“The Six Wives of Henry VIII” by Alison Weir is the fascinating history and chronology of the court of Henry VIII, his love life and court intrigue.

Mr. Hoskins takes familiar aspects of the age, and peels them back to look at how people functioned within England during the time of Henry VIII

Lux by Elizabeth Cook – a retelling of Books 1 & 2 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible, the story of King David, how it applied to King Henry VIII, and poet Thomas Wyatt

Dissolution by C.J. Sansom is a fiction novel set during the reign on Henry VIII in the year 1537. The author sets out to tell a tale of murder, and deceit

Favorite book quotes from this week, including Lionel Shriver, Charles Cumming, Alison Weir, Michael Korda, Tom Franklin, and Stacy Schiff

Most of these gems are well known, but I think the authors would have done well if they were more discreet, anyone can say a comeback, but there is an art in doing it like Churchill or Lincoln. Unfortunately many of today’s politicians that are quoted in this book are not anymore witty than the average middle school student, and some are less.

Niccolò Machiavelli (3 May, 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian writer, playwright, poet, historian and diplomat, known for his groundbreaking book The Prince.

I truly enjoyed Ms. Mantel’s writing, it is sharp, distinct and lively. The portrayal of the characters is excellent and they all come to life in her hands

The security men had advised against it. Or at least Greeley had. But Greeley advised against most things. Like taking walks, sitting by open windows, and eating in restaurants. He’d be against meltwater, Synthate shopping, and visiting pleasure parlors, if he thought anyone would pay attention. The secret to getting along with Greeley was to listen to his advice, nod, then do whatever it was you planned on doing. Only do it when he wasn’t looking. Greeley wasn’t looking now, so Martin Reynolds slid his hand around Betsy’s waist. “Don’t!” Her hand met his. “You’ll crush my wings.” “I’m sorry, my angel.” Her wings were little lacy ones, extending out from the back of her tightly fitted white dress. Reynolds slid his arm down the side of his wife’s thigh instead. The big clock on the wall chimed eleven, barely audible over the sound of the band. What Greeley had advised against was Seeks. A silly game, really, Reynolds thought. An adult version of hide-and-seek. One that rich people played at the lavish parties Bruce Livingston had been throwing inside his Fifth Avenue mansion for years. Reynolds had known Livingston since undergrad. Livingston had gone on to become a senator,…

Scandalous Women: The Lives and Loves of History’s Most Notorious Women by Elizabeth Kerri Mahon – A book dedicated to women in a short biographical chapter