Title: The Last TudorAuthor: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis: The late King Henry VIII's teenaged son, Edward VI, has died and left the inheritance of the crown in uncertainty with many possible heirs, all women. Many think it should pass to one of Henry's daughters, Mary or Elizabeth, but both of them had gone in and out of favor during his tumultuous reign. But the Dudley and Grey families had another idea. They wanted to pass over Henry's daughters in favor of the teenaged granddaughters of his youngest sister, Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey. Putting the eldest, Jane, on the throne with her equally young husband changes everything for the Grey family, and not for the better. Henry's daughters will not be overlooked and they will never let the Grey girls forget it.
My Thoughts
I have never disliked a novel that I have read by Philippa Gregory, and this is no exception. The novel is broken into three 'books' each one written in the first person present-tense perspective of one of the Grey sisters. We hear from them in the order of their birth, the first book from Jane, the second from Katherine, and the third from Mary.
If you are looking for something light and uplifting, this novel is not a good choice for you. If you are interested in war over succession, the difficulties of inheriting and ruling as a woman in the 16th century, or the passive aggression of Queen Elizabeth I's jealousy, then you will be pleased. Don't get me wrong, there are scenes that depict joy and fun, but ultimately the Grey family does not prosper after they attempt to take the throne.
Gregory does an impeccable job, as usual, gathering information about lesser-known women of the time and giving them a voice. Jane Grey is well known and studied because of her stint as the "9 days queen" and her Protestant writings. Her sisters both have much less written about them and Gregory gives them equal, if not more, space in the novel. Interestingly, Mary Grey is documented as being a Little Person, standing at less than 4'4" and was so little is known about her that she doesn't even appear in the specialist histories of little people.
Gregory also writes that The Last Tudor may be her last novel about the Tudors as she moves on to new projects. While I find that disappointing, she has written about so many of the important women of the time that she may have exhausted many historical resources and important female figures that there is nothing left to write.
If you are intrigued by the Tudors, British Royal history, or untold stories of women in history, then this book is for you!
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above
I have never disliked a novel that I have read by Philippa Gregory, and this is no exception. The novel is broken into three 'books' each one written in the first person present-tense perspective of one of the Grey sisters. We hear from them in the order of their birth, the first book from Jane, the second from Katherine, and the third from Mary.
If you are looking for something light and uplifting, this novel is not a good choice for you. If you are interested in war over succession, the difficulties of inheriting and ruling as a woman in the 16th century, or the passive aggression of Queen Elizabeth I's jealousy, then you will be pleased. Don't get me wrong, there are scenes that depict joy and fun, but ultimately the Grey family does not prosper after they attempt to take the throne.
Gregory does an impeccable job, as usual, gathering information about lesser-known women of the time and giving them a voice. Jane Grey is well known and studied because of her stint as the "9 days queen" and her Protestant writings. Her sisters both have much less written about them and Gregory gives them equal, if not more, space in the novel. Interestingly, Mary Grey is documented as being a Little Person, standing at less than 4'4" and was so little is known about her that she doesn't even appear in the specialist histories of little people.
Gregory also writes that The Last Tudor may be her last novel about the Tudors as she moves on to new projects. While I find that disappointing, she has written about so many of the important women of the time that she may have exhausted many historical resources and important female figures that there is nothing left to write.
If you are intrigued by the Tudors, British Royal history, or untold stories of women in history, then this book is for you!
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above
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