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Read In The Shadow Of The Crown (2004)

In the Shadow of the Crown (2004)

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Rating
3.88 of 5 Votes: 1
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ISBN
0609810197 (ISBN13: 9780609810194)
Language
English
Publisher
broadway books

In The Shadow Of The Crown (2004) - Plot & Excerpts

This is a story of Mary, Henry VIII’s daughter with Katherine of Aragon. As a child, Mary has it all. She’s the king’s only child and it’s understood she’ll be inheriting the throne. But, the king divorces the queen, marries Anne Boleyn, and has another daughter, Elizabeth. Mary is declared illegitimate and she is constantly fighting for her place in court (and her place in line for the throne). By the time Henry VIII dies, he has a son, Edward. Edward dies young, and after a fight, Mary becomes queen. Mary is a staunch Catholic and realigns England with the Catholic Church. Protestants are put to death during her reign, earning her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Mary marries Phillip of Spain, but the marriage is distant and Phillip is constantly out of the country. Mary is desperate for a child and becomes so obsessed that she deludes herself into believing that she is pregnant.Reading this book, what I felt most for Mary was pity. She has a rough time as a young woman, basically being discarded (along with her mom) by her father. As a queen, it seems that she had the best of intentions and was doing what she believed. And as a woman, she desperately wanted (probably because of her being “dumped” by her dad) love and affection and a family.

This is the story of Mary, firstborn daughter of King Henry VIII told by Plaidy in the voice of this tragic woman. Born to Katharine of Aragon and Henry VIII, she enjoys her father's affection, his scorn when he declares the marriage invalid and his daughter a bastard, and finally his affection again when she does what she must to please him and save her life. She believes that she has a greater purpose in life - to bring back the Catholic church to England. Her father's frail son, Edward, is king for a short time, leaving the crown to Mary whose tender heart and lack of political finesse make her life difficult indeed. She marries Philip of Spain, love at last she believes only to discover that for him it was an arranged marriage. This is a sad tale well written by an author I had not read prior to this one.

What do You think about In The Shadow Of The Crown (2004)?

“In the Shadow of the Crown” was an excellent portrayal of Mary Tudor, Henry the VIII's first daughter. Her loyalty to the crown and to her mother bring about the consequences for the kingdom in which she became the first queen. I found this book captivating along with broadening my interest in the history of the entire Tudor family. Henry the VIII carried out many inexplicable deeds based on many motives. The Tudors have sparked my insatiable drive to discover more about this portion of history.
—Lorrie

Most stories of Mary Tudor invoke the same emotions but Jean Plaidy is a master of painting the perfect picture of a betrayed and forgotten daughter, outcast sister, and underestimated queen. Mary carried such a force that undoubtedly came from her Spanish lineage, but she was still Henry VIII's daughter and that meant she could hold her own even when he declared her a bastard. History can only remember her as Bloody Mary but Plaidy shows her resilience and her strong spirit. This story of her life matches very closely with the documentation that remains to us and the author brings to life a tragic yet inspiring saga.
—Shellie Kennedy

I loved this book and can't believe I had never heard of Jean Plaidy, a writer of more than 200 books. I think the reason why I liked this one so much, was that although I've read a few books on the Tudors, not one on Mary, and I'm greatly lacking in knowledge of the period, so much so until I had read this, I could never quiet get all of Mary's father's wives clearly in my mind, and had always assumed that he had lopped off all his wive's heads.Although a bit told, it would difficult to tell such a life story on an epic scale, written otherwise. I think Jean Plaidy tells the story well, following Mary from a young child till her death, and in turn we see all of Henry VIIIs wives, and the effect his choices had on his daughter. From a Princess, first in line to the throne to a bastard, pushed back with each successive child from his other wives.I liked that it provided an insight into all the women Henry VIII married and her half sister, Elizabeth who would ascend the throne after Mary as Elizabeth I, as well as the state of mind Mary may very well have had througout her tuberlant life and reign plus an insight of what her brief and childless marriage to her Spanish cousin, Philip II might have been like.
—Sharon Robards

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