What a slog. This could (should) have been cut by at least 200 pages. I enjoyed the first two books in the series but this was just too much, overloadWhat a slog. This could (should) have been cut by at least 200 pages. I enjoyed the first two books in the series but this was just too much, overloaded with detail and just rather dull. Clearly I am a Philistine, but that’s my opinion....more
Another very easy to read novel by P Gregory. She draws you into the story and keeps you there.
I obviously found this story of the relatively unknownAnother very easy to read novel by P Gregory. She draws you into the story and keeps you there.
I obviously found this story of the relatively unknown Grey sisters convincing, as I finished by thinking of Elizabeth the Queen (whom I had always admired greatly) as a tyrannical, paranoid, petty minded and jealous woman who saw potential plots everywhere and could therefore trust no one who had even a hint of royal blood in them. Her incarceration of the Grey family was therefore understandable but utterly unjust.
The only thing which spoiled my regard for the sisters was their total naivety and continued hopes of the Queen showing good judgement and/or mercy, while at the same time knowing that her character was very similar to that of her father, that old git Henry VIII..
Overall, a very good bit of historical fiction....more
A beautifully and thoughtfully written novel about Lady Margaret Pole who was the guardian of Prince Arthur and Katherine of Aragon in Ludlow Castle, A beautifully and thoughtfully written novel about Lady Margaret Pole who was the guardian of Prince Arthur and Katherine of Aragon in Ludlow Castle, and subsequently ran the household of Princess Mary. She was of royal (Plantagenet) lineage, being the niece of the Yorkist king Edward VI and Richard III. She is portrayed as a strong, courageous lady who managed to survive until the grand age of 67 in the dangerous times of Henry VIII.
It is wonderful and refreshing to see a very well researched and presented novel of the death throes of the "Old Church" in England (the Roman Catholic Church), as this beloved institution was systematically plundered and destroyed by the increasingly paranoid and tyrannical Henry VIII and his vile, self serving minion, Thomas Cromwell. It details the suffering of the ordinary people who had their religion taken from them, and with it the care of the sick and needy and hospitality for travellers who would always be welcomed in the guest accommodation of the abbeys which covered our country. When, to the horror and outrage of most of his loyal subjects, this king set himself up as Head of the Church in England in order to put aside his legal wife and to marry a commoner, Anne Boleyn, all the old religious houses were pillaged to fill the coffers of this rapacious king and given as gifts to his sycophants and friends, while the ordinary people who had given their lives to God were turned out onto the streets to beg for their survival.
We also learn of the 'Pilgrimage of Grace", a mass peaceful protest by thousands of ordinary citizens in the north of England to beg for their churches to be given back to them. While Henry promised pardon to all, he subsequently ordered his henchmen to slaughter a great many of those same people; this is a king who does NOT keep his word and who takes out his rage on his own subjects.
It is not often that history is described from the perspective of the 'losers'; (as we all know, history is nearly always written by the victors), and I hope that this wonderful novel gives people an insight into the suffering of both the ordinary and grand folk of England who simply wanted to keep to the faith they had always known, only to see it destroyed.
A beautifully written and very moving book....more
**spoiler alert** Hmm, definitely not one of her better ones.
Elizabeth of York comes across as very passive and a bit of a drip. She is the queen but **spoiler alert** Hmm, definitely not one of her better ones.
Elizabeth of York comes across as very passive and a bit of a drip. She is the queen but never challenges the supremacy of her mother in law, Margaret Beaufort. Even the little she says is almost always a question. A very frustrating ‘heroine’.
I remain unconvinced about the identity of Perkin Warbeck; PG strongly suggests that he really is the missing prince but I’m not sure of the evidence for this.
For me, this didn’t read as quickly and joyfully as most of her historical novels, but ok.
Not at all memorable. It’s a couple of months since I read this and now I can’t remember any of the characters or the plot. I like historical fiction bNot at all memorable. It’s a couple of months since I read this and now I can’t remember any of the characters or the plot. I like historical fiction but I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of this particular series....more
Interesting story but unfortunately, the way Alison Weir writes novels annoys me to the point that I am unable to feel any great sympathy for the charInteresting story but unfortunately, the way Alison Weir writes novels annoys me to the point that I am unable to feel any great sympathy for the characters. For example, Lady Jane Grey cones across as snivelling rather than noble in personality and irritatingly obstinate in her dogmatic religious views rather than deeply principled, so in the end I couldn't care that much what happened to her (which was a foregone conclusion anyway).
It's a shame, because I think Alison Weir's historical biographies are excellent and so I don't understand why, when writing historical novels, she seems to go into cretinous chick-lit/Mills and Boon style.
Still, could have been worse; her novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine had me throwing the book across the room on several occasions....more
This was easy to read and I found the early life of Mary interesting. I also enjoyed the Introduction and the last chapter, which brought together theThis was easy to read and I found the early life of Mary interesting. I also enjoyed the Introduction and the last chapter, which brought together the strands of Mary's personal life and her queenship in order to appraise the success (or not) of her reign as the first of England's queens.
Unfortunately however, I didn't come away from this book feeling like i really knew much more about Mary as a real person. Perhaps it just comes down to there not being enough evidence to be able to paint a firm picture of her. I did hope for more on her 'conscience' - a significant element of her reign - as I wanted to better understand what drove her to the sustained religious persecution of her subjects, this being probably the first thing people think of when Mary I is mentioned, but I didn't really get that.
Mr Loades suggests that Elizabeth's success as queen is at least partly due to her predecessor, both Mary's mistakes but also the successes of her government. ...more
Excellent novel about Katherine of Aragon. We all know something about her, i.e. that Henry VIII discarded her in favour of Anne Boleyn, but what AlisExcellent novel about Katherine of Aragon. We all know something about her, i.e. that Henry VIII discarded her in favour of Anne Boleyn, but what Alison Weir does here is convincingly let us in on who this Spanish queen actually was and how her life may have unfolded. Interestingly, she was poorly treated by both Tudor Henries, the VII and the VIII. She comes across as a woman who knew who she was - she was after all the daughter of the powerful monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and thus she was raised for queenship right from birth; but she was also a deeply devout woman who put principle before expediency and refused to be bullied by an increasingly ruthless Henry VIII whom she seemed to love right up to the end. The narrative is told from her point of view and as it progresses to its very sad end we can sympathise with the way she was isolated more and more from her beloved daughter and her friends and supporters. Needless to say, Henry does not come out of this looking very good even if he showed greatness in his early years of kingship....more
Quite enjoyed this, but wasn't too sure about the characters; they were not as rounded as I would have liked. Still, the story was good and gave a flavQuite enjoyed this, but wasn't too sure about the characters; they were not as rounded as I would have liked. Still, the story was good and gave a flavour of Elizabethan times. ...more
A really interesting perspective on the early rule of the young Elizabeth. She comes across as a 'work in progress' with her chronic indecisiveness anA really interesting perspective on the early rule of the young Elizabeth. She comes across as a 'work in progress' with her chronic indecisiveness and dependence on the wise advice of William Cecil and the rather less wise social climbing of the attractive Dudley. It may be a portrait of Liz that we do not like but it may well be quite accurate. I was also very taken with the back story of Amy Dudley. Whilst initially I found her irritating and overly submissive, I ended up really admiring her determination to remain a wife joined to her husband by God for life, whether this suits human ambition or not. She gains strength as she clings to her - no longer acceptable - Catholic faith. While I was aware of the way this would end, I thought the author offered an interesting perspective of what is, for the three protagonists in the emotional drama, essentially a tragedy. I even managed to feel pity for Dudley, which took me by surprise! Well done Philippa Gregory....more
An enjoyable tale of Early Elizabethan England, plenty of action and some interesting characters. The plot concerns a secret society pledged to keep aAn enjoyable tale of Early Elizabethan England, plenty of action and some interesting characters. The plot concerns a secret society pledged to keep a secret which can only be revealed when all its members put all their information together. Meanwhile, the state authorities, always alert for any signs of heresy or treason, are rounding up the members. Some good period detail and a good read....more
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