Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Portrait of an Unknown Woman: A Novel
    Portrait of an Unknown Woman: A Novel
    Portrait of an Unknown Woman: A Novel
    Audiobook14 hours

    Portrait of an Unknown Woman: A Novel

    Written by Vanora Bennett

    Narrated by Josephine Bailey

    3.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    "The year is 1527. The great portraitist Hans Holbein, who has fled the reformation in Europe, is making his first trip to England under commission to Sir Thomas More. In the course of six years, Holbein will become a close friend to the More family and paint two nearly identical family portraits. But closer examination of the paintings reveals that the second holds several mysteries..."

    Set against the turmoil, intrigue and, tragedy of Henry VIII's court, Portrait of an Unknown Woman vividly evokes sixteenth-century England on the verge of enormous change. As the Protestant Reformation sweeps across Europe to lap at England's shores, relations between her king and the Catholic Church begin to plummet-driven by Henry VIII's insatiable need for a male heir and the urgings of his cunning mistress Anne Boleyn-and heresy begins to take hold. As tensions rise, Henry VIII turns to his most trusted servant and defender of Catholic orthodoxy, Sir Thomas More, to keep peace in England, but soon the entire More family find their own lives at risk.

    At the center of Portrait of an Unknown Woman is Meg Giggs, Sir Thomas More's twenty-three year old adopted daughter. Intelligent, headstrong, and tender-hearted, Meg has been schooled in the healing arts. And though she is devoted to her family, events conspire that will cause Meg to question everything she thought she knew-including the desires of her own heart. As the danger to More and his family increases, two men will vie for Meg's affections: John Clement, her former tutor and More's protege, who shares Meg's passion for medicine but whose true identity will become unclear, and the great Holbein, whose artistic vision will forever alter her understanding of the world.

    With a striking sense of period detail, Portrait of an Unknown Woman is an unforgettable story of sin and religion, desire and deception. It is the story of a young woman on the brink of sensual awakening and of a country on the edge of mayhem.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 25, 2007
    ISBN9781400174690
    Author

    Vanora Bennett

    Vanora Bennett is a journalist and writer. She lived and worked in Russia for 7 years, writing for Reuters and the LA Times. She has been a foreign correspondent and feature writer and contributed to publications including The Times, the LA Times, the Guardian, the Observer and the Evening Standard. She lives in London with her husband and two sons. She has written two previous novels: Portrait of an Unknown Woman, Queen of Silks and Blood Royal.

    Related to Portrait of an Unknown Woman

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Controversial King

      Jan 7, 2022

      The Controversial King
      5 min read

    • Article

      Grief-stricken

      Oct 29, 2020

      Grief-stricken
      1 min read

    • Article

      TIMELINE Mary’s Turbulent Life

      Mar 19, 2020

      TIMELINE Mary’s Turbulent Life
      1 min read

    • Article

      Two Houses Divided

      Mar 27, 2020

      1390-1411 The mother of Richard Plantagenet and grandmother of King Edward IV and King Richard III, Anne de Mortimer was descended from royalty through her mother and grandparents. She died during childbirth. 1375-1415 The father of Richard Plantagen

      3 min read

    • Article

      Dawn Of A dynasty

      Aug 11, 2023

      Dawn Of A dynasty
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Windsor Saga: Two Peerless Books On The British Royal Family

      Jan 21, 2021

      The British monarchy survived an abdication crisis in the 1930s, but will the institution last beyond Queen Elizabeth II’s reign?

      3 min read

    • Article

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson

      Jul 29, 2021

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson
      4 min read

    • Article

      Princess Margaret And Me

      Oct 30, 2019

      Princess Margaret And Me
      11 min read

    • Article

      Princess Margaret And Me

      Nov 6, 2019

      Princess Margaret And Me
      11 min read

    • Article

      Victoria's Secrets

      Apr 3, 2024

      Victoria's Secrets
      4 min read

    • Article

      My Irish question

      Aug 21, 2022

      My Irish question
      11 min read

    • Article

      Storytime

      Nov 2, 2022

      The Secret World of Connie Star by Robbi Neal, HarperCollins An epic tale set between 1934 to the 1950s with four families in Ballarat. Connie is the daughter of preacher Joseph Starr and his second wife, Flora, 20 years his junior. He blames himself

      1 min read

    • Article

      Stranger Than Fiction

      Apr 12, 2024

      Stranger Than Fiction
      5 min read

    • Article

      Peace Comes With A Smile

      Nov 11, 2019

      Peace Comes With A Smile
      8 min read

    • Article

      Commonplace Book

      Jun 4, 2018

      I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. —Fred Allen I have always wondered, in reading travels, at the childish joy travellers felt at meeting people they knew, and their sense of loneliness when they did not, in

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Modest Man

      Oct 17, 2019

      The Modest Man
      5 min read

    • Article

      Bird’s Words

      Aug 7, 2023

      The other night I had a dream that I was helping a much-respected person I knew to make a large meal for 50 Big Issue vendors and staff. Things seemed to work well. Then it went badly wrong and the well-respected person got angry and threw everything

      4 min read

    • Article

      Winston Churchill

      Feb 5, 2020

      Winston Churchill
      8 min read

    • Article

      When Lizzie met Maggie

      Dec 13, 2023

      The Grim Reaper has been having a high old time of late. I've barely had a moment to keep up with my diary, I have been so busy writing letters of condolence, attending funerals and giving addresses at memorial services. I was especially saddened by

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Special Relationship

      Mar 20, 2024

      A Special Relationship
      5 min read

    • Article

      Elizabeth I: mother’s girl

      May 11, 2023

      Elizabeth I: mother’s girl
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Old Un’s Notes

      Jun 1, 2022

      The Old Un’s Notes
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Warning To The Fortean

      Jul 14, 2022

      A Warning To The Fortean
      9 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Portrait of an Unknown Woman

    3.5/5

    183 ratings19 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      An excellently written book. Another view of Henry VIII's Court. Vanessa brings the characters to life with such detail that you feel as though you are standing next to them. An especially fine effort for a first novel.
    • 2/5
      This is a very forgettable book.I know that I read it when it came out, I remember buying it, I remember reading it, I dare say, I even remember what the weather was like. Yet, I didn't remember a single thing from it when I reread it now. I am not saying that I remember every book I've ever read in its fullest, but normally some snippets do come up when the memory gets juggled, but here nothing.It starts out ok, a solid history story, we are getting to know the characters, have a little drama, a little romance, and then, there is a huge secret that gets revealed and the story turns south.I don't mind if a historical novel isn't 100% accurate, Ms Bennett wanted to make Clement into a prince ok, fine, but she told it so awkwardly that it is just a lot of confusion and head shaking. Meg who started out as a strong character turned in the end into a 21st century vindictive housewife only to change her again 180 degree on the last ten pages. I guess I don't understand that when you have a historical figure that was known for being smart and well educated, that you make her into a lovesick puppy who all of a sudden can't reason anymore?There were just too many story lines that got entangled and enmeshed and made everything into a big mess where at the end Ms Bennett did not see a good way to fix it and waved her author wand and puff, all lifelines are in tune again.The writing of the characters itself was also at times way too modern, the thought processes and the way the characters acted, which made everything even more unbelievable and less enjoyable to read.(And even though I said I don't mind inaccuracy that much, if a story gets praised for being well researched and that puts in crocheted lace into the 16th century ... makes me wonder if it was really well researched or not.)
    • 3/5
      Meg Giggs lost her mother at birth and then her father at nine. She goes to live with Thomas More's family. She feels like an outsider. She's the last of the More daughters to be married; and she marries John Clement. (his story is just as interesting.)
      Hans Holbein is hired by More to paint a family portrait. he has a painters eye and sees all the family secrets, including one about Elizabeth Dauncy, on of the sisters.
      Book is historical fiction with a lot of historical facts.
    • 3/5
      When I read the book, the expression 'You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear' repeatedly came to my thoughts. This book is basically a Harlequin romance set in the time of Sir Thomas More and Tudor England. It is the story of Thomas More's ward, Meg Giggs - her education, her interest in medicine, her relationship with her husband (is he who he seems?). The book is set during a time of religious and political upheaval. Twice, the painter Hans Holbein the Younger stays in the More home and paints a portrait of the family. The descriptions of the paintings and the clever descriptions of the hidden meanings in the paintings kept me interested and kept me reading. I even looked up the two More family paintings on-line and referred to them as I read. The rest of the book? The boy meets girl, the unrequited love, the eventual marriage, the second love interest, the happy(ish) ending? Maybe not so much.
    • 2/5
      This book tried to tell too many stories, and therefore ended up not telling any of them very well. The writing wasn’t bad, but it didn’t give me the insight into the life of Thomas More I was looking for - and don’t get me started on the character development (or I will have to break my self-imposed minimum snark rule).
    • 5/5
      In order for historical fiction to be really good, it must ring true which this certainly does. There is enough "fictionalization" to make it really interesting (yes, the premise of the two princes in the Tower may be a stretch)while at the same time leading the reader down an accurate historical path.I especially enjoyed all the background material in the back of the book. A copy of the final More Family painting would also have been helpful.I had never read anything by Vanora Bennett -- I love Sharon Kay Penman, but I would not pass by another by Bennett.
    • 5/5
      This story follows Thomas More's family during the reign of King Henry VIII. It is told through the eyes of Hans Holbein, who is invited into More's household in order to paint his family portrait and Meg Giggs, an adopted daughter.There is a lot of factual history in the book as well as some fun fictional stories.
    • 4/5
      My first time reading this author, and I loved it! If the ending hadn't felt a bit rushed, this probably would have received a perfect score. I will definitely look for more by this author -my new favorite historical!
    • 3/5
      Decent plotline, a good book in general, but it could have gotten the message across in a lot less words. I feel like there was a lot of filler in here.
    • 5/5
      What a great book! First, it is well written- easy to get lost in. Second, history has never been more alive. I learned a lot about medicine, family, art and other issues of the day. Well researched. Third, the author had great fun playing with some of the mysteries surrounding the royals and the More family. I found myself getting really excited about the historical connections and explanations. Also enjoyed that the author included factual history tidbits at the end of the book, so one could see what was fiction and what actually did happen. Cannot wait to read more Vanora Bennett. A real treat for historical fiction Anglophiles!
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. Well researched and written, it is the story of Meg Gibbs, a ward of Sir Thomas More's during the turbulent times of 15th Century England. Royalty, religion, art, secrets and romance all combine in a great story, while at the same time presenting a wonderful easy to read lesson in history. I especially liked how Vanora Bennets described the creation and intricasies of Hans Holbeins works of art and found myself researching his paintings to better understand what the author was saying. I would definitely recommend this book and intend to look for other books written by Vanora Bennet
    • 3/5
      Meg Gibbs was orphaned at an early age and became the ward of Sir Thomas More, who was soon to become Lord Chancellor of England under Henry VIII.At 22 she yearns to marry John Clements but Sir Thomas wants the man to complete his education as a physician and have a position on the College of Physicians before that can happen. And then the secrets start coming out, secrets that will change lives.John, it seems, isn't who he says he is and his real life should it become known, could cause it to come to an end. Meg turns to helping the poor and Catholic people in an era when Catholicism is becoming forbidden, but she hides it from those she loves. Sir Thomas works against his king and resigns and his life and his family's changes dramatically. Then Meg learns a truth about herself that explains many things and who is the father of her foster sister's child?Intrigue is the name of the game in Tudor England. Many are losing everything, including their lives for beliefs that are fast changing.And all this is shown in two portraits painted by Hans Holbein, an artist with a gift for painting the truth in his subjects and what truths he sees and what feelings he has for Meg - feelings that are returned, but only briefly as she discovers just how hard it would be to turn away from the family that loves her.In the author's note, the author states plainly that there is a lot more history here than in some historical novels and she gives a synopsis of what happened after the story she wove.
    • 5/5
      Clever idea and fascinating book. I spent a lot of time looking at the portrait. Well researched and pleasingly written.
    • 5/5
      Engrossing literary fiction with lots of accurate historical detail. If you like historical fiction and Jane Austen's depictions of family and social life, you will probably enjoy this novel.
    • 4/5
      a great historical read,this book takes you into the home of St Thomas Moore, and covers the time period of the several Holbein paintings of him and his family (a mystery in themselves). Thus it takes place in Tudor England and the main character is Meg Gibbs, one of the great man's foster daughters. Enjoy
    • 2/5
      Lots of history, not real good, but not real bad either. So kept reading. Life of the painter Hans Holien and his relationship with the Sr Thomas Moore family during King Henry period. Lots of secrets, and hx details. 7/20/07
    • 1/5
      Boring !The passages on Holbien's paintings were interesting but the rest was drivel.Not recommended.
    • 1/5
      Another historical page-turner which takes a turn round the household of a historical figure, seen through the eyes of a step-daughter/wife/maid/etc. Step up Meg Giggs, attempting to marry the portrait in her head of her kindly humanist step-father Thomas More with Hans Holbein's sketch of the thin-lipped heretic-burning horror he has become. But that's not enough because the family tutor and dedicatee of Utopia she has just married has turned out to be one of - wait for it! - the princes in the tower. What a lot of twaddle. I don't think we can really get into the minds of men like More - unless, perhaps, by looking to those carrying out jihad around the world? - and Meg's character's facile wrestling with what seems like a very un-Tudor faith and her husband's totally improbable history does the history no justice.
    • 5/5
      Erasmus, Holbein, Thomas More, Henry VIII - their all here. Actually, this is an engaging novel about relationships set in humanist circles in Renaissance England. Accurately portrays the period thinking and society. Main character is Margaret Clemens (nee Roper) - interestingly drawn Renaissance woman. Loved the story, though the ending was kind of a dud.