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A review by feliciarene
Mary Tudor: A Story of Triumph, Sorrow and Fire by Anthony Ruggiero
4.0
Since I first learned about the Tudors and became interested in their history, there have been a few members I have neglected to research as extensively - unintentionally, of course. One of those individuals is Mary I. I didn't realize how little I knew about her, or how often I overlooked her rule, until I took a course on the Tudors. My professor skimmed right over Mary I, barely discussing her significance to the Tudor dynasty or to British history as a whole. It amazed me to realize just how little I knew about England's first female monarch.
Anthony Ruggiero's narrative on Mary Tudor is the perfect place to start for anyone who is interested in learning a bit more about Henry VIII's eldest daughter. It's a short, but informative read that details Mary's young life in the English court, growing up as an outcast due to her father's political ambitions and desire to divorce her mother, Catherine of Aragon, and continues onto her monarchical role, as she fought her way back into the line of succession and ruled England from 1553 to 1558.
Mary Tudor was highly influenced by her childhood at court, but even more so by her close relationship with her mother, who was a devout Catholic. While Henry VIII may have steered England away from Catholicism, and Edward VI ruled as a Protestant, Mary I was determined to return England to its Catholic roots. It is easy to see how her formative years and her almost familial relationship with Eustace Chapuys shaped her later years.
If you're looking for an introduction on Mary Tudor, I highly recommend this book! It's a great overview of Mary's young life, her influences, and her short, but significant reign.
Anthony Ruggiero's narrative on Mary Tudor is the perfect place to start for anyone who is interested in learning a bit more about Henry VIII's eldest daughter. It's a short, but informative read that details Mary's young life in the English court, growing up as an outcast due to her father's political ambitions and desire to divorce her mother, Catherine of Aragon, and continues onto her monarchical role, as she fought her way back into the line of succession and ruled England from 1553 to 1558.
Mary Tudor was highly influenced by her childhood at court, but even more so by her close relationship with her mother, who was a devout Catholic. While Henry VIII may have steered England away from Catholicism, and Edward VI ruled as a Protestant, Mary I was determined to return England to its Catholic roots. It is easy to see how her formative years and her almost familial relationship with Eustace Chapuys shaped her later years.
If you're looking for an introduction on Mary Tudor, I highly recommend this book! It's a great overview of Mary's young life, her influences, and her short, but significant reign.