A perfectly serviceable biography about Mary Tudor, Lady Jane Grey, Elizabeth Tudor, and Edward VI. The subject matter is pretty thoroughly canvassed in Weir's other works, but this is an interesting glimpse at a turbulent time, seen through the eyes of those who were all alternately victimized and powerful. ( )

Not really a life of all the children, but restricted to the reigns of Edward VI and Mary, with a cameo of Lady Jane Grey in the middle. Weir brings the principals to life – and I assume she has the documentary sources to support it. Mary comes across as the saddest case – a second phantom pregnancy, when the first one destroyed all credibility! Good stuff. Read May 2008 ( )

This book is shorter but more repetitive than Six Wives. I really only wanted to put it down in the really repetitive sections. The death of Edward VI and Mary I lasted for about 60 pages more than necessary, same with Mary's pregnancies and the constant questioning of Elizabeth I. The book seemed to chronicle the same conflict over and over and over. Which is fine since, after all, it's a history book and presumably this is the way it actually happened. I just think there were too many pages devoted to things that could have been more concise. Edward's death which is clearly important and deserves a lot of attention, still could have been shorter. It went something like this: Edward got sick, (ten pages later), Edward is still sick, he gets sicker and sicker, (ten pages later) he's so sick people think he's dead, but no he's just still sick, (ten pages later) oh! he got better, oh no wait still sick, still sick, a little more sick, sick sick sick, (20 pages later), he died. Even so, I really enjoyed it and it definitely got in the way of doing school work. ( )

okay but a little boring but I love his book ( )

It has been a while since i read any non-fiction and this was a good choice for me. Alison Weir seems to have her ducks in row while still writing a readable book. I believe that I learned quite a bit particularly about Edward VI who was much more interesting, and heartless, than I would have imagined. It never fails to amaze me how complicated the history of this family is. Lots of small details added depth to some of the characters involved in all this drama.

I would recommend this book as a very good introduction to the later Tudors. I will definitely read other works by Weir. ( )