Alison Weir

[Misfit]

Just stumbled across this (http://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Monarchy-Katherine-Swynford-Lancaster/dp/0345453239/ref=s9tag_c5_popt2-rfc_p?ie=UTF8&pf%5Frd%5Ft=101&pf%5Frd%5Fm=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf%5Frd%5Fp=288587601&pf%5Frd%5Fs=center-5&pf%5Frd%5Fr=03573W70W7T82QFCQ9DY&pf%5Frd%5Fi=507846)not yet published on Amazon.

[Divia]

by the title I'm guessing its NF. Which is fine, but eh I was kinda hopin for fiction.

[boswellbaxter]

Just stumbled across this (http://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Monarchy-Katherine-Swynford-Lancaster/dp/0345453239/ref=s9tag_c5_popt2-rfc_p?ie=UTF8&pf%5Frd%5Ft=101&pf%5Frd%5Fm=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf%5Frd%5Fp=288587601&pf%5Frd%5Fs=center-5&pf%5Frd%5Fr=03573W70W7T82QFCQ9DY&pf%5Frd%5Fi=507846)not yet published on Amazon.

Cool--I was wondering whether this would be coming out in the US anytime soon.

[Misfit]

I'm thinking this is HF, since she's already published (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0712641971/ref=s9newr_c5_at1-rfc_g1-3095_g1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1RPZ278T93NDFC8RK6DB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=139287591&pf_rd_i=468294) a NF on Katherine.

I put in a purchase request at the library. Let's see if they get it.

[boswellbaxter]

I think it's just a US version of her biography of Katherine Swynford that's been published already in the UK. The same thing happened with her biography of Queen Isabella--different titles for the US and the UK.

[Misfit]

Well we have a mystery on our hands, here's (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mistress-Monarchy-Katherine-Swynford-Lancaster/dp/0345453239/ref=s9tag_c5_popt2-rfc_p?ie=UTF8&pf%5Frd%5Ft=101&pf%5Frd%5Fm=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf%5Frd%5Fp=288587601&pf%5Frd%5Fs=center-5&pf%5Frd%5Fr=03573W70W7T82QFCQ9DY&pf%5Frd%5Fi=507846) the UK info on this book for 2009, here's (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Swynford-Story-Scandalous-Duchess/dp/0712641971/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_2) the link for the NF book on UK, and same (http://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Swynford-Story-Scandalous-Duchess/dp/0771088574/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219938992&sr=1-21) book on Amazon US.

Page counts are different.

[Divia]

Well I hope its HF. Hmmm. Does she have a website we can check out?

[Misfit]

http://alisonweir.org.uk/books/index.asp

[Divia]

Its non fiction

Alison Weir's biography of Katherine Swynford will be published in hardback in the USA on 27th January 2009. The American edition will be titled Mistress of the Monarchy. Alison will be touring the US to promote this book in February 2009.

[Melisende]

Misfit,

I was going to ask, hadn't Weir already published a book on Katehrine Swinford?? I am positive I have been passing it over in my local library for a good few months now.

[Misfit]

Misfit,

I was going to ask, hadn't Weir already published a book on Katehrine Swinford?? I am positive I have been passing it over in my local library for a good few months now.


Melisende, that's the mystery. Is this a "new" version of the one she's already published (nf?) or a HF version of same story? I was sure it was something new until I went to her website. Same book I'm afraid. I was hoping for an HF. Sigh.....

[Misfit]

Well it just showed up on my holds list at the library so it looks like they've decided to buy it. Woohoo, although it's a few months out till I can get it.

[Misfit]

Just spotted this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099524252/ref=s9sims_c5_14_at1-rfc_p-frt_p_si1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0A4DFW6PGTTZP63F3QM1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463374953&pf_rd_i=468294) on Amazon UK.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OizLEm5DL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[Divia]

eh, not my thing. I'm tired of Elizabeth and Tudor stuff.

[cw gortner]

Melisende, that's the mystery. Is this a "new" version of the one she's already published (nf?) or a HF version of same story? I was sure it was something new until I went to her website. Same book I'm afraid. I was hoping for an HF. Sigh.....

Yes, this is the American, Ballantine Books, version of her already-published UK book, with a new title and cover. She already did one on Elizabeth, too, so her "Elizabeth The Queen" will probably be more in the vein of "Henry VIII: The King and His Court" than a straight biography, in that she'll explore certain aspects of how Elizabeth created her image, solidified her reign, etc.

Interesting, because I heard her next hf will be a continuation of Elizabeth's story, started in "The Lady Elizabeth."

[Misfit]

Yes, this is the American, Ballantine Books, version of her already-published UK book, with a new title and cover. She already did one on Elizabeth, too, so her "Elizabeth The Queen" will probably be more in the vein of "Henry VIII: The King and His Court" than a straight biography, in that she'll explore certain aspects of how Elizabeth created her image, solidified her reign, etc.

Interesting, because I heard her next hf will be a continuation of Elizabeth's story, started in "The Lady Elizabeth."


Why do they go and change the title and cover when it's the same damn book?

[cw gortner]

It's a marketing decision. I know, for those of us who are very familiar with the genre and history in general, it can be annoying and confusing; but bear in mind that publishers seek to appeal to the widest possible target audience. The UK version definitely speaks to people better versed in UK history (the mention of John of Gaunt, for example, in the subtitle) while "Mistress to the Monarchy" speaks to a US fan base very familiar with Katherine herself, thanks to Anya Seton.

In Germany, my book title was changed to "The Tears of the Queen." I have no idea why but I assume they know their readers better than I do.

Still, having gotten over-enthusiastic and bought the same book twice due to this very phenomenon, I completely understand the frustration. Until I really started investigating these things, I bought several US versions of books I thought were new, only to discover I'd already sprung for the UK releases when they were first published.

[annis]

It's a puzzle to me why UK and US versions of books often have different tiles and covers, and even, apparently, in some cases, actual content. Are our tastes so very different?

[Misfit]

It's a puzzle to me why UK and US versions of books often have different tiles and covers, and even, apparently, in some cases, actual content. Are our tastes so very different?

Good question. Most times I like the UK covers better than what we get here in the states.

[SonjaMarie]

According to her website, Alison Weir will be writing a sequel to the novel "The Lady Elizabeth". I really enjoyed that book so I'm looking forward to seeing how she writes more of Elizabeth's story.

Also her next non-fiction book "The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn", will be published in the UK on 1st October 2009, and in the USA in December.

And she's working on a novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, which is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2010.

SM

[Divia]

I also liked the Lady Elizabeth. Which quite shocked me, for I didnt think I would.

I'd be interested to read the one about Anne B. Sounds cool.

[EC2]

And she's working on a novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, which is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2010.

SM

She is? Hmmm.... Does that mean she'll be in competition with Cecelia Holland who was also set to do an Eleanor of Aquitaine novel due in 1210 as well?

[SonjaMarie]

She is? Hmmm.... Does that mean she'll be in competition with Cecelia Holland who was also set to do an Eleanor of Aquitaine novel due in 1210 as well?

No idea, I just posted what it says on her news page of her site.

SM

[Ariadne]

As they say, things happen in threes. Christy English's first novel about Eleanor and Alais of France (The Queen's Pawn) is scheduled for spring 2010 as well. The English and Holland have the same publisher, too (well, Berkley/New American Library).

[Tanzanite]

she is coming to Denver in a couple of weeks as part of her book tour and is scheduled to do a talk on Katherine Swynford. It's not too far from where I live so I'm going to try and go.

[Misfit]

She is? Hmmm.... Does that mean she'll be in competition with Cecelia Holland who was also set to do an Eleanor of Aquitaine novel due in 1210 as well?

Here's (http://alisonweir.org.uk/next/index.asp) the link to her site.

[SonjaMarie]

she is coming to Denver in a couple of weeks as part of her book tour and is scheduled to do a talk on Katherine Swynford. It's not too far from where I live so I'm going to try and go.

If you go, and have time (and remember), tell her Sonja Marie says "Hi". We used to correspond over email for a few years and had dinner when she came to Seattle to talk about "Innocent Traitor" but I haven't heard a peep from her since, kinda sad :(

SM

[Tanzanite]

I just got home from hearing Weir's talk. I thought she was an entertaining and interesting speaker who obviously has a passion for what she does. She spoke for about 45 minutes and answered some questions. I asked her if she was going to write more fiction and she said yes and that she also has more non-fiction in the works. I can't remember now exactly which ones are which, but she indicated (in addition to her upcoming book on Anne Boleyn) that she would have books on: Eleanor of Aquitaine/Henry II; Catherine Howard, Perkin Warbeck (I'm pretty sure this one is fiction) and a sequel to The Lady Elizabeth. There might have been one more that she mentioned but I can't remember for the life of me (I really hate getting old!!)

[Divia]

Thats a lot of people to remember! :eek: I wouldnt say you are getting old. ;)

[Tanzanite]

I remember the other one she mentioned now - Mary Boleyn.

[EC2]

As they say, things happen in threes. Christy English's first novel about Eleanor and Alais of France (The Queen's Pawn) is scheduled for spring 2010 as well. The English and Holland have the same publisher, too (well, Berkley/New American Library).

Not only that but Sharon Kay Penman's Devil's Brood will be out in paperback around then too surely?
Another title with 'Queen' in it too. I think that added to headless bodice covers, readers are soon going to become very confused. Imagine the scenario.
Reader entering a bookshop. 'Hi, there's a historical novel I want. It's got Queen in the title and a headless costume cover.'
Assistant takes customer over to the shelf and there are at least 100 titles answering to that description..... I can see the dilemma. Headless bodices sell big-time. The word 'Queen' is an empowering one that suggests glamour and that the novel will be about a woman, but when everyone uses it, then you end up on first glance with a forest of identical trees.

[annis]

Lol! This sounds a bit like the typical librarian's dilemma, EC.
Customer: "I'm looking for a little book with a red cover that may or may not have been about an English queen in an unknown era. I know i got it out from this library ten years ago---"
Librarian: (visualizing tearing own hair out) "Can you possibly give me any more detail about this book?"

[Divia]

Lol! This sounds a bit like the typical librarian's dilemma, EC.
Customer: "I'm looking for a little book with a red cover that may or may not have been about an English queen in an unknown era. I know i got it out from this library ten years ago---"
Librarian: (visualizing tearing own hair out) "Can you possibly give me any more detail about this book?"

So true. So very true!

[Misfit]

Ok, so Harriet's reviewed (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1VF8AHMWIZ64C/ref=cm_aya_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0345453212#wasThisHelpful) it today. Can someone who has read is "esplain" what this means?

In other words the monarch's advisor conducted a blood of one velvet coup.

[Divia]

hhmmm Let me try to translate..but I dunno if this is right.

A damn smooth coup? :confused:

[Misfit]

Not bad. I'd like to see a few more interpretations and then perhaps see what the regular Harriet watchers can do with it.

[Kasthu]

HK certainly is fond of the word "bamboozle," isn't she?

[Misfit]

:D You just never know what you're going to find in a Harriet review, do you?

[Sharz]

"In other words the monarch's advisor conducted a blood of one velvet coup."

Ok, I'll play.

My theory is that "blood of one" is supposed to play off of a "bloodless coup", except that this wasn't bloodless, and Anne's is the "blood of one". (Never mind that three or four others were executed, too, so clearly there was more blood involved than just one.)

I agree with Divia that the "velvet" is supposed to convey "smooth". And I'm probably giving way too much credit to "Harriot", but since velvet is a cloth of the wealthy, perhaps also a nod at the motivation of wealth and power.

[Xenalyte]

I love Alison Weir's non-fiction. Really, really like it.

Her fiction, though ... YEESH.

I think what got me about the Jane Grey book (Innocent Traitor, perhaps?) was the writing in present tense. I CANNOT STAND THAT.

Plus, her women - while acting slightly more within their social context than, say, Philippa Gregory's - are still far too modern in outlook.

[EC2]

The Captive Queen has just changed titles at Amazon UK!!!! I suspect an admin error.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eagle-Lion-Alison-Weir/dp/0091926211/ref=pd_sim_b_4

[Tanzanite]

I went back and looked at some of the older lists I keep of upcoming books and this was the title of the book when it was first listed on Amazon.