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1500s: The Tudors, the ravens and that iconic Tower of London…
The Lady of the Ravens
What you need to know before your trail
My baptismal name may be Giovanna but here in my mother’s adopted country I have become plain Joan; I am not pink-cheeked and golden-haired like the beauties they admire. I have olive skin and dark features – black brows over ebony eyes and hair the colour of a raven’s wing…
When Joan Vaux is sent to live in the shadow of the Tower of London, she must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of this new England under the Tudors. Like the ravens, Joan must use her eyes and her senses, if Henry and his new dynasty are to prosper and thrive …
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Discover the world of the Tudors and the Tower of London
The world of the Tudors is endlessly fascinating and the Tower of London is an iconic part of the country’s history. The ravens which live at the tower are just as iconic. They play a great role in the story as they represent stability and loyalty:
“We sing the praises of noble birds like eagles and falcons but yesterday I had the privilege of spending time in the company of a gathering of ravens at the Tower of London,’ he began ” I believe some people call such a gathering ‘an unkindness’ or a ‘conspiracy’ but these black birds, so often harried and hated, showed me no evidence of wickedness or scheming; they displayed characteristics and traits of the sort God only grants to the highest of His creations.”
There is a legend that if the ravens leave the Tower, the walls will crumbled and the kingdom will fall….
“We men envy birds their capacity to flu, not only because it enables them to look down on the earth and see our faults and weaknesses but also because it takes them nearer to Heaven than we can ever hope to get in life, placing them high in God’s favour.”
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Lady of the Ravens
Destination: London Author/Guide: Joanna Hickson Departure Time: 1500s
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