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The King's Curse

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The King's Curse

By: Philippa Gregory
Narrated by: Bianca Amato
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE FAIRMILE SERIES, PHILIPPA GREGORY, COMES THIS RIVETING NOVEL ABOUT THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF MARGARET POLE

'Margaret's story is shocking, deeply moving… the depiction of Henry VIII's transformation from indulged golden boy to sinister tyrant is perfect pitched' Sunday Express

They trust her to watch the House of Tudor rise… Only she knows it will fall.

Heir to the Plantagenets, Margaret Pole, is a rival claimant to the Tudor throne. Buried in marriage to a loyal Tudor supporter, she becomes guardian to Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon.

But her destiny is not for a life in the shadows. Tragedy throws Margaret into poverty, yet the king's death restores her to a place at young Henry VIII's court, as a lady in waiting to Queen Katherine.

As the Tudor court sours, Margaret has to choose between her allegiance to the increasingly tyrannical King Henry, or to her friend, his abandoned queen. And Margaret is hiding a deadly secret… that a curse was cast on the Tudor line, and she is watching it come to pass.

Praise for Philippa Gregory:

‘Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form’ Good Housekeeping

‘Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer… all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men’ Sunday Times

‘Engrossing’ Sunday Express

‘Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told’ The Times Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Medieval Royalty Women's Fiction Romance Renaissance War
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Critic reviews

'The book’s greatest strength is its first-hand, fascinating yet horrifying view of Henry VIII’s transition from handsome young prince to monstrous tyrant. . . . Gregory takes us beyond the seductive trappings of historical detail and makes us feel the terror of what living through that turbulent period might have been like' Miami Herald

'Without a doubt, Gregory has made another powerful addition to the genre (so much so that I hesitate to even call it historical fiction). This historian’s extensive knowledge of the English monarchy truly brings this famous story to life' The Sun News (Myrtle Beach)

'An excellent addition to the Tudor royalty genre, not only for its unique perspective, but also the easy flow of the narrative and the intriguing complexities of characters’ personalities' Historical Novel Society
'Infuses vitality into an oft-forgotten player in the aftermath of the War of the Roses—Margaret Poole, heiress to the defeated Plantagenet clan' Closer
'Margaret’s story is shocking, deeply moving and offers an alternative view on a much-told tale. Gregory is on form here; her depiction of Henry VIII’s transformation from indulged golden boy to sinister tyrant is perfectly pitched and seems more horrific still when we are made intimate witnesses to the devastation of Margaret’s family. . . . I defy anyone to remain dry-eyed as the story reaches its tragic denouement' The Sunday Express (UK)
'A gripping and detailed chronicle, with plenty of court intrigue and politics to spice up the action . . . . Highly recommended' Library Journal (starred review)
'Nobody does dynastic history like Gregory' Booklist
'Gregory manages to keep us in suspense as to what will befall her characters....Under her spell, we keep hoping history won't repeat itself' Kirkus Reviews
'An illuminating portrait. . . Gregory moves confidently through a tangle of intrigue, revenge, and tyranny toward a shocking betrayal' Publishers Weekly
'Loyalties are torn, paranoia festers and you can almost hear the bray of royal trumpets as the period springs to life. It’s a bloody irresistible read' People Magazine
'Bring on the blood, sex and tears! . . . You name it, it's all here' USA Today
All stars
Most relevant

What did you like most about The King's Curse?

I love the portrayal of Margaret Pole, as she is very much dismissed throughout history, as a defiant single mother who does what she needs to do to survive in such a turbulent time. Phillipa Gregory has portrayed her exactly how I would have imagined her to be and writes with such conviction you really feel like you're living her life as you're listening.

What did you like best about this story?

Margaret's defiance throughout, from leaving Reginald with the monks so she could survive, to her extremely undignified death.

Which character – as performed by Bianca Amato – was your favourite?

Margaret with out doubt. Bianca really helps the character come to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

This story is a thrilling tale as a result of the Wars of the Roses. From the sudden loss of her husband leaving her vulnerable to her regaining her rightful title and her ability to adapt to any situation. Margaret Pole is truly one of the most formidable characters that survived the Cousins war to be executed by the suspicious tyrant Henry VIII. I've listened to this title 3 times now and will definitely be listening again very soon.

Perfect Narration for a perfect story

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Phillipa Gregory really does bring history to life. I have learned so much through reading/listening to her books than I ever did at school. It is sickening what Henry VIII got away with and the way women were used by greedy men. It must have been awful to have been Margaret Pole going through life always worrying if any of her loved ones would end up in the Tower - I hadn't realised before how many deaths Henry VIII was responsible for.

Brings history to life

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I loved the story again and it's a great way to find out more about history, particularly the Courtenay family who still live close by. I found the narration slightly annoying with mispronunciation of several place names, but overall really liked it.

Another great book

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Fantastic I felt as if I was there. Narrator has the most beautiful voice ...very very good.

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Philippa Gregory has out done herself . Totally gripping from beginning to end! Narrator not the best just okay.

Couldn't put it down!

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