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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