Reluctant Queen

by Molly Costain Haycraft

Book Overview

Lippincott. Stated first edition. Hardback 256 pages. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0397002378
• ISBN13: 9780397002375
• Release Date: January 1962
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fiery Tudors

I have started to love historical fiction, and this was one of the first books that got me into it.Mary Tudor, sister of the new king Henry VIII (was it that?), has fallen in love with Charles Brandon, a knight's son, later to become Duke of Suffolk by the king. Her brother, against the relationship of his sister and him, has fixed a marriage with a "man" considerably younger than her (okay okay...about 4 yrs younger than her...) but when problems arise, she is then bound to marry Louis XII (was that it????). But, Mary Tudor is much more stubborn and strong willed then that. What will she do to let her brother be w/ her beloved? You have so got to read the book. It's worth it. (the only reason i didn't rate this 5 stars is because i hve this crazy notion that no book can be 5 stars...)

The Love Story of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor

Molly Costain Haycraft is the daughter of Thomas Costain, the novelist who wrote The Silver Chalice and The Black Rose (made into a fairly dreadful movie starring Ronald Reagan). I read this book ages ago because it told my favorite love story in English history-- the romance of Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Charles Brandon was Henry's close friend and his emotional relationship with Henry's youngest sister began while they were both at Court between her 14th and 19th years.A pawn in her brother's dynastic efforts, she was married at the age of 19 to the king of France, Louis XII, who was then in his 50's. He did not long survive the marriage though. Mary was forced into seclusion in order to determine if she was pregnant by the deceased king, her English waiting women were dismissed and she began to fear for her future.Henry sent his old friend to France to bargain for the return of Mary and her jewels, plate, etc. With this, the situation becomes even more convoluted, because it would be in the French interest to have their Dowager Queen married to an Englishman and not one of the Hapburg Princes. While Charles Brandon is not a wholly admirable man, he was certainly an interesting one and the story of his relationship with Mary Tudor makes for some lively reading. Mary was just as determined to have her own way in love as Henry VIII, and was more successful in getting it.

Interesting and Informative

I read this book several years ago. It is extremely interesting and informative. It takes a little time to get rolling, but when it does, it details love, destruction, and war, it is a royal soap opera. It is worth the effort to get through the beginning to get to the heart of the book.