LiterariLeigh

Did anyone else love The Tudors series from Showtime? I thought the show did an excellent job of portraying the world of Henry VIII. Although Henry was an authoritative and powerful diplomat with a roving eye and a penchant for chopping off heads, he was also charming, amiable, seductive and terribly charismatic. But overall, women and children definitely got the short end of the stick.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir is a historical fiction about a young woman in the Tudor dynasty forced onto the throne for nine days. Lady Jane Grey had a strict upbringing by a highly disciplinarian mother and overly ambitious father. Educated and groomed to be the wife of King Edward VI, Jane was ordered to become queen when Edward died, essentially to prevent Henry's daughter Mary from taking over. Only fifteen years old, Jane did her best to rule with intelligence and benevolence, but was usurped from power nine days later by Mary and her followers. Jane became the scape goat for those who had pushed her to the top of the ladder, but her fate was her own choice- she stayed true to her beliefs. 


If you like Innocent Traitor, Alison Weir has written many other fiction and non-fiction books set in Tudor England. You can get them at the library!