What if Prince Arthur Tudor hadn't died? by Leah Toole
What if Prince Arthur Tudor hadn't died?
Paranoid, Tyrannical, Obsessed, Temperamental. Those are just some of the many characteristics attributed to Henry VIII, the king famous for having had six wives, beheading two of them, and creating the Church of England to obtain ultimate power. His reign is largely remembered for the scandalous and shocking choices he made during his 37-year period as King of England. But what if Henry had never gone on to become king? As the second-born son, Prince Harry - as he was known in his youth - had been spoilt and indulged by his parents, used to getting his own way, and completely unprepared to sit on the throne. He was never meant to be King. Instead, that position had originally been destined for another Tudor Prince entirely. Arthur Tudor, named after the mythical King Arthur of Camelot, had been the firstborn son of Henry VII and his Queen Consort Elizabeth of York. His birth had been viewed by the people as the physical symbol of peace within England, after a three-decades long civil war had threatened to destroy the country – ‘The Cousin’s War’, also known as ‘The War of the Roses’. Sadly, in April 1502, just a few short months after marrying his bride, the Spanish infanta Katherine of Aragon, Prince Arthur died of the infamous sweating sickness at just fifteen-years-old, leaving Katherine – and England – at the mercy of his unprepared and spoilt younger brother, Prince Harry. What followed is history. A period of time that many to this day are fascinated by. But what if Prince Arthur Tudor hadn't died? What if Arthur had survived, and gone on to be crowned King Arthur of England, as he had been born to be? Would the country face the same political, domestic, and religious struggles as it did under Henry VIII? Would Henry VIII's six famous wives face similar fates? Leah Toole explores this alternative scenario in her newest historical fiction book, where she bends the facts of history to give us a glimpse into the potential life King Arthur Tudor could have led, with Katherine of Aragon by his side, and the unknown future ahead, in 'The Rose and the Pomegranate'. In this alternative setting with a good-natured and peaceful king sitting upon the throne, England is on a very different path to, hopefully, achieving greatness. But not all is perfect during King Arthur’s reign, because life is never that simple, and Arthur faces many of his own kingly struggles; politics, war, and greed being unavoidable within any English court. This book has been described by readers as ‘a masterpiece’ in historical fiction, bringing to life a period in history which – though we are fascinated by it – we sometimes wish could have been different for the people who lived it. Well, now you, too, can delve into the life your favourite Tudor personalities might have led, in this wonderful and unique take on the popular era: in a world where Henry VIII was never king. Find ‘The Rose and the Pomegranate’ on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwells, Walmart, Foyles, and even your local library. Or get your Special Edition signed copy for the author herself from her Tiktok shop @history.with.leah
About the Author
Leah Toole published her debut historical fiction novel 'The Saddest Princess' in March 2023. Since then, she has published several more, including 'The Rose and the Pomegranate', an alternative Tudor historical fiction about what if Prince Arthur Tudor hadn't died. Though she is German born, Toole grew up in Portugal before relocating to England where she went on to study History, English Literature, English Language, and Psychology. She makes her home in England with her family and their Doberman, Nazgul.
