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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
Very in depth, detailing the context of janes family before her birth as well as the public opinion of her afterward. But, as with any in-depth biography, I had trouble keeping the names of the families and members straight, with no real guide to them. In fact, more annoyingly, I didn’t even realize that the Robert Dudley that was a notorious infatuation of Elizabeth l’s was the brother of Jane’s husband, Guilford. Though, this isn’t an indictment of the book but more of my own personal problem.
What is an indictment of the book was the way it dragged on at the end. While I appreciated the in depth way the author described the last days of Jane’s life, I didn’t appreciate the chapter afterwards that described the different artistic endeavors that had taken inspiration through Jane. It wasn’t engaging nor did it it add anything to the overall story.
Overall, the book was well written and well researched, but it might be best for those already familiar with Jane or the overall history of the Tudors.
I really did appreciate the way that it educated me about a historical figure that I knew little about, besides historical fiction (that proved to be inaccurate) I had read of her. I had been believing the same type of misinformation the author strives to show as false, so it was truly an insightful read on that front.
What is an indictment of the book was the way it dragged on at the end. While I appreciated the in depth way the author described the last days of Jane’s life, I didn’t appreciate the chapter afterwards that described the different artistic endeavors that had taken inspiration through Jane. It wasn’t engaging nor did it it add anything to the overall story.
Overall, the book was well written and well researched, but it might be best for those already familiar with Jane or the overall history of the Tudors.
I really did appreciate the way that it educated me about a historical figure that I knew little about, besides historical fiction (that proved to be inaccurate) I had read of her. I had been believing the same type of misinformation the author strives to show as false, so it was truly an insightful read on that front.
Most people know the story of Lady Jane Grey, the 'Nine Days Queen' - actually thirteen but who's counting? She is perhaps one of the most tragic victims of the Tudor era - a girl who was only ever a pawn for the ambitions of unscrupulous men seeking power. She never wanted the throne, never sought it, and paid with her life for the mistakes of others. No wonder the sentimental Victorians swooned over her. Sadly, it seems Nicola Tallis does too.
I wanted to like this book. I wanted to learn more about Jane herself, who has always been a shadowy figure behind the catchy nickname, and in many respects this book delivered. Tallis has certainly done her homework: her research is impeccable, what little of it there is to find is all here, and she does a fine job of laying out the complexities of Henry VIII's inheritance. But I felt there was just too much imaginative speculation, too much historical licence that was almost verging on fiction, and melodramatic fiction at that. Jane's actions and words may be a matter of record, but her thoughts and feelings and impulses are not, and too often Tallis would present as fact things that can only ever be speculation - Jane's feelings at the sight of her husband's beheaded body, Frances' thoughts on her husband's traitorous actions, Jane's feelings towards her father.
I know that in many regards all history is a work of the imagination - to make a narrative live one has to imagine a little bit, to liven up the text and make the people real to the readers - otherwise it is just names and dates. But there's a line, and unfortunately this book (for me, at least) fell on the wrong side of the line. It read like Tallis set out to portray Jane as a tragic victim, and that's how the entire narrative is shaped. I can't help but compare it to [a:Leanda de Lisle|90578|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363634721p2/90578.jpg]'s [b:Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey|21860971|Sisters Who Would Be Queen Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410778850s/21860971.jpg|4026101], who credited Jane with far more will and agency and determination of her own fate than Tallis does. This book very much felt like a biography of the Jane of Nicola Tallis' imagination, with support from the historical record, rather than the other way around.
I wanted to like this book. I wanted to learn more about Jane herself, who has always been a shadowy figure behind the catchy nickname, and in many respects this book delivered. Tallis has certainly done her homework: her research is impeccable, what little of it there is to find is all here, and she does a fine job of laying out the complexities of Henry VIII's inheritance. But I felt there was just too much imaginative speculation, too much historical licence that was almost verging on fiction, and melodramatic fiction at that. Jane's actions and words may be a matter of record, but her thoughts and feelings and impulses are not, and too often Tallis would present as fact things that can only ever be speculation - Jane's feelings at the sight of her husband's beheaded body, Frances' thoughts on her husband's traitorous actions, Jane's feelings towards her father.
I know that in many regards all history is a work of the imagination - to make a narrative live one has to imagine a little bit, to liven up the text and make the people real to the readers - otherwise it is just names and dates. But there's a line, and unfortunately this book (for me, at least) fell on the wrong side of the line. It read like Tallis set out to portray Jane as a tragic victim, and that's how the entire narrative is shaped. I can't help but compare it to [a:Leanda de Lisle|90578|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363634721p2/90578.jpg]'s [b:Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey|21860971|Sisters Who Would Be Queen Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410778850s/21860971.jpg|4026101], who credited Jane with far more will and agency and determination of her own fate than Tallis does. This book very much felt like a biography of the Jane of Nicola Tallis' imagination, with support from the historical record, rather than the other way around.
Very entertaining read, generally more subjective than I would like my history books to be.
An accessible account of the life & death of Lady Jane Grey
Seems well researched, debunking some of the assumptions that are traditionally made about Jane. It explains the background and the political manoeuvrings well.
Seems well researched, debunking some of the assumptions that are traditionally made about Jane. It explains the background and the political manoeuvrings well.
Very good historiography, correcting several traditional misconceptions. However, Ms. Tallis could sorely use an editor; she frequently repeats the same facts and observations several times per chapter. Could easily have been 1/3 as long and just as informative.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this young woman's story, and I am inspired by her tale of courage as a young girl who faced death at 17.
“Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey,” by Nicola Tallis. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Monograph
Absolutely brilliant way of bringing the story of Lady Jane Grey to light. If you aren’t aware, Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days Queen,” became the heir to the English throne upon the death bed of her cousin, Edward VI, who in turn bypassed his elder sisters, the ladies Mary and Elizabeth, in favor of his cousin’s faithfully Protestant religion. “Crown of Blood” tells the story of Jane’s life and tries to uncover the circumstances behind her execution. Was she executed by Mary I (aka Bloody Mary) for her religion or did her father’s traitorous exploits seal her fate? Read this short and picture painting monograph to find out!
Genre: Historical Monograph
Absolutely brilliant way of bringing the story of Lady Jane Grey to light. If you aren’t aware, Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days Queen,” became the heir to the English throne upon the death bed of her cousin, Edward VI, who in turn bypassed his elder sisters, the ladies Mary and Elizabeth, in favor of his cousin’s faithfully Protestant religion. “Crown of Blood” tells the story of Jane’s life and tries to uncover the circumstances behind her execution. Was she executed by Mary I (aka Bloody Mary) for her religion or did her father’s traitorous exploits seal her fate? Read this short and picture painting monograph to find out!