Bright Shadow-bookcover

By: Jan Middleton

Bright Shadow

Pages: 564 Ratings: 5.0
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This is the story of Katherine Plantagenet, self-proclaimed “daughter, sister and aunt of kings” who endures extraordinarily traumatic reversals of fortune, as her life swings through wealth and adversity.  A glittering future as an English princess is swept away by the untimely death of her father, Edward IV, and the usurpation of her brother Edward V's throne. Surrounded by murderous intrigue, conspiracy and ambition, Katherine and her sisters fear what lies in store … The pragmatic marriage of the eldest, Bessy, to the victor of Bosworth, Henry Tudor, brings an uneasy peace to Katherine's young life but the shadows of suspicion and rebellion continue to swirl around her.  


Katherine witnesses first hand the events that plague her brother-in-law's reign. As a political expedient, she is given in marriage to William Courtenay, heir to the Earl of Devon, but Henry Tudor's paranoia soon falls upon her beloved young husband who is imprisoned in the Tower. An intelligent and resilient woman, in a world where men hold all the power, Katherine fights her way alone through a tense decade that ends in personal tragedy. With a vow of celibacy as her chosen route of self-preservation, Katherine continues to tread a wary path of survival ... until the charming Benedict Haute enters her life. However, the failure of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon to produce a living son changes the way any Plantagenet is viewed by the king; Katherine knows her royal blood could cause trouble for her family.

A descendant of Huguenots and Essex smugglers, Jan Middleton has a degree in English Literature from London University and has taught to A level in state and independent schools, always endeavouring to open her students' eyes to the cultural, social and historical contexts of novels, plays and poetry. She has a passion for writing, history and music and enjoys discovering stories from the past through meticulous research. Jan lives in a 17th century thatched cottage in an ancient Devon village with her family and Black Labrador.  

Customer Reviews
5.0
1 reviews
1 reviews
  • Mrs M Longthorne

    Just finished Bright Shadow, excellent book, people only seem to write about Princes in the Tower, and although obviously this was mentioned, totally different outlook to it, also the style of writing was a new concept for me, really enjoyed it

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