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The Nine Days Queen: A Portrait of Lady Jane Grey
Chronicles the life of Lady Jane Grey, who, raised by power-hungry parents who forcibly married her at age sixteen to a boy who ascended the English throne, reigned for nine days as Queen of England until her execution
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1986
346 people want to read
About the author
Mary M. Luke
7 books18 followersMary Luke was a biographer who wrote about Tudor and Elizabethan figures. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mrs. Luke, whose original name was Mary Munger, graduated from Berkshire Business School and worked in advertising in New York, and later for a documentary film company and RKO Studios in Hollywood.
Mrs. Luke wrote "Catherine, the Queen" (1967), a portrait of Henry VIII's hapless first wife, Catherine of Aragon. "A Crown for Elizabeth" (1970) limned the turbulent years between 1527, when Henry maneuvered for a divorce from Catherine for lack of a male heir, and 1558, when Elizabeth I ascended to the throne.
In a review of "A Crown for Elizabeth" for The New York Times, Lady Antonia Fraser wrote, "To the sympathetic retelling of history, Mrs. Luke has made a notable contribution and one that will give much pleasure to its readers."
"The Nine Days Queen: A Portrait of Lady Jane Grey" (1986) told the story of Jane Grey's brief hold on the scepter in July 1553 and her subsequent martyrdom. Mrs. Luke also wrote a novel, "The Nonsuch Lure" (1976), and "The Ivy Crown: A Biographical Novel of Queen Katherine Paar" (1984).
She died in 1993 at 74 and lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Mrs. Luke wrote "Catherine, the Queen" (1967), a portrait of Henry VIII's hapless first wife, Catherine of Aragon. "A Crown for Elizabeth" (1970) limned the turbulent years between 1527, when Henry maneuvered for a divorce from Catherine for lack of a male heir, and 1558, when Elizabeth I ascended to the throne.
In a review of "A Crown for Elizabeth" for The New York Times, Lady Antonia Fraser wrote, "To the sympathetic retelling of history, Mrs. Luke has made a notable contribution and one that will give much pleasure to its readers."
"The Nine Days Queen: A Portrait of Lady Jane Grey" (1986) told the story of Jane Grey's brief hold on the scepter in July 1553 and her subsequent martyrdom. Mrs. Luke also wrote a novel, "The Nonsuch Lure" (1976), and "The Ivy Crown: A Biographical Novel of Queen Katherine Paar" (1984).
She died in 1993 at 74 and lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 4, 2013
This book, which purports to be nonfiction, is a heavily fictionalized book about Lady Jane Grey. It's essentially a novel, and should have been published as one.
It's common for biographers to speculate as to what their subjects might have felt; Luke, however, takes this a step further and tells us exactly what her historical figures were thinking, even when she has no way of knowing. This starts at the very beginning of the book, when we meet Jane's mother, Frances, on her wedding day and are told, "And now, at this moment of triumph, she was elated at how well everything had worked out."
This would be irritating, but relatively harmless, if Luke confined herself to guessing what brides felt on their wedding day or what mothers felt when their children died. Unfortunately, Luke goes well beyond that, especially with Frances, who is the clear villain of this biography, and simply invents incidents that have no basis in recorded fact. Though the worst thing Jane ever accused her parents of doing (if the words attributed to her long after her death were reported accurately) was giving her "pinches, nips, and bobs," here Frances is depicted as shaking her infant children: "Baby Katherine was almost asleep . . . Her mother didn't like any child to cry, and often, if she was around, she'd shake little Katherine to make her stop. Jane could remember her mother shaking her too, and that had been very frightening, for she hadn't even been crying." Not content with this, Luke goes on to invent other episodes of Frances physically abusing Jane: "Chattering on one day about a pleasant occasion with the Queen Dowager and Lord Admiral, [Jane] was shocked when, suddenly and unexpectedly, her mother silenced her with a swift blow to the side of her head." These episodes, like many others in the book, are entirely the product of Luke's lurid imagination.
Luke even goes so far as to describe the events of Jane's wedding night with Guildford: "The marriage bed had proven a shock; nothing had prepared her for the assault on her senses, much less her body." How did Luke become privy to the secrets of Jane's marital bed?
It would take pages to list all of the historical liberties Luke takes here, in a book which she firmly declares "is not a novel, not a fictional biography." It may not be either of these things, but it's not a reliable work of nonfiction either. Quite simply, it's a fraud on the reader and, frequently, an exercise in character assassination. Read it as a novel if you must read it at all.
For nonfiction about Jane Grey that is based on solid research and verifiable sources, try Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery or The Sisters Who Would Be Queen.
It's common for biographers to speculate as to what their subjects might have felt; Luke, however, takes this a step further and tells us exactly what her historical figures were thinking, even when she has no way of knowing. This starts at the very beginning of the book, when we meet Jane's mother, Frances, on her wedding day and are told, "And now, at this moment of triumph, she was elated at how well everything had worked out."
This would be irritating, but relatively harmless, if Luke confined herself to guessing what brides felt on their wedding day or what mothers felt when their children died. Unfortunately, Luke goes well beyond that, especially with Frances, who is the clear villain of this biography, and simply invents incidents that have no basis in recorded fact. Though the worst thing Jane ever accused her parents of doing (if the words attributed to her long after her death were reported accurately) was giving her "pinches, nips, and bobs," here Frances is depicted as shaking her infant children: "Baby Katherine was almost asleep . . . Her mother didn't like any child to cry, and often, if she was around, she'd shake little Katherine to make her stop. Jane could remember her mother shaking her too, and that had been very frightening, for she hadn't even been crying." Not content with this, Luke goes on to invent other episodes of Frances physically abusing Jane: "Chattering on one day about a pleasant occasion with the Queen Dowager and Lord Admiral, [Jane] was shocked when, suddenly and unexpectedly, her mother silenced her with a swift blow to the side of her head." These episodes, like many others in the book, are entirely the product of Luke's lurid imagination.
Luke even goes so far as to describe the events of Jane's wedding night with Guildford: "The marriage bed had proven a shock; nothing had prepared her for the assault on her senses, much less her body." How did Luke become privy to the secrets of Jane's marital bed?
It would take pages to list all of the historical liberties Luke takes here, in a book which she firmly declares "is not a novel, not a fictional biography." It may not be either of these things, but it's not a reliable work of nonfiction either. Quite simply, it's a fraud on the reader and, frequently, an exercise in character assassination. Read it as a novel if you must read it at all.
For nonfiction about Jane Grey that is based on solid research and verifiable sources, try Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery or The Sisters Who Would Be Queen.
April 18, 2014
This book is definitely not light reading. However, if you enjoy biographies, this is a very well researched and written book and you will enjoy it. While it does not read like a novel, it also does not read like a textbook. Mary Luke took a collection of facts and arranged them in a format that is informative and interesting. You get a feel for the time period and what Lady Jane’s life was like. It makes me glad I am alive now, in the 20th century instead of the 16th century in England when women had no rights, and pedophilia and marital rape were not only condoned by the court, in some cases arranged by it. Lady Jane Grey was related to Henry VIII, through the manipulations of others, who wanted to rule the country through her, since she had a docile and obedient personality, she was made Queen. She ruled for nine days. She was executed for her part in the scheme although she was for the most part innocent, a female child that did what she was told. You realize the ending is inevitable while at the same time unjust and horrible.
February 29, 2016
This book is definitely not light reading. However, if you enjoy biographies, this is a very well researched and written book and you will enjoy it. While it does not read like a novel, it also does not read like a textbook. Mary Luke took a collection of facts and arranged them in a format that is informative and interesting. You get a feel for the time period and what her live was like. It makes me glad I am alive now, in the 20th century instead of the 16th century in England when women had no rights, and pedophilia and marital rape were not only condoned by the court, in some cases arranged by it. Lady Jane Grey was related to Henry VIII, through the manipulations of others, who wanted to rule the country through her, since she had a docile and obedient personality, she was made Queen. She ruled for nine days. She was executed for her part in the scheme although she was for the most part innocent, a female child that did what she was told. You realize the ending is inevitable while at the same time unjust and horrible.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
October 19, 2014
I'm giving this a 4 with the caveat that it really needs to be read as fiction. As such, it's great. You really get into the minds of all the characters. But, it can't be read as nonfiction, because the characters are having thoughts that nobody could possibly know they were having, and there are no footnotes as to tell you why she thinks they thought that. She does have a lot of factual information in there, but it most definitely interspersed with fiction.
Take for instance, Jane Grey's birth. In the story, she asserts as a fact that Jane Grey is born the same day as Edward VI. In her end notes, she admits that nobody knows Jane's exact birthdate, but legend has it that she was born the same day. That's fine. In a nonfiction book, you would simply say that up front.
Take for instance, Jane Grey's birth. In the story, she asserts as a fact that Jane Grey is born the same day as Edward VI. In her end notes, she admits that nobody knows Jane's exact birthdate, but legend has it that she was born the same day. That's fine. In a nonfiction book, you would simply say that up front.
July 30, 2008
Fascinating story of the Lady Jane Grey, who was basically forced to take the throne after the death of King Edward, Henry VIII's son. Apparently she was Edward's choice to succeed him, even over his own two sisters (Mary & Elizabeth). She came to a tragic end due to the corruption and power struggles going on.
September 7, 2009
It's hard to find a good book about Lady Jane Grey but this is a good one. It portrays Jane as a victim of the expectations for a "good girl" of the times, driven by her faith and her obedience to her parents and not by ambition.
April 15, 2011
Best review of her life I'd read outside of Alison Weir. Factually as accurate as one can get, well written and gives a fair account of all sides.
January 13, 2018
Wow, a lot different than the movie Lady Jane with Helena Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes, I think they took the name "Lady Jane" and found the names from history that was was associated with her and just made up a story. I read the history book on her and it was nothing like her life story, geeze. At least I can watch the movie for a good laugh, nothing follows her life story at all, at least they have the time period correct, which is about the only thing they got right, I guess it's about par for Hollywood. The book is an excellent read, next is one I bough for Kandice for Christmas, the one I just read was one of hers as well, but I might as well read the next one in line, on "Bloody Mary".
February 25, 2017
Poor Lad Jane was a pawn used by her father and father in law i the court of England. Tragic that she had to pay for their intrigues wth her life a 16 years old.
January 31, 2019
This author is incredible. She makes history come alive! This novel just like all her other ones, tells the story of a Queen of England only this time it's the sad sixteen-year-old Lady Jane Gray who takes center stage. From the very beginning of Lady Jane's childhood, you could not help but feel for this little pawn between two factions. We come to know Jane and, if you're an adult like me, think of her as if she were one of your own children. You want Jane to do something differently but you soon realize that even if you could change history, Jane never had much choice due to her age and her gender.
If you really want to read a great history book that reads like water flowing along on it's course then this is the book and the author for you.
If you really want to read a great history book that reads like water flowing along on it's course then this is the book and the author for you.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews