Dr Alison Weir

Alison Weir is the United Kingdom’s most popular and best-selling female historian, and has sold over 3 million books worldwide. Rich in detailed research, Alison’s engaging prose has captured the interest and imagination of countless people, instilling a love of history that has influenced the career paths of historians, historical novelists and teachers, while also greatly increasing knowledge of medieval and Tudor English history among people throughout the world. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces and an honorary Doctor of Bishop Grosseteste University.

About the event

Adored only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon, the Princess Mary grows up as the sole heiress to the English throne. But her father wants a son, and soon Mary’s world begins to fall apart. With her parents' marriage – and England – in crisis, Mary is banished from the court and kept apart from the mother she adores. The king promises to restore her to favour, but first Mary must do something for which she will never forgive herself. She seeks solace in her faith. But when her brother Edward VI dies, she finds herself fighting for the crown – and for her very life. Emerging triumphant, all seems fair for the reign of Queen Mary. And then, very quickly, things began to go badly wrong...

Alison Weir will talk about the history behind her novel, a tale full of drama and tragedy, and about the controversies that now surround this princess of such promise, who became the infamous Bloody Mary.

Tickets: Mary I: Queen of Sorrows