In the Shadow of Lady Jane

Richard Stocker #1

by Edward Charles

It is April 1551. While the family of Lord Henry Grey are visiting their Devon estate, the Grey sisters are saved from drowning by a local medical apprentice, Richard Stocker. Little does Richard know that this single act will plunge him into a tide of religious and social upheaval that will change not only his own life but the course of British history. In gratitude for saving his daughters, Lord Henry agrees to employ Richard in his household. Lady Katherine has already fallen for her father’s handsome new employee, while Richard is in thrall to the intellect of her troubled but brilliant sister, Lady Jane, with whom he forms a close friendship. Following King Edward’s death, the teenaged Lady Jane is proclaimed Queen. Soon, however, she is deposed and put to the axe. The woman Richard has grown to love as a friend, confidante, and adviser is dead. Bereft, he abandons the intrigues and deceptions of court life, resolving to resume his medical apprenticeship. In the Shadow of Lady Jane is at once a gripping political thriller and a compelling love story.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Royalty, 16th Century

442 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Edward Charles was born in South Wales in 1941 and brought up in north London.

He developed his interest in English social and economic history at school, butbelieving it would never find him a job, studied economics and law at the University College of Wales and then took a PhD in corporate finance at (the then formative) Manchester Business School.

After a short period as a lecturer in Business Studies at Liverpool University he began a career in finance and management consulting, before entering the City and international business, working in Europe, the USA and Asia.

His first novel, ‘In the Shadow of Lady Jane’ was published on 6th May 2006 and the sequel, ‘Daughters of the Doge’ was published on 7th May 2007

Dr Charles lives in Devon where he writes, paints, and tends his vineyard.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how to write historical fiction, Hilary Mantel.

What I love the most about Edward Charles is how accurate the history is. So he doesn't feel the need to over-dramatize it. Readers are thus left with the essence of the story correct. And yet he manages to tell this in a way that makes for enthralling reading.

So, this is good to read, and you feel like you are getting a history lesson too.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, it took me a bit to get going with this book, but it started to get about after the first third or so - mainly because that's when all the action/plotting/executions started to build up. I was pleased that this was an historical novel that actually stayed true to the actual events - even down to a lot of the fine detail. That's always been my main gripe with historical novels that play fast and loose with history - if the actual history makes a good story, then you don't need to stuff around with it, or try and rewrite it. The downside of this novel is that the characterisation of the main characters wasn't all that brilliant. And to my way of thinking, the 3 sisters, Jane, Catherine and Mary seemed awfully precocious. Mary, for example, is only 6 years old at the beginning of the book but she comes across as someone who is many years older. Similarly with Catherine, she is only 13 or 14, but comes across as a fully sexual women, who perhaps in her 20's. I know that the children in those days were a lot maturer than those of today, but not that much!

[Redfox5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. This is a tragic story. Poor Lady Jane just a pawn in her parents ambitions and this book made me really like her which made me sad becuase I knew she would not survive till the last pages. Also intresting to read historical fiction from a male point of view that is actually written by a man. You don't see that much.

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new perspective on the Grey family and their ambitions in Tudor England. A cleverly interwoven tale of historical and imaginary characters supported by careful research. For a debut novel it is surprisingly tightly plotted and a really enjoyable read.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written historical novel. The story of Lady Jane Grey is well known, but the way Edward Charles tells it, through the eyes of a servant called Richard Stocker gives it a fresh twist.
Richard is a groomsman, working and living at Shute House, one of the Marquess and Marchioness of Dorset’s homes, situated in Devon. The family visit the house one summer, and Richard catches the eye of Catherine Grey, the middle Dorset daughter. He takes the three daughters to the coast, as they’ve never seen the sea before, but they are caught up in a storm. Richard’s fast thinking saves the girls from drowning, and because of this, Henry Grey, Lord Dorset, decides to reward him by giving him a position in their main residence of Bradgate, in Leicestershire.
Richard impresses Dorset, and quickly finds himself becoming a trusted servant, then trusted confidant of the Marquess. He also finds himself falling deeply in love with Catherine, and her him. Sadly they know that they cannot do anything about their love, due to her royal blood and station. He also finds himself drawn to Jane, the eldest daughter. He greatly admires her learning and piety, and they soon develop a firm friendship. Richard is moving up the servant ladder quickly, and as Henry Grey is named Duke of Suffolk, he finds himself attending court. The Suffolk family are ascending, an alliance with the Duke of Northumberland makes Suffolk the third most powerful man in the country, after the king, and Northumberland. The king is sickly though, and it’s said he is dying, from a lung condition. Northumberland and Suffolk scramble to put their plans in place before the king does die, because the worst possible thing would be for Princess Mary, the king’s Catholic sister to accede the throne and reverse all the hard work which has been done with the reformation of the country.
I shan’t write the remainder of the plot, as we all know it ends disastrously. But reading the story through the eyes of Richard definitely brought a new version of this tragic tale.
My one dislike of the story is how promiscuous Catherine is portrayed. I know it was said that she was a passionate woman, but I didn’t feel that she would have been so promiscuous at age 13. Other than that, I felt the book was well researched, and stuck quite closely to the facts in which we know to be true.

[Becca]

DNF @ 7%

This review is 100% my own opinion!

I thought I was enjoying this book but I just can’t anymore. I really don’t like Richard as a character and although this book is set during the 1500s, I thought it was very insta-love. I’m pretty sure at the beginning of the book Richard meets Jane, Catherine and Mary for the first time and instantly falls for Catherine. It felt so rushed and I personally felt a bit uncomfortable with the whole Catherine slipping off her horse and her dress getting caught scene, especially when it ended with Catherine and Richard nearly having sex? I don’t know - I just can’t get behind Richard and he just annoys me so I’m DNFing and unhauling this. I really wanted to enjoy it as I find Lady Jane Grey interesting but I just don’t want to pick it up anymore.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really nice to have a book centered around Jane Grey and the Grey family at a pivotal time in English history. I don't know much beyond the basics with regards to the history but it was written in a way that I would suspect the author did a great deal of research for accuracy.
Most importantly it wasn't written in a way that turns historical events into modern romances with modern themes that you know could not fit the people or the time.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had not realized this is the first of the Richard Stocker books.

Found the younger characters to be overly precocious. But then Lady Jane Grey was only sixteen when she was executed.

Historical insights excellent.

[Deb Balster · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about something quite familiar but from a member of the households point of view. I really enjoyed the relationships and the historical facts entwined into the story.

[Iris Santana · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF because it's so boring and it looks like a badly written fanfic???

[Kris Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening and provides food for thought for a much overlooked Tudor.

[Danielle Croft · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm wondering how accurate the plot and characters are in regard to historical research. It seems that the author writes his main female characters as either sluts or saints. I found it very convenient how the main character was able to rise so high in the Grey household and have relationships with 2 of the Grey women. He was able to accompany lady Jane to the tower and witness her rise and fall. I have read better historical fiction about lady Jane, for instance by weir. I will say it was interesting to read an account of the Grey family life before their temporary rise.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not often that you see Tudor fiction written by a man so it was no surprise that he had to put in a made up male character to be the star of the book. I didn't take to Richard at all which made it more difficult to get into the story.

The author obviously wanted this book to be focused on the women as sex obsessed idiots and the men as macho lovegods rather than telling the story of the plot to stop Queen Mary from taking the throne. In fact the focus of the whole book is the sexual relations taking place on this estate and it gets very boring. The only portrayal of the girls that seemed accurate was Mary, who was a sharp and intelligent child, often ignored by everyone. I always found her to be the most interesting of the three sisters.

I've read a lot of Tudor related books-fiction and non fiction, and I was not impressed with the portrayal of Catherine as a devious, manipulative slut who goes naked under her gown while out riding so she can get her dress caught in the saddle and expose herself to Richard to seduce him. This is utter rubbish. The Grey sisters were brought up in a severe household and it would have been drummed into them how important it was to retain your virtue if you wanted to marry a good man. She would not be acting like such a slapper. Catherine would have known better than to risk her prospects for a quick tumble with a servant. Her parents would have murdered her if she had got pregnant out of wedlock.

We also had her mother Frances having sex with all the young male servants including Richard. So he is meant to love Catherine who loves him but has sex with her mother and then falls in love with Jane? The guy is a sex obsessed tosser who will sleep with anyone given the opportunity! Yet he seems to look down on Adrian for his antics. Every female servant seems to throw herself at him at some point and he's always admiring their bodies so he hardly seems to really care about either sister.

Richard's fellow worker Adrian seems to be there just to have sex with Frances and bully Richard every chance he gets. Sex, jealousy and arguing dominates this book which spoils the exciting intrigue of the plot to make Jane Queen. The whole Richard storyline is such a waste of time and adds nothing to the story. We get an interesting segment featuring the plots of the family and then we get more sexual intrigue thrown in as the irresistable Richard is chased by someone else. Ugh, this really is just boring crap and the sex scenes aren't even that interesting.

If you want a good book about the Grey sisters try Ella March Chase 'Three Maids for a Crown' also known as 'The Nine Day Queen' in the UK. It is much better and full of tension, intrigue and better written romance.

[Mira15 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este best-seller tem como pano de fundo a época pré-isabelina, poucas vezes retratada nos romances históricos, e nele observamos o dia-a-dia de uma das grandes famílias da época – os Grey, uma família com ligações reais - pelos olhos de Richard, um dos seus mais leais servidores.
A história é contada gradualmente e á medida que o tempo passa, Richard vê-se envolvido em muitos segredos e conspirações, observando o que o poder e o dinheiro fazem às pessoas. Seguimos o seu dia-a-dia pelas casas senhoriais, campos e corte do rei Eduardo VI, filho de Henrique VIII e da sua terceira esposa, Jane Seymour. Neste ambiente, conhecemos a família Grey: Jane, uma grande estudiosa e muito erudita; as suas irmãs: Mary, que não é ingénua embora tenha uma deficiência física que lhe dificulte a vida e Catherine, uma jovem alegre, a única que anima o ambiente familiar. Lady Frances (a mãe) é uma mulher extremamente ambiciosa, inteligente e intriguista e lorde Henry vaidoso e um verdadeiro homem da corte, que vive no meio de conspirações e trabalha na defesa dos interesses da família.
A disputa meio silenciosa entre o protestantismo e o catolicismo está bem representado, especialmente pelo contraste entre as princesas Maria e Isabel.
Depois de Ricardo se ambientar na corte, torna-se amigo de Fergal Fitzpatrick e assim, secretamente conta as novidades do rei e do desenvolvimento da sua doença a Lorde Henry, que tem muito interesse pois se o rei morrer a sua mulher estará na linha directa para o trono.
A partir de 8 de Julho, a noite da morte do rei, tudo aconteceu um pouco mais depressa e com mais emoção e adrenalina. E no final, o destino trágico que todos conhecemos…
Por razões externas, demorei muito tempo a ler o livro, mas não me era muito difícil voltar a entrar na história por causa dos capítulos curtos e a grande parte deles cativantes.
Agora posso conjugar aquilo que já sei dos outros livros com este e fazer uma linha do tempo cronológica, dando-me assim, uma vista panorâmica sobre esta época e os seus acontecimentos. Depois de tudo o que já sei, é fantástico aprender mais sobre a Dinastia Tudor e este livro conseguiu surpreender-me sempre!

Pag 401
"Tudo isto é um jogo, Richard, um jogo que assenta no poder e nas prerrogativas.
Um jogo mesquinho, ambicioso, sujo e brutal. Quem quiser entrar nele tem de ser
mais ambicioso, mais sujo e mais brutal do que os rivais. Deste jogo diz-se que
"o vencedor fica com tudo, e o diabo com quem perde".

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good! I loved how the use of a character like Richard really gave the reader a personel view of the Grey family and its workings. The time in the Tower, and Jane's marriage to Guilford Dudley were heart wrenching. I look forward to following Richard on his next journey..........

[Katielin317 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intersting read, especially if you like the Philippa Gregory books on Anne Boleyn. Only, this book is taken from the perspective of a well-raised country boy who becomes an assistant to a very important courtier. I enjoyed this as a nice light read.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2007 - very good but a little stretchy at times - the Grey sisters quite well drawn - the adventuresome Richard Stocker full of chivalric intent towards an appealing Lady Jane. Good story. Sad story, but we knew that.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy historical fiction with some fact woven into it or you are interested in Lady Jane Grey and the Tudor period then you will enjoy this novel.

[Helen Azar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this book. It wasn't terrible, it was just sort of ... neutral.

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly uninteresting for such an interesting topic.

[Mirella · Rating 2 out of 5]

never finished lost interest with the characters sorry

[Tanzanite · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/201...

[Mona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Living in that part of history was really frustrating.

[Nadine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ennuyant et mal écrit, j'ai vite décroché.

[Carla Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talvez um dos melhores livros que já li.

[Tamanna | तमन्ना]

DNF. After trying to read this book many times over a period of almost a year, I decided that this just wasn’t a book for me.
The synopsis sounds good and I thought that I would fly through the book but I found it quite slow. For the first hundred pages, you are waiting for things to get started. The writing was okay, not all that great.
Maybe someday, in the faraway future, I will give this book another try.