Author Talk with Tracy Borman

Tracy Borman joins us for an evening to celebrate the release of her new book, The House of Boleyn!

Uncover the secrets of the Boleyn family with Tracy Borman, Chief Historian at the Historic Royal Palaces.

In this richly illustrated talk, Tracy uncovers the real history that inspired her novel and takes the audience behind closed doors to explore the Boleyn’s as they’ve never been seen before.

• Date: Thursday 23 April
• Time: 7pm
• Venue: St Nicholas Church, Rectory Ln, Sevenoaks TN13 1JA
• Tickets: from £15

Tracy Borman proves yet again that she is at the top of her field... Borman is in complete command of the vast source material...Masterful, and hugely impressive, this is one Tudor book you must not miss!' Alison Weir

'Tracy Borman introduces us to a new character in Anne Boleyn's story: Hever Castle itself. Amidst the comings and goings inside the castle walls we witness Anne's meteoric rise and terrifying fall, while also sharing in the trials and triumphs of a compelling cast of characters. Beautifully written, Borman turns a familiar story on its head and takes you deep into the Tudor world. This is historical fiction at its best' Elizabeth Norton

'Think you know the story of the Boleyns? Think again. With an expert eye for detail and beautiful characterisation, Tracy Borman takes her readers on an epic journey back in time to the surroundings of the tranquil Hever Castle. There's nothing tranquil about this story, though, which is full of the backbiting, power struggles and devastating heartbreak at the core of the Boleyn family's rise and fall. Deliciously scandalous and breathtakingly brilliant, if you buy one book this spring, make it The House of Boleyn.' Nicola Tallis

The House of Boleyn

HEVER CASTLE HOLDS ALL THE BOLEYN SECRETS ...

When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten.

Years later, as Henry VIII relentlessly pursues Thomas' daughter Anne Boleyn to be his queen, Hever Castle becomes her escape, a place where her trusted attendants and her father must advise, protect and support her. Lavish gifts are sent by the King and the Boleyn family is given ever greater prominence at court, their glory shining over everything and everyone. Until ambition turns the family on itself, enemies outside the castle circle closer and danger begins to stalk the corridors of Hever. And as Henry's gaze moves elsewhere when Anne cannot give him the heir he so desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible, bloody fate.

But as long as Hever still stands, hope still exists.

Combining drama, danger and passion, Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family's three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life using their world at Hever, family and servants alike, as never written before. The result is a powerful and emotional novel of family, fate and history.

Tracy Borman

TRACY BORMAN OBE is Chief Historian at the Historic Royal Palaces. A regular broadcaster and public speaker, Tracy regularly appears on the Channel 5 Inside the Tower of London series and stars in several Channel 5 documentaries including Princes in the Tower, and Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn: The Prisoner Queens. Her 2025 non-fiction book, The Stolen Crown, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and saw her undertake a national tour across the country, appearing at bookshops, historic venues and literary festivals. As a historian and novelist, Tracy writes fiction and non-fiction. Her upcoming novel, The House of Boleyn combines real history with richly imagined drama.

Tracy is the author of a number of highly acclaimed books including Crown & Sceptre, Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him, The Private Lives of the Tudors, Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII's Most Faithful Servant, Matilda: Wife of the Conqueror, First Queen of England, Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen, Witches: A Tale of Sorcery, Scandal and Seduction, Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I and The Stolen Crown.

Some of the ticket options that don’t include the author’s book, or are specially priced for couples, are limited in number and can sell out quickly. Our aim is to try and bring the best and most interesting authors to our town. We are always trying to balance accessibility and affordability for our audiences, alongside requirements from publishers to sell enough books for events to be worthwhile enterprises for their authors.