BEST-SELLING historical novelist Philippa Gregory will be talking about her latest book The Last Tudor at a special event in the run-up to this year’s Warwick Words History Festival.
A story of betrayal and divided loyalties in the battle for the throne of England, The Last Tudor is the final novel in Gregory’s Tudor Series.
Using her position as cousin to the dead Edward VI, 17 year-old Protestant Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen by her father and his co-conspirators ahead of the late King’s Catholic half-sister, Mary.
But Mary quickly musters an army, claims her crown and locks Queen of Nine Days Jane in the Tower. When Jane refuses to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sends her to the executioner’s block.
On Mary’s death, her half-sister Elizabeth succeeds to the throne and Elizabeth will not allow Jane’s sister Katherine to marry and produce a potential royal heir. But Katherine’s secret marriage is revealed by her pregnancy and she meets the same fate as Jane.
The youngest Grey sister, Mary, is determined to command her own destiny and be the last Tudor to risk her life in matching her wits with her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Elizabeth …
Festival director Helen Meeke said: “Philippa Gregory is a previous Festival guest and we are delighted to welcome her to Warwick for this special pre-Festival event. This year marks Philippa’s 30th anniversary in writing and she is a recognised authority on women’s history.”
The event is on Wednesday August 16 at the Bridge House Theatre at Warwick School.
Tickets, priced £10, are available from the box office at Leamington Spa Town Hall.
Warwick Words History Festival takes place October 2 to 8.
Guests include Dan Jones, Alison Weir, Charles Spencer, Dr Janina Ramirez, A N Wilson, Alexander McCall Smith, Peter Snow, Juliet Barker, Marcus Berkmann, Sarah Dunant, Lindsey Davis, and Peter Stanford among others.
Visit www.warwickwords.co.uk for full details.
