Product Description

When Henry VIII died in 1547, he left three highly intelligent children to succeed him in turn - Edward, Mary and Elizabeth - to be followed, if their lines failed, by the descendants of his sister Mary Tudor, one of whom was the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey. Edward was nine years old, Mary 31 and Jane ten. Edward, Elizabeth and Jane were staunch Protestants, Mary a devout Catholic; each had a very different mother and they had grown up in vastly different circumstances. This book is not interested in constitutional history but in the characters and relationships of Henry's four heirs. Making use of a variety of contemporary sources, it brings to life one of the most extraordinary periods of English history, when each of Henry's heirs was potentially the tool of powerful political and religious figures, and when the realm was seething with intrigue and turbulent change.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #216798 in Books
• Published on: 1997-03-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

About the Author
Alison Weir lives and works in Surrey. Her books include Britain's Royal Families, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, The Princes in the Tower, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry VIII: King and Court, Mary, Queen of Scots and, most recently, Isabella.

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable and enlightening read on the subject
This book was very good in tackling subjects which usually get dealt with as a chapter in a book on the individuals. As someone who finds the period fascinating, it was academic enough not to be boring if you know a fair amount about the main characters, but not daunting if you dont. Alison Weir puts the chronology together well, and examines the four characters relationship with each other, how those relationships were manipulated or affected by those into whose care they were entrusted, and their motivations in the actions they took. She also takes a great deal of care in the detail - for example in trying to make a modern diagnosis of the ailments suffered by the characters, and in particular those suffered by Mary in her desire to bear an heir to the throne.
Thoroughly recommended.

Enlightens A Fascinating Period Of English History
I had previously found the Tudor age rather complicated and a little vague due to the complexed nature of Henry VIII's numerous wives and children.I started to read this book and became absorbed in the intrigue of this period of Tudor England. It provides in depth details of Henry's children and the profound effect their individual lives would have on the political and social developments of the Kingdoms they ruled, be it long or short. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor period and which leads to arguably the greatest sovereign in Elizabeth I that this country has seen.

Enjoyable history
Another good read from Alison Weir about a subject she handles well. Her Tudor histories (The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth the Queen) are her best. The lives of the 'Children of England' were pure drama; the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth perhaps the most fascinating aspect.

Incidentally, if you enjoyed this book, you'd love David Starkey's 'Elizabeth'.