Mary Tudor serves as chief mourner at Jane Seymour’s funeral, grateful to the queen who helped restore her to Henry VIII’s favour but conscious that Jane could never replace Katherine of Aragon. Within weeks, Henry’s ministers begin seeking another wife. Mary must confront the prospect of another stepmother while continuing to negotiate her dangerous position as a formerly illegitimate princess at her father’s court.
Mary’s restoration to Henry’s favour remains conditional on the submission he demanded from her. Each new marriage proposal reminds her that her own position can be altered by the birth of another legitimate child. The novel therefore treats the search for Henry’s next queen from Mary’s perspective, where dynastic policy is experienced as repeated uncertainty over status, family and faith.
Philippa Gregory
32 books
Elizabeth Fremantle
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C. W. Gortner
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Margaret George
6 books
David Field
46 books