In the Shadow of the King by Deborah O'Toole is a semi-fictional account of the dramatic life of Sir Francis Bryan, confidant to King Henry VIII.

 

Sir Francis Bryan was a man of letters who distinguished himself as a cipher, diplomat, poet, sailor and soldier. In addition, he was a knight bannerette, chevalier, Lord of the Tor Bryan, chief gentleman of the privy chamber, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and a gifted sportsman. He was also one of the few courtiers who escaped with his head during the reign of King Henry VIII.

"In the Shadow of the King" was released by Club Lighthouse Publishing in July 2023. Read more >

BOOK INFORMATION:

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-77217-251-5. Sold by Amazon.

E-Book ISBN: 978-1-77217-250-8. Sold by Amazon and Club Lighthouse.

E-Book BNID: 2940161100820. Sold by Barnes & Noble.

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From Chapter 47:

Whitehall Palace, 1547

THE KING hadn't eaten in two days, turning his head away from food when it was offered to him. He was ashen, clearly near his end. Francis was saddened, unwilling to lose the one man who had defined him to date. The past years flashed through his mind. Their nearly instant rapport, the trials and tribulations of mistresses and wives, the births of all his children - alive and dead - victories in battle and political finesse, legal wrangling and leisure pursuits such as hunting, jousting, games, revelry, music and dancing.

It was all about to end with a firm resoluteness.

Francis was sitting in a chair by the fireplace in the King's chamber, sipping wine and intermittently glancing at Henry.

"My end is near, Francis," the King mumbled as he stared at the ceiling from his bed. "And I am alone in it."

"I'm here, Hal. I won't leave you."

Henry sighed. "I was chosen by God to be King, but in the end I am much the same as all mortal men." He swallowed with visible struggle. "My one consolation is I will be able to see those I love again, but my dreams are haunted by those I sent to their deaths, or contributed to as such."

"Sire?"

"The Duke of Buckingham, Thomas More, Cardinal Wolsey, Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, Mark Smeaton, William Brereton, Henry Norris, Francis Weston, Nicholas Carew, Robert Aske, Thomas Cromwell, Katherine Howard, Thomas Culpepper, Francis Dereham, Margaret Pole, Anne Askew - so many others - none of them deserved to die as they did. I was a monster in the throes of my power, which could not be denied in the moment." A look of fear came across his face. "What if I go to the other place, Francis? What if I reawaken in hell rather than heaven?"

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The image of Henry VIII holding an ever-present chicken drumstick is a common stereotype of the infamous Tudor king in matters of cuisine, yet in reality the representation could not be further from the truth.

The King's Table was inspired by In the Shadow of the King, where food is often mentioned in the storyline. Authentic recipes common to the time period will include appetizers, beverages, bread & pastry, breakfast, entrees, side dishes, soups & stews, and sweets.

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Read the latest blog entries on the progress of In the Shadow of the King by Deborah O'Toole.

07/03/23: In the Shadow of the King was released by Club Lighthouse Publishing on June 30, 2023. The book is currently available in electronic format, with the paperback edition to follow shortly. More >

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