The King's Curse

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

Length: 24 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII's claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter - Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret's contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. Margaret soon becomes a trusted advisor and friend to the honeymooning couple, hiding her own royal connections in service to the Tudors.

After the sudden death of Prince Arthur, Katherine leaves for London a widow, and fulfills her deathbed promise to her husband by marrying his brother, Henry VIII. Margaret's world is turned upside down by the surprising summons to court, where she becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. But this charmed life of the wealthiest and "holiest" woman in England lasts only until the rise of Anne Boleyn, and the dramatic deterioration of the Tudor court. Margaret has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen; to the religion she loves or the theology which serves the new masters. Caught between the old world and the new, Margaret Pole has to find her own way as she carries the knowledge of an old curse on all the Tudors.

©2014 Philippa Gregory International, LTD (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc

great story of Tudor England

a marvelous story about a great family whose name continued to be a burden to its members

I really enjoy her books

I love her historical novels and the research she does for them. Great series on the Tudors seen from different points of view.

Redo overdo

I am a huge Phillippa Gregory fan, but this book sounded like a long whine for Margaret Pole. Maybe it was Amato's voice, and maybe it was the true whine of Margaret, but much of the story was her lamentation about her second place in life as a woman and as a Plantagenet. Many better written books by Gregory- might be a good miss

Another great Philippa Gregory novel

Reading through all novels in order and this is yet another great story. A prime example of the wheel of fate in motion.

Wow

This one was really really good. In the interest of full disclosure I’m in American watching this happen to us right now in some capacity, but I did not know the story of Margaret and it’s fascinating. I also have always appreciated this authors recognition of the strength of women in history.

Great book

I enjoyed every second of listening to it. How Henry's character developed from the handsome charming prince to the obese mentally disturbed person.
Great performance

The best of the cousin’s war series!

Title speaks food itself. I love Philippa G and this is her crown jewel IMO! And as always Bianca Amato is flawless

Amazing New View of these Tyrants!

I totally was not out to get sucked into another series or sail through them all in a very few short months. But this one grabbed me as something different. Yes, the history through a wife's eyes has been done and is growing in popularity, it's here to stay. That is how this series started out, but it's so much more, even from book one. It's the Tudors and Plantagnents. It's the Rivers. Its The Elizabeths you never heard of. And this one! It's a stand alone (but if you can take the time, read them all).

I've been fascinated with the king who divorced or beheaded 6 wives since I first heard of him as a young girl. (Please tell me you have been, too!) It took me a much longer time to understand the destruction of the Catholic Church in England. But this book, told from the POV of disregarded Margaret Pole, had me realizing a whole different facet. What Henry VIII did to his country, to his men, to his cousins, shows a whole other tyrant. A madman.

But what is more interesting to me is that people don't speak up. They think it will stop at each narcissistic act. Appease the monster and he'll leave us alone. But he doesn't, as is shown by history time and time and time again, and soon the narcissist turns into a tyrant, a fascist, a demigod whose tide swallows us whole, even on a whim.

I kept wondering how Gregory would write the (well documented historical) ending. Bravo to you! You wowed me and got it oh so right.

The best one yet

I was hooked by this author immediately upon reading my first book. This narration doesn't just "do justice" - it enhances the story and makes it chilling real!

Love Margaret Pole - Great Book Brought her story

Wow, this was amazing. I never really heard of her until I started reading Philipa Gregory books. Lady Margaret Pole bridges the War of the Roses through Tudor times, and she was in the middle of it all. she was bad ass to the end. Another victim of that man-chuld tyrant, Henry 8th. She and her family deserved better.
I loved the story and narration. All excellent!
I will celebrate her day on May 28th each year with glass of Malmsy wine, or the modern day equivalence.
I highly recommend this!