The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor, Elizabeth Norton
The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor, Elizabeth Norton
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor
Elizabeth I, Thomas Seymour, and the Making of a Virgin Queen

Author: Elizabeth Norton

Narrator: Sarah Nichols

Unabridged: 9 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/04/2016


Synopsis

A power-hungry courtier and an impressionable young princess: the Tudor court had never been more perilous for the young Elizabeth, where rumors had the power to determine her fate.England, late 1547. King Henry VIII is dead. His fourteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth is living with the king’s widow, Catherine Parr, and her new husband, Thomas Seymour. Seymour is the brother of Henry VIII ’s third wife, the late Jane Seymour, who was the mother to the now-ailing boy king.Ambitious and dangerous, Seymour begins an overt flirtation with Elizabeth that ends with Catherine sending her away. When Catherine dies a year later and Seymour is arrested for treason soon after, a scandal explodes.Alone and in dreadful danger, Elizabeth is threatened by supporters of her half-sister, Mary, who wishes to see England return to Catholicism. She is also closely questioned by the king’s regency council due to her place in the line of succession. Was she still a virgin? Was there a child? Had she promised to marry Seymour?Under pressure, Elizabeth shows the shrewdness and spirit she would later be famous for. She survives the scandal. Thomas Seymour is not so lucky. The “Seymour Scandal” led to the creation of the persona of the Virgin Queen. On hearing of Seymour’s beheading, Elizabeth observed, “This day died a man of much wit, and very little judgment.” She would never allow her heart to rule her head again.

About Elizabeth Norton

Elizabeth Norton is a historian specializing in the history of the queens of England and the Tudor period. She is the author of biographies of Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and Catherine Parr. She lives in England.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Janet on May 03, 2022

I loved it. Mainly because I am happy to have all the details of this period of Elizabeth's life assembled in one place along with all the citations (I am deep into my Regina trilogy and there are a couple of pieces I didn't realize - like the fact that this was when Elizabeth Fitzgerald came into E......more

Goodreads review by Eileen on February 21, 2022

The title of this book suggests it is a deep dive into a strange and dangerous incident in the future queen's teenage years. It is well known that Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane Seymour, uncle of King Edward VI, and husband of Queen Katherine Parr widow of Henry VIII, tried to se......more

Goodreads review by S.C. on September 12, 2024

It's astonishing to me the lengths people will go to in order to attain power and then ultimately fail. The reward for such audacity in Tudor times was a gruesome death, which in my opinion should have put people off such an endeavour, but apparently not. I wouldn't say, from reading this book, that......more

Goodreads review by Caroline on September 28, 2021

Aesthetically speaking I really do like the book cover! It drew me in but after reading this I can't help but be a tad disappointed as the book's title is very misleading! If the audiences are expecting an interpretation explaining the lead-up to the scandal involving Thomas Seymour and Princess Eli......more

Goodreads review by Sara on March 02, 2019

This came off as a Thomas Seymour biography instead of an Elizabeth Tudor one. The author seemed to forget about Elizabeth for chapters at a time while going over Thomas's various dealings. She also glossed over the abusive aspects of the situation by claiming that Elizabeth was attracted to him and......more


Quotes

“Tudor historian Norton looks at Henry VIII’s daughter and widow, but the real story here is Thomas Seymour…Juicy royal history that may or may not be true. Either way, the story of Thomas’ comeuppance and Elizabeth’s reaction makes for a quick, enjoyable read.” Kirkus Reviews