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Book Review of Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
Ladyslott avatar reviewed on + 113 more book reviews


Alison Weir has long been one of my favorite historical biographers, so I was quite excited to read her first novel. Focusing on the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey, the ânine day Queen' Weir had fashioned a highly readable fictional account of Lady Jane's life from her birth to her tragic death at the age of sixteen.

The facts of Lady Jane's life are well known to any aficionado of the Tudor and Elizabethan periods of English royalty. Born to Frances Brandon, cousin of King Henry VIII, and Henry Dorset Jane is unloved by her parents who long for a son. Jane is a bright young girl who is used as a pawn by her family and the ambitious John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. In their schemes they plan to put Jane on the throne after the untimely death of the young King Edward. They subvert the laws of succession that would have Mary, eldest daughter of King Henry the successor to the throne. In doing so they put Jane's life on the line, as she becomes the Innocent Traitor of the title.

Although I was very familiar with this story I found the author has written an enjoyable and moving account of the tragedy of Jane Grey's life. As always Weir's research is impeccable; although this is a novel I have to believe that she stayed as close to the facts as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing account of one of the most dramatic events of the always tumultuous Tudor dynasty. Highly recommended