Groom of the Stool: Secrets Behind the Royal Curtain

Name: Groom of the Stool: Secrets Behind the Royal Curtain » Ceri Clark
SKU: B0F6VC2HD9
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Thomas Piers thought tending the King’s chamber pot would be humiliating. Instead, it gave him power. But in Henry VIII’s court, intimacy is a weapon, and secrets can get you killed.

What did the groom of the stool actually do?

The groom managed the King's personal hygiene, especially after toilet use, but the role also carried immense political power. He controlled access, kept records, and often became a trusted advisor.

Was the groom of the stool really that influential?

Yes. Grooms often became among the most powerful men at court. Their closeness to the King allowed them to influence decisions and policy, often more than nobles or council members.

Is Thomas Piers a real historical figure?

No, he’s fictional, but inspired by real men like Sir Henry Norris and Sir Anthony Denny, who served as Grooms to Henry VIII and played pivotal roles in Tudor politics.

Why was this job considered prestigious?

Despite its nature, it provided unmatched intimacy with the King. A Groom of the Stool could hear secrets, shape royal mood, and access privileges few others could.

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SKU: B0F6VC2HD9 Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Inside the Court: The Groom of the Stool

History remembers kings, but rarely the men who knew them best, especially the one who cleaned their royal behinds. Groom of the Stool: Power, Privilege, and the Royal Chamber Pot reimagines the turbulent reign of Henry VIII through the eyes of Thomas Piers, a fictional but frighteningly plausible commoner who rose to become the monarch’s most intimate confidant.

This isn’t just a story about a bizarre job. It’s a descent into Tudor politics, where ambition and proximity to the throne, no matter how soiled, could mean the difference between survival and the scaffold. Thomas begins as a humble servant, but soon his diary of the King’s most private functions becomes the most guarded document in England. As Henry’s health and marriages decay, Piers is drawn deeper into a world of betrayals, secrets, and false confessions, many of them signed with his trembling hand.

A Seat of Power: The Role of the Groom of the Stool

Far from comic relief, the Groom of the Stool controlled access to the King’s person, managed the Privy Purse, and recorded physical, and political, health. Piers becomes secretary, confidant, and spy, navigating court intrigue with a basin in one hand and the fate of queens in the other.

In Groom of the Stool, each chapter blends dark humour with gut-punch realism, painting a world where wiping the royal posterior is an act of deadly politics. As Piers is coerced into signing damning statements against Anne Boleyn and reporting on the King’s moods, the line between duty and complicity blurs.

Inspired by Real History, Told with Intimate Fiction

This fictional account is richly grounded in fact. Henry VIII did have Grooms of the Stool who were terrifyingly influential. The audio version brings the court to life: listen to the full audiobook:

oO learn more in the companion podcast episode here.

From royal secrets to the final, bloody days of the Tudors’ most infamous king, this short historical fiction reveals the unflushable truth of power – it stinks.

A Tale for Fans of Political Intrigue and Tudor Drama

If you loved Wolf Hall, The Other Boleyn Girl, or Six Wives, this intimate, brutally honest account adds a new voice to the conversation, a servant’s view from the shadows of history.

If you like all things Tudor, check out the Tudor Wiki.