Lady Jane Grey was queen of England for less than two
weeks,
after the death of Henry VIII's son Edward and before his
eldest daughter Mary Tudor claimed the throne. Queen Mary
imprisoned Lady Jane and her husband, Lord Guildford
Dudley,
for several months, before finally ordering their
execution.
They were both teenagers.
THE LADY OF MISRULE tells their tragic story through the
observations of another teenager, Elizabeth Tilney,
procured
to serve as attendant to the fallen queen. The girls
couldn't be more different. Lady Jane is strong in her
religious beliefs and her desire to change the world.
Elizabeth is moody and willful; she volunteers to serve
Jane
in the Tower of London, because she wants to escape her
father's home.
The girls have nothing in common and barely speak to each
other. Jane reads and writes while Elizabeth stares out the
window. Protestant Jane fears a return to the old ways,
with
Catholic Mary on the throne. Elizabeth has her own
problems,
wrought by an affair with an older family friend. In
telling
the story, Elizabeth focuses more on her own angst than the
affairs of state.
In THE LADY OF MISRULE, author Suzannah Dunn reminds us
that
Jane is a teenager, albeit a smart, serious-minded one.
Self-absorbed Elizabeth provides a striking contrast to the
girl who would willingly face an executioner rather than
accept the Catholic faith. The narrative provides some
insight into Jane's beliefs and the turbulence of the time.
THE LADY OF MISRULE could serve as an introduction to Tudor
history,
especially for mature younger readers; I must point out the
use of strong language, frank discussion of sex, and the
graphic description of a miscarriage as a consideration for
parents.
The unforgettable story of Lady Jane Grey's imprisonment in the Tower of London, after ruling England for only nine days . . . Escorting the nine-day queen Lady Jane Grey across the Tower of London from throne room into imprisonment is Elizabeth Tilney, who surprised even herself by volunteering for the job. All Elizabeth knows is she's keen to be away from home; she could do with some breathing space. And anyway, it won't be for long: everyone knows Jane will go free as soon as the victorious new queen is crowned. Which is a good thing because the two sixteen-year-olds, cooped up together in a room in the Gentleman Gaoler's house, couldn't be less compatible. Protestant Jane is an icily self-composed idealist, and Catholic Elizabeth is . . . well, anything but. They are united though by their disdain for the seventeen-year-old boy to whom Jane has recently been married: petulant, noisily-aggrieved Guildford Dudley, held prisoner in a neighboring tower and keen to pursue his prerogative of a daily walk with his wife. As Jane's captivity extends into the increasingly turbulent last months of 1553, the two girls learn to live with each other, but Elizabeth finds herself drawn into the difficult relationship between the newlyweds. And when, at the turn of the year, events take an unexpected and dangerous direction, her newfound loyalties are put to the test.
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