Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
96 used & new from £0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Unnatural Murder: Poison In The Court Of James I: The Overbury Murder: Poison in the Court of James I - The Overbury Murder
 
 

Unnatural Murder: Poison In The Court Of James I: The Overbury Murder: Poison in the Court of James I - The Overbury Murder (Paperback)

by Anne Somerset (Author) "On 5 January 1606 a very grand wedding took place in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall ..." (more)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Price: £8.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon.

25 new from £1.66 67 used from £0.01 4 collectible from £0.01
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (First Edition) 54 used & new from £0.01

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Elizabeth I (Women In History) by Anne Somerset

Unnatural Murder: Poison In The Court Of James I: The Overbury Murder: Poison in the Court of James I - The Overbury Murder + Elizabeth I (Women In History)
Price For Both: £15.98

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Unnatural Murder: Poison In The Court Of James I: The Overbury Murder: Poison in the Court of James I - The Overbury Murder by Anne Somerset

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Elizabeth I (Women In History) by Anne Somerset

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV

The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV

by Anne Somerset
Elizabeth I (Women In History)

Elizabeth I (Women In History)

by Anne Somerset
4.7 out of 5 stars (9)  £6.99
Ladies in Waiting: From the Tudors to the Present Day

Ladies in Waiting: From the Tudors to the Present Day

by Anne Somerset
Sisters to the King

Sisters to the King

by Maria Perry
3.7 out of 5 stars (7)  £6.29
By Permission of Heaven: The Story of the Great Fire of London

By Permission of Heaven: The Story of the Great Fire of London

by Adrian Tinniswood
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; New edition edition (12 Jan 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0753801981
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753801987
  • Product Dimensions: 19.9 x 12.9 x 3.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 182,871 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #34 in  Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > James I

Product Description

Product Description
In the autumn of 1615 the Earl and Countess of Somerset were detained on suspicion of having murdered Sir Thomas Overbury. The arrest of these leading court figures created a sensation. The Countess was both young and beautiful: the Earl was one of the richest and most powerful men in the kingdom, having risen to prominence as the male 'favourite' of the monarch James I. In a vivid narrative, Anne Somerset unravels these extraordinary events, which were widely regarded as an extreme manifestation of the corruption and vice which disfigured the court during this period. It is at once a story rich in passion and intrigue and a murder mystery, for, despite the guilty verdicts, there is much about Overbury's death that remains enigmatic. The Overbury murder case profoundly damaged the monarchy, and constituted the greatest court scandal in English history.

About the Author
Anne Somerset was born in 1955 and read History at King's College London.Her first book, published in 1980, was The Life and Times of William IV.This was followed by Ladies-in-Waiting: From the Tudors to the Present Day and an acclaimed biography, Elizabeth I. Her most recent work was the bestselling Unnatural Murder, an account of the sensational Overbury murder which was shortlisted fro the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger award for non-fiction. Anne Somerset is married and lives in London with her husband and daughter.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
On 5 January 1606 a very grand wedding took place in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Anne Somerset captures the essence of the 1600's in detail., 29 Jul 2000
By A Customer
Unnatural Murder captures the essence of the 1600's with such fascinating detail that I can't put it down! I'm about 3/4 of the way through at the moment and I'm amazed at the information I'm learning about the history of the period - a topic that I am familiar with anyway.

History books can sometimes be a collection of well researched facts and little else. They can be dry to read and easy to forget. Anne Somerset has included so much everyday detail in with the facts of this murder enquiry that I feel as if I'm there in the court room with them all.

The book has given me so much more insight into our past as a Nation. It's not quite 400 years ago, which seems a long time in one way, but hardly anytime at all when you read the case. The medical knowledge of the time was extremely limited, the treatments barbaric, yet the practicing of law, although very different then from now, has recognisable threads that will come forward into our own times. We always think that our time is the most advanced. We think we work harder than ever before and longer hours with greater inventions. Yet reading about Lord Coke, the Lord Chief Justice, made me realise that striving to be the best in your choosen career and being ruthless along the way is not a recent thing.

For information about the court life of King James 1 of England, for everyday details, the way courtiers sought to better themselves at the expense of the King, this book is a valuable source. For realising that greed, power and unauthorised spending are not a sign of our times the details contained in the pages are facinating. For detective process and law and order, this book is an eye opener which closes the gap of the years between us. For medical treatment detail, it turns your stomach and for the shear wonder of the letters, so many and preserved so long, that give us the perfect picture of life in the court, this book is a delight to read.

If you are interested in history, you will almost certainly enjoy this thoroughly good detective case.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for historical readers, 29 Jul 2008
By Mrs. L. E. Ford - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I am fascinated by history and especially historical kings and queens. However, I had never delved very much into James Ist and his court so this book really caught my eye. I was not disappointed by Anne Somerset's work. Initially she lays down a very good foundation with great descriptions and insights into all the characters involved in the affair of Thomas Overbury's death and the subsequent trials that followed. Each character becomes so alive and one really feels that you are living alongside them at court, in London, and in the Tower. I would recommend Anne's book to anyone who, like me, enjoys a good historical read, whether fiction or non-fiction as she forgets no detail whatsoever but provides a feast where her characters are concerned. I hope to read her book on William IV next as this is one of the Kings that I do not know too well. I am sure I will feel very close to him and his court though once I get my teeth into her meaty meal.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read, 23 Jul 2007
By Mr. Peter K. Butler "LlewScribe" (Manchester UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is a totally gripping book, bringing to life an intriguing period in English history and combining that detail with a thriller-like narrative. I'd never heard of the Overbury murder before, nor had I heard of the historian Anne Somerset... I'm glad to have remedied both situations. I certainly hope to read more of Ms Somerset's work.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget murder mysteries try this...
A beautifully written book that compels you to feel sympathy to the two favourites of James the first bound up in the centre of this scandel. Read more
Published 7 months ago by K. Turton

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


The Tudor Monarchy

The Tudor Monarchy

Making available a selection of some of the most significant recent... Read more
£23.74

Find similar items

 

More From Anne Somerset

Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I (Women In History)

Elizabeth I ruled England in defiance of convention, exercising... Read more
£10.99 £6.99

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates