Margaret Campbell

A Remarkably Intimate Tale of the Intrigue, Ruthlessness, and Majesty of Henry VIII's Court When country lad Will Somers lands himself the plum position of jester to the mercurial King Henry VIII, he has no idea that he's just been handed a front-row seat to history. With a seat near the throne and an ear to the floor, Somers witnesses firsthand the dizzying power struggles and sly scheming that marked the reign of the fiery Tudor king. Somers watches the rise and fall of some of the most enigmatic women in history, including the tragic Katherine of Aragon, the doomed Anne Boleyn, and Mary Tudor, who confided in the jester as she made the best of the fragile life of a princess whom everyone wished was a prince. Based on the life of the real Will Somers, King's Fool is infused with Margaret Campbell Barnes' trademark rich detail and historical accuracy. This intimate peek into the royal chambers gives readers a unique view on one of the most tumultuous periods in English history.

The enigmatic Anne Boleyn comes to life in this charming, brilliant portrayal by acclaimed British novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes. The infamous love of King Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn undertook a rocky journey from innocent courtier to powerful Queen of England. A meticulous researcher, Margaret Campbell Barnes immerses readers in this intrigue and in the lush, glittery world of the Tudor Court. The beauty and charms of Anne Boleyn bewitched the most powerful man in the world, King Henry VIII, but her resourcefulness and cleverness were not enough to stop the malice of her enemies. Her swift rise to power quickly became her own undoing.The author brings to light Boleyn’s humanity and courage, giving an intimate look at a young woman struggling to find her own way in a world dominated by men and adversaries.

My Lady of Cleves reveals the mesmerizing story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's fourth wife, one of the rare women who matched wits successfully with the fiery king and lived to tell the tale. Written by world-renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, My Lady of Cleves gives readers an intimate portrait of the warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become Queen of England. Knowing the king's ravenous desire for a son, and aware of the disastrous consequences of not bearing an heir, Anne of Cleves bravely took on the duty of weathering the Tudor King's temper, whims, arrogance, and irresponsible passions - and won the hearts of his subjects in the process. A treat for readers of Tudor fiction and those fascinated by the complex relationships of Henry VIII and his wives, My Lady of Cleves leads readers into a world of high drama and courtly elegance.

One woman holds the key to England's most glorious empire in this intimate retelling of the launch of the Tudor dynasty -- A magnificent portrait of Elizabeth of York, set against the dramatic background of fifteenth century England. Elizabeth, the only living descendant of Edward IV, has the most valuable possession in all of Englanda legitim... more »ate claim to the crown. Two princes battle to win Britain's most rightful heiress for a bride and her kingdom for his own. On one side is her uncle Richard, the last Plantagenet King, whom she fears is the murderer of her two brothers, the would-be kings. On the other side is Henry Tudor, the exiled knight. Can he save her from a horrifying marriage to a cut-throat soldier? Thrust into the intrigue and drama of the War of the Roses, Elizabeth has a country within her graspif she can find the strength to unite a kingdom torn apart by a thirst for power. A richly drawn tale of the woman who launched one of the most dramatic dynasties England has ever seen, The Tudor Rose is a vibrant, imaginative look at the power of a queen.

"Within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king..."—Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Richard IIUnlike his father, the Black Prince, or his namesake, King Richard the Lionheart, Richard II never really wanted to be king. But the mantle of royalty is thrust upon his shoulders at age 11, at a time when England is racked by unrest and class warefare. A leader as unexpected as he is inexperienced, youngRichard must find a way to triumph over a fierce conflict more destructive than any foreign enemy."Ms. Barnes captures the flavor, pageantry, and color of the Middle Ages...a distinguished novel."—Philadelphia InquirerRichard's love for his wife, Anne of Bohemia, gave him the strength to outwit the schemes of his enemies and govern as he saw fit, providing England with years of properity under his reign. But when tragedy strikes, Richard begins to loose the common touch by which he had ruled so brilliantly, and begins a downward spiral from which his detractors would derive strength..."Sympathetic picture of sensitive, peace-loving, and ill-beset Richard II, who had it in him to be one of the best kings England ever had."—Booklist

The only loves Mary had known were the affection she bore her father and the passion she felt for the lovely Isle of Wight. But young Mary's quiet, protected life soon changed as she was thrust into the raging core of civil war. When Cavalier King Charles fled to her remote isle from Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans, expecting to find Carisbrooke Castle a refuge from the Roundheads, he ran straight into the arms of betrayal ... and into the depths of Mary's unawakened young heart. Almost overnight, this charming servant girl becomes a woman, more beautiful than ever, made confident, seductive, and wise by love. Almost overnight, she stood at the center of the intrigues, dangers, and high passions surrounding this controversial Stuart and his dynasty ... The moving, tragic story of Charles I, the last absolute monarch of England, during his imprisonment in Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight. Richly drawn and inspired by the New York Times bestselling author's own experience living on the Isle of Wight, this dramatic retelling brings to life the cavalier king whom Cromwell deposed. But even more fascinating than the account of royal hopes and misfortunes is the tale of a charming servant girl who is as romantic and tender in love as she is bold and resourceful in plotting the king's escape.

A novel of King Richard the Lion Heart Set in one of the most romantic periods of English history. It tells the story of the young Plantagenets, the heirs of Henry II, of Richard the Lion Heart and his crusade to regain the Holy Land, of King John plotting to overthrow his brother and of Robin Hood, fighting at home to keep the throne for England's rightful monarch. Drawing on folklore, the author explores what might have happened if King Richard's foster brother were none other than Robin Hood, a legendary figure more vibrant than most in authentic history. Thick as thieves as Richard builds a kingdom and marshals a crusade, the two clash when Robin Hood so provokes the king's white hot temper that Richard banishes him. This is a tale of a man driven to win back the Holy Land, beset by the guilt of casting out his childhood friend, and shouldering the burden of being the lionhearted leader of the Plantagenets.

A secret love affair like no other… As a child living in exile in France, Frances Stuart was accustomed to threadbare dresses and going hungry. Yet everything changed when her cousin Charles arrives to visit and Frances’ world is turned upside down. The Restoration of the monarchy quickly raises Charles II far higher than anything Frances ever dreamed of. Several years later, Frances arrives in Court to attend to Charles’ wife, Queen Catherine, as a lady-in-waiting and once again, her path collides with the man who is now King. At sixteen, she is already renowned for her beauty and vivaciousness and Charles cannot help but take notice of Frances. The King rapidly becomes obsessed with her, and it is not long before whispers begin to circulate that Frances has supplanted the famous Barbara Castlemaine as mistress to the monarch. So strong is her power that gossip suggests were the Queen to die, Frances would almost certainly take her place. Aware of the King’s interest, and knowing that to offend Charles would be to put her out of favour at Court, Frances plays a dangerous game of flirtation – keeping her man close whilst also maintaining a safe distance. But it’s not long before Charles begins to grow impatient and Frances soon finds herself rapidly running out of ways to keep him at bay. The arrival of the young Duke of Lennox and Richmond at Court unexpectedly presents Frances with a way of escaping the corner into which she has backed herself. To do so threatens her position as the King’s favourite and risks incurring his rage, but surely such a risk is worth it for the man she loves…

This is the story of an inn-keeper's daughter and the natural son of a king. Because her family had served King Richard, and because the king spoke kindly to her when he stopped at her family's inn on the way to Bosworth Field, Tansy was devoted to the Yorkist cause. After the army left, another visitor arrived -- a young man of no apparent importance, wo called himself Dickon. Dickon's face showed his relationship with the King, and after Richard had been killed and the Yorkist army defeated, Tansy risked her good name to shelter him from Henry Tudor's victorious army. When Dickon Broome, a young fugitive from the battle of Bosworth came to the White Boar Inn, he found shelter through the kindness of the landlord's daughter, Tansy. And she alone shared his secret--that he was none other than the illegitimate son of Richard III, whose crown was now upon the head of Henry Tudor. Knowing that his life would be forfeit if Henry should learn his identity, Dickon had to keep that secret at all costs. Tansy was the one person in the world whom he could trust. And in the early, dangerous days of the Tudor's reign, neither could guess how the knowledge they shared was to change their lives ....

Stevie Hylton found herself content with life. A congenial job at a riding school on the unspoilt Norfolk coast; a pleasant home for herself and her sister Lisa; the promise of romance for both of them; what could be better? It was a pity, though, that the local Squire was so irritating; handsome, yes, but an idle, worthless, thoughtless playboy. And for two pins she'd tell him so?

SHE WAS HIS BRIDE--BUT NOT HIS LOVE Isabel the Fair, so called because of her great beauty, was the daughter of King Philip of France, and when she married Edward II of England it seemed a perfect match. But nothing in the Plantagenet court was as it seemed, and their marriage would prove to be the undoing of both of them. The handsome Plantagenet king had room in his heart for no one but his favourite, Piers Gaveston, the Earl of Cornwall, and Isabel found herself cast aside for the young Gascon lord. Young Isabel finds herself taking a backseat to the two lovers, a position that did not sit well with her, whose only desire had been to have a happy marriage. Edward's obsessive love for his young lover man turned the resentful Isabel against him and brought England to civil war. Finally, the beautiful girl became a vengeful woman whom they called the "She-Wolf," and with her masterful lover, Roger Mortimer, she invaded the disordered county to seize power from the king...