Of Golden Roses: henry vii

17 April 2014

Henry VII is my thing.

When I picked Henry VII as the focus of my dissertation, I immediately ordered every book I could find on him.

Some, I have to admit, are pretty dull.

Others, pretty fascinating.

Winter King by Thomas Penn falls into the 'fascinating' category.

Non-fiction books have a tendency to state dates and facts, allowing little interpretation for the reader. I never considered the possibility that a non-fiction book could be suspenseful and thrilling. Thomas Penn's writing creates a fuller and deeper story to the life of Henry VII. He captivates the reader with the drama of early Tudor history without creating fiction.
I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys real life soap operas or Tudor history.

Other titles similar to this book include:
Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall
Philippa Gregory The Red Queen and The White Princess

There will be no Thought's From Abroad post tomorrow as I just got back from Ireland. Expect lots of amazing Irish posts soon!

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

12 April 2014

In the past few weeks I've spent countless hours reading about Henry VII.

I practically breathe early Tudor history.

Becoming familiar with secondary sources on the topic you plan to write your dissertation on is essential.

Although my love for Henry VII and Elizabeth of York grows with every book, I do find myself occasionally reading a page only to realize I hadn't really paid any attention to the words.

I've discovered the environment in which you read is almost as important as the reading itself. Changing the scenery every now and then helps you focus and, well, keeps you sane.

The weather is ~~slightly~~ warming up, meaning reading outside is an option. I find myself on Brandon Hill or College Green often, but never really ventured far from Park Street for my afternoon reading.

Growing bored of my regular spots, I decided to finally give Queen Square a go.

Stepping into Queen Square is like stepping into 18th century England. I had walked through Queen Square on many occasions, but never really stopped to sit on one of it's many benches. It's beautiful, green, and most importantly, quiet. The perfect reading spot.