Carolly Erickson Books

The lives and deaths of the Romanov family are redolent with color and drama, but the personal life of the beautiful Tsarina Alexandra has remained enigmatic. Under Erickson's masterful scrutiny the full dimensions of the Empress's singular psychology are revealed: her childhood bereavement, her long struggle to attain her romantic goal of marriage to her handsome cousin Nicholas, anguishing shyness, the struggles with her in-laws, a false pregnancy, her increasing eccentricities as she became more preoccupied with matters of faith, and her growing dependence on a series of occult mentors, the most notorious of whom was Rasputin. With meticulous care, long-practiced skill, and generous imagination, Erickson has brought Alexandra and her family back to life. Taking advantage of material unavailable until the fall of the Soviet Union, Erickson portrays Alexandra's story as a closely observed, enthrallingly documented, progressive psychological retreat from reality.

Here is the tragic, stormy life of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Her story is a chronicle of courage and faith, betrayal and treachery-set amidst the splendor, pageantry, squalor, and intrigue of sixteenth-century Europe. The history of Mary Tudor is an improbable blend of triumph, humiliation, heartbreak, and devotion-and Ms. Erickson recounts it all against the turbulent background of European politics, war, and religious strife of the mid-1500s. The result is a rare portrait of the times and of a woman elevated to unprecedented power in a world ruled and defined by men.

In her powerful new book, Carolly Erickson brilliantly captures the queen’s voice, her hopes and her suffering. We follow, mesmerised, as she reveals every detail of a remarkable, eventful life – from her teenage years when she began keeping a diary to her final days when she awaited her bloody appointment with the guillotine. An historical entertainment that elaborates imaginatively and whimsically on the actual lives of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, Axel Fersen, and their peers. The Hidden Diary gives the reader the carthartic, visceral experience of reliving Marie Antoinette’s life – as fictionally elaborated. Erickson creates a memorable, sympathetic, vivid image of this Queen that she hopes will stay in the mind and heart of the reader after the book is closed. ‘Writers of historical fiction must tread a fine line between loving one’s protagonists while telling the truth about them. arolly Erickson has executed this balancing act with the same scorching wit and great-heartedness that has always illuminated her biographies.’ – Robin Maxwell, author of The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn. Carolly Erickson holds a Ph.D. in medieval history from Colombia University and was a college professor before becoming a writer. She has written many historical biographies, including The First Elizabeth, Her Little Majesty, and Alexandra.

In 1804, when Josephine Bonaparte knelt before her husband, Napoleon, to receive the imperial diadem, few in the vast crowd of onlookers were aware of the dark secrets hidden behind the imperial facade. To her subjects, she appeared to vet hew most favored woman in France: alluring, wealthy, and with the devoted love of a remarkable husband who was the conqueror of Europe. In actuality, Josephine's life was far darker, for her celebrated allure was fading, her wealth was compromised by massive debt, and her marriage was corroded by infidelity and abuse. Josephine's life story was as turbulent as the age--an era of revolution and social upheaval, of the guillotine, and of frenzied hedonism. With telling psychological depth and compelling literary grace, Carolly Erickson brings the complex, charming, ever-resilient Josephine to life in this memorable portrait, one that carries the reader along every twist and turn of the empress's often thorny path, from the sensual richness of her childhood in the tropics to her final lonely days at Malmaison.

The book offers a detailed exploration of Queen Victoria's life, highlighting her childhood, personal relationships, and her interactions with friends, family, and the public. It provides an insightful look into her character and the complexities of her reign, revealing the woman behind the crown and the societal influences that shaped her.

Exploring the life of Catherine of Aragon, this novel delves into her tumultuous marriage to Henry VIII and her role as the mother of Mary I. It highlights her strength, resilience, and the political and personal challenges she faced in a patriarchal society. The narrative offers a poignant portrayal of love, betrayal, and the quest for power, shedding light on a pivotal figure in history whose influence shaped the course of England.

Hunchbacked Richard III, the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I, and the grieving widow Victoria - often the colourful kings and queens of England seem like mere caricature, while less familiar rulers like William IV or Henry VI have faded into the shadows of history. This title covers monarchs ranging from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II.

Exploring the life of Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, this novel delves into her resilience and intelligence in a tumultuous court. As a woman navigating the dangers of the Tudor dynasty, Parr's story highlights her role not only as a queen but also as a reformer and a caregiver. The narrative intricately weaves historical events with personal struggles, showcasing her strength in a male-dominated world while offering insights into love, loss, and the pursuit of power amidst political intrigue.

In Lilibet , master biographer Carolly Erickson turns her skill at writing un-put-downable narrative to telling the remarkable story of Elizabeth II, Queen of England.With her customary psychological insight, historian Erickson traces the queen's gilded but often thorny path from her overprotected girlhood to her ascension to the throne at twenty-five to her personal and national difficulties as queen.Lilibet shows us an Elizabeth we thought we knew-but shows her in a different as a small, shy woman with a sly and at times raucous sense of humor, a woman who appears stiff in public, but in private enjoys watching wrestling on TV. A woman most at home among her horses and dogs. And a woman long annealed to heartbreak and sorrow, who has presided over the decline of Great Britain and the decline in prestige of her own Windsor dynasty.Far from being a light, gossipy treatment of a celebrity, Lilibet tells the queen's story from her point of view, letting the reader relive Elizabeth's long and eventful life with all its splendid ceremonies, momentous responsibilities and family clashes. Through it all we glimpse, as never before, the strong and appealing sovereign who has ruled over her people for half a century and more, a ruler of immense wealth, international esteem and high character whose daily life is grounded in the bedrock of common sense.

In the tumultuous late reign of Henry VIII, lively Catherine Howard captures the king's attention, unaware that her past as the lover of several men will come back to haunt her. Married to Henry, she ultimately reveals her true affections for his gentleman usher, Tom Culpeper.