But an independent woman draws the wrong kind of attention, and Elizabeth soon realises she has enemies - enemies who know the dark truth about her dead husband. Happiness arrives when Elizabeth meets rapidly rising lawyer, Thomas Cromwell. Their marriage begins in mutual love and respect - but it isn't easy being the wife of an ambitious courtier in Henry VIII's London. The city is both merciless and filled with temptation, and Elizabeth soon realises she must take care in the life she has chosen . . . or risk losing everything.Acclaim for Mistress Cromwell:'A delicious frisson of danger slithers through every page of the book. Enthralling.' Karen Maitland 'A delicate and detailed portrayal, absolutely beautifully done. Captivating.' Suzannah Dunn 'Rich, vivid and immersive, an enthralling story of the turbulent Tudor era.' Nicola Cornick

A mother, a wife, a woman of substance...At nineteen, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and business woman. As her family in Wiltshire curry favour with King Henry, aided by Thomas Cromwell, Elizabeth makes Kexby Manor her home, finding loyalty among her people there.Soon, news comes to Elizabeth of the King's desires for her sister, Jane and while her brother, Edward, encourages her own betrothal to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas. It is a happy second marriage for Elizabeth, but it brings unwanted involvement in the dark plots and secrecy of the court, while in the wider country, changes in religious practice threaten to alter the traditions and values of all she has known...THE QUEEN'S SISTER vividly imagines the story of the woman possibly portrayed in Hans Holbein's beautiful painting 'Portrait of a Lady,' and is a colourful, meticulously researched novel of Tudor life behind the scenes.What readers say about Carol McGrath's novels:'Another beautifully crafted, well-researched work of historical fiction from Carol McGrath''Brimming with intrigue, tension and adventure, The Lost Queen is a powerful Medieval tale full of atmosphere, danger and emotion and transports the reader to another world''The story of Matilda is strikingly brought to life with this beautiful written novel'

'A wise and lyrical evocation of the lives of women in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest... A captivating read' SARAH BOWERThe second instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy!'Although this is the second in a trilogy it stands well in its own right... you'll want to read the others in the series, they are so well-written and researched' 5* Reader review'Once again brilliant exciting riveting colourful history in an informative way mixed with factual areas' 5* Reader review'It is a very well-spun story, written in a style which made the book hard to put down' 5* Reader review'What a great read!' 5* Reader review'Thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you interested' 5* Reader review_____________________________A marriage made in Heaven, or Hell?1075 and Dowager Queen Edith has died. Her niece Gunnhild longs to leave Wilton Abbey but is her suitor Breton knight Count Alain of Richmond interested in her inheritance as the daughter of King Harold and Edith Swan-Neck, or does he love her for herself?Is her own love for Count Alain an enduring love or has she made a terrible mistake? The Swan Daughter is woven around a true 11th century tale of elopement, love and courage.Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England!AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE - THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATHAVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'A superb book, illuminating a fascinating and turbulent era. It is the figure of Matilda who rightly commanded the stage in all her power and complexity' Nicola Cornick'Packed with romance, real history, a cast of superbly imagined characters . . . The Stolen Crown is an entertaining tour-de-force' Lancashire Post'A well-researched adventure about a strong medieval woman fighting the odds against her' Historical Novels ReviewWhen Empress Matilda is eighteen years old, tragedy strikes the royal family, and she becomes the only child of the king of England - the de facto heir to the throne. As her dying father persuades the barons to pledge allegiance to her, Matilda returns to England - but the lords and clergy do not like an independent woman. And Matilda is nothing if not headstrong . . .When the old king dies, the country is plunged into instant chaos. So begins a fierce battle between cousins that will go down in history as a time called 'The Anarchy'. And Matilda must race across England, evading capture until she can demand the crown . . .PRE-ORDER Carol McGrath's new unputdownable historical novel, THE LOST QUEEN! Coming July 2024.Readers love The Stolen Crown:'The story of Matilda is strikingly brought to life with this beautiful written novel. A must for any fan of medieval history' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'An engaging story . . . Matilda is strong, fascinating and keeps you hooked to the very last page' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Another Carol McGrath triumph' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'An illuminating read . . . it's a hard job to balance historical fact with fiction but Carol McGrath does this with superb skill' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'This is the way to teach history! I was swept up in this rollicking tale of a wronged woman' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Well researched, elegantly written, with a deft touch for both romance and historical detail. The Lost Queen is a gripping historical drama to be savoured' ANNE O'BRIEN'An excellent read, meticulously researched, beautifully told. Berengaria is a delicious heroine, thoroughly engaging, a refreshingly unusual viewpoint for this epic tale' JANE JOHNSON1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina. There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus and continue to the Holy Land. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . . The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.Acclaim for Carol McGrath's ROSE trilogy:'Powerful, gripping and beautifully told' KATE FURNIVALL on The Silken Rose'A tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters' NICOLA CORNICK on The Stone Rose'A beautifully narrated novel' K J MAITLAND on The Damask RoseWhat readers love about Carol McGrath's novels:'Brilliant historical fiction brought to life''Brilliant. You feel you are lost in a bygone time''Wonderfully enjoyable''Page-turning and gripping''A feast for the senses'

The Tudor period has long gripped our imaginations. Because we have consumed so many costume dramas on TV and film, read so many histories, factual or romanticised, we think we know how this society operated. We know they did' romance but how did they do sex?In this affectionate, informative and fascinating look at sex and sexuality in Tudor times, author Carol McGrath peeks beneath the bedsheets of late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century England to offer a genuine understanding of the romantic and sexual habits of our Tudor ancestors.Find out the truth about swiving', bawds', shaking the sheets' and the deed of darkness'. Discover the infamous indiscretions and scandals, feast day rituals, the Southwark Stews, and even city streets whose names indicated their use for sexual pleasure. Explore Tudor fashion: the codpiece, slashed hose and doublets, women's layered dressing with partlets, overgowns and stomachers laced tightly in place. What was the Church view on morality, witchcraft and the female body? On which days could married couples indulge in sex and why? How were same sex relationships perceived? How common was adultery? How did they deal with contraception and how did Tudors attempt to cure venereal disease? And how did people bend and ignore all these rules?

'A delicious frisson of danger slithers through every page of the book. Enthralling.' Karen Maitland'A delicate and detailed portrayal, absolutely beautifully done. Captivating.' Suzannah Dunn'Rich, vivid and immersive, an enthralling story of the turbulent Tudor era.' Nicola CornickMISTRESS CROMWELL presents the rise of Tudor England's most powerful courtier, Thomas Cromwell, through the eyes of the woman behind him . . .When beautiful cloth merchant's daughter Elizabeth Williams is widowed at the age of twenty-two, she is determined to make a success of the business she inherited from her father. But there are those who oppose a woman making her own way in the world, and soon Elizabeth realises she may have some powerful enemies - enemies who know the dark truth about her dead husband.Happiness arrives when Elizabeth meets ambitious young lawyer, Thomas Cromwell. Their marriage begins in mutual love and respect - but it isn't always easy being the wife of an independent, headstrong man in Henry VIII's London. The city is both merciless and filled with temptation, and Elizabeth soon realises she must take care in the life she has chosen . . . or risk losing everything.MISTRESS CROMWELL was previously published as THE WOMAN IN THE SHADOWS.

They called her the She-Wolf From Provence. She'd shape the destiny of England ...Fans of Alison Weir, Anne O'Brien and Philippa Gregory, will devour this compelling new novel, starring one of English history's most fierce and courageous forgotten heroines!'Powerful, gripping and beautifully told' - Kate Furnivall, author of The Liberation'A feast for the senses and highly recommended' - Deborah Swift, author of Pleasing Mr Pepys'Well-researched . . . Fascinating' - Joanna CourtneyREADERS LOVE THE SILKEN ROSE!***** 'Stunning start to a new series of She-Wolf Queens'***** 'Spectacular . . . I will recommend this first part of her new trilogy to everyone'***** 'Fabulous . . . A lovely, highly researched tale'***** 'Exceptionally well-written . . . From the first page I was totally caught up in the story'1236. Ailenor of Provence, cultured and intelligent, is only thirteen when she meets her new husband, Henry III of England. A foreign and friendless princess in a strange land she is determined to please him. And she knows that when the times comes she must provide an heir, to secure the throne against those who would snatch it away. Rosalind, a commoner skilled in the arts of needlework and embroidery, catches the young queen's attention and a friendship blossoms. But she is unprepared for the dangerous ramifications of winning the queen's favour ... As closeness, and soon love, develops between Ailenor and Henry, so too does her influence on her husband and her power at court. As France and Wales provide constant threat, and England's barons increasingly resent her influence, Ailenor must learn to be ruthless. Who should she encourage her husband to favour? Who can she trust? Caught in a web of treachery and deceit, her choices will define the fate of England. To protect her close friends, and her beloved children, Ailenor, the She-Wolf from Provence, would do, and endure, anything ...

'The Betrothed Sister is like one of its own rich embroideries, cut from the cloth of history and stitched with strange and passionate lives' EMMA DARWINThe final instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy!'This is a brilliantly crafted novel by an author who allows readers to build considerable empathy with the characters' 5* Reader review'... full of fascinating period detail. The story is gripping and the characters are well drawn and interesting... cannot recommend them highly enough' 5* Reader review'Another excellent historical novel from this author' 5* Reader review'This is a brilliant story about the strength of women who we have seldom heard of' 5* Reader review'Fascinating and very enjoyable and interesting' 5* Reader review_____________________________September 1068.Thea, also known as Gytha, the elder daughter of King Harold II, travels with her brothers and grandmother into exile carrying revenge in her heart. She is soon betrothed to a prince of Kiev. Will her betrothal and marriage bring her happiness, as she confronts enemies from inside and outside Russian territories? Will she prove herself the courageous princess she surely is, win her princely husband's respect and establish her independence in a society protective towards its women?Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England!AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE - THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL MCGRATHAVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'Moving, and vastly informative, a real page turner of a historical novel' FAY WELDONThe first instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy!'This novel is a marvellous mixture of historical fact and imagination... I would heartily recommend this delightful novel. I couldn't put it down' 5* Reader review'This is a beautifully crafted book which has been meticulously researched' 5* Reader review'Fiction and history are woven together almost seamlessly' 5* Reader review'I found it an engaging book and I wanted to keep reading' 5* Reader review'A real page turner thanks to great characterisation' 5* Reader review_____________________________An adventure story of love, loss, survival and reconciliation . . .The Handfasted Wife is the story of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife. She is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066. Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage.Elditha avoids an arranged marriage with a Breton knight by which her son might or might not be given into his care. She makes her own choice and sets out through strife-torn England to seek help from her sons in Dublin. However, events again overtake her.Harold's mother, Gytha, holds up in her city of Exeter with other aristocratic women, including Elditha's eldest daughter. The girl is at risk, drawing Elditha back to Exeter and resistance. Initially supported by Exeter's burghers the women withstand William's siege. However, after three horrific weeks they negotiate exile and the removal of their treasure. Elditha takes sanctuary in a convent where eventually she is reunited with her hostage son.Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England!AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATHAVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!

'A real tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters. Superb!' NICOLA CORNICK on The Stone Rose_________________EARLY READERS ARE GRIPPED BY THE STONE ROSE!* 'Springs to vivid life for the reader . . . A compulsive read' ANNE O'BRIEN* 'An enticing and intriguing tale of a woman who is driven to desperate and ruthless lengths to protect those she loves' ALEXANDRA WALSH* 'Carol McGrath really got into Isabella's head . . . Enlightening' SHARON BENNETT CONNOLLY* 'Bold and compelling' JENNY BARDEN* 'A novel that's a definite page-turner' LIZ HARRIS_________________London, 1350. Agnes, daughter of a stonemason, is struggling to keep her father's trade in a city decimated by plague. And then she receives a mysterious message from the disgraced Queen Isabella: mother of King Edward III, and widow of Edward II. Isabella has a task that only Agnes can fulfil. She wants her truth to be told.Much has been whispered of the conflicts in Isabella and Edward's marriage. Her greed and warmongering. His unspoken love for male favourites. But as Agnes listens to Isabella, she learns that she can be of help to the queen - but can either woman choose independence, follow her own desires, and survive? The sweeping third instalment of Carol McGrath's acclaimed Rose Trilogy: the gripping series exploring the tumultous lives and loves of three queens of England - and of three women who lived in their shadow.Based on the extraordinary true story of the female stonemason who carved a queen's tomb!