Weir, Alison, 1951- Six Tudor queens.

"Acclaimed author and historian Alison Weir continues her epic Six Tudor Queens series with this third captivating novel, which brings to life Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII's most cherished bride and mother of his only legitimate male heir. Ever since she was a child, Jane has longed for a cloistered life as a nun. But her large noble family has other plans, and as an adult, Jane is invited to the King's court to serve as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon. The devout Katherine shows kindness to all her ladies, almost like a second mother, which makes rumors of Henry's lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn--also lady-in-waiting to the queen--all the more shocking. For Jane, the betrayal triggers memories of a hauntingl incident that shaped her beliefs about marriage. But once Henry disavows Katherine and secures Anne as his new queen--forever altering the religious landscape of England--he turns his eye to another: Jane herself. Urged to return the King's affection and earn favor for her family, Jane is drawn into a dangerous political game that pits her conscience against her desires. Can Jane be the one to give the King his long-sought-after son, or will she be cast aside like the women who came before her? Bringing new insight to this compelling story, Alison Weir marries meticulous research with gripping historical fiction to re-create the dramas and intrigues of the most renowned court in English history. At its center is a loving and compassionate woman who captures the heart of a king, and whose life will hang in the balance for it. Praise for Anne Boleyn, A King's Obsession "A stunning, engaging, comprehensive and convincing novel. important, page-turning biographical fiction, hauntingly and beautifully told in first-person narrative. psychologically penetrating and packed with wonderful, vivid scenes. [Alison] Weir's characterisation is superb."--Historical Novels Review "A persuasive attempt to restore the humanity of a tragic, misrepresented figure. Weir's fictional Anne is ferociously smart and guilty of nothing but craving the power that's rightfully hers to claim."--NPR "A richly detailed rendering of the familiar Tudor drama. Weir brings considerable expertise to her portrait of Anne as 'a flawed but very human heroine, a woman of great ambition, idealism and courage' [and] vividly depicts court life."--Kirkus Reviews "A multifaceted portrait of an ambitious woman. Even readers who know Anne's story well should gain insights from this revealing novel."--Booklist "Well-written and fast-paced. a fresh look at one of the period's most popular protagonists."--Library Journal"--

"A novel about Jane Seymour, the devout young woman who became the unwilling object of King Henry VIII's ardor--and the mother of his only son. In this third book in the epic Six Tudor Queens series, the acclaimed historian and bestselling author brings new insight to this dramatic story, showing how pure fear for her life determined Jane's actions. 25-year-old Jane Seymour wants nothing more than to become a nun. But her ambitious father has forced her to live at court as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, a fellow-Catholic whom she soon comes to love and admire. So Jane is appalled when King Henry shunts Katherine aside in his lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn, but even more so when he takes Anne's life in his rush to wed--Jane herself! Unwilling to marry but terrified to resist Henry's advances for fear she might share Anne's fate, and propelled by her family, Jane becomes Queen of England a mere ten days after Anne's execution. She knows she must produce a male heir without fail. Her very life depends on it"--