Alison Weir (historian)
Encyclopedia
Alison Weir is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British royalty.
, England
. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs
. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college
.
Weir married Rankin Weir in 1972, and has two children, John (born 1982) and Kate (born 1984).
(1537–1554). Her second novel is The Lady Elizabeth which deals with the life of Queen Elizabeth I
before her ascension to the throne. It was published in 2008 in the United Kingdom
and United States
. Her newest novel, The Captive Queen, was released in the summer of 2010 and is about Eleanor of Aquitaine
.
On 4 February 2009, at a book-reading in Houston, Texas
, Weir announced she will have a new book released in the United Kingdom covering the last four months of Anne Boleyn's
life. The Lady in The Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn was released in October 2009. She also revealed that she currently has two more biographies and two novels in the works.
Traitors of the Tower is a novella written by Weir and published on World Book Day 2010. Working with Quick Reads and Skillswise
, Weir has recorded the first chapter as a taster and introduction to get people back into the habit of reading.
Personal life
She lives in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college
Teacher training college
A teacher training college is a college of higher education that specialises in training students to be teachers.Many universities offer similar facilities, a number of which acquired their provision by taking over a teacher training college or by a teacher training college evolving into a...
.
Weir married Rankin Weir in 1972, and has two children, John (born 1982) and Kate (born 1984).
Publications
Weir retains a wide following of loyal readers. All of her books are best-sellers in the UK. In 2007, she completed her first novel Innocent Traitor, based on the life of Lady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
(1537–1554). Her second novel is The Lady Elizabeth which deals with the life of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
before her ascension to the throne. It was published in 2008 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Her newest novel, The Captive Queen, was released in the summer of 2010 and is about Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
.
On 4 February 2009, at a book-reading in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Weir announced she will have a new book released in the United Kingdom covering the last four months of Anne Boleyn's
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
life. The Lady in The Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn was released in October 2009. She also revealed that she currently has two more biographies and two novels in the works.
Traitors of the Tower is a novella written by Weir and published on World Book Day 2010. Working with Quick Reads and Skillswise
Skills for life
Skills for Life is the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language and numeracy skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001....
, Weir has recorded the first chapter as a taster and introduction to get people back into the habit of reading.
Nonfiction
- The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1991)
- The Princes in the TowerPrinces in the TowerThe Princes in the Tower is a term which refers to Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville alive at the time of their father's death...
(1992) - Lancaster and York - The Wars of the RosesWars of the RosesThe Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
(1995) - Children of England: The Heirs of King Henry VIII (1996, later reissued as The Children of Henry VIII)
- ElizabethElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, The Queen (1998) - Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France and of England...
: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England (1999) - Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
: The King and His Court (2001) - Britain's Royal FamiliesGenealogy of the British Royal FamilyThe recorded genealogy of the British Royal Family traces back to the early Middle Ages. Although there is no strict legal or formal definition of who is or is not a member of the Royal Family, and different lists will include different people, those carrying the style His or Her Majesty or His or...
: The Complete Genealogy (latest edition, 2002) - Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord DarnleyHenry Stuart, Lord DarnleyHenry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
(2003) - IsabellaIsabella of FranceIsabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England (2005) - Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous DuchessKatherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous DuchessKatherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess is a biography of Katherine Swynford written by Alison Weir and published in 2007...
(2007) - The Lady in the Tower (2009)
- Traitors of the Tower (2010)
- The Ring and the Crown: A History of Royal Weddings (2011)
- Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings (2011)
Fiction
- Innocent TraitorInnocent TraitorInnocent Traitor is a historical novel by Alison Weir, published in 2007. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for 9 days in 1553.-Summary:...
: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey (2007) - The Lady Elizabeth (2008)
- The Captive Queen (2010)