The Sisters Who Would Be Queen
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The tragedy of Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
‘A deep and fascinating account. Leanda de Lisle’s close focus draws us into palace corridors, country houses and city streets where the excitement, intrigue and danger of the times are palpable.’ Jane Dunn
‘Utterly grippring…de Lisle reminds us on each page what terror felt for those in the 16th century…This is a marvellously told and quite terrifying biography.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A thrilling read that could sit comfortably beside any novel by Philippa Gregory…de Lisle wears her learning lightly, though the details are carefully crafted and researched.’ Spectator
‘“The Sisters Who Would Be Queen” brings the Tudor world to life in a story about siblings Katherine, Mary and Lady Jane Grey.… The author rehabilitates [Lady Jane Grey] as less a victim of history than a headstrong individual with a sense of her own destiny.…this fascinating tale relates how her plucky sisters adapted to life at court in an atmosphere of distrust and paranoia.…It was a miracle they lasted as long as they did.’ Sebastian Shakespeare, Tatler
Review
/'A deep and fascinating account. Leanda de Lisle's close focus draws us into palace corridors, country houses and city streets where the excitement, intrigue and danger of the times are palpable.' Jane Dunn on AFTER ELIZABETH. /'This masterly account recaptures superbly the edgy,wary feel of court and country at the key moment when Tudor England was transformed into Stuart Britain. In emphasising the faults of Queen Elizabeth I and the acuity of her successor King James I, Leanda de Lisle has brilliantly subverted the traditional story.' Andrew Roberts on AFTER ELIZABETH. /'Leanda de Lisle has done what historians, to date, have overlooked. She spots the story in the seemingly uneventful handover of power to James I after Elizabeth's death, and rediscovers its thrilling drama. James accession was far from inevitable -- de Lisle vividly recounts the uncertainty, greed, intrigue and hypocrisy that defined the new age. This is an original, informative,absorbing account, written with verve and style.' John Guy on AFTER ELIZABETH.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Everyone knows the story of Lady Jane Grey, the 'Nine Days Queen', the innocent who was maneuvered into claiming the throne by her husband and family and executed by a vengeful Mary Tudor. In this book de Lisle argues that Jane was no innocent and no victim, that she was raised from birth fully conscious of her royal blood, her position as heir to the throne under Henry VIII's will and her role at the forefront of the struggle between Protestantism and Catholicism. Jane was an exceptionally educated, strong-willed and determined woman, who went to her death willing to serve as a martyr to her cause if she could not be queen.
One of the things this book highlights is how much of a curse royal blood was for women in the Tudor days. After the death of Edward IV, with nothing but female claimants, it was a dangerous time for women like the Grey sisters. Jane was executed for claiming the throne, arguably rightfully under the terms of Parliament and Henry VIII's will, which had excluded both Mary and Elizabeth on grounds of illegitimacy. Her sisters were both imprisoned for much of their lives for daring to marry for love without the Queen's knowledge and against her wishes, for the danger of them producing a son and heir for the throne was too much for Elizabeth.
This is a really good book, as engrossing and fast-paced as a novel. It may take a certain amount of literary license with some scenes or facts, but it does bring to life two marginalised historical figures in Mary and Katherine, whom I knew nothing about, and explodes a few myths about the Nine Days Queen, who was in fact queen for over two weeks. But nine days sounds better, right?
One of the things this book highlights is how much of a curse royal blood was for women in the Tudor days. After the death of Edward IV, with nothing but female claimants, it was a dangerous time for women like the Grey sisters. Jane was executed for claiming the throne, arguably rightfully under the terms of Parliament and Henry VIII's will, which had excluded both Mary and Elizabeth on grounds of illegitimacy. Her sisters were both imprisoned for much of their lives for daring to marry for love without the Queen's knowledge and against her wishes, for the danger of them producing a son and heir for the throne was too much for Elizabeth.
This is a really good book, as engrossing and fast-paced as a novel. It may take a certain amount of literary license with some scenes or facts, but it does bring to life two marginalised historical figures in Mary and Katherine, whom I knew nothing about, and explodes a few myths about the Nine Days Queen, who was in fact queen for over two weeks. But nine days sounds better, right?
76 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Royal succession in Tiudor England was a very dangerous and unstable. Henry VIII's Third Succession Act 1543 granted Henry the right to bequeath the Crown in his Will. It returned both of Henry's daughters Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession, behind Edward, any potential children of his, and any potential children of Henry by his current wife Catherine Parr. His Will specified that, in default of heirs to his children, the throne was to pass to the heirs of his younger sister Mary Tudor, The French Queen and Duchess of Suffolk, bypassing the line of his elder sister Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots. Edward VI confirmed this by letters patent.
This put suddenly Frances Brandon, the eldest daugther of Princess Mary and the Duke of Suffolk, and her three daughters by the Marquess of Dorset, the Ladies Jane, Katherine and Mary Grey into the spotlight. They were suddenly pretenders to the throne. They were Tudor princesses without having the title of princess.
Leanda de Lisle re-creates the lives of these women in a most extraordinary period of English history, a time of great uncertainty and danger, of great changes, of religious divisions and of great political intrigue. The Tudor dynasty had more female heirs than every other, great women but a female ruler was regarded a liability.
Mrs de Lisle tackles the difficult subject with great knowledge, passion and understanding. She forms her own opinions and does not just go with "historical reputation". Her views of Frances Brandon or on Lady Jane Grey are refreshing, more objective and I feel more accurate and in the end more convincing than previous books had presented these figures. Very interesting are the pages on the Lady Katherine and Lady Mary, especially the later is a rather forgotten person.
The only objections I have is that Mrs de Lisle fills gaps with phrases like "have felt"... well that is merely guesswork. But all in all that does not make this book less interesting or less valuable. It is indeed a great inside into the politics surrounding the English's throne in the 16th century. I enjoyed every page and learned a lot. This is a great book and a great addition to every Tudor library.
This put suddenly Frances Brandon, the eldest daugther of Princess Mary and the Duke of Suffolk, and her three daughters by the Marquess of Dorset, the Ladies Jane, Katherine and Mary Grey into the spotlight. They were suddenly pretenders to the throne. They were Tudor princesses without having the title of princess.
Leanda de Lisle re-creates the lives of these women in a most extraordinary period of English history, a time of great uncertainty and danger, of great changes, of religious divisions and of great political intrigue. The Tudor dynasty had more female heirs than every other, great women but a female ruler was regarded a liability.
Mrs de Lisle tackles the difficult subject with great knowledge, passion and understanding. She forms her own opinions and does not just go with "historical reputation". Her views of Frances Brandon or on Lady Jane Grey are refreshing, more objective and I feel more accurate and in the end more convincing than previous books had presented these figures. Very interesting are the pages on the Lady Katherine and Lady Mary, especially the later is a rather forgotten person.
The only objections I have is that Mrs de Lisle fills gaps with phrases like "have felt"... well that is merely guesswork. But all in all that does not make this book less interesting or less valuable. It is indeed a great inside into the politics surrounding the English's throne in the 16th century. I enjoyed every page and learned a lot. This is a great book and a great addition to every Tudor library.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a great reader of Tudor history, although very much an amateur historian. Some books draw you in and this was one. It is beautifully written and could almost be a novel and yet it imparts so much knowledge.
Perhaps not as sympathetic to Jane's plight as some may wish for, I nonetheless found this wonderfully detailed yet never tedious and I would highly recommend this books for anyone interested in the Grey family generally or Lady Jane Grey in particular.
Perhaps not as sympathetic to Jane's plight as some may wish for, I nonetheless found this wonderfully detailed yet never tedious and I would highly recommend this books for anyone interested in the Grey family generally or Lady Jane Grey in particular.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
reads like a novel? well, yes and no...
Many reviewers give this book 5 stars and say it reads like a novel, but until the other day, there was a 1-star review saying it was unreadable, because of all the complex family... Read more
Published 1 month ago by alan12345
The sisters who would be Queen -brilliant!
This book was a joy to read, it is well researched and beautifully written, the author captures the essence of the struggles that plagued the lives of these woman and the courage... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Adalaide
Informative and a very good read
Most people know the basic facts about Lady Jane Grey and her sisters Katherine and Mary. This book provides the details of what happened to the ladies after the bits of their... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rumpuscat
Unputdownable!
Just as the title says! Reads like a novel, it just sucks you in and before you know it you're halfway through the book. Highly enjoyable and easy to follow and understand. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Celticfaery
Great historical BIOGRAPHY
Sadly in many books stores this book has been placed in the historical fiction section...and many people myself included have brought the book expecting a historical fiction based... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Miss.History Lover
rigorous and compelling treatment of what we think we knew about Lady...
First, I would urge anyone who enjoys well researched history to give this a read, adding that the author has a lovely manner and is never overbearing with her apparently enormous... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Beth E. Williams
Oh, if only Mary hed executed them all
then we would not have to endure the total boredom of this book. I know i could have put it down but, to me, not finishing a book is a failure. Read more
Published 10 months ago by L. Turner
A fascinating portrayal
I bought this book after reading about Katherine and Mary Grey in Tracy Boorman's 'Elizabeth's Women'. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. K. D. E. Barratt
Excellent
I knew the ending for each of the sisters but still found this a riverting read. Detailed and easy to read - highly recommended!
Published 13 months ago by Pebbles
Entertaining and educational
I ate this book in a few sittings. It tells the story of the Grey sisters and their role in society around the time of Elizabeth I. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ms. A. Craven
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Historical > 1501-1700
- Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Tudors & Stuarts: 1501-1700
- Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Europe
- Books > Biography > Women
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Early Modern 1501-1700 (Tudors, Stuarts, Commonwealth, Restoration, Glorious Revolution)
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Ireland
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
