2024 52 Book Challenge - 44) Includes A Wedding

I found this book really interesting. Bryan is one of those people that you hear mentioned in the background of other books, but is rarely elaborated on, and this book really makes you feel for how he had to live his life to stay in favour with King Henry.

It is intrigue with out an untimely end. It is a lesson in historical survival. If you are a student of history, who doesn’t mind if the truth is stretched. A must read for you.

A short but interesting and informative read about a very interesting life. Francis Bryan was not someone I knew anything about and this included some interesting insights into life at the Tudor court

Let’s drive into the weird world of this person. To see the times of his birth to the times of his death. Fascinating to say the let. Like a character to jumps off the page but is real life. You can’t make this stuff up. Hard to believe that this happened in his times.

*Many thanks to Sarah-Beth Watkins, John Hunt Publishing, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Ms Watkins definitely knows how to bring a little obsure historic figure to a modern reader. Sir Francis Bryan often appears in books talking about the Tudors, yet, he is always a bit in a shoadow of his king, whom he supported thoughout his life and thanks to this wise policy he outlived Henry VIII. It is interesting to find out how he did it.
This non-ficiton is well-written, accesible to a modern reader who is not necessarily a scholar.

I had not heard of Sir Francis Bryan before, and was surprised to learn that for most of his life he was an important figure and close companion of Henry VIII. Sir Francis, unlike many of his colleagues, managed to keep on the right side of the king. He claimed to support his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn. This helped him to stay in favour.
Much of the book deals with his role in supporting King Henry, which is fascinating, but I would have liked to have seen more of an insight into Bryan’s personal life too.
I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read. The writing style made it easy to follow and I will be checking out other books by this author.
Thank you to Sarah-Beth Watkins, Net Galley and Chronos Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Francis Bryan was one of Henry VII’s most important ambassadors and also one of the very few companions who managed to stay (mostly) in favour with the ever unpredictable and fickle king. At least he didn’t lose his head - even though he was banished from court on a few occasions. He’s perhaps less well-known than some of the more flamboyant and notorious members of the court but he had a rich and busy life and this well-researched and detailed biography does him justice. However I did find it a bit dull at times, especially when intricate ambassadorial missions were being described, or military campaigns, and the constant quotes from his letters, although historically useful, slowed down the narrative. All in all, however, a good solid biography, readable and accessible.

I was fascinated by Sir Francis Bryan: Henry VIII's Most Notorious Ambassador. I thought it was a good and quick read. I am giving it four and a half stars.

A well researched book the one of histories most famous ambassadors, easy to read with lots of new insights I recommend for any Tudor history lover

Watkins again provides us with a well research biography, this time, Sir Francis Bryan, ambassador and companion of Henry VIII. Whilst many around were losing their heads, Bryan managed to keep his by managing to stay in tune with Henry's own opinions.

His relationship to Anne Boleyn interested me - many were interested in promoting her for their own benefit, yet quickly abandoned her to save their own skins.

I enjoyed this biography on one of the lesser, yet rather more interesting, characters of the Tudor court.

This is a very factual book about this diplomat and soldier, who was nicknamed the 'Vicar of Hell' because he liked womanising and drinking. It's hard to feel as if you really know what he was like from reading the book, but it is filled with interesting details about the sixteenth century, Henry's court and Sir Francis's heavy involvement in The Great Matter, and it includes extracts from letters and other documents.



I enjoyed it, but not as much as the author's other books.



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Subtitled Henry VIII’s Most Notorious Ambassador, the book takes us through Sir Francis Bryan’s life beginning with his arrival at court at a young age, when he and his brother-in-law Nicholas Carew became close companions of the king, and ending with his final days in Ireland. In the years between, he held a number of positions at Henry’s court including Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, Master of the Toils, Master of the Henchmen and Chief Cupbearer, as well as carrying out diplomatic missions to France and Rome. He was also, at various times, a soldier, sailor, cipherer, poet and translator. However, his greatest skill seems to have been his ability to keep the king happy and tell him what he wanted to hear, keeping his head while those around him, including his cousins Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, were not so fortunate. Some people saw this as lacking principles, others as common sense and self-preservation.

This is a short book and a very quick read, with the author sticking mainly to the facts and rarely providing any analysis or deeper insight into Francis Bryan’s actions or character. Nicknamed The Vicar of Hell and known for his love of wine, women and gambling and his reputation as ‘a rake and a libertine’, I had initially expected him to be a fascinating character to read about, but I felt that he never really came to life on the page at all. I suppose it depends on the type of non-fiction you like – other reviews of this book are glowingly positive – but I found it a bit dry and not quite what I’d been hoping for.

Despite the book being so short, it does appear to have been thoroughly researched and contains a large amount of factual information. The author draws on primary sources such as letters and often reproduces large chunks of them in the text. However, in many cases I didn’t feel that the letters added much to my understanding of Francis Bryan – sometimes he is only briefly referred to once or twice and the rest of the letter is not particularly relevant. Without these long excerpts, though, the book would have been even shorter and less substantial, and the letters do still have value if you’re interested in the Tudor period in general.

Overall, this book has given me a good overview of what Francis Bryan did and achieved, even though it isn’t the more personal sort of biography I prefer. I appreciate that there’s a limit to what we actually know about Bryan, though. We don’t even have any idea what he looked like; in 1526, he lost an eye during a jousting tournament and after that wore an eye patch which, as Watkins tells us, could have explained why he never allowed any portraits to be painted.

This is a very detailed delve into a character who at best was peripheral to the transitions in what has been described as the Tudor Revolution. The desperation to get a son by Henry VIII meant a turbulence both in England and without. Sir Francis Bryan, was not untalented nor was he particularly remarkable. He could have been a martyr or committed gross crimes. He did neither, but survived when so many fell. This book by Sara-Beth Watkins shows the man and the time. In all due respect to the author this is an excellent biography of a very mediocre figure. For this reason one should read it, it fleshes out a picture of the period like nothing else I've read. Its clear and well researched, readable and informative.

The book Sir Francis Bryan by Sarah-Beth Watkins offers an informative and different approach to the King Henry VIII period. The book presents a different approach to the historical background that played out during the 16th century and concentrated on the role Sir Francis Bryan played in the British court. Also, the relationships developed and the impacts because of his actions when at court.

I enjoyed the storyline because the author invested significant effort to research the historical events but to describe the diplomatic role played by the main character. Each chapter offered a detailed and interesting insight into Henry VIII's wives, their frustrations, challenges and relationship with Sir Bryan.

Bookshelves offer many versions of the King Henry VIII history and events that sometimes become overwhelming. This book keeps the reader from becoming disinterested with an overload of data, Sarah-Beth captured the historical events in a meaningful way which I appreciated. Sir Francis Bryan offers reading material to the history lovers but also individuals who want to learn from the historical characters and events that played out.

I recommend this book to history lovers or people who generally enjoy reading about the King Henry VIII saga.

The book was well written and engaging. The author's passion for the topic was highly evident in every section.

It is always a great pleasure to read Sarah-Beth Watkins’ books. They are always well written and extremely researched. This time she gave an exhaustive portrait of Sir Francis Bryan, Henry VIII’s main ambassador and one of his closest companions. He served the king throughout his life at court and abroad with his diplomatic missions in France and Scotland that helped to prevent war.
Some critical voices were truly exasperated to realize that Sir Francis Bryan and a band of minions were circulating in the Henrician court and thought they exerted too much control over their sovereign.
Sir Francis Bryan was also among those who helped the king in his break with Rome after Henry VIII’s request of divorce was opposed by the Pope. He helped his king with his negotiations to solve the case, but we don’t know if he opposed his decision. Sir Francis Bryan swore the oath of loyalty under the Act of Supremacy, accepting the king’s new role as Head of the Church in England and Wales, because he never went against Henry’s will and whatever he felt he kept to himself. He had lived to serve his king and had adapted to the changes that occurred during his reign.
It is very surprising to read that Sir Francis Bryan was also a patron of the arts, a translator and a poet as Francis Meres indicates in his Palladis Tamia, Wits Treasury, including him alongside other great poets such as Wyatt, Spenser, Daniel, Drayton and Shakespeare.
To sum up, Sarah-Beth Watkins’ book describes magisterially how Sir Francis Bryan had survived where many others hadn’t in a court where vengeance and hatred were very frequent and his loyalty was rarely in question, even when Edward VI succeeded his father and excluded him from his first parliament.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Sara-Beth Watkins is a successful and popular author. She is an autodidact and grew up in Surrey, England. During her childhood she was drawn to the subjects of history and writing. Following a career as a tutor of the written word, she branched out to professional writing. Her early works were successful, and they focused on self-help. The success of her initial releases inspired here to combine her childhood interests and the result has been an avalanche of superb historic works of littérature.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Those who enjoy historic literature in general or Tudor history, in particular, may enjoy this manuscript. Scholars or academics studying college courses in history may find Sir Francis Bryan very useful.

SYNOPSIS

Sir Francis Bryan is a comprehensive and detailed life of a Tudor aristocrat. The period referred to by the title is from 1490 when Francis Bryan was born to his death in 1550. The volume explores the life and times of Bryan; his heritage, Knighthood, and other heraldic awards acquired during King Henry’s monarchy and thereafter.

Bryan was a loyal functionary of not just one monarch but several Royal Houses during his lifetime. He was very well rewarded for his friendship and his loyalty. However, the rewards were all too often depleted by the demands placed upon him by the very sovereign that accorded them to him. ‘The Field of the Cloth of Gold (June 1520)’ is where Bryan paid more than the King for the much-heralded celebration. A celebration that preceded The Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530’s.

Watkins has managed to take a character and present the man behind the myth. There is a genuine sense of him, his personality and his human failings. We are left in no doubt that he was a ‘man’s man’ that is to say someone who works hard, plays hard, and likes to chase the ladies.

Bryan lived at a time in English history that saw momentous constitutional and religious changes. A period of great upheaval, wars, religious inspired pogroms and strife. It was a time that friendship nor marriage alone could guarantee your safety. It is safe to assume that Bryan was blessed with what would be labeled today as a considerable degree of social intelligence. He navigated his way successfully across several monarchs’ rule, and survived.

Whilst Watkins has provided us a comprehensive and detailed biography through extensive research, she has avoided the licentious and depraved aspects of Bryans life’s choices. There is a hint of his lascivious tastes, but an accurate account is missing. There is no doubt as to Bryan’s skills in diplomacy, aided by his knowledge of several languages, “savoir faire” in his mandated tasks. Bryan cleverly negotiates the daily dangers of court life and of managing the expectations of his close friend and King. He used his personality, confidence, intelligence and elan, to communicate truth to power and maintain his head.

Watkins has produced a concise and broad ranging personal history in a succinct format. The book holds together well, and it is suffused with material.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant skill in writing historic biographies and maintaining a pace that holds the reader’s attention. This skill is even more admirable when taken into consideration the vast gaps in the historic record for a person’s daily life experiences. This lack of accurate information is true even of those in close contact with the monarchs.

Sara-Beth Watkins has managed to write yet another captivating, informative and entertaining read.

Sir Francis Bryan includes monochrome pictures, references, a bibliography and an Appendix.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My sincere thanks go to: Sara-Beth Watkins (Author), NetGalley, and the Publisher (Chronos Books) for affording me the opportunity to review Sir Francis Bryan: Henry VIII’s Most Notorious Ambassador.

Very good! This probably won't appeal to those that want all the nitty gritty details about Bryan, but this is concise and very interesting. The author writes very well and in a friendly style, and does solid research. I'll have circle back to some of her other work. Recommended.

Thanks very much for ARC!!

Another highly rated book from Sarah- Beth Watkins, I'm really enjoying increasing my knowledge of a favourite historical period, and realising that when history is this interesting, school lessons are more satisfying!.
I had heard of Sir Francis Bryan, or Brian sometimes, the English language and spellings were still evolving, but never in this detail, he became a real person!. To be a close friend of King Henry the v111, and to be related to three of his Queens, is an achievement, and clearly shows his talent in making sure no scandal sticks to his person. He appeared to be the perfect courtier, who knew who to befriend and betray. Each chapter deals with a particular life stage, from being an intimate to the King, a foreign ambassador to France, a soldier in England putting down revolts, and fighting in Scotland, to his last mission to Ireland where he died, and is buried. I particularly loved the detailed letters that showed some of his flair in tricky diplomatic issues. He was a trusted statesman, and seemed to have been very tactful in telling the King what was prudent for his safety, and advantageous in that he might benefit from further titles, honours, land and properties, and money! He seemed to have been always in debt, and usually enjoying a drink or two of wine!! The Tudor period is interesting,in that, most of what we know now, has its roots in this time period. The confusion of most names being Henry, Thomas or Edward is also apparent with the females being mostly Mary, Elizabeth, Anne and Catherine, this book does help sort out which one is being referenced at a particular time!
This book is a dream guide of leading Tudor figures and the spider web of family connections, that cause so much confusion! Full of the intrigues, scandals and interesting facts that are not taught in schools, which is such a pity! This book helps to put you in the mindset of the Tudor court and its daily routines and perils. I find myself to be quite fond of The Vicar of Hell, and heartily recommend this book as a five star read.

“Bryan was an astute courtier and knew who to keep on side and when to step away from those about to fall...”

Sarah-Beth Watkins’ short story about one of Henry VIII’s intimate childhood friend was a pleasure to add to my ever-growing knowledge about this time period. To me, it fits another piece into a large Tudor puzzle. I haven’t found many books about the earlier people that surround Henry VIII, beside the more famous Wolsey and the like.
The layout of Sir Francis Bryan is simpler to Hourly History short stories. You know you will get a good timeline and the slight difference is the way Sarah-Beth writes. She writes enthusiastically, pulling out Sir Francis Bryan’s character and she uses minimal details to create fantastic scenes; such as his tunic detailing when he jousted in the Gold of Fields. There are passages from correspond letters/journal entries that add another element to make it a bit more personal and more touchable.
I enjoyed learning more of the other individuals that surrounded and made up the court of Henry VIII. It makes them step out of the shadows and see them for who they are: a person. I am looking forward to reading about the other people that Sarah-Beth have brought into the light. I would love to read a historical fiction of Sir Francis Bryan.