Tudor History with Claire Ridgway31 Aug 2025

What If Arthur Tudor Had Lived? | Interview with Leah Toole, Author of The Rose and The Pomegranate

What if Prince Arthur, Henry VIII’s elder brother, had survived?

In this special interview, I sit down with novelist Leah Toole to talk about her fascinating book "The Rose and The Pomegranate" — an alternative history novel that asks one of Tudor history’s biggest “what ifs.”

In Leah’s world, Arthur Tudor doesn’t die in 1502 — and the ripple effects are enormous. Katherine of Aragon’s destiny changes, Henry VIII’s life takes a very different course, and familiar figures like the Boleyns, Wolsey, and Cromwell walk entirely new paths.

In this conversation we explore:

- Why Arthur Tudor and this “what if”?
- How Leah balanced historical accuracy with imagination.
- Arthur and Katherine’s marriage — and how it might have unfolded.
- A reimagined Henry VIII without the six wives we know so well.
- Which events Leah chose to keep… and which to reshape.
- How a single turning point could have reshaped England, Europe, and the Church.

It’s a thoughtful, imaginative, and meticulously researched take on Tudor history that fans won’t want to miss!

"The Rose and The Pomegranate" is available now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Pomegranate-Leah-Toole/dp/173857783X/ https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Pomegranate-Leah-Toole/dp/173857783X/

What Tudor “what if” would YOU most like to see explored? Tell us in the comments!
More of my interviews: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrJ4vaP25436VYCw9ZB76J3J

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(1003)

Was Henry VIII really catfished by Anne of Cleves?

It's one of the most famous stories surrounding Henry VIII's fourth marriage. Hans Holbein the Younger was supposedly sent to Cleves to paint Anne's portrait, produced an image that made her look far ...

29 Juli 26min

Did Christina of Denmark REALLY Say "If I Had Two Heads..."?

Did Christina of Denmark really tell Henry VIII, "If I had two heads, one would be at His Majesty's disposal"?It's one of the most famous quotations associated with Henry VIII's search for a fourth wi...

23 Juli 10min

Why Couldn't Henry VIII "Do It" With Anne of Cleves?

Did Henry VIII Have Erectile Dysfunction? The Anne of Cleves Bedroom MysteryDid Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves ever actually "do it"?Henry claimed that his marriage to Anne was never consummated becaus...

21 Juli 28min

Did Henry VIII Almost Take Anne of Cleves Back?

Why did so many people believe Henry VIII would remarry Anne of Cleves after Catherine Howard's fall?While researching my forthcoming event, The Rise and Fall of Catherine Howard, I noticed something ...

15 Juli 8min

Should We Stop Diagnosing Henry VIII?

Was Henry VIII a narcissist? A psychopath? A sociopath?These labels are increasingly applied to England's most famous king, but after years of researching Henry VIII and reading contemporary sources, ...

5 Juli 14min

Henry VIII: Not Like Other Kings

Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs? Most Renaissance kings married for diplomacy, alliances and dynastic advantage. Personal attraction might have mattered, but poli...

28 Juni 29min

Was Anne Boleyn Really the Love of Henry VIII's Life?

People often call Anne Boleyn the love of Henry VIII's life, but was she really? In this video, I'm taking a closer look at one of the most romanticised relationships in Tudor history and asking whet...

22 Juni 16min

People Were Protesting Immigration in England 500 Years Ago

The history of immigration in England is far older than many people realise. Immigration in Tudor England, medieval England and even Roman Britain helped shape the nation we know today. People often ...

16 Juni 28min