Customer Reviews

I Am Mary Tudor

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This passionate novel-memoir recounts the history of "Bloody" Mary Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VIII. Lewis has done a wonderful job of invoking the spirit of this strong and honorable woman, from her nightmarish childhood in the court of Henry VIII, through the religious & political upheaval in 16th-century England, where she usually wound up standing with her conscience on the dangerous side of matters. It is hard to imagine anyone emerging from such abuse intact, and one wonders how much her Anti-Catholic father's and brother's treatment of her may have contributed to her later persecution of the Protestants.

Hilda Lewis gets inside this woman's head. Rather than invent adventures for her heroine, she recounts real occurances--for instance, the humiliating incident when Mary was bodily thrown into the litter--and lets us share the painful emotions of the princess-declared-bastard. Her eventual triumph is a reward for both her and the reader.

Unlike many historical novels, this one breathes Tudor air. It isn't haunted by anachronisms in language or attitude, and shows the signs of having been thoroughly researched by a Tudor scholar. I've read Carolly Erickson's biography "Bloody Mary" as well, and found no jarring contradictions between the factual and fictional accounts. Mary's story would make a magnificent film, if done as well as Hilda Lewis has told her story.

This book is about king Henry 8th's eldest daughter Mary Tudor. It covers her life from birth till her un-looked for accension to the throne of England after the death of her brother Edward and after Lady Jane Grey was taken off the throne.

Better known to history as 'bloody Mary', this book details her life and dissapointments before she came to the throne. She went from loved princess and heiress, 'the jewel of england', to Bastard and poverty stricken and unloved and forgotten daughter - all because of her father's quest for a son to succeed him on the throne.

This has to be one of the most accurate of historical novels I have read. The author didn't have to invent what you read in here - most of it is pretty well documented. Just pick up a 'serious' biography to compare it. However, the author does a great job of putting this into the emotional context and development of Mary.

This is the first book in a set, the other 2 books being "Mary the queen" and "bloody Mary". These books were originally printed in the 1970's so they are hard to find now, but worth picking up if you see them.

Mary Tudor has received a rather unfairly negative reputation in history. Hilda Lewis's book is a complex and compassionate glimpse into the psyche of Henry VIII's eldest daughter-- a woman who loved her mother enough to defy the father who could strip her of everything, who both loved and feared her younger, more charismatic sister, and wanted nothing more than to preserve her faith.

By way of criticism, I would say that perhaps this novel might be a bit generous to Mary. Anne Boleyn's famous plea for Mary's forgiveness on the eve of her death, I imagine being met with a less forgiving attitude. And although Mary states at one point that many believes burning a heretic ultimately saves their soul, well, I'm not certain generous motives can be ascribed to *everything* Mary did. That said, though, this book is a nice counterpoint to those who would write her off as a tyrant.

There were very moving moments throughout this novel, and Lewis does a wonderful job of capturing Mary sympathetically, while still portraying Elizabeth and Mary's rivals in a kind light. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I am Mary Tudor was an excellent book. I love English history, specifically that of the Tudor line, so I was very impressed when I read this book. There is good character description, a good plot, drama, emotion, you name it this book's got it.