King's Fool

(Paperback)

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Description

When country lad Will Somers lands himself the plum position of jester to the mercurial King Henry VIII, he has no idea that he's just been handed a front-row seat to history. With a seat near the throne and an ear to the floor, Somers witnesses firsthand the dizzying power struggles and sly scheming that marked the reign of the fiery Tudor king. Somers watches the rise and fall of some of the most enigmatic women in history, including the tragic Katherine of Aragon, the doomed Anne Boleyn, and Mary Tudor, who confided in the jester as she made the best of the fragile life of a princess whom everyone wished was a prince. Based on the life of the real Will Somers, King's Fool is infused with Margaret Campbell Barnes' trademark rich detail and historical accuracy. This intimate peek into the royal chambers gives readers a unique view on one of the most tumultuous periods in English history.

Reviews

"Illuminating and flawlessly written, THE KING'S FOOL is historical fiction at its best. " - Romance Reader at Heart
"Margaret Campbell Barnes provides readers with a different view of King Henry VIII and she does a solid job at backing up her interpretation of this fascinating historical era... KING'S FOOL is brilliant!" - CK2's Kwips & Kritiques
"Thanks to Ms.Barnes, we see the King's fool, not as an accessory, a mere clown, but as a loving, non-judgemental human being, who has his share of misery and misfortune." - Reading Extravaganza
"I have read dozens of books on Tudor England, both fiction and non-fiction. I rank The King's Fool among the very best of them." - Kittling
"[T]he King's fool himself is a fascinating character and well worth the read here." - A Reader's Respite
"I'm giving this book 5 stars because it has everything I like in a historical fiction novel: solid characters (not too good or too bad), a good plot (how can you go wrong with Henry VIII and his wives), great wording and diction (not overly antiquated or too modern) and historical accuracy." - Historical-Fiction.com
"There is so much packed in this small book, that you will have a royal ride in and around the lavish court life... The author does an absolutely fantastic job is sketching out each and every person in the book. " - Give Reading a Chance Blog
"Overall, I think this is a nice work of historical fiction that definitely deserves the re-release Sourcebooks is giving it. " - Medieval Bookworm
"All in all I really liked this novel - Barnes is an excellent writer and manages to fit a lot of life into 300 pages. " - Passages to the Past
"The King's Fool is a highly enjoyable book and definitely something to check out for fans of Tudor-era historical fiction. I hope to read more of Barnes' work." - Devourer of Books
"[Margaret Campbell Barnes] is very talented at writing dialogue and at condensing large amounts of history into a short book. I would definitely like to read more of the novels that she wrote about the court of Henry VIII. " - We Be Reading
"The greatest strength of the novel is Barnes' portrayal of Henry - he is an utterly believable character: young, handsome and spoiled; middle-aged, lusty and suspicious; older, diseased and worn-out." - A Hoyden's Look at Literature
"Margaret Campbell Barnes envelopes the reader into the pages of her book. It is a compelling read and captures the period and Will Somers well. This book is hard to put down! Highly recommended!" - Historical Tapestry
"There is so much packed in this small book, that you will have a royal ride in and around the lavish court life at the times of the most popular King Henry VIII! The author does an absolutely fantastic job is sketching out each and ery person in the book, the queens are mentioned beautifully in the order they seeked the King's attention. " - I Just Finished
"A+... this book did not disappoint!" - Kylee's 2009 Blog
"this book was FANTASTIC" - Book: Thirty
"... I really loved the character of Will. He loves his childhood love faithfully, he has strong character, and he often thinks of others." - My Friend Amy
"King's Fool is a wonderful book. It has everything a historical fiction should have. " - The Girls on Books

Author Bio

The late Margaret Campbell Barnes grew up in London. Her historical novels include Brief Gaudy Hour, My Lady of Cleves, With All My Heart, Isabel the Fair, and The King's Bed.