16th Century | england-history

Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer (1501-1533)

Fifteen-year-old Catherine of Aragon, youngest child of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, is betrothed to the fragile Prince Arthur, son of England’s King Henry VII. After Arthur’s death, Catherine is banished for years to a castle in an isolated part of England. Her only hope lies in Prince Henry, Arthur’s younger brother.

Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer (1520-1536)

After being abroad for seven years, thirteen-year-old Anne returns to the English court of Henry VIII. Fascinated by the king and exceedingly jealous of her sister whom is the king's mistress, Anne makes up her mind that she will not be bested by her beautiful sister. Dark like a gypsy, thin, and slightly marred by an unsightly mole and the bud of an extra finger, Anne passes the time with her court flirtations; but all the while she never forgets her goal---to become Queen of England.

The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell (1524)

Set during another period of "Black Death." A sixteen-year-old boy, Tom, and his uncle smuggle Tyndale's new English translation of the Bible into England. What started out as profitable gain for both, changed for Tom as he came to know William Tyndale. Based upon a historical event and actual characters such as King Henry VIII and Sir Thomas More.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer (1527-1536)

The story begins when Mary is eleven-years-old and is betrothed to the King of France. As the story moves along, Mary realizes that there are worse things in life than being betrothed to someone that you don't love. Her father, King Henry VIII, has fallen madly in love with a bewitching woman and has banished Mary and her mother from court, forbidding them to see one another as well. This story gives you the flip side of the "Bloody Mary" that is so often depicted in history texts.

The Queen's Smuggler by Dave and Neta Jackson (1535)

Set in London, England. William Tyndale, who is translating the New Testament into the common man's language, has been captured and imprisoned for refusing to stop his work. Meanwhile, a thirteen-year-old girl named Sarah has been asked by Queen Anne to be a maid-in-waiting. Sarah eventually accepts hoping to get the New Testament to Queen Anne so she can show it to her husband. Perhaps if the king reads it, he will spare Tyndale's life.

The Nine Days Queen by Karleen Bradford (1545-1554)

Set in England during the reign of Edward VI. This is an abridged version of The Nine Days Queen. Lady Jane Grey, great-niece of King Henry VIII, is a pawn in the hands of wicked evildoers. She is only fifteen, and she faces death on the grounds of high treason.

Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer (1547-1558)

King Henry VIII has just died; and thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth abides the unsettling years of her half-brother, Edward, and then the dangerous and worrisome years of her half-sister, Mary. Now imprisoned by her sister, Elizabeth waits out these final years until the day that she will be crowned Queen of her beloved country, England.

Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease (1589)
Set during the reign of Elizabeth I. A young teenage boy is pursued by a ruthless enemy but finds refuge with a travelling theatre group. Trouble still follows him to London where he and his friend meet with and become apprentices to William Shakespeare.

Isabel: Taking Wing by Annie Dalton (1592)
Twelve-year-old Isabel longs for adventure outside the walls of her wealthy home on the north side of the Thames in London. One day she gets her wish but with it comes a price tag. When she is banished to her aunt’s estate in the country, Isabel anticipates an even more dreary and uneventful life. Danger, adventure, an unusual aunt, and even the plague, forever change the life of a young girl who yearns to be free in a time when women of her station were to be seen and not heard.

Plots and Players by Pamela Melnikoff (1593-1594)
The Lopez Conspiracy
Set in London, England. This fast paced and very interesting story is about the Jewish community in England during the times of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. The story focuses on the experiences of the Fernandez family and in particular, Robin, who is twelve years old. Intrigue, suspense, intolerance, prejudice, and danger are all the ingredients that go into the making of this time period. But hope, love, truth, humour, and courage are the culminating virtues that bring this story to its conclusion.

I Will Adventure by Elizabeth Janet Gray (1596)
A twelve-year-old boy from the country becomes a page to his uncle who lives in London. His dreams of adventure in the big city soon become a disillusionment, but he gradually begins to mature and to sort through what is important and what is not. Set against a well researched background of Shakespeare's England.

Bartholomew Fair by Mary Stolz (1597)

Set in London. This story revolves around the lives of six people who will be visiting Bartholomew Fair on the last day. The setting of this story has been beautifully recreated to give you a richly laid out picture of this event. Set during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Historical Fiction of England