Upcoming Events
"I just wanted to thank you so much for coming and doing your stuff yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed your event, and are deeply in awe of your total professionalism and dedication to giving the audience a really good experience. We get lots of authors, almost all of whom are both brilliant at what they do, and good with their audience - but you raised the standard to another level."
(Yellow-Lighted Book Festival, Tetbury)
To request an event with Alison Weir, please go to the Contact page. Requests for events should be sent directly to Alison or to Random House.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
30th May
2.30pm
Hay-on-Wye, Wales
Event for the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts:
Mary Boleyn, "The Great and Infamous Whore"
Mary Boleyn has gone down in history as a 'great and infamous whore'. She was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII`s second wife. She may secretly have borne Henry a child. It was because of his adultery with Mary that his marriage to Anne was annulled. It is not hard to see how this tangled web of relationships has given rise to rumours and myths that have been embroidered over the centuries. In this, the first full-scale biography of Mary Boleyn, Alison Weir explodes much of the mythology that surrounds her subject and uncovers the facts about one of the most misunderstood figures of the Tudor age. Her extensive, forensic research has facilitated a new and detailed portrayal, in which she recounts that, contrary to popular belief, Mary was entirely undeserving of her posthumous notoriety as a great whore or the 'hackney' whom the King of France famously boasted of riding. Weir also presents compelling evidence that almost conclusively determines the paternity of Mary’s two oldest children.
For 25 years the Hay Festival has brought together writers from around the world to debate and share stories at its festival in the staggering beauty of the Welsh Borders. Hay celebrates great writing from poets and scientists, lyricists and comedians, novelists and environmentalists, and the power of great ideas to transform our way of thinking, in the belief that the exchange of views and meeting of minds that our festivals create inspire revelations personal, political and educational.
The full Hay Festival 2013 programme will be launched and tickets will go on sale in April. They will be available from the Box Office. Please call 01497 822 629.
30th May
7pm
St James's Church, Wigmore
Fundraising event for the church restoration appeal:
Isabella, "She-Wolf of France", Queen of England
Immortalised in history as ‘the She-Wolf of France’, Isabella became renowned as one of the most notorious femmes fatales in history. Popular legend has her angry ghost flitting through a ruined church, clutching the heart of her murdered husband to her breast, or wailing like a banshee in the remains of a remote castle where she is said to have been held prisoner for decades. But how did Isabella acquire a reputation as one of the most wicked of England’s queens?
Born in 1295, she married Edward II at the age of twelve, but although she grew into a beautiful woman, and was a model consort and peacemaker, she was constantly humiliated by his relationships with his male favourites. Escaping abroad, she began living adulterously with another exile, Roger Mortimer, Baron of Wigmore, and with him led an invasion of England with the aim of deposing her weak and vicious husband. Had it not been for her infidelity, history might have immortalised her as a liberator. Alison Weir has written the first full-length biography of this remarkable woman, changing the way in which we see her and giving the lie to the legends that have tainted her name.
Tickets are £7.50 each, and are available from Jill Fieldhouse: 01568 770140 jill@jillfieldhouse.co.uk.
6th June
6.30pm
The Tower of London
Historic Royal Palaces celebrates the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s Coronation with a special event hosted by Alison Weir and royal expert Christopher Warwick. This event is open only to Members of Historic Royal Palaces.
For generations monarchs began (and sometimes ended) their glorious reigns at the Tower of London. Katherine of Aragon her daughter, Mary Tudor, and her rival Anne Boleyn all began their coronation journeys from the private royal lodgings. Now we have a happier occasion to celebrate and where better than at the Tower of London, home to the fabulous Crown Jewels? The evening will include private access to the Jewel House so you can see the Crown Jewels without braving the usual crowds. At the heart of the Crown Jewels display are the ceremonial and symbolic objects associated with the coronations of English kings and queens - the Regalia. They include the crowns of sovereigns, consorts and princes of Wales past and present, sceptres, orbs, rings, swords, spurs, bracelets and robes, all of which have a specific part to play in the ritual of the English coronation service.
Alison Weir and Christopher Warwick will then give a presentation on the history of the coronation, illustrated by images and anecdotal evidence from Saxon times to 1953.
For tickets, which cost £20 each, to include drinks, please telephone the Membership office on 0203 166 6327.
11th June
7pm
Sutton Library, Surrey
Richard III: The Man and the Myth
Shakespeare’s Richard III demonstrates how the historical record can be distorted and misinterpreted. It depicts Richard III’s Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign which lasted from 1483 to 1485, portraying him as a sinister, bloody tyrant, a monstrous being incredible in any historical context. Yet the play has been enormously influential. Richard III has always been an enigmatic, charismatic and controversial character, and furious debate still rages in regard to whether or not he ordered the murder of the Princes in the Tower. The recent discovery of bones that may be his has prompted huge public interest. Shakespeare’s powerful dramatic portrayal of him has had enormous impact on perceptions of the historical Richard. But Shakespeare drew on historical sources, and it is on these that Richard’s reputation largely rests. Alison Weir has studied those sources for many years, and her research shows that the truth is stranger – and far more complex – than the fiction. Be prepared for some challenging insights!
Tickets are available from Sutton Library. Please apply at the library in person. For further info, please contact Patricia Macleod at macleod.patricia@gmail.com.
13th June
2pm
Althorp, Northants.
Event for the Althorp Literary Festival:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every nglish monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, and a startling link to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
Althorp is one of England's great historic houses. Built in 1688, it has been the ancestral home of the Spencer family since the 16th century. The house was originally a red brick Tudor building but its appearance was radically altered in the 18th century when the architect Henry Holland was commissioned to make extensive changes starting in 1788. The interior of the house is beautiful, as the Spencer family has assembled an impressive collection of portrait art including several pieces painted by the Flemish master Anthony van Dyck. The estate stable block has been converted into an exhibition devoted to the memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. This is the tenth Althorp Literary Festival and it promises to be a very special one.
For tickets please go to www.spencerofalthorp.com.
30th June
3.45pm
Eden Field, Manor Farm, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
Event for the Chalke Valley History Festival:
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn
The imprisonment and execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII`s second wife, in 1536 was unprecedented in the annals of English history. It was sensational in its day, and has exerted endless fascination over the minds of historians, novelists, dramatists, poets, artists and film-makers ever since. It is also the stuff of which myths and legends were made – indeed, a spin was being put on the tale within a fortnight of Anne`s death. Anne was imprisoned in the Tower on 2nd May 1536, and tried and found guilty of high treason on 15th May. Her supposed crimes included adultery with five men, one her own brother, and plotting the King`s death. She was executed on 19th May. Mystery surrounds the circumstances leading up to her arrest. Alison Weir tells the story of one of the most tragic, cataclysmic and romantic episodes in history, and examines the circumstances of Anne's fall. Hers is a thoroughly gripping story, and at its centre is one of the most charismatic, controversial, courageous and tragic heroines in history.
The Chalke Valley History Festival is unique, with a literary history festival, living history through the ages, and a new schools programme. Attracting some 13,000 in only its second year in 2012, 2013 promises to be even better... The second year’s Festival took place in the last week in June 2012 at its new venue just west of the Chalke Valley village of Ebbesbourne Wake. The area chosen was not only outstandingly beautiful, but offered the space and setting to do everything from lectures to Napoleonic battles to a Spitfire fly-past. The Festival went on for six days and had a dazzling cast of speakers including Ian Hislop, Jeremy Paxman, Michael Morpurgo, Michael Gove and Alison Weir. Over 14,000 tickets were sold. This year’s Festival will be held 24-30 June 2013 and will follow the same unique formula of literature festival and living history display but it will be bigger and a day longer. Speakers will include Boris Johnson and Antonia Fraser and there will be an Air Display at the weekend featuring aircraft from the First and Second World War. There will be restaurants, bars and even dancing on Friday night. It will be a very enjoyable celebration of history.
For booking details please visit http://www.cvhf.org.uk/
4th July
3.45pm
The Garrick Room, The George Hotel, Lichfield
Event for the Lichfield Festival:
Mary Boleyn: "The Great and Infamous Whore"
Mary Boleyn has gone down in history as a 'great and infamous whore'. She was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII`s second wife. She may secretly have borne Henry a child. It was because of his adultery with Mary that his marriage to Anne was annulled. It is not hard to see how this tangled web of relationships has given rise to rumours and myths that have been embroidered over the centuries.
In this, the first full-scale biography of Mary Boleyn, Alison Weir explodes much of the mythology that surrounds her subject and uncovers the facts about one of the most misunderstood figures of the Tudor age. Her extensive, forensic research has facilitated a new and detailed portrayal, in which she recounts that, contrary to popular belief, Mary was entirely undeserving of her posthumous notoriety as a great whore or the 'hackney' whom the King of France famously boasted of riding. Weir also presents compelling new evidence that almost conclusively determines the paternity of Mary’s two oldest children.
For tickets, please contact the Box Office on 01543 412121 or visit www.lichfieldfestival.org.
9th July
7pm
The Banqueting Hall, Sudeley Castle
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
The story of Henry VIII and his queens is world-famous. A king marrying six times was as astonishing in Tudor times as it is now, but Henry and his wives continue to fascinate because they were intriguing and dynamic characters whose lives were often dramatic and tragic. Henry was married to pious and faithful Katherine of Aragon for twenty-four years, but her failure to bear him a son, his doubts about the validity of their union, and his passion for Anne Boleyn drove him to pursue one of the most controversial divorce cases in history. Anne Boleyn, the mother of Elizabeth I, was vivacious, clever and determined, but was queen for just a thousand days before she was executed for adultery and treason. Jane Seymour had the makings of a matriarch, but died in childbed after bearing Henry his longed-for son, Edward VI. Henry took one look at Anne of Cleves and was revolted; their marriage lasted six months, but they became such firm friends later that there were rumours they might remarry. Young Katherine Howard had an immoral past, but Henry married her, thinking her virtuous, then had her beheaded after her adultery was discovered. That impacted badly on the ageing King, and by the time he married his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, he was a semi-invalid. Katherine, a learned woman with dangerous religious views, survived him, only to be betrayed by her fourth husband and die in childbed. Alison Weir tells the astonishing story of these women, basing her talk on the forthcoming revised edition of her biography.
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England's past. The Castle was once briefly home to Queen Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII; she died there in 1548 and was buried in the chapel. Henry VIII himself visited with Anne Boleyn in 1535. The talk will be held in the medieval banqueting hall (Please note that this image is for informative purposes only and that dinner is not included).
For tickets, please telephone the Estate Office, Sudeley Castle, on 01242 602308, Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm, or go to https://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/visit-us/events?Submit=view&id=137&page=events.
18th September
7.30pm
The Ripon Spa Hotel
Event for the Ripon International Festival:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal intriguing new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story.
For tickets please visit www.riponinternationalfestival.com or call the Box Office on 01765 603994/605508.
25th September
Private event for Benenden School, Kent
5.45pm: Drinks reception
6pm: Dinner in the Terrace Room
7pm: Talk: Richard III: The Man and the Myth
Shakespeare’s Richard III demonstrates how the historical record can be distorted and misinterpreted. It depicts Richard III’s Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign which lasted from 1483 to 1485, portraying him as a sinister, bloody tyrant, a monstrous being incredible in any historical context. Yet the play has been enormously influential. Richard III has always been an enigmatic, charismatic and controversial character, and furious debate still rages in regard to whether or not he ordered the murder of the Princes in the Tower. The recent discovery of bones that may be his has prompted huge public interest. Shakespeare’s powerful dramatic portrayal of him has had enormous impact on perceptions of the historical Richard. But Shakespeare drew on historical sources, and it is on these that Richard’s reputation largely rests. Alison Weir has studied those sources for many years, and her research shows that the truth is stranger – and far more complex – than the fiction. Be prepared for some challenging insights!
This event is for Staff and Sixth Formers.
5th October
2pm
The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick
Afternoon Tea with Alison Weir. Event for Warwick Words Festival:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every nglish monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, and a startling link to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
The Lord Leycester Hospital is not now, and has never been a medical establishment. The word hospital is used in its ancient sense meaning "a charitable institution for the housing and maintenance of the needy, infirm or aged". The Hospital is an historic group of timber-framed buildings dating mainly from the late 14th Century clustered round the Norman gateway into Warwick with its 12th Century Chantry Chapel above it. Hidden behind the ancient buildings is the tiny but delightful Master's Garden. For nearly 200 years it was the home of Warwick's mediaeval Guilds. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I it became a place of retirement for old warriors and their wives. So it remains today as an independent charity providing a home for ex-Servicemen and their wives.
Booking details to come.
7th October
(time tba)
Event for the Cheltenham Literary Festival
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be giving a presentation, previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal intriguing new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, showing that the traditional perception of Elizabeth of York as a subjugated consort without any influence should now be revised.
Booking details to come.
8th October
2pm
Eastbury Manor House, Barking, Essex
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every nglish monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, and a startling link to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
Eastbury Manor House is an important brick-built Tudor gentry house, completed about 1573 and little altered since. It boasts early 17th-century wall-paintings showing fishing scenes and a cityscape gracing the former Great Chamber. There are evocative exposed timbers in the attic, as well as a fine original spiral oak staircase in a turret, soaring chimneys, a cobbled courtyard and a peaceful walled garden.
To book, please call 0208 724 1002.
26th October
7pm
Malmesbury Town Hall
Talk for the B.B.C. History Magazine Event:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal intriguing new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story.
For tickets please visit http://www.historyweekend.com/.
7th November - PUBLICATION DAY
7.30
The Tithe Barn, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
Launch event for Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be launching her biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s most loved queens. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every nglish monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, and a startling link to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park is near the site of the Battle of Bosworth (1485), where Richard III lost his life and his crown to the future Henry VII, who married Elizabeth of York. The Centre offers diverse ways in which to re-live history, from interactive displays to battle re-enactments. Children and adults can handle weapons and armour in the fascinating exhibitions, watch a film explaining events and walk the battlefield, where information boards explain what happened. There could not be a more appropriate place than Bosworth, where Elizabeth of York's future was decided, to launch this book.
The 15th-century Tithe Barn Restaurant is located at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre.The original barn was erected at Sandiacre, Derbyshire before being transported in early 2004, piece by piece, to Fenny Copse in Quorn, Leicestershire, for major renovation work. A specialist joinery firm, working alongside building historians, were engaged to sort, grade and using select English oak, repair the structure. Some original timbers were then used to re-erect the main structure of the barn, which provides a unique focal point for visitors to the site.
Tickets are £12.00, to include a glass of Bucks Fizz and light refreshments. Booking details to come.
14th November
8pm
The London Jewish Cultural Centre, Ivy House, North End Road, London
Richard III: The Man and the Myth
Shakespeare’s Richard III demonstrates how the historical record can be distorted and misinterpreted. It depicts Richard III’s Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign which lasted from 1483 to 1485, portraying him as a sinister, bloody tyrant, a monstrous being incredible in any historical context. Yet the play has been hugely influential. Richard III has always been an enigmatic, charismatic and controversial character, and furious debate still rages in regard to whether or not he ordered the murder of the Princes in the Tower. The recent discovery of bones that may be his has prompted huge public interest. Shakespeare’s powerful dramatic portrayal of him has had enormous impact on perceptions of the historical Richard. But Shakespeare drew on historical sources, and it is on these that Richard’s reputation largely rests. Alison Weir has studied those sources for many years, and her research shows that the truth is stranger – and far more complex – than the fiction. Be prepared for some challenging insights!
For tickets, please go to www.ljcc.org.uk.
15th November
7.30pm
Barley Hall, York
Event for York Archaeological Trust:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, and some surprising insights gained from her research.
Before the talk, guests will be able to tour the Barley Hall exhibitions and enjoy refreshments and medieval music.
Barley Hall is a stunning medieval house, hidden until the 1980s under the facade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was due for demolition was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history uncovered. The oldest parts of Barley Hall date from about 1360, when the Hall was built as the York town house of Nostell Priory. A new wing was added in about 1430. Soon after, the Hall became the home of a leading York citizen, William Snawsell goldsmith, Alderman and Lord Mayor of York. The house was bought by York Archaeological Trust in January 1987. Later that year, a full archaeological investigation of the interior revealed the remains of the floor of the Great Hall. Further investigations in 1990 to1991 looked at the courtyard and found the remains of the exterior stairway to the Great Chamber on the first floor. Work to restore the Hall to its former glory began in 1990 and it re-opened to the public in 1993. The building has now been lovingly restored to its original splendour with stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall.
For tickets, please telephone 01904 615505.
2014
10th May
2pm
Gainsborough Old Hall
Event to mark the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Gainsborough Old Hall:
Elizabeth of York: The First Tudor Queen
Alison will be previewing her forthcoming biography of Elizabeth of York, one of England’s lost Queens Regnant. Elizabeth, the heiress of the House of York, was daughter to Edward IV and sister to the Princes in the Tower. Two kings vied for her hand: her uncle, Richard III, who had had her declared a bastard, and the future Henry VII, the first Tudor sovereign; their marriage united the warring Houses of Lancaster and York. Elizabeth was the mother of Henry VIII and grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She was also the ancestress of every English monarch since 1509, every Scots monarch since 1513, and every British monarch since 1603, including the present Queen, Elizabeth II. Alison's book will reveal intriguing new insights into her fascinating and often poignant story, showing that the traditional perception of Elizabeth of York as a subjugated consort without any influence should now be revised.
A little-known gem, Gainsborough Old Hall is among the biggest and best-preserved medieval manor houses in England. It is part timber-framed but mostly brick-built. It was built in the latter part of the 15th century with Elizabethan additions, and has an impressive kitchen with an enormous fireplace, a noble great hall, and an imposing lodgings tower.
Booking details to come.
