'A fascinating recreation of the Tower as the life-and-death blood of the nation' – Oxford Times
Serving as both a palace and a prison, the Tower of London has been at the centre of more intrigue, terror and crucial turning points in history than any other site in England. Diehl and Donnelly take us behind the grim, grey walls which circumscribe England's greatest fortress to discover true stories of the rebels, rogues, despots, lovers, spies and conmen who lived or were held captive there, and whose various, strange fates have added to the Tower's sinister reputation. It is a place where court intrigues, clandestine liaisons, gruesome tortures and grisly executions took place with frightening regularity.
Tales from the Tower of London is more than the factual history of a great building; it is storytelling at its best. The fifteen stories in this book are made all the more poignant by the fact that they are all true and focus on individuals royal and common, good and bad, heroic and villainous, who lived, loved, plotted and died there.
The characters you will meet include:
William the Conqueror
Richard II and the forlorn 'Princes in the Tower'
Wat Tyler
Lady Jane Grey
Guy Fawkes
Colonel Thomas Blood
Henry Laurens
Sir Roger Casement
Whether you are a lover of history, adventure, intrigue and romance, or just appreciate a ripping good yarn, you will find Tales from the Tower of London a classic page turner.
DANIEL DIEHL and Mark P. Donnelly are social and cultural historians who have collaborated together on a number of books and television programmes, including the series Tales from the Tower on which their book is based.
MARK P. DONNELLY and Daniel Diehl are social and cultural historians who have collaborated together on a number of books and television programmes, including the series Tales from the Tower on which their book is based.