Upcoming Books, Exhibitions, and Events for September 2021

Welcome September!! (well, in a few days). Even though we lucked out and didn’t have a soul-sucking and miserable summer here in central Texas this year (I think the weather gods were trying to apologize for The Big Freeze back in February) I’m ALWAYS ready for it to be fall!

Books

A few new releases this month!

The Tudor Times has created two new “Book of Days” that will be released this month. I have their Tudor Book of Days that was released a few years ago and it’s lovely so I expect these will be wonderful as well.

The first is Queen Elizabeth I Book of Days which will be released, appropriately, on Elizabeth’s birthday – September 7!

And the second is Mary Queen of Scots Book of Days which also has an appropriate release date – September 9, the anniversary of Mary’s coronation as Queen of Scotland.

And also this month, Sarah Gristwood’s latest work, The Tudors in Love: The Courtly Code Behind the Last Medieval Dynasty will be released on September 23 in the UK (no US release info yet, but I’ll keep an eye out!).

Events

The Society of Antiquaries have a couple of upcoming online lectures in conjunction with their virtual exhibit Henry VIII: Defender of the Faith?. And you can see past lectures on their YouTube Channel! The lectures are free, but you must register in advance. More information on each talk at the links:

First up – The Boleyns: Behind the Scenes of A Scandalous Family by Dr. Lauren Mackay and Dr. Estelle Paranque will be on September 3 at 1:00 p.m. (13.00) UK time.

And a few weeks later – Queenship in Early Modern England? will be presented by Professor Susan Doran on September 14, also at 1:00 p.m. (13.00) UK time.

Entertainment

The Royal Shakespeare Company‘s production of the theatrical adaptation of The Mirror and the Light – the third book of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall Trilogy – will open at the Gielgud Theatre in London on September 23 and will run through November 28.

Continuing Exhibitions

This one closes on September 5 so time is running out!

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 they finally started on May 20 of this year.

The Royal Museums Greenwich united the three versions of the Armada Portrait for the first time for the Faces of a Queen exhibition. I’m not sure of the end date on this one, but I’m guessing it will be on for a while since it was delayed for so long.

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

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 #667

Tomb of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk at St Michael’s, Framlingham. Photo May 2015.

Last week was the anniversary of the death of Thomas Howard so I had to pull a photo of his tomb. I seem to recall that it was hard to get a photo of his part of the tomb figures (without crawling over ropes) but I managed to get an angle that shows that epic carved beard.

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The Hathaway Bed at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo May 2015.

This bed was made sometime between 1580 and 1650 and if this was the (in)famous “second best bed” left to Anne in Shakespeare’s will, then that’s not too shabby! There might be more images of beds in the next few weeks since I’ve started going back into the office 3-4 days each week and I’m getting less sleep now. 🙂

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Mosaic pavement in Norwich Cathedral. Photo May 2015.

This mosaic reminded me of the magnificent Cosmati Pavement at Westminster Abbey although the one at Norwich is not actually a Cosmati and is much ‘newer’ since it dates from the 19th century. A younger, more ambitious version of me (or maybe a future, retired version of me) would make a quilt of this!

Upcoming Books, Exhibitions, and Events for August 2021

Wow, it’s already August! I know for some people this is the time to enjoy peak summer, but I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and here August is usually just something to be endured (with the only relief coming from the occasional hurricane). But autumn is on the horizon!

Books

There are a couple of new releases this month, starting off with The Boleyns of Hever Castle by Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway, which is out today in both the UK and US. Hever is definitely one of those high on my ‘revisit list’ for some future return to the UK. I visited on my first trip in 1998 and haven’t been back there on any subsequent visit so I’m overdue to go back!

And the latest work by Amy Licence Woodsmoke and Sage: The Five Senses 1485-1603: How the Tudors Experienced the World will be out near the end of the month in the UK and later in the year in the US under the title Living Like a Tudor: Woodsmoke and Sage: A Sensory Journey Through Tudor England. UK or US edition – it’s a very evocative title!

Events

The Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park will once again be marking the anniversary of the battle that launched the Tudor Dynasty with a week of activities and events – both in person and online this year! The Bosworth Medieval Medley will run from August 16 to 22 and includes themed walks, online presentations, and more! Please see the link for schedules, ticket information, and COVID safety measures.

Continuing Exhibitions

No new exhibitions this month, but the ones I’ve mentioned in the last few months are continuing on!

The Royal Museums Greenwich united the three versions of the Armada Portrait for the first time for the Faces of a Queen exhibition. I’m not sure of the end date on this one, but I’m guessing it will be on for a while since it was delayed for so long.

And the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition that has been around the world (including here in Texas!) opened 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 they finally started on May 20 of this year.

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 #659

Stained glass window at the Church of St Michael, Framlingham. Photo May 2015.

I tried to do a little digging to figure out whose arms are in the center of the window but I didn’t have any luck. If anyone knows, please leave a comment!

Upcoming Books, Exhibitions, and Events for July 2021

Welcome to the second half of the year! Just one book update this month, but the rest of the summer and the fall look to have some exciting releases.

Books

The Brandon Men: In the Shadow of Kings by Sarah Bryson was released last month in the UK and is due out in the US on July 15.

Continuing Exhibitions

No new exhibitions this month, but the ones I mentioned last month are still going on for a while and there are a few new things on the horizon as things start to open up!

The Royal Museums Greenwich united the three versions of the Armada Portrait for the first time for the Faces of a Queen exhibition. I’m not sure of the end date on this one, but I’m guessing it will be on for a while since it was delayed for so long.

And the Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition that has been around the world (including here in Texas!) opened 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 they finally started on May 20 of this year.

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.