The Last Tudor - Phillipa Gregory

"I grip the block, I even feel the grain of the wood. I have to put my head down on it. I note that the blindfold is wet with my tears, soft and hot against my closed eyelids. I must be crying and crying. But at least no one can see, and whatever happens next, I know that it is not death, for I will never die." 

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I have to say, I’m a sucker for good historical fiction. Outlander is one of my favourite books and history has always intrigued me….. when not read about in a dry school textbook. The Last Tudor was something that drew my eye immediately after my gallivant around Europe and I was intrigued on the prospect of reading about one of the victims of the Tower of London, where I’d just been myself. The Grey sisters are historical figures that I’d NEVER heard of before picking up this book. Somewhat surprising as Jane Grey was Queen for a very VERY short period of time before Queen Mary took back the crown and had Jane Grey beheaded for treason. Not only that, but Jane Grey is prominently known as a Protestant Martyr. She lost her shot at freedom due to her refusal to turn her back on her religion and beliefs and conform to Catholicism.

The book is divided into three parts. One is about the eldest, Jane, and her short reign and quick death. The second book is about Katherine, the middle child, and the legacy she was left with and her struggle to live her life to the fullest instead of learning to die as her sister did. The third book is about the youngest, Mary, and her struggle to be seen above the shadows of her sisters and their “crimes” against the Queen. It was interesting to see the point of view of all three. It was definitely a different perspective of what you mostly hear in history books about the Great Queen Elizabeth and her prominent reign as Queen of England.

            Queen Elizabeth’s portrayal is so frustratingly petty. Keeping in mind we are seeing her as the Grey sisters seen her, as their captive and their enemy. She is a barren Queen and the closest people to her throne are three sisters, all pretty and young and purely Protestant. Jane is a threat because she called herself Queen. Katherine is a threat because she provided the throne with legitimate male heirs and Mary is a threat because of her family and place in society as a Grey. Elizabeth does everything in her power to keep herself in the spotlight. Her court can love no one but her and if she cannot marry the man she loves, no one else can marry for love either. All three sisters learn the hard way that being royalty is not the greatest perk in the world and that love is a luxury in their world. 

            Reading about Jane frustrated me. She was so pious and self-righteous that she overlooked the importance of her family and was so confident in her own wisdom that she didn’t realize her death had come until it was too late to prepare for it. But it was heartbreaking to read her last thoughts as the blindfold was placed over her eyes and her last view of the world was shut out. Katherine, on the other hand, was a joy to read. She was so full of life and love and her only hope was to find happiness. Then there was Mary, her small stature made her a joke among the court, she was courageous about it and refused to let her size define who she was. She believed in herself. But reading her story was nothing short of depressing. The last of her family to face Elizabeth’s wrath, Mary may have survived them all but at what cost?

This book definitely gave a different and interesting perspective into the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the Tudor era as well as the familial quarrels and betrayals within the English court. Most wars in Europe were just family feud’s blown out of proportion. It must have been a sad, sad world to not even be able to trust your own family. This book shone a light on the poison of power and the loneliness of high society in the Tudor age. I’m looking forward to reading more by Phillipa Gregory in the future!

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Starting with a rating system, I give this book 4 Stars. This book was really interesting and had all the intrigue of court life but the plot tended to be slow moving in parts.

-Tay