VIRTUAL: The Dudleys and the Howards with Authors and Historians Joanne Paul and Nicola Clark
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Attention, all history lovers! Don’t miss this captivating opportunity to delve into the past with esteemed authors and historians Joanne Paul and Nicola Clark, who have graced our stage before. They will be diving into their remarkable books, "The House of Dudley" and "The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens."
Prepare to be immersed in "The House of Dudley," where you’ll uncover the tantalizing tale of England's answer to the Borgias. This noble family fought fiercely for their place near the throne, employing scandal, intrigue, and remarkable boldness. Discover the extraordinary individuals who shaped this tumultuous era!
Meanwhile, Nicola Clark's "The Waiting Game" sheds light on the often-overlooked lives of ladies-in-waiting. Through her exploration, you'll learn about their recruitment, the intricacies of their attire, their diets, and even their sleeping arrangements. Join us to unravel the captivating connections between these two compelling narratives. Don’t miss out on this chance to enrich your understanding of Tudor history!
About The House of Dudley:
Each Tudor monarch made their name with a Dudley by their side - or by crushing one beneath their feet. The Dudleys thrived at the court of Henry VII, but were sacrificed to the popularity of Henry VIII. Rising to prominence in the reign of Edward VI, the Dudleys lost it all by advancing Jane Grey to the throne over Mary I. Under Elizabeth I, the family were once again at the centre of power, and would do anything to remain there...
With three generations of felled favourites, what was it that caused this family to keep rising so high and falling so low? Here, for the first time, is the story of England's Borgias, a noble house competing for proximity to the throne through cunning, adultery and sheer audacity, revealing some of the period's most talented, intelligent and cunning individuals.
About Joanne:
Dr Joanne Paul, BA, MA, PhD (Queen Mary, University of London) is an acclaimed historian who has published her research on the Renaissance and Early Modern periods widely. Her work focuses on the political, intellectual and cultural history of the Renaissance and Early Modern periods, with an attention to Tudor and Stuart England. Her first trade book, The House of Dudley, was published in March 2022 by Michael Joseph (Penguin) to great acclaim. She has appeared on a variety of television, radio and podcast programmes and served as a consultant for historical documentary and drama.
Learn more about Joanne on her website!
About The Waiting Game:
Every Tudor Queen had ladies-in-waiting. They were her confidantes and her chaperones. Only the Queen's ladies had the right to enter her most private chambers, spending hours helping her to get dressed and undressed, caring for her clothes and jewels, listening to her secrets. But they also held a unique power. A quiet word behind the scenes, an appropriately timed gift, a well-negotiated marriage alliance were all forms of political agency wielded expertly by women.
The Waiting Game explores the daily lives of ladies-in-waiting, revealing the secrets of recruitment, costume, what they ate, where (and with whom) they slept. We meet María de Salinas, who traveled to England with Catherine of Aragon when just a teenager and spied for her during the divorce from Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn's lady-in-waiting Jane Parker was instrumental in the execution of not one, but two queens. And maid-of-honor Anne Basset kept her place through the last four consorts, negotiating the conflicting loyalties of her birth family, her mistress the Queen, and even the desires of the King himself.
As Henry changed wives—and changed the very fabric of the country's structure besides—these women had to make choices about loyalty that simply didn't exist before. The Waiting Game is the first time their vital story has been told.
Dr Nicola Clark is a historian of late medieval and early modern women and politics. Her book The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women who Served the Tudor Queens was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 2024 to rave reviews. She is a regular speaker on the festival and podcast circuits and has featured on television and radio. She is Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Chichester.
Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, the email will be coming from Zoom.
RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded and a video link will be sent to all registrants.
Thanks to Ashland Public Library for hosting this virtual webinar program. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and is in collaboration with the Chelmsford, Groton, and Tewksbury Libraries and is in partnership with a multitude of MA & NH libraries.