Upcoming Books and Exhibitions for May 2021

How are we already 1/3 of the way into 2021? Although my notion of time has really been messed up since March 2020 anyway…

Books
Nathen Amin’s Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick that was released last month in the UK is due out in the US on May 15:

And in new Tudor history books out this month, Franny Moyle’s The King’s Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein will be out at the end of the month in the UK and in the fall in the US. I’m always happy to see more work on Holbein the man, in addition to Holbein the artist.

Exhibitions

So great to see that a lot of exhibitions are finally opening up! Some of these have been on my radar for over a year and a half now. And I missed this first one until shortly after I posted last month’s round-up:

The Philip Mould Gallery in London has an exhibition of Elizabethan & Jacobean portraiture called Love’s Labour’s Found that opened on April 21 and will run through May 28.

I think this exhibit was open for a short while before the pandemic set in, but regardless, now it’s back on starting May 17! The Royal Museums Greenwich united the three versions of the Armada Portrait for the first time for the Faces of a Queen exhibition.

And the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition that has been around the world (including here in Texas!) will be opening in Greenwich on May 28 and will run through October 31.

The celebrations of the 500th anniversary of The Field of the Cloth of Gold, Gold and Glory: Henry VIII and the French King at Hampton Court Palace were delayed for about a year, but now they are finally due to start on May 20.

And finally, the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the birth of William Cecil, Lord Burghley at Burghley House were also delayed because of the pandemic, but the did begin this year starting back in March and will run throughout the year.

Picture of the Week #647

Walking a path at Hampton Court Palace. Photo May 2015.

I think the original intent of this photo was to capture the outside of the part of the Palace that has the old Tudor tennis court, but now I’m thinking that part was actually just out of the photo frame behind me. My vague recollection was that there was some scaffolding up for some maintenance work at the courts, so that’s why I didn’t take a photo of that part. Of three visits to Hampton Court, I’ve only actually had a chance to peek into the courts once, so I’d really like another chance to see them and watch a game of Real Tennis!

Picture of the Week #646

Gardens at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk. Photo May 2015.

I’m sensing I’m having a bit of a garden theme going on recently. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’m really missing being able to have a garden – I’m in an apartment and I get almost no sunlight on my patio (which is actually a pretty good thing in the Texas summers) so I’m limited at the moment to a shade-tolerant houseplant in my main window. Although as a big fan of Hot Fuzz I’m amused that the planet (which was given to me a few years ago) is a Japanese Peace Lily. 😀

Upcoming books for April 2021

Events and exhibitions seem to still be on hold for a little while although it looks like some will be resuming soon. But the publishing schedules seems to finally be getting back to normal, so it’s time for a new book round-up!

First up is Sarah-Beth Watkins Elizabeth I’s Last Favorite: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex which was just released in the UK and will be out in the US in a few days. I’m trying to remember of any recent books on Essex himself and not just part of an examination of the reign of Elizabeth I, so this is good to see!

Next is King & Collector: Henry VIII and the Art of Kingship by Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke which will be out in April in the UK and in November in the US (although it appears the Kindle version will be released in April in the US as well – the link below is for the hardcover pre-order). This looks to be an interesting exploration of Henry VIII as a patron of the arts, especially for art on his favorite subject – himself! 😀

I’ve been looking forward to Nathen Amin’s latest book, Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick for a while so I’m glad to see it finally coming out in April in the UK and in May in the US. I think this was one of several books of people I follow on Twitter that got hit by COVID delays.

This next book in the Chronos Crime Chronicles series is out at the end of the month and is titled Chronos Crime Chronicles – Jane Parker: The Downfall of Two Tudor Queens? by Charlie Fenton.

Finally, The York Princesses: The daughters of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville by Sarah J. Hodder is out at the end of the month in the UK and the US. I think the other princesses tend to get overshadowed by Elizabeth of York, so it’s nice to see an exploration of her sisters’ lives.

Picture of the Week #644

Woodland walk at Blickling Hall. Photo May 2015.

Happy Spring for the northern hemisphere! Things have usually fully bloomed and leafed out here in central Texas by now, but things are a little delayed this year because of the Big Freeze last month so I was looking for something colorful for this week.

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Historical farming equipment at Mary Arden’s Farm in Wilmcote, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

This is the time of year that I really miss having a garden. I think I’m going to have to finally see if I can get a plot at the nearby community garden or at the one I had a plot at in college (which will be more convenient whenever I’m finally back to driving from home to work again!).

Picture of the Week #635

Cross stitch of Catherine of Aragon’s badge and other mementos at her grave in Peterborough Cathedral. Photo May 2015

Since I didn’t do a books and events round-up for this month because of the continued delays, etc. due to the pandemic, I did want to mention that the Katharine of Aragon Festival at Peterborough Cathedral will still happen this year and will be in part online (so maybe I’ll be able to see some of it from here in Texas!). You can learn more about this year’s festival at the link above.