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The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Tragedy (2008)

by Leanda de Lisle

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4292157,843 (3.76)24
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML:

Born into aristocracy, the Grey sisters were the great-granddaughters of Henry VII, grandnieces to Henry VIII, legitimate successors to the English throne, and rivals to Henry VIII's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Lady Jane, the eldest, was thrust center stage by uncompromising religious politics when she briefly succeeded Henry's son, the young Edward VI. Dubbed "the Nine Days Queen" after her short, tragic reign from the Tower of London, Jane has over the centuries earned a special place in the affections of the English people as an abused child and a "queen of the public heart." But as Leanda de Lisle reveals, Jane was actually more rebel than victim, more leader than pawn, and Mary and Katherine Grey would have to tread carefully in order to avoid sharing their elder sister's violent fate.

Navigating the politics of the Tudor court after Jane's death was a precarious challenge. Katherine Grey earned the trust of Mary I, only to risk her future with a love marriage that threatened Queen Elizabeth's throne. Mary Grey, considered too petite and plain to be significant, looked for her own escape from the burden of her royal blood---an impossible task after she followed her heart and also incurred the queen's envy, fear, and wrath.

Exploding the many myths of Lady Jane Grey's life, unearthing the details of Katherine's and Mary's dramatic stories, and casting new light on Elizabeth's reign, de Lisle gives voice and resonance to the lives of the Greys and offers perspective on their place in history and on a time when a royal marriage could gain you a kingdom or cost you everything.

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Showing 1-5 of 21 (next | show all)
Extremely interesting book about Lady Jane Grey and her sisters. Did even know she had sisters? Theirs is a fascinating and tragic story, but also a completey different side of the Tudor dynastic struggle than I've ever heard before. Very engaging. ( )
  jennybeast | Apr 14, 2022 |
This is a brilliant account of the three Grey sisters whose proximity to the throne endangered their lives. They were all granddaughters of Henry VIII's sister Mary giving them a claim on the crown. Lady Jane Grey, the most well-known, was named by the young King Edward before he died as his successor ignoring his father's wishes. Following a general outcry, Henry's choice of successor, his daughter Mary, prevailed. Jane, her new husband, Guildford Dudley, and her father, were all beheaded after nine days she spent as queen.

The middle sister, Katherine Grey married secretly, infuriating Queen Elizabeth. Having borne two sons she provided a threat to the childless Elizabeth when male heirs were thin on the ground. She was held in the Tower until her death. Like her sister, Mary also married secretly but unlike Katherine, she took care to have the marriage witnessed. However, the pair were not permitted to stay together and Mary spent the rest of her days in house arrest, where she was thought to have starved herself to death.

De Lisle told an intriguing and gripping story, most of it not covered in other books I have read about the Tudors. I'm already on the lookout for more by this author. Terrific stuff! ( )
  VivienneR | May 30, 2021 |
OK, excellent resources, very accurate information. The book quickly pulled my interest about halfway through it got too complicated and somewhat boring. it became too much info and was not presented in an interesting and chronological order. ( )
  LoisSusan | Dec 10, 2020 |
Really a must-read for Tudor history buffs. ( )
  GaylaBassham | May 27, 2018 |
Very readable historical non-fiction. Before I read this I don't think I even knew Jane had sisters. Turns out their stories are every bit as intriguing and tragic as Jane's. I also enjoyed learning of a different side of Elizabeth's reign. It did not paint her good side. Turns out she was as cruelly paranoid about being overthrown as her father was. ( )
  catzkc | Mar 23, 2018 |
Showing 1-5 of 21 (next | show all)
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Such as ruled and were queens were for the most part wicked, ungodly, superstitious, and given to idolatry and to all filthy abominations as we may see in the histories of Queen Jezebel.
Thomas Becon, 1554
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For George MacRae Gimbel
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God, the prime mover, brought peace and order to the darkness of the void as the cosmos was born.
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Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML:

Born into aristocracy, the Grey sisters were the great-granddaughters of Henry VII, grandnieces to Henry VIII, legitimate successors to the English throne, and rivals to Henry VIII's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Lady Jane, the eldest, was thrust center stage by uncompromising religious politics when she briefly succeeded Henry's son, the young Edward VI. Dubbed "the Nine Days Queen" after her short, tragic reign from the Tower of London, Jane has over the centuries earned a special place in the affections of the English people as an abused child and a "queen of the public heart." But as Leanda de Lisle reveals, Jane was actually more rebel than victim, more leader than pawn, and Mary and Katherine Grey would have to tread carefully in order to avoid sharing their elder sister's violent fate.

Navigating the politics of the Tudor court after Jane's death was a precarious challenge. Katherine Grey earned the trust of Mary I, only to risk her future with a love marriage that threatened Queen Elizabeth's throne. Mary Grey, considered too petite and plain to be significant, looked for her own escape from the burden of her royal blood---an impossible task after she followed her heart and also incurred the queen's envy, fear, and wrath.

Exploding the many myths of Lady Jane Grey's life, unearthing the details of Katherine's and Mary's dramatic stories, and casting new light on Elizabeth's reign, de Lisle gives voice and resonance to the lives of the Greys and offers perspective on their place in history and on a time when a royal marriage could gain you a kingdom or cost you everything.

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Tantor Media

An edition of this book was published by Tantor Media.

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