The Nine Days Queen: A Portrait of Lady Jane Grey

by Mary M. Luke

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688057713
• ISBN13: 9780688057718
• Release Date: June 1986
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

BRILLIANT HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY...

This is simply one of the best historical biographies that I have ever read. Well-researched, the book tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the daughter of Francis Brandon Grey, the Duchess of Suffolk, who was the daughter of Henry VIII's younger sister, Mary. As one of royal blood, Jane was in the royal line of succession. Her highly ambitious parents, together with the avaricious and manipulative John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, concocted a scheme by which Jane would be named Queen of England, usurping the succession rights of Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, as well as that of Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Jane was forced by her parents to wed John Dudley's son, Guildford. Then, dominated as she was by her cruel and overreaching parents, when King Edward VI died, Jane was declared to be Queen of England. Although it was clearly against her will that she usurped her cousin Mary's throne and was not yet sixteen at the time, she would pay dearly for her nine days reign, The author writes a historical biography that brings Lady Jane Grey to life. Grounded in the political strifes, religious tumult, and social mores and events that shaped sixteenth century England, the author paints a portrait of a young, intelligent woman who ultimately acquiesced to the demands of those more ambitious than she. This is a well-written historical biography that is positively riveting. Bravo!

A tale of power & corruption vs. integrity of a young girl

This account of Jane's life if moving to tears. It traces her life from an abused childhood in a world where few understand her devotion to knowledge and to God, to the Sovereign queen of England, and then to her demise by her own family. The first chapter of the book is to get the reader aquainted with all of the characters in the story, and should not intimidate the reader, as the story unravels quite easily from chapter two on. This is a book written about a figure in history that others have tried to blot from memory, but, as Nine Days Queen reveals to the reader, Lady Jane, in all of her humility and gentleness, will be remembered for her bold and courageous heart, and passion for her faith.

lots of intersting facts on an elusive topic

I was happy just to find anything on Jane Grey and so sucked up this nearly 400 pages of information on her life and the other players in this tragic dance. I learned things about the Suffolks, the Dudleys and even Elizabeth that I did not know before and that was wonderful. Perhaps some of my disappointment with the book was that history was not turning out the way I wanted it to, and that's hardly Mary Luke's fault. Poisened by Trevor Nunn's erroneous romantic depiction of the relationship between Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley, I am forever searching for some smidgen of proof that this was true; that the tall dashing Dudley boy and the petite scholarly Jane really did become soul mates sharing love and idealism against a backdrop of religious and political chaos. Mary Luke's book did not give me the confirmation I long to find. I just can't imagine why, if there was no foundatin for it at all, the the creators of the film Lady Jane focused so much on a romance that never existed. But to return to the book. As can be seen from the list on this subject available here, books on Jane Grey are nearly impossible to find--I had to reserve my copy of The Nine Days Queen from the library--and so I was greatful to find it. I think the book needed additionl editing--grammar errors, some very awkward sentence sructure and a lack of organization within paragraphs. However, it offered up lots of facts, a feast for someone like me who can't ever eat enough from the Medieval/Renaissance table. And so I found it very interesting and informative, if not satisfying. As it is non fiction, it can get rather dry in spots and is not for those who are not already fascinated by these people and this time period. One last note, if you, who may be reading this, have knowledge of any ifnormation or sources on Jane Grey, please help me in my frustrating search.