The Sisters Who Would Be Queen

Starred review from June 15, 2009
Although the Tudor era has inspired a flood of literature, de Lisle (After Elizabeth
), in her second book, illuminates three remarkable characters of the time, the Grey sisters, who were named by both Henry VIII and his son, Edward, as heirs to the throne. But, says de Lisle, “Dynastic politics, religious propaganda, and sexual prejudice have since buried in legend and obscurity.” ' De Lisle demonstrates that while Jane, long viewed as helpless, was indeed young and pressed to accept the crown, she was exceptionally intelligent, educated and confident as England's first queen regnant and a passionate Protestant evangelical leader. Under Elizabeth I, Jane's sister Katherine married secretly without the queen's consent and was imprisoned because her pregnancy threatened Elizabeth with the possibility of a legitimate royal heir; after seven years in prison, Katherine died, likely of self-starvation. Mary also married without Elizabeth's consent and was imprisoned for seven years, but was eventually rehabilitated at court only to die of plague at age 33. De Lisle has produced an excellent, assiduously researched account of dynastic politics at its worst, focusing on three fascinating and often overlooked women. Photos.

August 1, 2009
The Grey sisters receive a compelling treatment from De Lisle (After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England, 2006).

In this sympathetic biography of the three grand-nieces of Henry VIII who had a real shot at reigning in England, the author stresses the theme that women were deeply scorned and feared as rulers. However, during the generation after Henry died, de Lisle notes,"the entire political system, the stability of England" would be borne out by the actions of females,"beings to be used and manipulated." In 1544, Henry had established his line of succession, which moved from his young son Edward down to his two"illegitimate" daughters Mary and Elizabeth, to the descendants of his youngest sister, Frances Brandon (the Grey branch). Lady Jane Grey, the eldest sister and most promising in terms of intellectual accomplishment and resolve, was apparently an even better pupil than her cousin Elizabeth. But she was prey to all manner of schemes by relatives and guardians to marry her off, and de Lisle suggests that her true hope was to marry King Edward. However, because Edward had named the Grey branch as his rightful successors, Jane was finagled into marrying Lord Guildford Dudley to produce a quick son and heir. With Edward's death, Lady Jane ruled for a fortnight, before the people of England rose up to demand that Mary Tudor be rightfully installed. Jane's two sisters, warily watched and imprisoned under Elizabeth, would escape the chopping block but endure bleak fates of their own. De Lisle is to be commended for skillfully drawing out the stories of these undervalued personages, especially the one who stood in line to inherit the throne before the Grey sisters—their poor overlooked mother, Frances.

A slow-smoldering, steadily argued work of historical significance.

(COPYRIGHT (2009) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

July 15, 2009
Tudor England continues to ensnare the interest of a multitude of readers, even those with only a passing interest in historical study. From the famed six wives of Henry VIII to the glories of Elizabeth I, the era is bursting with compelling personalities and plotlines Shakespeare himself could hardly have dreamed up. Following closely on the heels of David Loades's "The Tudor Queens of England" comes an in-depth and well-researched treatment of a group of sisters all of whom could have been queen. De Lisle ("After Elizabeth") attempts to strip away much of the prevailing myth surrounding the Grey sisters. She combines a meticulous examination of personal letters, diaries, and state papers and her ability to tell a story in an effort to present the sisters as no mere tools of powerful men, but standing at the center of the turbulent world of Tudor England. Readers are taken behind the scenes and into the "Golden Age of Gossip" where the elites betray friends and family alike to maintain their always tenuous hold on power. VERDICT While the narrative tends to become mired at points, enthusiasts and historians of the period alike will find much of value in de Lisle's tale. Recommended for all fans and students of British history.Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 25, 2010
While multitudes of books and films focus on King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Stuart, de Lisle’s intelligent and well-researched biography of the three Tudor sisters demonstrates that not enough attention has been lavished on these fascinating women. Lush details on the youth, education, social life, and sad fates of Henry’s grandnieces and heirs—Mary, Katherine, and Jane—bring to life a panoramic view of the time, not just the individuals. Wanda McCaddon skillfully weaves her way through the dense prose and mountains of information. Despite a tendency to trill with too much excitement, she renders the three sisters and their era with polish and panache. A Ballantine hardcover (Reviews, June 15).