The Ebbs and Flows of Fortune is the first comprehensive biography of Norfolk. In this study David M. Head confronts the central paradox of Norfolk's career - one that lies in his unpleasant personality, marked by vain and tyrannical behavior. Ultimately these flaws prohibited him from achieving the social position he believed was owed to him, mainly because of his family's status and wealth. Essentially a conservative, socially and religiously, Norfolk was uncomfortable with reformation ideology and the "low-brow" men of the court. The duke sought a primary position within the court on the model of that earned by Cromwell and Wolsey but was unwilling to perform the sustained hard work required to achieve that stature. By the 1540s Norfolk was probably the richest man in England, but nonetheless, at the hands of Cromwell and Wolsey, he was repeatedly exiled from the court for emotional excesses. He found himself assigned to posts at considerable distances from the crown - military assignments in France and diplomatic appointments to Ireland and Scotland. While in France he illustrated the cruelty of his character by hanging dozens of men and lamenting his lack of authority to execute more.

“Shed[s] some light on a rather remarkable man who was really behind the curtain during the reigns of quite a few English kings.” —Adventures of a Tudor Nerd Thomas Howard, 2nd duke of Norfolk, lived a remarkable life spanning eighty years and the reigns of six kings. Amongst his descendants are his granddaughters, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, and his great-granddaughter, Elizabeth I. The foundations of this dramatic and influential dynasty rest on Thomas’ shoulders, and it was his career that placed the Howard family in a prominent position in English society and at the Tudor royal court. Thomas was born into a fairly ordinary gentry family, albeit distantly related to the Mowbray dukes of Norfolk. During the course of the fifteenth century, he and his father would rise through the political and social ranks as a result of their loyal service to Edward IV and Richard III. In a tragic turn of events, all their hard work was undone at the Battle of Bosworth and his father was killed fighting for King Richard. Imprisoned for treason and stripped of his lands and titles, Thomas had to start from the beginning to gain the trust of a new king. He spent the next thirty-five years devoting his administrative, military and diplomatic skills to the Tudors whilst rebuilding his family fortunes and ensuring that his numerous children were well-placed to prosper. “The Howards are one of the most intriguing families of the 16th century and this book opens up a chapter that hasn’t been much written about.” —The Tudor Blogger

Aubrey and Maturin are caught in the outbreak of the War of 1812.

From celebrated astrologer Nadine Jane, a guide to the journey of every day and birthday of the year, revealing how the current astrological season, along with the wisdom of tarot and numerology, can help you lead a happier and more fulfilled life Fans and celebrities alike flock to Nadine Jane for custom astrological readings that focus on self-understanding, self-empowerment, and self-care. Now, for the first time, readers have access to her insights in this comprehensive guide to the inherent magic of every day of the year, unveiling the daily inspirations, challenges, and guides that will help you take care of yourself every day. For each day of the year, you’ll discover guidance for the day’s particular journey based on the astrology, tarot, and numerology, along with a mantra, a ritual, and a journaling prompt, so you can home in on the lessons and wisdom that come from that particular moment in time, whether it's Capricorn or Aries season. You’ll also find special information if it’s your birthday, so you can take the day’s celestial wisdom to heart when it comes to your personal journey, relationships, goals, and dreams. Whether you’re a novice looking for your first introduction to spiritual practices, a lost soul who could use some direction in life, a jaded expert looking for a bird's-eye view of the topics you know far too well, an empathic people-reader who loves to understand others, or a complete skeptic who considers this “spiritual nonsense” while secretly delighting in the inexplicable accuracy of it all, you’ll find something for every day of your luminous life in Magic Days.