What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 05:27:07
24 copies available
U.S. only
Tudor Rose #3
The Passionate Tudor: A Novel of Queen Mary I
Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 05:27:07
24 copies available
U.S. only
The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the dramatic and poignant life of King Henry VIII's daughter—infamously known as Bloody Mary—who ruled England for five violent years.
Born from young King Henry’s first marriage, his elder daughter, Princess Mary, is raised to be queen once it becomes clear that her mother, Katherine of Aragon, will bear no more surviving children. However, Henry’s restless eye has a devastating influence on the young princess’s future when he declares her a bastard and his marriage to her mother unlawful. In hopes of a male heir, he marries Anne Boleyn and banishes Katherine and Mary from the royal court. But when Anne too fails to produce a son, she is beheaded and Mary is allowed to return to court as the default heir. At age twenty, she hopes in vain for her own marriage and children, but who will marry her, bastard that she is?
Yet Mary eventually triumphs and becomes queen, after first putting down a seventeen-year-old usurper, Lady Jane Grey, and ordering her beheading. Any hopes that as the first female queen to rule Britain Mary will show more compassion are dashed when she embarks on a ruthless campaign to force Catholicism on the English by burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake. But while her brutality will forever earn her the name Bloody Mary, at heart she is an insecure and vulnerable woman, her character forged by the unhappiness of her early years.
In Alison Weir’s masterful novel, the drama of Mary I’s life and five-year reign—from her abusive childhood, marriage, and mysterious pregnancies to the cruelty that marks her legacy—comes to vivid life.
Born from young King Henry’s first marriage, his elder daughter, Princess Mary, is raised to be queen once it becomes clear that her mother, Katherine of Aragon, will bear no more surviving children. However, Henry’s restless eye has a devastating influence on the young princess’s future when he declares her a bastard and his marriage to her mother unlawful. In hopes of a male heir, he marries Anne Boleyn and banishes Katherine and Mary from the royal court. But when Anne too fails to produce a son, she is beheaded and Mary is allowed to return to court as the default heir. At age twenty, she hopes in vain for her own marriage and children, but who will marry her, bastard that she is?
Yet Mary eventually triumphs and becomes queen, after first putting down a seventeen-year-old usurper, Lady Jane Grey, and ordering her beheading. Any hopes that as the first female queen to rule Britain Mary will show more compassion are dashed when she embarks on a ruthless campaign to force Catholicism on the English by burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake. But while her brutality will forever earn her the name Bloody Mary, at heart she is an insecure and vulnerable woman, her character forged by the unhappiness of her early years.
In Alison Weir’s masterful novel, the drama of Mary I’s life and five-year reign—from her abusive childhood, marriage, and mysterious pregnancies to the cruelty that marks her legacy—comes to vivid life.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2024
About the author
Alison Weir
81 books7,628 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 4, 2024
3.5 Stars
I've read quite a lot of books about The Tudors over the decades, so you might say I am all Tudored out at this point. However, this piece of historical fiction was written by veteran British royal author Alison Weir, so it was hard to say no to reading this. But at over 500 pages, it was a bit of a dirge crawling along in excruciating detail through Mary Tudor's childhood as she watched her father King Henry VIII abandon her mother Queen Katharine (of Aragon), marry Anne Boleyn (then sign her execution warrant), marry Jane Seymour (then watch her die after birthing their son Edward), marry and divorce Anne of Cleves, marry Katherine Howard (then sign her execution warrant), and marry Catherine Parr- his final wife. At about the 65% point (and 5 hours to go) I surrendered and skimmed ahead to the poignant topic of Mary Tudor's false pregnancies and eventual death. I didn't learn anything new, but perhaps I'm just not the audience for this kind of book anymore. Call me a cynic, but it just seems like the same subjects keep being rehashed and repackaged with new titles and covers.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I've read quite a lot of books about The Tudors over the decades, so you might say I am all Tudored out at this point. However, this piece of historical fiction was written by veteran British royal author Alison Weir, so it was hard to say no to reading this. But at over 500 pages, it was a bit of a dirge crawling along in excruciating detail through Mary Tudor's childhood as she watched her father King Henry VIII abandon her mother Queen Katharine (of Aragon), marry Anne Boleyn (then sign her execution warrant), marry Jane Seymour (then watch her die after birthing their son Edward), marry and divorce Anne of Cleves, marry Katherine Howard (then sign her execution warrant), and marry Catherine Parr- his final wife. At about the 65% point (and 5 hours to go) I surrendered and skimmed ahead to the poignant topic of Mary Tudor's false pregnancies and eventual death. I didn't learn anything new, but perhaps I'm just not the audience for this kind of book anymore. Call me a cynic, but it just seems like the same subjects keep being rehashed and repackaged with new titles and covers.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
January 22, 2024
A totally absorbing read. I thought I knew Queen Mary’s story quite well, but though I knew the 'what', 'where' and 'when', this novel gave me a fasinating new insight into the 'why' and 'how' of Mary’s transformation from the tender, brave and resolute little girl, determined to love and protect her half siblings, into the desperate woman, so broken by her marriage and the constant political and religious deceits and manipulations around her.
I was enthralled the parallels that emerged in this novel between her desperately seeking love from her father and then from her husband, and by the way in which her faith which had given her so much courage and comfort as child, had become so twisted through her experiences it had become a demon, driving her to such cruelty.
At the end of the novel, I was left wanting to weep for her, but also shudder in horror at who she had become. Although, what she did was probably no worse than atrocities committed by the male perpetrators of the Inquisition in Europe. But it is Alson Weir's great skill that shows us in the child a glimpse of the compassionate queen that Mary had the potential to become, which really drives home the tragedy of her story.
I was enthralled the parallels that emerged in this novel between her desperately seeking love from her father and then from her husband, and by the way in which her faith which had given her so much courage and comfort as child, had become so twisted through her experiences it had become a demon, driving her to such cruelty.
At the end of the novel, I was left wanting to weep for her, but also shudder in horror at who she had become. Although, what she did was probably no worse than atrocities committed by the male perpetrators of the Inquisition in Europe. But it is Alson Weir's great skill that shows us in the child a glimpse of the compassionate queen that Mary had the potential to become, which really drives home the tragedy of her story.
February 6, 2024
I've learned to go to the author's note before reading Alison Weir's books, and this one is particularly poignant. Alison talks about how, like Mary, her own parents separated when she was eleven years old. This experience means she can identify with the first crowned Tudor queen in her retelling of a familiar story.
Mary inherited a country in a social, political and economic mess, and did little to change the life of the people for the better, yet she emerges as a woman deserving of understanding, if not our sympathy.
Alison ran a competition for suggested subtitles, and a popular suggestion was the enduring epithet 'Bloody Mary'. After having read the book I agree the eventual choice of 'Queen of Sorrows' was the right one.
Although a work of historical fiction, the story of Queen Mary is based on sound historical sources, and I'm happy to recommend this book to anyone wanting a more nuanced understanding of one of our most troubled queens.
Tony Riches
Mary inherited a country in a social, political and economic mess, and did little to change the life of the people for the better, yet she emerges as a woman deserving of understanding, if not our sympathy.
Alison ran a competition for suggested subtitles, and a popular suggestion was the enduring epithet 'Bloody Mary'. After having read the book I agree the eventual choice of 'Queen of Sorrows' was the right one.
Although a work of historical fiction, the story of Queen Mary is based on sound historical sources, and I'm happy to recommend this book to anyone wanting a more nuanced understanding of one of our most troubled queens.
Tony Riches
April 24, 2024
"The Passionate Tudor" is an excellent addition to the Tudor Rose series by Alison Weir. As her previous book on Henry VIII left me lukewarm, I was a bit worried heading into this new book, but she is once again in excellent form. This book, which chronicles the life of Queen Mary I, the first Queen Regnant of England, humanizes an often maligned figure. Beginning when she is young and going until the moment right up until her death, the novel works to gives us insight into what psychology might have led to the decisions that have given her the enduring title of "Bloody Mary".
Inherently, Mary was written as a sympathetic character in much of the novel. Though I disagree with a number of her viewpoints Catholicism-wise, I found myself sympathizing with her and rooting for her all the same. She showed a great deal of courage and perseverance under extreme odds as well as admirable faith. You can really see how Mary is a combination of her father's and Katherine of Aragon's personalities (were Katherine invested with the kind of power as Heir and Queen that Mary ultimately is).
However, as Weir noted in her author's note, I find that sympathy wanes rather quickly once she becomes Queen and embarks on her religious persecution. In this way, Elizabeth I was much wiser than Mary I - perhaps learning a lesson from her sister - in that she came up with the enduring compromise of the English Church. It did get me wondering, with all the similarities between Mary I and her mother, how Katherine of Aragon might have handled such matters. Might she, Katherine, have turned out as hated where she is now remembered so well in history? Just got me thinking.
One point of minor issue I had with the book is that there are a great deal of explanatory passages. While I understand the necessity of covering a vast amount of historical material in a short period of time to get the plot continuing, it got a little too much for me at some points. I would have liked it if more dialogue were used to explain some pieces here and there, if possible.
Overall, I am pleased to see Weir adding another excellent novel to her monolithic body of work, and congratulate her on such a tour-de-force. If anyone could take on Mary I and make her sympathetic - or at least comprehensible - it is Weir. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to Weir and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
#ThePassionateTudor #NetGalley
Inherently, Mary was written as a sympathetic character in much of the novel. Though I disagree with a number of her viewpoints Catholicism-wise, I found myself sympathizing with her and rooting for her all the same. She showed a great deal of courage and perseverance under extreme odds as well as admirable faith. You can really see how Mary is a combination of her father's and Katherine of Aragon's personalities (were Katherine invested with the kind of power as Heir and Queen that Mary ultimately is).
However, as Weir noted in her author's note, I find that sympathy wanes rather quickly once she becomes Queen and embarks on her religious persecution. In this way, Elizabeth I was much wiser than Mary I - perhaps learning a lesson from her sister - in that she came up with the enduring compromise of the English Church. It did get me wondering, with all the similarities between Mary I and her mother, how Katherine of Aragon might have handled such matters. Might she, Katherine, have turned out as hated where she is now remembered so well in history? Just got me thinking.
One point of minor issue I had with the book is that there are a great deal of explanatory passages. While I understand the necessity of covering a vast amount of historical material in a short period of time to get the plot continuing, it got a little too much for me at some points. I would have liked it if more dialogue were used to explain some pieces here and there, if possible.
Overall, I am pleased to see Weir adding another excellent novel to her monolithic body of work, and congratulate her on such a tour-de-force. If anyone could take on Mary I and make her sympathetic - or at least comprehensible - it is Weir. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to Weir and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
#ThePassionateTudor #NetGalley
April 4, 2024
This book just sums up exactly how I feel about Mary Tudor and her rule as Queen. Once again, Alison Weir doesn't disappoint and keeps the story flowing and historically accurate. This takes place from the time of Mary's childhood until her death and covers all the important events during her lifetime. As with all of her books there is a great authors note at the end. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 17, 2024
This is the third book in the Tudor Rose Trilogy, and it follows Mary I, the firstborn daughter of Henry VIII and the only child of Katherine of Aragon.
When Mary was a child, she loved her father until she heard the rumours of the ‘King’s Great Matter’, in which Henry wanted to divorce Katherine on the grounds of not producing a male heir.
Mary was outraged to hear this, as she adored her mother and took her side. Just like her mother, she was a devout Catholic, and prayed for her father, however, to no avail.
The story moves through Henry’s marriages and the time when Mary was perceived as illegitimate. This later changed, and she was restored to the line of succession, and as we know, she became the Queen.
Mary’s five-year reign wasn’t easy. There were rebels everywhere conspiring against her, and throughout her short rule, there was a lot of bloodshed. She became extremely fixated on stamping out the heretics, and many were burned at the stake.
In my mind, she was overzealous and too radical when it came to religion. She thought she was doing it for the right reasons, but I was squirming in my seat when she sent yet another person to their death.
Her marriage to Philip of Spain was her undoing. This was a hugely unpopular match; the English at that time didn’t trust any foreigners, and the royal couple became the easy target for the nation’s distrust and dislike. It is fair to say that Mary loved Philip and would do anything for him, but the feeling wasn’t reciprocated.
I was saddened to read about her phantom pregnancies. Mary really wanted a child, and I am sure she would have been a good mother.
Overall, this book contains a great and detailed piece of history within its pages. I definitely recommend it.
When Mary was a child, she loved her father until she heard the rumours of the ‘King’s Great Matter’, in which Henry wanted to divorce Katherine on the grounds of not producing a male heir.
Mary was outraged to hear this, as she adored her mother and took her side. Just like her mother, she was a devout Catholic, and prayed for her father, however, to no avail.
The story moves through Henry’s marriages and the time when Mary was perceived as illegitimate. This later changed, and she was restored to the line of succession, and as we know, she became the Queen.
Mary’s five-year reign wasn’t easy. There were rebels everywhere conspiring against her, and throughout her short rule, there was a lot of bloodshed. She became extremely fixated on stamping out the heretics, and many were burned at the stake.
In my mind, she was overzealous and too radical when it came to religion. She thought she was doing it for the right reasons, but I was squirming in my seat when she sent yet another person to their death.
Her marriage to Philip of Spain was her undoing. This was a hugely unpopular match; the English at that time didn’t trust any foreigners, and the royal couple became the easy target for the nation’s distrust and dislike. It is fair to say that Mary loved Philip and would do anything for him, but the feeling wasn’t reciprocated.
I was saddened to read about her phantom pregnancies. Mary really wanted a child, and I am sure she would have been a good mother.
Overall, this book contains a great and detailed piece of history within its pages. I definitely recommend it.
January 25, 2024
Thanks to Headline Review for sending me a copy of this to review.
I really enjoyed this one, better than the previous one in the series on Henry VIII. Mary's story is less well-known which is perhaps why I enjoyed it more. Henry's story has been raked over so many times now, and trying to fit his whole life and all of the intricacies of the changing foreign, domestic and religious policy into a single book was a very big ask. On the contrary though, Weir's exploration of Mary I's story goes beyond the idea of 'Bloody Mary' and back to her childhood.
We see Mary go from a beloved heir to the throne, to a disgraced bastard, and claws her way back through turmoil onto the throne of England, where she loses the love of the people which brought her to the throne in the first place. The development in Mary as a character is striking, from the precocious and intelligent child, to the determined woman who stuck to her principles through the divorce of her mother, and continued to stick to her religion even when threatened with death, makes for engaging reading. However, once queen, Mary loses her charisma and almost her sanity, and becomes an almost pathetic figure in Weir's eyes.
Henry VIII in this story comes across as the all-powerful tyrant, who Mary doesn't see initially as the source of her problems, blaming everything instead on Anne Boleyn. But we see the scales fall from her eyes, as she realises her father's power and determination to be right in all that he does. Mary mourns the loss of sibling relationships with both Edward and Elizabeth, largely because of their differences in religion. Religion is the driving force of Mary's life.
The book is well-written, aside from a few typos which I assume will be ironed out in the final edit, as this was an uncorrected proof - missing spaces between some words largely. There was also a blindingly obvious historical inaccuracy which I had to go back and check that I was in the right year and hadn't missed a chunk of the story out. Weir has Katherine Parr nearly being arrested for heresy early in her marriage to the king in 1544, when it was actually towards the end of her time as queen in 1546. Something fairly small, but it just set my teeth on edge.
Mary often appears as a side character in Tudor fiction, pushed aside by Anne Boleyn and abandoned by Henry VIII, or as the hated queen who Elizabeth replaces. Weir's work paints Mary as so much more, as we see her ups and downs and how important her faith was to her. A really interesting and engaging read.
I really enjoyed this one, better than the previous one in the series on Henry VIII. Mary's story is less well-known which is perhaps why I enjoyed it more. Henry's story has been raked over so many times now, and trying to fit his whole life and all of the intricacies of the changing foreign, domestic and religious policy into a single book was a very big ask. On the contrary though, Weir's exploration of Mary I's story goes beyond the idea of 'Bloody Mary' and back to her childhood.
We see Mary go from a beloved heir to the throne, to a disgraced bastard, and claws her way back through turmoil onto the throne of England, where she loses the love of the people which brought her to the throne in the first place. The development in Mary as a character is striking, from the precocious and intelligent child, to the determined woman who stuck to her principles through the divorce of her mother, and continued to stick to her religion even when threatened with death, makes for engaging reading. However, once queen, Mary loses her charisma and almost her sanity, and becomes an almost pathetic figure in Weir's eyes.
Henry VIII in this story comes across as the all-powerful tyrant, who Mary doesn't see initially as the source of her problems, blaming everything instead on Anne Boleyn. But we see the scales fall from her eyes, as she realises her father's power and determination to be right in all that he does. Mary mourns the loss of sibling relationships with both Edward and Elizabeth, largely because of their differences in religion. Religion is the driving force of Mary's life.
The book is well-written, aside from a few typos which I assume will be ironed out in the final edit, as this was an uncorrected proof - missing spaces between some words largely. There was also a blindingly obvious historical inaccuracy which I had to go back and check that I was in the right year and hadn't missed a chunk of the story out. Weir has Katherine Parr nearly being arrested for heresy early in her marriage to the king in 1544, when it was actually towards the end of her time as queen in 1546. Something fairly small, but it just set my teeth on edge.
Mary often appears as a side character in Tudor fiction, pushed aside by Anne Boleyn and abandoned by Henry VIII, or as the hated queen who Elizabeth replaces. Weir's work paints Mary as so much more, as we see her ups and downs and how important her faith was to her. A really interesting and engaging read.
April 19, 2024
The Passionate Tudor: A Novel of Queen Mary I
by Alison Weir is a great historical fiction that is the third book in the Tudor Rose series.
I just loved Alison Weir and have thoroughly enjoyed every book of hers that I have read. This is such a great series to expand on (the first two being: The Last White Rose and The King’s Pleasure) after delving into the six book series of the Queens of Henry VIII.
Mary I is such a person full of contradictions: momentous yet limited, passionate and zealous yet narrow-minded and judgmental, a heart that started out so full of love and joy to give others yet starved and withered in the end. Her life is fascinating yet mundane and tragic. She was misjudged but yet some of her actions really did support some of the rumors made common knowledge.
Not very often does Mary I get the spotlight, and so many things that took place in her life are glossed over, yet Ms. Weir gives us an excellent fictional narrative that allows Mary I to have her moment and her day to let us all know more about what made her the monarch, woman, and the person we now reflect on today.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/28/24.
by Alison Weir is a great historical fiction that is the third book in the Tudor Rose series.
I just loved Alison Weir and have thoroughly enjoyed every book of hers that I have read. This is such a great series to expand on (the first two being: The Last White Rose and The King’s Pleasure) after delving into the six book series of the Queens of Henry VIII.
Mary I is such a person full of contradictions: momentous yet limited, passionate and zealous yet narrow-minded and judgmental, a heart that started out so full of love and joy to give others yet starved and withered in the end. Her life is fascinating yet mundane and tragic. She was misjudged but yet some of her actions really did support some of the rumors made common knowledge.
Not very often does Mary I get the spotlight, and so many things that took place in her life are glossed over, yet Ms. Weir gives us an excellent fictional narrative that allows Mary I to have her moment and her day to let us all know more about what made her the monarch, woman, and the person we now reflect on today.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/28/24.
December 9, 2023
My favourite auto buy history author! She never lets me down. I’ve yet to find any other author that captures history quite so well. I always feel like I’ve slipped in time and I’m privy to some secret historical events. Both fiction and non fiction she always knocks it out of the park and I never get through such big books so quickly!
Mary l is such an interesting figure in history and one that is steeped in controversy, sorrow and strife: a very interesting focus for a book and written in such an entertaining and enjoyable to way to read. It’s a great way to experience and learn about history.
I honestly don’t know how she makes them so compelling but her books are always brilliant. The sheer amount of research and understanding into history shines through these books and is impossible not to appreciate.
We follow Mary through her childhood, her relationship with her parents, marriages, illnesses and her reign. I find I learn so much and get to know a part of history so well through the storytelling. I read this on the train and it sure made my train journey fly by. 1000/10 enjoyed.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Mary l is such an interesting figure in history and one that is steeped in controversy, sorrow and strife: a very interesting focus for a book and written in such an entertaining and enjoyable to way to read. It’s a great way to experience and learn about history.
I honestly don’t know how she makes them so compelling but her books are always brilliant. The sheer amount of research and understanding into history shines through these books and is impossible not to appreciate.
We follow Mary through her childhood, her relationship with her parents, marriages, illnesses and her reign. I find I learn so much and get to know a part of history so well through the storytelling. I read this on the train and it sure made my train journey fly by. 1000/10 enjoyed.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
May 25, 2024
A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.
I’m a huge history buff and have always been a fan of the Tudor era so I was very excited when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read this as one of our featured books.
The book opens in 1525 when Mary is nine-years-old and follows her life all the way up until her death in 1588. Known infamously as ‘Bloody Mary’, Mary is a controversial figure among historians, but the last few years has seen a surge of research into her life and there has been an effort to rehabilitate her reputation. This prompted Alison Weir to revisit her past research and write a new book about one of England’s most famous queens.
Before reading this book I thought I knew a lot about Queen Mary I and this period of history. But I soon realised there were things I didn’t know such as the close bond that she and Elizabeth shared for many years, the health issues that plagued her most of her life, or that she was the first woman to rule England. And I realised that what I did know about her was so much more complex under the surface. Most interesting for me was learning why she turned to religion so ardently. Mary’s life was not a happy one. She was embroiled in royal politics from an early age, separated from her mother at 15, declared illegitimate at 17, and made lady-in-waiting to her infant half-sister, Elizabeth, that same year. Among all of this turmoil, heartache and uncertainty, Mary found solace in her Catholic faith. She was horrified when her father broke with Rome and declared Britain a Protestant country and became increasingly zealous, even risking martyrdom to attend mass when it was illegal. But the biggest reminder of her zealousness is her religious persecution of the Protestants when she was Queen. She lives on in infamy as the monarch who sent 280 people to the stake during her short, five year reign and it earned her the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’.
Compelling, powerful and riveting, this novel is a reminder that fact is so much more interesting than fiction. It also reminded me that one of the reasons I love history so much is that it is made up of the most spectacular and fascinating stories. Meticulously researched and expertly written, Ms. Weir brings history to life, transporting me back 600 years. I felt like I was in the room with them and could see it all vividly unfolding in front of me like I was watching it on a TV screen. Ms. Weir has been careful to write a balanced account of Mary’s life that highlights her accomplishments as well as her failures. But, for me, the good doesn’t outweigh the bad, and I didn’t find her to be a sympathetic character, even though she was fascinating, I am glad to understand her a little more.
Mary I Queen of Sorrows is a gripping and unmissable novel that history fans won’t want to miss.
I’m a huge history buff and have always been a fan of the Tudor era so I was very excited when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read this as one of our featured books.
The book opens in 1525 when Mary is nine-years-old and follows her life all the way up until her death in 1588. Known infamously as ‘Bloody Mary’, Mary is a controversial figure among historians, but the last few years has seen a surge of research into her life and there has been an effort to rehabilitate her reputation. This prompted Alison Weir to revisit her past research and write a new book about one of England’s most famous queens.
Before reading this book I thought I knew a lot about Queen Mary I and this period of history. But I soon realised there were things I didn’t know such as the close bond that she and Elizabeth shared for many years, the health issues that plagued her most of her life, or that she was the first woman to rule England. And I realised that what I did know about her was so much more complex under the surface. Most interesting for me was learning why she turned to religion so ardently. Mary’s life was not a happy one. She was embroiled in royal politics from an early age, separated from her mother at 15, declared illegitimate at 17, and made lady-in-waiting to her infant half-sister, Elizabeth, that same year. Among all of this turmoil, heartache and uncertainty, Mary found solace in her Catholic faith. She was horrified when her father broke with Rome and declared Britain a Protestant country and became increasingly zealous, even risking martyrdom to attend mass when it was illegal. But the biggest reminder of her zealousness is her religious persecution of the Protestants when she was Queen. She lives on in infamy as the monarch who sent 280 people to the stake during her short, five year reign and it earned her the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’.
Compelling, powerful and riveting, this novel is a reminder that fact is so much more interesting than fiction. It also reminded me that one of the reasons I love history so much is that it is made up of the most spectacular and fascinating stories. Meticulously researched and expertly written, Ms. Weir brings history to life, transporting me back 600 years. I felt like I was in the room with them and could see it all vividly unfolding in front of me like I was watching it on a TV screen. Ms. Weir has been careful to write a balanced account of Mary’s life that highlights her accomplishments as well as her failures. But, for me, the good doesn’t outweigh the bad, and I didn’t find her to be a sympathetic character, even though she was fascinating, I am glad to understand her a little more.
Mary I Queen of Sorrows is a gripping and unmissable novel that history fans won’t want to miss.
May 15, 2024
In the passionate tutor the third book in the Tudor Rose Siri‘s by Alison where we get another five star read about king Henry’s daughter queen Mary a.k.a. bloody Mary and her life. We get to see all the reason she grew up to hate the protestant people and so much more. There is so much to read in this book that I didn’t already know about her previous fiancés her relationships with her stepmother‘s her siblings and her phantompregnancies this is a great book something I find your almost guaranteed with Allison Weir until reading this book I have always thought queen Mary was cold and unfeeling through her relationship with her nanny and some of her stepmother‘s I see a whole different side to her and feel so bad for her something I’ve never felt before. I want to thank valentine books for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review
April 24, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was familiar with Alison Weir because my former grad school advisor once mentioned her as someone she knew, but I had never read one of her books before this. This book was unfortunately not my cup of tea. I'm not sure if all of Weir's books are like this, but this one is very much a "this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened..." account of Mary I's life, and a rather boring one at that. Mary I was a fairly interesting person in reality, but you wouldn't know it from Weir's book. But... if you're interested in reading 500 pages of boring drivel about a naïve woman not doing much at all, this is the book for you.
I was familiar with Alison Weir because my former grad school advisor once mentioned her as someone she knew, but I had never read one of her books before this. This book was unfortunately not my cup of tea. I'm not sure if all of Weir's books are like this, but this one is very much a "this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened..." account of Mary I's life, and a rather boring one at that. Mary I was a fairly interesting person in reality, but you wouldn't know it from Weir's book. But... if you're interested in reading 500 pages of boring drivel about a naïve woman not doing much at all, this is the book for you.
May 25, 2024
The Passionate Tudor: A Novel of Queen Mary I begins in 1525, when princess Mary is nine years old and betrothed to Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. That’s the year when the question of succession becomes a steady presence in the king’s mind. He is worried that his British subjects won’t tolerate being ruled by a woman, which may well launch the kingdom into a civil war upon his death. That there are still York relatives who may bring forth a claim to the throne if he is unable to beget a legitimate male heir is not far from his mind either. Because Mary hasn’t been sent to Spain to complete her education as intended, nor has the dowry been paid, Charles V breaks off their engagement. King Henry raises his son Henry Fitzroy to the peerage, and considers betrothing him to Mary. Either that, or draw a marriage contract between her and the dauphin of France, to forge an alliance between England and France against Spain. As none of these things become forthcoming, Mary is proclaimed Princess of Wales and sent to Ludlow Castle to begin her training as heir. In two years-time the King of France, Francis I, offers to marry Princess Mary, only it’s not immediately disclosed that a part of the arrangement for his release from Spanish captivity is to marry Mary’s cousin, Eleanor, sister of Charles V. Instead, princess Mary is offered to the Duke of Orleans. By this time, the name of Anne Boleyn starts to come up in every conversation at court.
In 1528 the King’s Great Matter finally comes to the forefront. King Henry has asked the Pope to annul his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon. In the next three years the matter of their marriage validity will go back and forth between Rome and England, until King Henry declares himself Head of the Church of England and breaks with Rome. Not satisfied with that, he canvases Europe’s centers of learning to find out where he stands on the issue of his ministers ruling on his behalf on his first marriage and subsequently marrying Anne Boleyn and proclaiming her queen. In 1532 King Henry marries Anne Boleyn, who begets only one surviving child, a daughter, named Elizabeth. When it finally becomes apparent that Anne Boleyn won’t be able to provide a male heir, King Henry’s close confidants start compiling proof and testimonies on the Queen’s conduct towards her male companions. The queen is embroiled in a cheating scandal, tried for treason, convicted and beheaded. By that time, King Henry has been eyeing another woman, Jane Seymour, a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon. Not soon is Queen Anne dead, and the King is already married a third time. Queen Jane is a sweet woman who shows affection for both Mary and Elizabeth. She is able to deliver the much sought after male heir, but a fever claims her life days after childbirth.
With Mary sent to Ludlow Castle as Princess of Wales, her banishment from court more or less starts. She is not allowed to see her mother or exchange correspondence with her—during the years her parents’ marriage is in limbo waiting for the Pope to rule on its validity —, because her father thinks they could rally the military forces of the Holy Roman Emperor on their behalf. During her father’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, Mary is engaged in the service of Princess Elizabeth as Lady Mary. She loses her right to succeed once her parents’ marriage is declared invalid, and Mary’s refusal to acknowledge her illegitimacy for having been born from an illegal union causes a rift with her father that is only salvaged when Mary recants. With the ascension of Queen Jane and the birth of a male heir, both Mary and Elizabeth are restored to the line of succession after Prince Edward.
In the following nine years, (c. 1538-1547) the physical health of the monarch increasingly deteriorates. In spite of this, he marries and crowns three more wives, divorcing one after just five months, beheading another, and leaving one a widow upon his death. In 1547, at just nine years of age, Edward VI is proclaimed King. However, due to his age, his uncle Edward Seymour is named Lord Protector. During Edward VI’s reign Catholicism is banned and people forced to convert to Protestantism. Mary is hounded to convert at the urging of the Privy Council members and later by the king. During Edward’s convalescence, prior to his death in July 1553, the Duke of Northumberland, John Dudley, who had declared himself the President of the Council a few years earlier, alters Henry VIII’s Third Act of Succession—in favor of Lady Jane Grey, the Protestant granddaughter of Mary (Henry VIII’s sister)—, who had included Jane as his fourth successor provided that his legitimate heirs (Edward, Mary and Elizabeth) died without issue. Upon the King’s death, Lady Jane is proclaimed Queen. However, most nobles in the Kingdom rally their forces behind Princess Mary and swear to defend her legitimate claim to the throne. She peacefully defeats an insurrection led by the Duke of Northumberland standing behind Lady Jane’s right to succeed. In 1553 Mary is proclaimed Queen to the delight of her subjects.
Queen Mary is advised caution in religious matters, urged to marry an Englishman, and deal decisively with her enemies. She doesn’t heed her council’s advices. She marries Prince Philip of Spain, Charles V’s son, a man that most Englishmen consider an enemy. It doesn’t help matters that Philip has kept the Holy Inquisition alive in Spain. Added to that, Mary’s subjects think that Philip may use English assets to fund his own wars abroad, and they are not that far off in their thinking as things turn out. Mary’s religious zeal, her indecisiveness as a leader, ineffective economic policies, and ill-advised marriage doom her reign.
A novel in three parts—The King’s Daughter, The King’s Sister, and Mary the Queen—, with an all-knowing narrator, The Passionate Tudor is an easy to read, gripping, blow by blow account of Mary Tudor’s life since she was nine years old until her death. There are court intrigues and treachery aplenty. The storytelling is immersive. Every time I stopped the reading for the day I wanted to keep going, a sign that I was captivated. Despite the ARC clocking at nearly 835 pages, I found the narrative engaging and engrossing. Overall, a winner!
Thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital copy via Netgalley.
In 1528 the King’s Great Matter finally comes to the forefront. King Henry has asked the Pope to annul his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon. In the next three years the matter of their marriage validity will go back and forth between Rome and England, until King Henry declares himself Head of the Church of England and breaks with Rome. Not satisfied with that, he canvases Europe’s centers of learning to find out where he stands on the issue of his ministers ruling on his behalf on his first marriage and subsequently marrying Anne Boleyn and proclaiming her queen. In 1532 King Henry marries Anne Boleyn, who begets only one surviving child, a daughter, named Elizabeth. When it finally becomes apparent that Anne Boleyn won’t be able to provide a male heir, King Henry’s close confidants start compiling proof and testimonies on the Queen’s conduct towards her male companions. The queen is embroiled in a cheating scandal, tried for treason, convicted and beheaded. By that time, King Henry has been eyeing another woman, Jane Seymour, a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon. Not soon is Queen Anne dead, and the King is already married a third time. Queen Jane is a sweet woman who shows affection for both Mary and Elizabeth. She is able to deliver the much sought after male heir, but a fever claims her life days after childbirth.
With Mary sent to Ludlow Castle as Princess of Wales, her banishment from court more or less starts. She is not allowed to see her mother or exchange correspondence with her—during the years her parents’ marriage is in limbo waiting for the Pope to rule on its validity —, because her father thinks they could rally the military forces of the Holy Roman Emperor on their behalf. During her father’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, Mary is engaged in the service of Princess Elizabeth as Lady Mary. She loses her right to succeed once her parents’ marriage is declared invalid, and Mary’s refusal to acknowledge her illegitimacy for having been born from an illegal union causes a rift with her father that is only salvaged when Mary recants. With the ascension of Queen Jane and the birth of a male heir, both Mary and Elizabeth are restored to the line of succession after Prince Edward.
In the following nine years, (c. 1538-1547) the physical health of the monarch increasingly deteriorates. In spite of this, he marries and crowns three more wives, divorcing one after just five months, beheading another, and leaving one a widow upon his death. In 1547, at just nine years of age, Edward VI is proclaimed King. However, due to his age, his uncle Edward Seymour is named Lord Protector. During Edward VI’s reign Catholicism is banned and people forced to convert to Protestantism. Mary is hounded to convert at the urging of the Privy Council members and later by the king. During Edward’s convalescence, prior to his death in July 1553, the Duke of Northumberland, John Dudley, who had declared himself the President of the Council a few years earlier, alters Henry VIII’s Third Act of Succession—in favor of Lady Jane Grey, the Protestant granddaughter of Mary (Henry VIII’s sister)—, who had included Jane as his fourth successor provided that his legitimate heirs (Edward, Mary and Elizabeth) died without issue. Upon the King’s death, Lady Jane is proclaimed Queen. However, most nobles in the Kingdom rally their forces behind Princess Mary and swear to defend her legitimate claim to the throne. She peacefully defeats an insurrection led by the Duke of Northumberland standing behind Lady Jane’s right to succeed. In 1553 Mary is proclaimed Queen to the delight of her subjects.
Queen Mary is advised caution in religious matters, urged to marry an Englishman, and deal decisively with her enemies. She doesn’t heed her council’s advices. She marries Prince Philip of Spain, Charles V’s son, a man that most Englishmen consider an enemy. It doesn’t help matters that Philip has kept the Holy Inquisition alive in Spain. Added to that, Mary’s subjects think that Philip may use English assets to fund his own wars abroad, and they are not that far off in their thinking as things turn out. Mary’s religious zeal, her indecisiveness as a leader, ineffective economic policies, and ill-advised marriage doom her reign.
A novel in three parts—The King’s Daughter, The King’s Sister, and Mary the Queen—, with an all-knowing narrator, The Passionate Tudor is an easy to read, gripping, blow by blow account of Mary Tudor’s life since she was nine years old until her death. There are court intrigues and treachery aplenty. The storytelling is immersive. Every time I stopped the reading for the day I wanted to keep going, a sign that I was captivated. Despite the ARC clocking at nearly 835 pages, I found the narrative engaging and engrossing. Overall, a winner!
Thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital copy via Netgalley.
May 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review!
There's something truly special about diving into a book where historical accuracy meets skillfully crafted dialogue. Being able to immerse myself in the vividly depicted world of the past while also learning something new is an experience I adore. It's safe to say that books like these rank among my favourites!
In 'Mary I: Queen of Sorrows,' Alison Weir provides a vivid and poignant glimpse into the life of a historical figure often overshadowed by her successors, the first queen regnant of England. Weir plunges readers into the turbulent political and social landscapes of Tudor England, delving into the complexities of power, loyalty, and personal struggle during Mary's reign.
The meticulous research evident in the narrative is astonishing. The first 40% of the book is dedicated to Mary’s younger years, which, although I didn’t ultimately warm to her, helped humanize her character. It allowed me to peek behind the curtain and discover what her life and relationships were like, particularly with her mother and father, both before and during the event of 'the great matter.' She showed incredible strength of character in her teenage years, advocating for herself.
From 40% to 60%, we witness King Edward's ascension to the throne and the challenges Mary faces during this uncertain time. This portion of the books momentum slowed down for me, perhaps more due to Mary's life at that time than anything to do with the author as to me, Mary I isn’t the most exciting monarch in some respects to write about. Another aspect worth noting is occasional repetition and brevity in the narrative. Certain sentences are repeated closely together, and some are very short, which may have benefited from more descriptive detail to enhance engagement but the information provided was still captivating!
Around 60% on, we witness Mary's ascent to the throne and her subsequent tumultuous reign. We observe her journey from moments of public adulation to periods of condemnation, ultimately leading to her enduring historical epithet, 'Bloody Mary.' Mary's character truly stands out in this phase of her life, exhibiting moments of resolute determination juxtaposed with instances of hypocrisy. It's particularly poignant witnessing her descent into misery and distrust towards those around her near the end. Despite her unwavering conviction in her actions, it's disheartening to observe how she disregards valuable advice from multiple sources. Her steadfast belief in her righteousness blinds her to the reasons behind the loss of love and adoration from the very people who initially supported her ascension to the throne.
The author's notes are an added bonus of information, and the book questions posed at the end are a fantastic addition for extra contemplation, making it book club friendly or useful in academic settings. The strengths of this book for me were the historical accuracy and authenticity, the humanizing portrayal of Mary, the insightful exploration into various aspects and phases of Mary's life and the challenges she faced as well as the complex relationships portrayed such as sibling affection to political rivalry. These dynamics add layers to Mary's story, particularly in her interactions with Elizabeth and her unexpected revelations about Philip.
I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to anyone who loves Tudor history or historical fiction. It is enriching to the historical fiction genre, providing readers with a fresh perspective on Mary's life and reign. I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of the author's works, both past and future
#NetGalley #HeadlinePublishers #MaryIQueenofSorrows
There's something truly special about diving into a book where historical accuracy meets skillfully crafted dialogue. Being able to immerse myself in the vividly depicted world of the past while also learning something new is an experience I adore. It's safe to say that books like these rank among my favourites!
In 'Mary I: Queen of Sorrows,' Alison Weir provides a vivid and poignant glimpse into the life of a historical figure often overshadowed by her successors, the first queen regnant of England. Weir plunges readers into the turbulent political and social landscapes of Tudor England, delving into the complexities of power, loyalty, and personal struggle during Mary's reign.
The meticulous research evident in the narrative is astonishing. The first 40% of the book is dedicated to Mary’s younger years, which, although I didn’t ultimately warm to her, helped humanize her character. It allowed me to peek behind the curtain and discover what her life and relationships were like, particularly with her mother and father, both before and during the event of 'the great matter.' She showed incredible strength of character in her teenage years, advocating for herself.
From 40% to 60%, we witness King Edward's ascension to the throne and the challenges Mary faces during this uncertain time. This portion of the books momentum slowed down for me, perhaps more due to Mary's life at that time than anything to do with the author as to me, Mary I isn’t the most exciting monarch in some respects to write about. Another aspect worth noting is occasional repetition and brevity in the narrative. Certain sentences are repeated closely together, and some are very short, which may have benefited from more descriptive detail to enhance engagement but the information provided was still captivating!
Around 60% on, we witness Mary's ascent to the throne and her subsequent tumultuous reign. We observe her journey from moments of public adulation to periods of condemnation, ultimately leading to her enduring historical epithet, 'Bloody Mary.' Mary's character truly stands out in this phase of her life, exhibiting moments of resolute determination juxtaposed with instances of hypocrisy. It's particularly poignant witnessing her descent into misery and distrust towards those around her near the end. Despite her unwavering conviction in her actions, it's disheartening to observe how she disregards valuable advice from multiple sources. Her steadfast belief in her righteousness blinds her to the reasons behind the loss of love and adoration from the very people who initially supported her ascension to the throne.
The author's notes are an added bonus of information, and the book questions posed at the end are a fantastic addition for extra contemplation, making it book club friendly or useful in academic settings. The strengths of this book for me were the historical accuracy and authenticity, the humanizing portrayal of Mary, the insightful exploration into various aspects and phases of Mary's life and the challenges she faced as well as the complex relationships portrayed such as sibling affection to political rivalry. These dynamics add layers to Mary's story, particularly in her interactions with Elizabeth and her unexpected revelations about Philip.
I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to anyone who loves Tudor history or historical fiction. It is enriching to the historical fiction genre, providing readers with a fresh perspective on Mary's life and reign. I'm eagerly looking forward to exploring more of the author's works, both past and future
#NetGalley #HeadlinePublishers #MaryIQueenofSorrows
May 18, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Passionate Tudor is Alison Weir’s latest Tudor novel, chronicling the life of Mary I. It’s truly an epic story, and in some ways, she did it justice. It doesn’t break new ground, nor did I expect it to, but while it’s not my favorite book I’ve read from her, I enjoyed the choices she made overall.
Mary herself has always been a polarizing figure, and Weir acknowledges this in her author’s note, although she also challenges it by pointing out that both Henry VIII and Elizabeth were also just as “bloody,” if not more so, and had longer reigns which skew the numbers more in their favor. But even those who condemn Mary’s actions as Queen admit that her upbringing is a reaction to the intense trauma she suffered as a child, which I feel Weir depicts the most strongly. Mary is depicted as the apple of her father’s eye and close to both her father and mother, until Henry grew disillusioned with his marriage and fell into his passion for Anne Boleyn. And even as an Anne Boleyn sympathizer (Weir is notably anti-Anne in other books), I can’t help but understand Mary’s ire toward Anne, especially when Anne responded with equal venom. While it’s hard to see Mary so easily absolve her father of his abuse of her, blaming it all on Anne, this is very accurate to Mary’s mindset, especially as she thought Anne’s execution would magically change things, and it actually wasn’t until Mary submitted to Henry’s demand that she acknowledge her parents’ marriage as invalid that he would acknowledge her again.
In addition to exploring the impact of those early years, I found the first part the strongest for how it focused on her relationships with each of her father’s subsequent wives, especially highlighting the close relationship she had with Jane Seymour, serving as chief mourner at her funeral. And despite the fact that religion would divide them, I liked seeing the bond between her and Katharine Parr, and how that also brought Mary into contact with Catherine Willoughby, whose mother, Maria de Salinas, was Katherine of Aragon’s lady-in-waiting, and they had a brief exchange about this.
I also enjoyed seeing how Mary’s relationships with Elizabeth and Edward played out. I was particularly intrigued by how Mary’s suspicions regarding Elizabeth’s paternity were established early on, and while it did not impact Mary treating her as a sister overall, there was a sense of doubt there. And with Edward and Mary’s religious clashes being documented, I love how the origins of this were depicted.
Pacing wise, I feel like this was where the book lagged. While all of Weir’s fiction at this point more or less deals with information that avid Tudor fans know, most usually are engaging. And the first two parts were the most interesting due to the tenuous position Mary was in as the King’s obstinate daughter, in and out of favor, and then the King’s heretic sister. But part three, chronicling her time as Queen, was dull, in spite of it being the part that most shaped her legacy. The early chapters of part three, with her fight for the throne, were engaging, and a bit with Wyatt’s Rebellion as well, but after that, I started skimming. Reading about her phantom pregnancy and declining health, while accurate to the timeline, were particularly mood-killing.
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped, it’s possibly a “me” thing, as I’ve often struggled with biographical fiction that covers long periods of a person’s life. And I’d still recommend it to readers of historical fiction, whether you’re looking for a solid introduction to Mary or if you’re a Tudor fan like me.
The Passionate Tudor is Alison Weir’s latest Tudor novel, chronicling the life of Mary I. It’s truly an epic story, and in some ways, she did it justice. It doesn’t break new ground, nor did I expect it to, but while it’s not my favorite book I’ve read from her, I enjoyed the choices she made overall.
Mary herself has always been a polarizing figure, and Weir acknowledges this in her author’s note, although she also challenges it by pointing out that both Henry VIII and Elizabeth were also just as “bloody,” if not more so, and had longer reigns which skew the numbers more in their favor. But even those who condemn Mary’s actions as Queen admit that her upbringing is a reaction to the intense trauma she suffered as a child, which I feel Weir depicts the most strongly. Mary is depicted as the apple of her father’s eye and close to both her father and mother, until Henry grew disillusioned with his marriage and fell into his passion for Anne Boleyn. And even as an Anne Boleyn sympathizer (Weir is notably anti-Anne in other books), I can’t help but understand Mary’s ire toward Anne, especially when Anne responded with equal venom. While it’s hard to see Mary so easily absolve her father of his abuse of her, blaming it all on Anne, this is very accurate to Mary’s mindset, especially as she thought Anne’s execution would magically change things, and it actually wasn’t until Mary submitted to Henry’s demand that she acknowledge her parents’ marriage as invalid that he would acknowledge her again.
In addition to exploring the impact of those early years, I found the first part the strongest for how it focused on her relationships with each of her father’s subsequent wives, especially highlighting the close relationship she had with Jane Seymour, serving as chief mourner at her funeral. And despite the fact that religion would divide them, I liked seeing the bond between her and Katharine Parr, and how that also brought Mary into contact with Catherine Willoughby, whose mother, Maria de Salinas, was Katherine of Aragon’s lady-in-waiting, and they had a brief exchange about this.
I also enjoyed seeing how Mary’s relationships with Elizabeth and Edward played out. I was particularly intrigued by how Mary’s suspicions regarding Elizabeth’s paternity were established early on, and while it did not impact Mary treating her as a sister overall, there was a sense of doubt there. And with Edward and Mary’s religious clashes being documented, I love how the origins of this were depicted.
Pacing wise, I feel like this was where the book lagged. While all of Weir’s fiction at this point more or less deals with information that avid Tudor fans know, most usually are engaging. And the first two parts were the most interesting due to the tenuous position Mary was in as the King’s obstinate daughter, in and out of favor, and then the King’s heretic sister. But part three, chronicling her time as Queen, was dull, in spite of it being the part that most shaped her legacy. The early chapters of part three, with her fight for the throne, were engaging, and a bit with Wyatt’s Rebellion as well, but after that, I started skimming. Reading about her phantom pregnancy and declining health, while accurate to the timeline, were particularly mood-killing.
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped, it’s possibly a “me” thing, as I’ve often struggled with biographical fiction that covers long periods of a person’s life. And I’d still recommend it to readers of historical fiction, whether you’re looking for a solid introduction to Mary or if you’re a Tudor fan like me.
March 27, 2024
560 pages
5 stars
I have read a great deal about King Henry VIII and his youngest daughter, Elizabeth I. However, I haven’t read very much about Mary I. I knew her reputation as “Bloody Mary.” I knew her childhood and the terrible travails she suffered at the hands of Anne Boleyn and her crony relatives. (As well as the dastardly manner in which her father Henry VIII treated her.) I have read about Queen Jane, the nine-day Queen and her sad demise. I knew she married Prince (later King), Phillip of Spain. But I had not read anything about Mary’s reign.
This book dives into Mary, herself. What she felt. What she did. How she acted in response to the various upheavals in England. The populace was very unhappy at her marrying a man from Spain. The Spanish were not trusted. People feared being drawn into a war.
Religion was a driving force in Mary’s reign. She was quick to have “unrepentant” Protestants arrested, and burned. She was advised to slow down, to give people a chance to adjust to her beliefs. She would not. Violent uprisings occurred in the nation. She was raised a staunch Catholic and saw Protestants as heretics and sinners. She was unbendable. She applied to Rome to rejoin the Catholic Church, but the Pope was having none of it. Rome was under siege by Phillips' army. He was even excommunicated.
Her relationship with her husband Phillip was an odd one. She was so obsessed with the relationship, she could see nothing else. She spent hours and hours crying over him. She was not listening to her council. She was stubborn. She would only really listen to her two favorite advisors, the Spanish Ambassador and Cardinal Pole whom she had appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury following her execution of Archbishop Cranmer.
These two men had a great deal of influence over Mary. She seemed incapable of making decisions, being decisive, on her own. She was so obsessed with her relationship with Phillip and her determination to make England Catholic, that she seemed blind to all else.
Her phantom pregnancy was devastating to her. With all her personal problems, combined with the war she finally acceded to in partnership with her husband, she became psychologically defeated, she was almost immobile.
Finally, came the loss of Calais. The last area of land that England held in France for centuries.
She became very ill, but did not want her Protestant sister, Elizabeth to inherit the throne. She came to hate Elizabeth apparently for she bought into the rampant rumors about Elizabeth’s involvement in the uprisings in the country. She even believed that perhaps Elizabeth wasn’t King Henry’s daughter. She finally gave into naming Elizabeth her heir when she became very ill.
She died on November 17, 1558 at age 42.
Alison Weir is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and they are matchless. She does research her topics thoroughly. Ms. Weir’s afterward explains the conclusions she came to and why. It is very valuable reading and I recommend anyone who is interested in the period of England’s history dive into it. The book is easy to read, interesting, engaging and reads quickly.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most informative and interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
I have read a great deal about King Henry VIII and his youngest daughter, Elizabeth I. However, I haven’t read very much about Mary I. I knew her reputation as “Bloody Mary.” I knew her childhood and the terrible travails she suffered at the hands of Anne Boleyn and her crony relatives. (As well as the dastardly manner in which her father Henry VIII treated her.) I have read about Queen Jane, the nine-day Queen and her sad demise. I knew she married Prince (later King), Phillip of Spain. But I had not read anything about Mary’s reign.
This book dives into Mary, herself. What she felt. What she did. How she acted in response to the various upheavals in England. The populace was very unhappy at her marrying a man from Spain. The Spanish were not trusted. People feared being drawn into a war.
Religion was a driving force in Mary’s reign. She was quick to have “unrepentant” Protestants arrested, and burned. She was advised to slow down, to give people a chance to adjust to her beliefs. She would not. Violent uprisings occurred in the nation. She was raised a staunch Catholic and saw Protestants as heretics and sinners. She was unbendable. She applied to Rome to rejoin the Catholic Church, but the Pope was having none of it. Rome was under siege by Phillips' army. He was even excommunicated.
Her relationship with her husband Phillip was an odd one. She was so obsessed with the relationship, she could see nothing else. She spent hours and hours crying over him. She was not listening to her council. She was stubborn. She would only really listen to her two favorite advisors, the Spanish Ambassador and Cardinal Pole whom she had appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury following her execution of Archbishop Cranmer.
These two men had a great deal of influence over Mary. She seemed incapable of making decisions, being decisive, on her own. She was so obsessed with her relationship with Phillip and her determination to make England Catholic, that she seemed blind to all else.
Her phantom pregnancy was devastating to her. With all her personal problems, combined with the war she finally acceded to in partnership with her husband, she became psychologically defeated, she was almost immobile.
Finally, came the loss of Calais. The last area of land that England held in France for centuries.
She became very ill, but did not want her Protestant sister, Elizabeth to inherit the throne. She came to hate Elizabeth apparently for she bought into the rampant rumors about Elizabeth’s involvement in the uprisings in the country. She even believed that perhaps Elizabeth wasn’t King Henry’s daughter. She finally gave into naming Elizabeth her heir when she became very ill.
She died on November 17, 1558 at age 42.
Alison Weir is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and they are matchless. She does research her topics thoroughly. Ms. Weir’s afterward explains the conclusions she came to and why. It is very valuable reading and I recommend anyone who is interested in the period of England’s history dive into it. The book is easy to read, interesting, engaging and reads quickly.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most informative and interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Read
March 27, 2024560 pages
5 stars
I have read a great deal about King Henry VIII and his youngest daughter, Elizabeth I. However, I haven’t read very much about Mary I. I knew her reputation as “Bloody Mary.” I knew her childhood and the terrible travails she suffered at the hands of Anne Boleyn and her crony relatives. (As well as the dastardly manner in which her father Henry VIII treated her.) I have read about Queen Jane, the nine-day Queen and her sad demise. I knew she married Prince (later King), Phillip of Spain. But I had not read anything about Mary’s reign.
This book dives into Mary, herself. What she felt. What she did. How she acted in response to the various upheavals in England. The populace was very unhappy at her marrying a man from Spain. The Spanish were not trusted. People feared being drawn into a war.
Religion was a driving force in Mary’s reign. She was quick to have “unrepentant” Protestants arrested, and burned. She was advised to slow down, to give people a chance to adjust to her beliefs. She would not. Violent uprisings occurred in the nation. She was raised a staunch Catholic and saw Protestants as heretics and sinners. She was unbendable. She applied to Rome to rejoin the Catholic Church, but the Pope was having none of it. Rome was under siege by Phillips' army. He was even excommunicated.
Her relationship with her husband Phillip was an odd one. She was so obsessed with the relationship, she could see nothing else. She spent hours and hours crying over him. She was not listening to her council. She was stubborn. She would only really listen to her two favorite advisors, the Spanish Ambassador and Cardinal Pole whom she had appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury following her execution of Archbishop Cranmer.
These two men had a great deal of influence over Mary. She seemed incapable of making decisions, being decisive, on her own. She was so obsessed with her relationship with Phillip and her determination to make England Catholic, that she seemed blind to all else.
Her phantom pregnancy was devastating to her. With all her personal problems, combined with the war she finally acceded to in partnership with her husband, she became psychologically defeated, she was almost immobile.
Finally, came the loss of Calais. The last area of land that England held in France for centuries.
She became very ill, but did not want her Protestant sister, Elizabeth to inherit the throne. She came to hate Elizabeth apparently for she bought into the rampant rumors about Elizabeth’s involvement in the uprisings in the country. She even believed that perhaps Elizabeth wasn’t King Henry’s daughter. She finally gave into naming Elizabeth her heir when she became very ill.
She died on November 17, 1558 at age 42.
Alison Weir is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and they are matchless. She does research her topics thoroughly. Ms. Weir’s afterward explains the conclusions she came to and why. It is very valuable reading and I recommend anyone who is interested in the period of England’s history dive into it. The book is easy to read, interesting, engaging and reads quickly.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most informative and interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
I have read a great deal about King Henry VIII and his youngest daughter, Elizabeth I. However, I haven’t read very much about Mary I. I knew her reputation as “Bloody Mary.” I knew her childhood and the terrible travails she suffered at the hands of Anne Boleyn and her crony relatives. (As well as the dastardly manner in which her father Henry VIII treated her.) I have read about Queen Jane, the nine-day Queen and her sad demise. I knew she married Prince (later King), Phillip of Spain. But I had not read anything about Mary’s reign.
This book dives into Mary, herself. What she felt. What she did. How she acted in response to the various upheavals in England. The populace was very unhappy at her marrying a man from Spain. The Spanish were not trusted. People feared being drawn into a war.
Religion was a driving force in Mary’s reign. She was quick to have “unrepentant” Protestants arrested, and burned. She was advised to slow down, to give people a chance to adjust to her beliefs. She would not. Violent uprisings occurred in the nation. She was raised a staunch Catholic and saw Protestants as heretics and sinners. She was unbendable. She applied to Rome to rejoin the Catholic Church, but the Pope was having none of it. Rome was under siege by Phillips' army. He was even excommunicated.
Her relationship with her husband Phillip was an odd one. She was so obsessed with the relationship, she could see nothing else. She spent hours and hours crying over him. She was not listening to her council. She was stubborn. She would only really listen to her two favorite advisors, the Spanish Ambassador and Cardinal Pole whom she had appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury following her execution of Archbishop Cranmer.
These two men had a great deal of influence over Mary. She seemed incapable of making decisions, being decisive, on her own. She was so obsessed with her relationship with Phillip and her determination to make England Catholic, that she seemed blind to all else.
Her phantom pregnancy was devastating to her. With all her personal problems, combined with the war she finally acceded to in partnership with her husband, she became psychologically defeated, she was almost immobile.
Finally, came the loss of Calais. The last area of land that England held in France for centuries.
She became very ill, but did not want her Protestant sister, Elizabeth to inherit the throne. She came to hate Elizabeth apparently for she bought into the rampant rumors about Elizabeth’s involvement in the uprisings in the country. She even believed that perhaps Elizabeth wasn’t King Henry’s daughter. She finally gave into naming Elizabeth her heir when she became very ill.
She died on November 17, 1558 at age 42.
Alison Weir is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and they are matchless. She does research her topics thoroughly. Ms. Weir’s afterward explains the conclusions she came to and why. It is very valuable reading and I recommend anyone who is interested in the period of England’s history dive into it. The book is easy to read, interesting, engaging and reads quickly.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most informative and interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
May 6, 2024
This is the final book in the Tudor Rose trilogy which started with Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose (reviewed here) and continued in Henry VIII: The Heart & the Crown (reviewed here) and explores the life of a woman nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary,’ due to the number of executions of heretics that took place during her reign. She is probably the one of the three I know least about so I was very keen to read Alison Weir’s reimagining of her life and reign.
Anyone who knows anything about the work of Alison Weir will know that, despite the fact this book is fiction, it is rooted very firmly in historical fact and draws heavily on original source material from the time. At the end of the book, there is a long author’s note which explains how Alison has interpreted the material to build her picture of Mary’s life and what conclusions she herself has drawn about this woman from her research. I think this is probably as close as you are going to get to an accurate portrayal of a real person through fiction, if that is what you like to read.
If you read the vary bare historical facts on Mary’s life and reign, you could not help but draw the conclusion that she was a fairly ineffectual queen who left the realm impoverished and diminished on the world stage, particularly after the loss of Calais to the French after two hundred years of British rule. She was barren and left her throne to be inherited by a sister of whom she was jealous and suspicious, who she believed to be the bastard child of ‘the great whore’ Anne Boleyn and possibly not even the true child of Henry VIII. What’s more having devoted her entire life to preserving the practice of the Catholic faith in England to the extent of ordering the public burning of around three hundred ‘heretics,’ which practice left her labelled cruel and reviled by many of her subjects, she feared Elizabeth was a secret Protestant who would immediately undo her life’s work. Not a woman to be much admired or celebrated.
However, Alison manages through the pages the book to give us a potential insight into the mind and emotions of this woman and give some explanation as to why she might have behaved as she did. Her mother was cast out by Henry VIII when she failed to give him a surviving male heir and he became enamoured by Anne Boleyn. Henry insisted hi marriage to Catherine has been incestuous and labelled Mary illegitimate and cast her out of the succession. He would not allow her to court for long periods of time and kept her separated from her mother. She was a devout Catholic whom he forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the Church of England in fear for her life. Her entire life she spent in fear for it. She was betrothed and renounced more than once and was never given the opportunity to marry until very late in her life, and never bore the children she so desperately wanted. She was the first woman to rule in her own right, and this was a difficult path to try and forge at a time where women were pawns and chattels and no one took their ability to rule independently seriously. Alison has taken all this information and try to use it to provide some explanation, although not an excuse, as to why she took some of the decisions she did. By the end of the book I felt sorry for her, although I could not bring myself to admire her.
The best type of historical fiction turns figures from the pages of history books into living and breathing people for whom we can feel affinity and understanding, if not sympathy. If you love to be transported back through time and feel like you are living and breathing the perils and machinations of life on the Tudor throne, you can’t do better than pick up this book and immerse yourself in it as I did. It is well worth the 500 pages of commitment.
Anyone who knows anything about the work of Alison Weir will know that, despite the fact this book is fiction, it is rooted very firmly in historical fact and draws heavily on original source material from the time. At the end of the book, there is a long author’s note which explains how Alison has interpreted the material to build her picture of Mary’s life and what conclusions she herself has drawn about this woman from her research. I think this is probably as close as you are going to get to an accurate portrayal of a real person through fiction, if that is what you like to read.
If you read the vary bare historical facts on Mary’s life and reign, you could not help but draw the conclusion that she was a fairly ineffectual queen who left the realm impoverished and diminished on the world stage, particularly after the loss of Calais to the French after two hundred years of British rule. She was barren and left her throne to be inherited by a sister of whom she was jealous and suspicious, who she believed to be the bastard child of ‘the great whore’ Anne Boleyn and possibly not even the true child of Henry VIII. What’s more having devoted her entire life to preserving the practice of the Catholic faith in England to the extent of ordering the public burning of around three hundred ‘heretics,’ which practice left her labelled cruel and reviled by many of her subjects, she feared Elizabeth was a secret Protestant who would immediately undo her life’s work. Not a woman to be much admired or celebrated.
However, Alison manages through the pages the book to give us a potential insight into the mind and emotions of this woman and give some explanation as to why she might have behaved as she did. Her mother was cast out by Henry VIII when she failed to give him a surviving male heir and he became enamoured by Anne Boleyn. Henry insisted hi marriage to Catherine has been incestuous and labelled Mary illegitimate and cast her out of the succession. He would not allow her to court for long periods of time and kept her separated from her mother. She was a devout Catholic whom he forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the Church of England in fear for her life. Her entire life she spent in fear for it. She was betrothed and renounced more than once and was never given the opportunity to marry until very late in her life, and never bore the children she so desperately wanted. She was the first woman to rule in her own right, and this was a difficult path to try and forge at a time where women were pawns and chattels and no one took their ability to rule independently seriously. Alison has taken all this information and try to use it to provide some explanation, although not an excuse, as to why she took some of the decisions she did. By the end of the book I felt sorry for her, although I could not bring myself to admire her.
The best type of historical fiction turns figures from the pages of history books into living and breathing people for whom we can feel affinity and understanding, if not sympathy. If you love to be transported back through time and feel like you are living and breathing the perils and machinations of life on the Tudor throne, you can’t do better than pick up this book and immerse yourself in it as I did. It is well worth the 500 pages of commitment.
May 20, 2024
Mary I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. From Princess to Queen, Mary lived an extraordinary life. This is the story of Mary I as never told before.
I have always been fascinated by The Tudors in particular Henry VIII, his six wives and his three children Mary, Elizabeth and Edward so I was intrigued to read this book. Although I knew a little bit about Mary I wanted to learn more. I have read other books that depict a fictional version of Mary’s life but by far his was my favourite because I felt like it gave me a comprehensive and detailed picture of who Mary was and her life.
When the book arrived I was a little intimidated because it is a fairly chunky book coming in at under 500 pages but as soon as I started to read that intimidation melted away. I found myself transported to the 1500s and to the Royal Court where I met Mary and those around her. What I loved about this book was that it captured my attention from the beginning to the end and the story was easy to follow.
The reader is taken on a journey through Mary’s life as a Princess and the apple of her parents eyes to her exile from the Royal Court due to the breakdown of her parents’ marriage. It is during this time that her legitimacy is questioned because Henry VIII wants to marry Anne Boleyn. The story then continues and we meet Mary as she turns from a young adult to an adult and from her ascension to the throne, to her marriage and then to her death.
We follow Mary’s development throughout the book from a very happy child who is surrounded by the love and warmth of her parents to her life changing when her father becomes fixated on having a son and heir. It did feel like Mary had to grow up very quickly especially when she realised how fickle her father’s affections towards her were depending on the circumstances that were surrounding him. This included being born with the title of Princess and then that being taken away from her together with her Royal status. I quite liked that the book included a whistle stop tour through Henry’s marriages from Mary’s perspective. Especially because Mary would have been present for all of them, would have been at an age where she understood what was happening and her relationship with each of the wives was explored. It was also interesting to see how Mary interacted with her siblings Elizabeth and Edward. It was clear that Mary’s relationship with her siblings started off quite well and in some ways she was very protective of them, sometimes in a very motherly way. However, these relationships started to change as they got older. As soon as Edward ascended Mary was being dictated to by not only her brother but also his advisors on how she should worship and who she should worship. We are also given a glimpse into Mary’s relationship with Elizabeth which turned from a loving sisterly bond into rivalry because Mary considered Elizabeth a threat. Mary was very popular amongst the people of England when she was younger but then that popularity wanes when she comes into power. It’s clear that Mary was devoted to the Catholic faith but this devotion takes a sinister turn when she becomes Queen and starts to persecute those who don’t share her faith as she tries to undo everything put in place by her brother.
A must read for any fans of historical fiction, in particular fans of The Tudors.
I have always been fascinated by The Tudors in particular Henry VIII, his six wives and his three children Mary, Elizabeth and Edward so I was intrigued to read this book. Although I knew a little bit about Mary I wanted to learn more. I have read other books that depict a fictional version of Mary’s life but by far his was my favourite because I felt like it gave me a comprehensive and detailed picture of who Mary was and her life.
When the book arrived I was a little intimidated because it is a fairly chunky book coming in at under 500 pages but as soon as I started to read that intimidation melted away. I found myself transported to the 1500s and to the Royal Court where I met Mary and those around her. What I loved about this book was that it captured my attention from the beginning to the end and the story was easy to follow.
The reader is taken on a journey through Mary’s life as a Princess and the apple of her parents eyes to her exile from the Royal Court due to the breakdown of her parents’ marriage. It is during this time that her legitimacy is questioned because Henry VIII wants to marry Anne Boleyn. The story then continues and we meet Mary as she turns from a young adult to an adult and from her ascension to the throne, to her marriage and then to her death.
We follow Mary’s development throughout the book from a very happy child who is surrounded by the love and warmth of her parents to her life changing when her father becomes fixated on having a son and heir. It did feel like Mary had to grow up very quickly especially when she realised how fickle her father’s affections towards her were depending on the circumstances that were surrounding him. This included being born with the title of Princess and then that being taken away from her together with her Royal status. I quite liked that the book included a whistle stop tour through Henry’s marriages from Mary’s perspective. Especially because Mary would have been present for all of them, would have been at an age where she understood what was happening and her relationship with each of the wives was explored. It was also interesting to see how Mary interacted with her siblings Elizabeth and Edward. It was clear that Mary’s relationship with her siblings started off quite well and in some ways she was very protective of them, sometimes in a very motherly way. However, these relationships started to change as they got older. As soon as Edward ascended Mary was being dictated to by not only her brother but also his advisors on how she should worship and who she should worship. We are also given a glimpse into Mary’s relationship with Elizabeth which turned from a loving sisterly bond into rivalry because Mary considered Elizabeth a threat. Mary was very popular amongst the people of England when she was younger but then that popularity wanes when she comes into power. It’s clear that Mary was devoted to the Catholic faith but this devotion takes a sinister turn when she becomes Queen and starts to persecute those who don’t share her faith as she tries to undo everything put in place by her brother.
A must read for any fans of historical fiction, in particular fans of The Tudors.
March 21, 2024
Alison Weir’s novel The Passionate Tudor is that latest in her line of books featuring members of the Tudor Dynasty, This novel focuses on Mary I, who is a divisive figure in history. Many know her as “Bloody Mary”, the nickname given to her by supporters of her sister and stuck to Mary by time. If you are a fan of Tudor history, Alison Weir, or Mary I, this is a must read!
Weir’s novel follows Mary from her very privileged and enchanted younger years, through her tumultuous young adulthood under her father Henry VIII, and then her extreme Protestant brother, ending with the story of her very sad reign that started out so promising. As her father the King turns from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, and falls for Anne Boleyn, Mary finds herself experiencing things that would shape who she was as she grew; resentment towards her younger sister Elizabeth I, her deepening faith in the Catholic Church, and her twisted and confusing relationship with the man she idolized. She has a long, soul crushing journey back to finding favor with the King, causing her inner turmoil for years to come. A jubilant Mary ascends the throne amid more chaos, and finally thinks she finds happiness. However, this quickly turns sour as the people turn against her for her choice in husband, Philip of Spain, and revolts begin to break out causing her to be suspicious of her sister.
Mary has not been focused on in recent years, as most authors prefer to focus on her more popular sister and her father, but Weir’s novel give us insight into how Mary must have been feeling through all of these hurdles she is thrown against. How her grief with being torn from her mother and from the life she had known strengthened her faith in God and the Catholic Church causing her determination to bring England back into the fold as Queen. Weir’s portrayal of Mary’s relationships with her siblings is explored for all their complexities they would have caused Mary. Her sister, the daughter of the woman, who in Mary’s mind, caused all her pain. Her brother, the longed for male heir, who would turn on her in the end. Even the relationship between Mary and each of her father’s wife’s are done well, giving perspective to each wife in a different light then we have seen them before.
I have read almost every single book Weir has written, and this has been one of my favorites so far. I found it a vast improvement over her previous novel, “The King’s Pleasure” as Henry VIII’s story has been told over and over again. Weir’s take on history through the eyes of a much maligned character is refreshing to see.
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the E-Arc!
Weir’s novel follows Mary from her very privileged and enchanted younger years, through her tumultuous young adulthood under her father Henry VIII, and then her extreme Protestant brother, ending with the story of her very sad reign that started out so promising. As her father the King turns from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, and falls for Anne Boleyn, Mary finds herself experiencing things that would shape who she was as she grew; resentment towards her younger sister Elizabeth I, her deepening faith in the Catholic Church, and her twisted and confusing relationship with the man she idolized. She has a long, soul crushing journey back to finding favor with the King, causing her inner turmoil for years to come. A jubilant Mary ascends the throne amid more chaos, and finally thinks she finds happiness. However, this quickly turns sour as the people turn against her for her choice in husband, Philip of Spain, and revolts begin to break out causing her to be suspicious of her sister.
Mary has not been focused on in recent years, as most authors prefer to focus on her more popular sister and her father, but Weir’s novel give us insight into how Mary must have been feeling through all of these hurdles she is thrown against. How her grief with being torn from her mother and from the life she had known strengthened her faith in God and the Catholic Church causing her determination to bring England back into the fold as Queen. Weir’s portrayal of Mary’s relationships with her siblings is explored for all their complexities they would have caused Mary. Her sister, the daughter of the woman, who in Mary’s mind, caused all her pain. Her brother, the longed for male heir, who would turn on her in the end. Even the relationship between Mary and each of her father’s wife’s are done well, giving perspective to each wife in a different light then we have seen them before.
I have read almost every single book Weir has written, and this has been one of my favorites so far. I found it a vast improvement over her previous novel, “The King’s Pleasure” as Henry VIII’s story has been told over and over again. Weir’s take on history through the eyes of a much maligned character is refreshing to see.
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the E-Arc!
March 31, 2024
Attention, all you Tudor fans! Since none of us ever get enough, here's a new historical novel about Queen Mary I - only daughter of King Henry VIII (1491- 1547) and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (1485 - 1536), and Queen of England from 1553-58. Awarded three stars but 3.5 is more accurate.
THE PASSIONATE TUDOR traces the life of Mary from happy childhood as the adored child of her parents until her death at the age of 42. If you know anything about her history, you know that between these two events there is plenty of drama:
• Her father's betrayal by questioning both the legitimacy of his marriage to Catherine and Mary's birth, events which led to the English Reformation and its split from Rome.
• Anne Boleyn (1501? - 1536) taking Katherine's place as Queen of England and her subsequent mistreatment of Mary.
• Lady Jane Grey's (1537 - 1554) nine-day long attempt to usurp Mary's throne.
• Mary's engagements to a variety of royal heads of state, eventually leading to her not-too-happy marriage to King Phillip II (1527 - 1598) of Spain.
• Mary's steadfast devotion to the Catholic Church and the numerous Protestants who suffered as a result, resulting in her nickname as "Bloody Mary."
• And of course, the ups and downs of Mary's relationship with her younger sister and heir, Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) an early Protestant.
The novel is long at 528 pages. Too long in my opinion. Most fans of Tudor historical fiction will no doubt already know the name Alison Weir. Either from her dozens of non-fiction books (most related to the Tudors) or from her many more recently published novels. Or both. As a well-respected historian, she definitely knows her history. But I have found with many historians who go on to write historical fiction, they often include too much of their scholarship in their novels. Excessive detail and background information tends to slow down the pace of a novel for me. And so it was with this book. So much so that Mary's day-to-day life as Queen became downright tedious. Also, at times, the voice of the narration didn't ring true, especially when Weir was writing about Mary as a child.
Of course as a diehard Tudor fan, nothing could keep me from finishing the book. And perhaps part of the problem is that I already know much about the Tudors so that much of Weir's detail was not new to me.
I am glad I read THE PASSIONATE TUDOR. I just didn't enjoy every single page. And I didn't enjoy this novel as much as Weir's SIX QUEENS series about the wives of Henry VIII.
THE PASSIONATE TUDOR traces the life of Mary from happy childhood as the adored child of her parents until her death at the age of 42. If you know anything about her history, you know that between these two events there is plenty of drama:
• Her father's betrayal by questioning both the legitimacy of his marriage to Catherine and Mary's birth, events which led to the English Reformation and its split from Rome.
• Anne Boleyn (1501? - 1536) taking Katherine's place as Queen of England and her subsequent mistreatment of Mary.
• Lady Jane Grey's (1537 - 1554) nine-day long attempt to usurp Mary's throne.
• Mary's engagements to a variety of royal heads of state, eventually leading to her not-too-happy marriage to King Phillip II (1527 - 1598) of Spain.
• Mary's steadfast devotion to the Catholic Church and the numerous Protestants who suffered as a result, resulting in her nickname as "Bloody Mary."
• And of course, the ups and downs of Mary's relationship with her younger sister and heir, Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603) an early Protestant.
The novel is long at 528 pages. Too long in my opinion. Most fans of Tudor historical fiction will no doubt already know the name Alison Weir. Either from her dozens of non-fiction books (most related to the Tudors) or from her many more recently published novels. Or both. As a well-respected historian, she definitely knows her history. But I have found with many historians who go on to write historical fiction, they often include too much of their scholarship in their novels. Excessive detail and background information tends to slow down the pace of a novel for me. And so it was with this book. So much so that Mary's day-to-day life as Queen became downright tedious. Also, at times, the voice of the narration didn't ring true, especially when Weir was writing about Mary as a child.
Of course as a diehard Tudor fan, nothing could keep me from finishing the book. And perhaps part of the problem is that I already know much about the Tudors so that much of Weir's detail was not new to me.
I am glad I read THE PASSIONATE TUDOR. I just didn't enjoy every single page. And I didn't enjoy this novel as much as Weir's SIX QUEENS series about the wives of Henry VIII.
May 14, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir is a historical novel exploring the life of Queen Mary of England, aka Bloody Mary. When Mary’s mother falls from favor after yet another miscarriage, Henry VIII starts to look elsewhere for a queen to give him an heir and Mary’s life is changed forever. Her devotion to her mother and her faith is constantly tested as her father and her people demand that she submit to their versions of the truth.
My favorite part was how much time was spent on Mary’s relationship with her younger sister, Elizabeth. We see how Mary’s opinions of Elizabeth evolve and change, but nothing destroys her love for her sister because they are two women trapped in a world that is constantly trying to oust them. Mary doesn’t have strong aspirations for the throne, but more wants to be recognized as legitimate and wants the same for Elizabeth even if she doesn’t believe Elizabeth is also Henry’s child.
Mary’s faith and Catholicism show up quite a bit. From the constant references to the Pope in Rome to Mary’s belief that Anne Boleyn wasn’t truly married to Henry to mentions of mass, her devotion to her beliefs plays a key role in how Mary picks which relationships to invest in and guide her decisions and ideals. Many of the people close to Mary are Catholic themselves or do not recognize the Protestant movement that was brewing at the time.
Mary is portrayed as a sympathetic young woman who is often concerned that she is growing too old to attract a husband or have a child, which she does want. She isn’t portrayed as having grand plans for the British Empire in terms of expansion but wants to return the country back to the Catholic Church. Many of her concerns are more rooted in having access to her family (Henry, Edward, Catherine of Aragon, and Elizabeth) and in her family being treated with respect. There’s a strong throughline of Mary’s main motivation being familial love, especially when Henry starts paying attention to Anne Boleyn and tosses her mother aside.
I would recommend this to fans of works depicting the Tudor dynasty, readers who like works featuring Elizabeth I, and those looking for a historical novel exploring the history of religion in England.
The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir is a historical novel exploring the life of Queen Mary of England, aka Bloody Mary. When Mary’s mother falls from favor after yet another miscarriage, Henry VIII starts to look elsewhere for a queen to give him an heir and Mary’s life is changed forever. Her devotion to her mother and her faith is constantly tested as her father and her people demand that she submit to their versions of the truth.
My favorite part was how much time was spent on Mary’s relationship with her younger sister, Elizabeth. We see how Mary’s opinions of Elizabeth evolve and change, but nothing destroys her love for her sister because they are two women trapped in a world that is constantly trying to oust them. Mary doesn’t have strong aspirations for the throne, but more wants to be recognized as legitimate and wants the same for Elizabeth even if she doesn’t believe Elizabeth is also Henry’s child.
Mary’s faith and Catholicism show up quite a bit. From the constant references to the Pope in Rome to Mary’s belief that Anne Boleyn wasn’t truly married to Henry to mentions of mass, her devotion to her beliefs plays a key role in how Mary picks which relationships to invest in and guide her decisions and ideals. Many of the people close to Mary are Catholic themselves or do not recognize the Protestant movement that was brewing at the time.
Mary is portrayed as a sympathetic young woman who is often concerned that she is growing too old to attract a husband or have a child, which she does want. She isn’t portrayed as having grand plans for the British Empire in terms of expansion but wants to return the country back to the Catholic Church. Many of her concerns are more rooted in having access to her family (Henry, Edward, Catherine of Aragon, and Elizabeth) and in her family being treated with respect. There’s a strong throughline of Mary’s main motivation being familial love, especially when Henry starts paying attention to Anne Boleyn and tosses her mother aside.
I would recommend this to fans of works depicting the Tudor dynasty, readers who like works featuring Elizabeth I, and those looking for a historical novel exploring the history of religion in England.
April 25, 2024
‘When she was Queen, she vowed, she would do everything in her power to court that goodwill.’
Known to history as Bloody Mary, I was really interested to read this latest book from Alison Weir, novelising the life of Mary Tudor.
I really loved reading about her life from her own point of view and viewing histories events through her eyes. I felt quite sorry for her, in her early life, she was a victim of circumstances and her father Henry VIII. Her views are developed and a steely, piousness from her mother Katherine Of Aragon. I really hadn’t thought how they must have perceived the goings on with Anne Boleyn and how they must have been kept in the dark for such a long time, plus they were separated and Mary used as a bargaining instrument to try to force Katherine to capitulate her position. They had such strength to see things through and not give in! Mary is feisty and bold and stands up to Henry - brave girl!
‘I care not for your cruelties. Whatever you do, I will not be overcome. Remember that!’
She has a tumultuous and torrid time when Anne Boleyn is in the ascendancy.
And we watch her mature through Henry’s reign and multitude of wives. Her religious zeal increases. Especially once her brother Edward is on the throne and the change feels smooth and all of a sudden Bloody Mary if before us! It is so cleverly written that you can’t see where young Mary ends and Bloody Mary begins!
‘I am ready to set myself up as a champion of the Catholic religion, whatever it costs me.’
She was single minded and determined and once Queen, everything seems to fall apart, her disastrous marriage, the loss of Calais and most of all the burnings made her hated. She actually signed the death warrants of these people herself to undergo an atrocious death and although I felt open and sympathetic to her at the beginning, by the end, I didn’t much like her. It’s no wonder she gained the reputation she did and that public revulsion for her has not diminished ever since
To be able to make you change your mind about someone really shows Weirs capability as a writer, history brought to life in a fantastic way!
Known to history as Bloody Mary, I was really interested to read this latest book from Alison Weir, novelising the life of Mary Tudor.
I really loved reading about her life from her own point of view and viewing histories events through her eyes. I felt quite sorry for her, in her early life, she was a victim of circumstances and her father Henry VIII. Her views are developed and a steely, piousness from her mother Katherine Of Aragon. I really hadn’t thought how they must have perceived the goings on with Anne Boleyn and how they must have been kept in the dark for such a long time, plus they were separated and Mary used as a bargaining instrument to try to force Katherine to capitulate her position. They had such strength to see things through and not give in! Mary is feisty and bold and stands up to Henry - brave girl!
‘I care not for your cruelties. Whatever you do, I will not be overcome. Remember that!’
She has a tumultuous and torrid time when Anne Boleyn is in the ascendancy.
And we watch her mature through Henry’s reign and multitude of wives. Her religious zeal increases. Especially once her brother Edward is on the throne and the change feels smooth and all of a sudden Bloody Mary if before us! It is so cleverly written that you can’t see where young Mary ends and Bloody Mary begins!
‘I am ready to set myself up as a champion of the Catholic religion, whatever it costs me.’
She was single minded and determined and once Queen, everything seems to fall apart, her disastrous marriage, the loss of Calais and most of all the burnings made her hated. She actually signed the death warrants of these people herself to undergo an atrocious death and although I felt open and sympathetic to her at the beginning, by the end, I didn’t much like her. It’s no wonder she gained the reputation she did and that public revulsion for her has not diminished ever since
To be able to make you change your mind about someone really shows Weirs capability as a writer, history brought to life in a fantastic way!
March 21, 2024
Alison Weir’s novel The Passionate Tudor is that latest in her line of books featuring members of the Tudor Dynasty, This novel focuses on Mary I, who is a divisive figure in history. Many know her as “Bloody Mary”, the nickname given to her by supporters of her sister and stuck to Mary by time. If you are a fan of Tudor history, Alison Weir, or Mary I, this is a must read!
Weir’s novel follows Mary from her very privileged and enchanted younger years, through her tumultuous young adulthood under her father Henry VIII, and then her extreme Protestant brother, ending with the story of her very sad reign that started out so promising. As her father the King turns from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, and falls for Anne Boleyn, Mary finds herself experiencing things that would shape who she was as she grew; resentment towards her younger sister Elizabeth I, her deepening faith in the Catholic Church, and her twisted and confusing relationship with the man she idolized. She has a long, soul crushing journey back to finding favor with the King, causing her inner turmoil for years to come. A jubilant Mary ascends the throne amid more chaos, and finally thinks she finds happiness. However, this quickly turns sour as the people turn against her for her choice in husband, Philip of Spain, and revolts begin to break out causing her to be suspicious of her sister.
Mary has not been focused on in recent years, as most authors prefer to focus on her more popular sister and her father, but Weir’s novel give us insight into how Mary must have been feeling through all of these hurdles she is thrown against. How her grief with being torn from her mother and from the life she had known strengthened her faith in God and the Catholic Church causing her determination to bring England back into the fold as Queen. Weir’s portrayal of Mary’s relationships with her siblings is explored for all their complexities they would have caused Mary. Her sister, the daughter of the woman, who in Mary’s mind, caused all her pain. Her brother, the longed for male heir, who would turn on her in the end. Even the relationship between Mary and each of her father’s wife’s are done well, giving perspective to each wife in a different light then we have seen them before.
I have read almost every single book Weir has written, and this has been one of my favorites so far. I found it a vast improvement over her previous novel, “The King’s Pleasure” as Henry VIII’s story has been told over and over again. Weir’s take on history through the eyes of a much maligned character is refreshing to see.
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the E-Arc!
Weir’s novel follows Mary from her very privileged and enchanted younger years, through her tumultuous young adulthood under her father Henry VIII, and then her extreme Protestant brother, ending with the story of her very sad reign that started out so promising. As her father the King turns from her mother, Katherine of Aragon, and falls for Anne Boleyn, Mary finds herself experiencing things that would shape who she was as she grew; resentment towards her younger sister Elizabeth I, her deepening faith in the Catholic Church, and her twisted and confusing relationship with the man she idolized. She has a long, soul crushing journey back to finding favor with the King, causing her inner turmoil for years to come. A jubilant Mary ascends the throne amid more chaos, and finally thinks she finds happiness. However, this quickly turns sour as the people turn against her for her choice in husband, Philip of Spain, and revolts begin to break out causing her to be suspicious of her sister.
Mary has not been focused on in recent years, as most authors prefer to focus on her more popular sister and her father, but Weir’s novel give us insight into how Mary must have been feeling through all of these hurdles she is thrown against. How her grief with being torn from her mother and from the life she had known strengthened her faith in God and the Catholic Church causing her determination to bring England back into the fold as Queen. Weir’s portrayal of Mary’s relationships with her siblings is explored for all their complexities they would have caused Mary. Her sister, the daughter of the woman, who in Mary’s mind, caused all her pain. Her brother, the longed for male heir, who would turn on her in the end. Even the relationship between Mary and each of her father’s wife’s are done well, giving perspective to each wife in a different light then we have seen them before.
I have read almost every single book Weir has written, and this has been one of my favorites so far. I found it a vast improvement over her previous novel, “The King’s Pleasure” as Henry VIII’s story has been told over and over again. Weir’s take on history through the eyes of a much maligned character is refreshing to see.
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the E-Arc!
April 1, 2024
Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC. This review is my own opinion and freely given.
I was so over the moon to get an ARC of this book. I discovered Alison Weir several years ago when I read her book about Katherine of Aragon and she did the series about the wives of Henry VIII. Since then, I have read anything I can get my hands on by her and this book doesn’t disappoint.
The Passionate Tudor follows the dramatized life of Mary I, the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Katherine (Henry’s first wife). It begins as her mother and father’s marriage is starting to fray and the King’s Great Matter is becoming gossip for everyone. What follows is how Mary’s front row seats to the setting aside of her mother, her own illegitimacy then her own sadness as she continues to wait for a husband and children. Finally, she becomes queen, but because of everything she went through as a child she becomes a brutal defender of the Catholic faith. As well as deeply insecure, probably because of her years of unease as a child. It was interesting to see all these events through Mary’s eyes, as well as see the devotion to her mother, even as her father is bent on keeping them apart once he realizes that both women are on the same side.
While this book is based on history, and well researched, it isn’t boring. The story moves forward, doesn’t contain too much narration, and the characters are well developed. I felt badly for Mary, and I could not imagine the fear and doubt that plagued her life. Lots of young girls dream of being a princess, but Mary’s life was not enviable. Everything about it was difficult, and only through her faith was she able to endure. However, ultimately that faith and inability to compromise turned her into a ruler every bit as ruthless and brutal as Henry VIII.
If you enjoy Alison Weir’s work, this one is every bit as interesting, well researched and thoughtful as all her other work. I highly recommend “The Passionate Tudor” A novel of Queen Mary I.
I was so over the moon to get an ARC of this book. I discovered Alison Weir several years ago when I read her book about Katherine of Aragon and she did the series about the wives of Henry VIII. Since then, I have read anything I can get my hands on by her and this book doesn’t disappoint.
The Passionate Tudor follows the dramatized life of Mary I, the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Katherine (Henry’s first wife). It begins as her mother and father’s marriage is starting to fray and the King’s Great Matter is becoming gossip for everyone. What follows is how Mary’s front row seats to the setting aside of her mother, her own illegitimacy then her own sadness as she continues to wait for a husband and children. Finally, she becomes queen, but because of everything she went through as a child she becomes a brutal defender of the Catholic faith. As well as deeply insecure, probably because of her years of unease as a child. It was interesting to see all these events through Mary’s eyes, as well as see the devotion to her mother, even as her father is bent on keeping them apart once he realizes that both women are on the same side.
While this book is based on history, and well researched, it isn’t boring. The story moves forward, doesn’t contain too much narration, and the characters are well developed. I felt badly for Mary, and I could not imagine the fear and doubt that plagued her life. Lots of young girls dream of being a princess, but Mary’s life was not enviable. Everything about it was difficult, and only through her faith was she able to endure. However, ultimately that faith and inability to compromise turned her into a ruler every bit as ruthless and brutal as Henry VIII.
If you enjoy Alison Weir’s work, this one is every bit as interesting, well researched and thoughtful as all her other work. I highly recommend “The Passionate Tudor” A novel of Queen Mary I.
April 7, 2024
I requested and received an eARC of The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir via NetGalley. I have enjoyed Weir’s previous fiction and nonfiction works, so I knew coming into this novel I would be in for a treat. Weir’s latest work of fiction explores the life of Mary I, opening with childhood and concluding with the end of her reign (her death.)
Just like with her Six Tudor Queens series, Weir offers a plethora of detail and immerses the reader in Mary’s world, shedding a light of understanding on the queen typically reduced to the moniker “Bloody Mary.”
Beginning with her childhood, it is difficult not to form an attachment and sympathy for the young Mary. Separated from her mother, treated poorly by her father’s new wife, legally declared a bastard and having to worry over whether or not she might be poisoned! It’s a lot to bear for someone so young. There were moments that I wanted to shake Anne Boleyn on behalf of Mary. I was enthralled with the sections of her life throughout Edward VI’s reign, and even managed to have sympathy for Mary as her own reign began. Weir does not attempt to excuse the monarch’s actions, but does offer a compelling narrative insight into what molded Mary into the personality she was known for during her own reign (burning “heretics”, her phantom pregnancy, paranoia.)
Sometimes historical fiction can be daunting, with names and titles creating confusion, but this certainly isn’t the case here. Weir fills in the blanks, adjusting the gaps from the perspective of her chosen protagonist. Although I haven’t read the previous installments in the Tudor Rose series, I have read the complete Six Queens series and I thought it was incredible how the author was able to craft such lively personalities for the women in her novels. This is especially true of Mary as depicted in The Passionate Tudor. Her portrait of the monarch is both informative and entertaining. The story itself, although rooted in well-known history, still manages to deliver both suspense and a very immediate emotional response from the reader.
Just like with her Six Tudor Queens series, Weir offers a plethora of detail and immerses the reader in Mary’s world, shedding a light of understanding on the queen typically reduced to the moniker “Bloody Mary.”
Beginning with her childhood, it is difficult not to form an attachment and sympathy for the young Mary. Separated from her mother, treated poorly by her father’s new wife, legally declared a bastard and having to worry over whether or not she might be poisoned! It’s a lot to bear for someone so young. There were moments that I wanted to shake Anne Boleyn on behalf of Mary. I was enthralled with the sections of her life throughout Edward VI’s reign, and even managed to have sympathy for Mary as her own reign began. Weir does not attempt to excuse the monarch’s actions, but does offer a compelling narrative insight into what molded Mary into the personality she was known for during her own reign (burning “heretics”, her phantom pregnancy, paranoia.)
Sometimes historical fiction can be daunting, with names and titles creating confusion, but this certainly isn’t the case here. Weir fills in the blanks, adjusting the gaps from the perspective of her chosen protagonist. Although I haven’t read the previous installments in the Tudor Rose series, I have read the complete Six Queens series and I thought it was incredible how the author was able to craft such lively personalities for the women in her novels. This is especially true of Mary as depicted in The Passionate Tudor. Her portrait of the monarch is both informative and entertaining. The story itself, although rooted in well-known history, still manages to deliver both suspense and a very immediate emotional response from the reader.
May 4, 2024
Mary I is a difficult monarch to capture in fiction. As one of the less popular Tudor monarchs, her story is a little different to her mighty father’s (Henry VIII) and her half-sister’s (Elizabeth I). Nevertheless, Weir creates a detailed and insightful portrait of Mary’s life.
With Weir’s novels, you know you are getting meticulously researched and up to date history, woven into approachable fiction. Weir brings to life the story of a complex historical figure and transports the reader into Tudor England.
Mary is a vulnerable character who endured a lot of hardships during her life. When Katherine of Aragon (her mother)’s marriage to Henry was declared null and void, it meant she was labeled a bastard - a title she lived with for many years until she finally inherited the throne after the death of her half-brother Edward VI. She also endured ill health and a phantom pregnancy.
However, she wasn’t a popular figure, due to her religious persecutions against Protestants and her foreign policies which saw England and Spain unite against France…leading to a disastrous defeat at Calais. Weir’s Author’s Note at the end of the novel reveals how Weir herself sees Mary as a very polarising character, and how the author’s own childhood, growing up with a broken marriage, influenced how she portrayed the character of Mary. It is also interesting to see how Weir, whilst sympathetic, also does not seem to connect with Mary in general.
Whilst the history is there in this novel, and it’s utterly fascinating to learn about Mary, I do think the author’s own opinions influence this novel heavily. Therefore Mary is a very difficult character to connect with and admire which makes the pace of the novel a bit slow sometimes - but then, that is perhaps more to do with Mary being a difficult subject, rather than the skill of the author.
Overall, this is still a great read from an established and popular historical fiction writer, and perfect for anyone wanting to know more about Mary I. But I personally feel it’s not quite as strong as some of her other books.
With Weir’s novels, you know you are getting meticulously researched and up to date history, woven into approachable fiction. Weir brings to life the story of a complex historical figure and transports the reader into Tudor England.
Mary is a vulnerable character who endured a lot of hardships during her life. When Katherine of Aragon (her mother)’s marriage to Henry was declared null and void, it meant she was labeled a bastard - a title she lived with for many years until she finally inherited the throne after the death of her half-brother Edward VI. She also endured ill health and a phantom pregnancy.
However, she wasn’t a popular figure, due to her religious persecutions against Protestants and her foreign policies which saw England and Spain unite against France…leading to a disastrous defeat at Calais. Weir’s Author’s Note at the end of the novel reveals how Weir herself sees Mary as a very polarising character, and how the author’s own childhood, growing up with a broken marriage, influenced how she portrayed the character of Mary. It is also interesting to see how Weir, whilst sympathetic, also does not seem to connect with Mary in general.
Whilst the history is there in this novel, and it’s utterly fascinating to learn about Mary, I do think the author’s own opinions influence this novel heavily. Therefore Mary is a very difficult character to connect with and admire which makes the pace of the novel a bit slow sometimes - but then, that is perhaps more to do with Mary being a difficult subject, rather than the skill of the author.
Overall, this is still a great read from an established and popular historical fiction writer, and perfect for anyone wanting to know more about Mary I. But I personally feel it’s not quite as strong as some of her other books.
May 24, 2024
"The Passionate Tudor" by Alison Weir was yet another outstanding masterpiece! Being a lifelong historical fiction reader, as well as an avid Tudor History fan, reading Mrs. Weir's books is always entertaining and educational. We all think we know the story behind Queen Mary I (aka-Bloody Mary) but what we're taught barely scratches the surface and Mrs. Weir did an excellent job of combining historical fact with her own creations, as well as including parts of her own life where she truly sympathized with Mary (see the author's note-no spoilers here!)
I really enjoyed getting into more of Mary's thoughts and feelings as she had to navigate Henry VIII's "Great Matter" and the heartbreaking separation that it caused between her and her mother. I also think that Mrs. Weir did a fantastic job of showing how conflicted Mary I was when it came to her relationship with Elizabeth; the juxtaposition of Mary's resentment towards her as well as her wanting to care for/dote on Elizabeth was very interesting (and I can't help but wonder if parts of Mary were glad Elizabeth had been a girl and not a boy, as her birth started the chain of events that would lead to the death of Anne Boleyn whereas a son would have only solidified her position).
Seeing Mary struggle with relationships, particularly with the men in her life (not just her father) was fascinating and I found Mary's desperation for connection to be both heartbreaking and believable. I think that the way in which Mary's two pregnancies were addressed was not only tactful and sensitive, but also informative as there is so much we do not truly know about her conditions.
All in all, this was another 5 star read for me! I couldn't put it down and found myself laughing, crying, and even cheering! Bravo, Mrs. Weir! Thank you for sharing your exemplary talent with us! I look forward to reading whatever it is that you write next!
I really enjoyed getting into more of Mary's thoughts and feelings as she had to navigate Henry VIII's "Great Matter" and the heartbreaking separation that it caused between her and her mother. I also think that Mrs. Weir did a fantastic job of showing how conflicted Mary I was when it came to her relationship with Elizabeth; the juxtaposition of Mary's resentment towards her as well as her wanting to care for/dote on Elizabeth was very interesting (and I can't help but wonder if parts of Mary were glad Elizabeth had been a girl and not a boy, as her birth started the chain of events that would lead to the death of Anne Boleyn whereas a son would have only solidified her position).
Seeing Mary struggle with relationships, particularly with the men in her life (not just her father) was fascinating and I found Mary's desperation for connection to be both heartbreaking and believable. I think that the way in which Mary's two pregnancies were addressed was not only tactful and sensitive, but also informative as there is so much we do not truly know about her conditions.
All in all, this was another 5 star read for me! I couldn't put it down and found myself laughing, crying, and even cheering! Bravo, Mrs. Weir! Thank you for sharing your exemplary talent with us! I look forward to reading whatever it is that you write next!
May 14, 2024
Alison Weir is known for her researched and engrossing nonfiction and fiction, but her "Mary I: Queen of Sorrows" takes a different approach to similar material she's written about in the past. It's a novel about Mary's viewpoint of how her life changed from being the king's daughter to becoming Bloody Mary. Weir's focus here is on how a young child becomes the pawn between her parents and those men around her father. When we encounter Mary I in other books about Mary's life, it's often about her reign as queen, but Weir boils down Mary's story to how a young girl saw her mother mistreated and cast aside by her father. It's about how a young girl copes with being the daughter of a powerful man who treats those around him like disposable chess pieces.
Weir contextualises the story of Mary I/Bloody Mary in terms of how she suffers from the violence and cruelty of her childhood. She becomes Catherine Of Aragon and Henry VIII in equal measure as queen of England. While we have often been taught to see her as someone who used religion as a weapon against other, Weir makes us see how religion and the trappings of religion make her feel closer to her mother. Weir does not excuse the violence, but she writes of Mary's religious fervour as a reaction to an unstable childhood. In this way, Mary I: Queen of Sorrows serves as a bildungsroman of a political figure often given short shrift by authors who would rather write about Henry VIII or her half sister, Elizabeth I.
The book is engrossing, and highly readable. If there's a criticism, it's that the book is a tad too long. Since most of us who paid attention in our history courses will know how things turn out for Queen Mary I, we don't need to go into so many tributaries. With that said, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a more nuanced version or Mary I.
Weir contextualises the story of Mary I/Bloody Mary in terms of how she suffers from the violence and cruelty of her childhood. She becomes Catherine Of Aragon and Henry VIII in equal measure as queen of England. While we have often been taught to see her as someone who used religion as a weapon against other, Weir makes us see how religion and the trappings of religion make her feel closer to her mother. Weir does not excuse the violence, but she writes of Mary's religious fervour as a reaction to an unstable childhood. In this way, Mary I: Queen of Sorrows serves as a bildungsroman of a political figure often given short shrift by authors who would rather write about Henry VIII or her half sister, Elizabeth I.
The book is engrossing, and highly readable. If there's a criticism, it's that the book is a tad too long. Since most of us who paid attention in our history courses will know how things turn out for Queen Mary I, we don't need to go into so many tributaries. With that said, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a more nuanced version or Mary I.
April 19, 2024
Mary I might be one of the most controversial figures that Alison Weir has depicted in her fiction books. With her nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ her reputation leaves much to be desired, yet at the start of her reign she was a beloved monarch rescuing her subjects from an attempted power grab.
As Weir herself acknowledges in the historical note (it’s always worth noting how good her historical notes are), the challenge in this book was reconciling these different extremes of Mary’s character, and she landed it exactly right. It would have been easy for the book to become some sort of villain-backstory, or the tale of a tragically misunderstood anti-hero, but Weir approaches Mary’s story with the nuance needed for a real person’s life.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
As with her previous book about Mary’s father, the infamous Henry VIII, Weir does an excellent job of providing the context and grounding for us to understand the person’s actions, without endorsing them. There was a sense, especially as tragedy played an ever-increasing role in Mary’s life, of delusion bordering on madness towards the end of the book. We became immersed in Mary’s world and shared in her tragedies. Even when she was far from sympathetic, I still felt like I understood her.
This book successfully takes on one of Britain’s most notorious monarchs, exploring her humanity and tragedy while still acknowledging that her reputation was not unfounded. It’s another excellent historical fiction from Alison Weir, who continues to deliver on every front.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
As Weir herself acknowledges in the historical note (it’s always worth noting how good her historical notes are), the challenge in this book was reconciling these different extremes of Mary’s character, and she landed it exactly right. It would have been easy for the book to become some sort of villain-backstory, or the tale of a tragically misunderstood anti-hero, but Weir approaches Mary’s story with the nuance needed for a real person’s life.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
As with her previous book about Mary’s father, the infamous Henry VIII, Weir does an excellent job of providing the context and grounding for us to understand the person’s actions, without endorsing them. There was a sense, especially as tragedy played an ever-increasing role in Mary’s life, of delusion bordering on madness towards the end of the book. We became immersed in Mary’s world and shared in her tragedies. Even when she was far from sympathetic, I still felt like I understood her.
This book successfully takes on one of Britain’s most notorious monarchs, exploring her humanity and tragedy while still acknowledging that her reputation was not unfounded. It’s another excellent historical fiction from Alison Weir, who continues to deliver on every front.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews