Publication Date:
January 1, 1964
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Length:
305 pages
Series:
Tudor Saga/Tudor Princesses
Book description courtesy of Goodreads
Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy brings to life the story of Princess Mary Tudor, a celebrated beauty and born rebel who would defy the most powerful king in Europe--her older brother.
Princess Mary Rose is the youngest sister of Henry VIII, and one of the few people whom he adores unconditionally. Known throughout Europe for her charm and good looks, Mary is the golden child of the Tudor family and is granted her every wish.
Except when it comes to marriage. Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown with France, decides to offer up his pampered baby sister to secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Innocent, teenage Mary must become the wife of the elderly King Louis, a toothless, ailing man in his sixties. Horrified and furious, Mary has no choice but to sail for France. There she hones her political skills, bides her time, and remains secretly in love with Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies after only two years of marriage, Mary is determined not to be sold into another unhappy union. She must act quickly; if she wants to be with the man she truly loves, she must defy the laws of church and state by marrying without her brother's permission. Together, Mary and Charles devise a scheme to outwit the most ruthless king in Europe and gain their hearts' desire, not knowing if it will lead to marital bliss or certain death.
Princess Mary Rose is the youngest sister of Henry VIII, and one of the few people whom he adores unconditionally. Known throughout Europe for her charm and good looks, Mary is the golden child of the Tudor family and is granted her every wish.
Except when it comes to marriage. Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown with France, decides to offer up his pampered baby sister to secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Innocent, teenage Mary must become the wife of the elderly King Louis, a toothless, ailing man in his sixties. Horrified and furious, Mary has no choice but to sail for France. There she hones her political skills, bides her time, and remains secretly in love with Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies after only two years of marriage, Mary is determined not to be sold into another unhappy union. She must act quickly; if she wants to be with the man she truly loves, she must defy the laws of church and state by marrying without her brother's permission. Together, Mary and Charles devise a scheme to outwit the most ruthless king in Europe and gain their hearts' desire, not knowing if it will lead to marital bliss or certain death.
My Thoughts
Anyone who reads my blog knows I'm a huge Jean Plaidy fan. She takes historical figures and stories and presents them in a straightforward, entertaining way that gets to the point while humanizing the subject. This story about Mary Tudor, (not Queen Mary Tudor) sister of Henry VIII is a great example of her including people that rarely get their own story told. It is a short book because Mary is overshadowed by others of that era but her story is fascinating in its own right and worth reading about.
I knew very little about Mary except that she was very beautiful, was much beloved by her older brother, King Henry VIII and that despite that she was forced into marriage with the very old King of France for political reasons. Her story was very compelling though due to the fact that she went against Henry to later marry her true love, Charles Brandon. Considering all we know about her brother that was a true act of bravery.
I had forgotten she was also the grandmother of Lady Jane Grey, the tragic nine days queen and that she supported the Catherine of Aragon camp, disliking Anne Boleyn.
The book is very straightforward and no secret information you couldn't find online but Plaidy always finds a way to make it feel like a special, exciting novel. That is what I love....learning history in a personal way. If you want to learn about medieval royalty in a romantic, storylike way you will love this book. The one about her sister Margaret is similiar and another favorite of mine. It is called The Thistle and the Rose.
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