Book Launch Spotlight:Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker, by Lauren Johnson

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Survivor. Rebel. Conspirator. Mother and grandmother of kings. Margaret Beaufort was one of the most remarkable and influential women of the Middle Ages.

Born the daughter of the Duke of Somerset into a century of conflict, and a descendant of Edward III, she was married at twelve; a mother, orphan and widow at thirteen; and rode the vicissitudes of the Wars of the Roses, and two further marriages, to see her only son Henry ascend the throne of England as the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty. She helped to bring about the marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York, a union that helped heal the wounds of a bitterly divided nation.

During Henry's reign, she exerted considerable influence at court, and played a part in the upbringing of her grandson, the future Henry VIII.She was a lifelong artistic patron and supporter of academia. In old age she founded a professorship of divinity and two colleges at Cambridge University. By the time of her death in June 1509, she had outlived by two months the son whose birth fifty-two years previously had so nearly killed her.

Lauren Johnson's life of Margaret Beaufort brings its subject vividly and memorably to life. She delineates the decades of political upheaval that were the backdrop to her long and resilient career, and highlights the shrewdness that kept her afloat amid the churning waters of a brutal civil war, but she also tells Margaret's story with a profound and touching humanity. 

This was a woman whose body had to endure the trauma of childbirth when she was little more than a child; who saw her baby boy on only a handful of occasions before he reached manhood; who braved decades of danger and uncertainty, but succeeded in guiding her son – through courage, political astuteness and sheer persistence – to the greatest prize of all: the crown of England.

Praise for Lauren Johnson

"Lauren Johnson is a terrific guide to a country on the brink of profound and permanent change, connecting everyday life with the thrust of great political events. This is a gripping and important work from a talented new writer." ― Dan Jones

"An excellent, immersive description of 1509, the first year of Henry VIII’s kingship. A treat for anyone interested in Tudor daily life. Those wishing for more detail on the court of Henry VIII could read this work alongside the titles of Alison Weir to great advantage." ― Library Journal

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About the Author

Lauren Johnson is a public historian and author of works including the critically acclaimed Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI. Lauren graduated with a first-class degree in history and an MSt in medieval historical research from Wadham College, Oxford University. Her thesis explored the impact of the Wars of the Roses on women. She is currently studying for an AHRC-funded collaborative doctorate with Manchester Metropolitan University and the National Archives investigating 'Refugees, Religion and Diplomacy in Early Modern Europe'. With a passion for restoring marginalised narratives to our history, she has worked in heritage since 2008 and acted as historical consultant for creative and heritage producers including Historic Royal Palaces, Wellcome Library, Sky History, Dante or Die and the Royal Shakespeare Company. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.  Find out more at Lauren's website http://www.lauren-johnson.com/ and find her on Twitter and Bluesky @historylauren.bsky.social