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The Nine Days' Queen, Lady Jane Grey, and Her Times
The tragedy of Lady Jane Grey is unquestionably one of the most poignant episodes in English history, but its very dramatic completeness and compactness have almost invariably caused its wider significance to be obscured by the element of personal pathos with which it abounds. The sympathetic figure of the studious, saintly maiden, single-hearted in her attachment to the austere creed of Geneva, stands forth alone in a score of books refulgent against the gloomy background of the greed and ambition to which she was sacrificed. The whole drama of her usurpation and its swift catastrophe is usually treated as an isolated phenomenon, the result of one man’s unscrupulous self-seeking; and with the fall of the fair head of the Nine Days’ Queen upon the blood-stained scaffold within the Tower the curtain is rung down and the incident looked upon as fittingly closed by the martyrdom of the gentlest champion of the Protestant Reformation in England.
Such a treatment of the subject, however attractive and humanly interesting it may be, is nevertheless unscientific as history and untrue in fact. An adequate appreciation of the tendencies behind the unsuccessful attempt to deprive Mary of her birthright can only be gained by a consideration of the circumstances preceding and surrounding the main incident. The reasons why Northumberland, a weak man as events proved, was able to ride rough-shod over the nobles and people of England, the explanation of his sudden and ignominious collapse and of the apparent levity with which the nation at large changed its religious beliefs and observance at the bidding of assumed authority are none of them on the surface of events; and the story of Jane Grey as it is usually told, whilst abounding in pathetic interest gives no key to the vast political issues of which the fatal intrigue of Northumberland was but a by-product. To represent the tragedy as a purely religious one, as is not infrequently done, is doubly misleading. That one side happened to be Catholic and the other Protestant was merely a matter of party politics, and probably not a single active participator in the events, except Jane herself, and to some extent Mary, was really moved by religious considerations at all, loud as the professions of some of the leaders were.
Such a treatment of the subject, however attractive and humanly interesting it may be, is nevertheless unscientific as history and untrue in fact. An adequate appreciation of the tendencies behind the unsuccessful attempt to deprive Mary of her birthright can only be gained by a consideration of the circumstances preceding and surrounding the main incident. The reasons why Northumberland, a weak man as events proved, was able to ride rough-shod over the nobles and people of England, the explanation of his sudden and ignominious collapse and of the apparent levity with which the nation at large changed its religious beliefs and observance at the bidding of assumed authority are none of them on the surface of events; and the story of Jane Grey as it is usually told, whilst abounding in pathetic interest gives no key to the vast political issues of which the fatal intrigue of Northumberland was but a by-product. To represent the tragedy as a purely religious one, as is not infrequently done, is doubly misleading. That one side happened to be Catholic and the other Protestant was merely a matter of party politics, and probably not a single active participator in the events, except Jane herself, and to some extent Mary, was really moved by religious considerations at all, loud as the professions of some of the leaders were.
- GenresHistory
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1909
21 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Richard Patrick Boyle Davey
21 booksRichard Patrick Boyle Davey was an English author and journalist.
After studying in France and Italy, Davey moved to New York City in 1870 and became an editor for Spirit of the Times. In 1880 he returned to England to write for The Morning Post. He also wrote for The Fortnightly Review, the National Review, The Nineteenth Century, the Saturday Review, and other publications. He wrote two historical novels and four plays. His non-fiction books include profiles of Cuba and Turkey based on his travels, and a series of books on the lives of famous women.
Davey died in Venice, Italy.
After studying in France and Italy, Davey moved to New York City in 1870 and became an editor for Spirit of the Times. In 1880 he returned to England to write for The Morning Post. He also wrote for The Fortnightly Review, the National Review, The Nineteenth Century, the Saturday Review, and other publications. He wrote two historical novels and four plays. His non-fiction books include profiles of Cuba and Turkey based on his travels, and a series of books on the lives of famous women.
Davey died in Venice, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 2, 2019
Jane Grey was de achterkleindochter van Hendrik VII, en nicht van Edward VI. Toen deze laatste stierf, had hij Jane als zijn opvolger aangewezen, omdat zowel Mary als Elisabeth onwettige kinderen van Hendrik VIII zouden zijn. Jane werd tus uitgeroepen tot koningin, maar al gauw begon Mary enorm veel aanhangers te krijgen. De Privy Counsel veranderde van gedacht en riep Mary uit als koningin. Jane en haar familie, vrienden en kennissen werden als verraders beschouwd. Jane, haar man, haar vader en nog anderen werden ter dood veroordeeld.
Het boek beschrijft eigenlijk heel het korte leven van Lady Jane Grey - ze was maar 17 toen ze stierf - en al de politieke ontwikkelingen en intriges die rond haar plaatsvonden. Erg interessant om te lezen, maar soms wel verwarrend, omdat de personen nu eens met hun naam, dan weer met hun titel aangesproken worden. En zovele namen zijn dan ook nog eens moeilijk uit elkaar te houden. Bv. Suffolk en Somerset...
Al bij al een leerrijk boek voor geschiedenisliefhebbers.
Het boek beschrijft eigenlijk heel het korte leven van Lady Jane Grey - ze was maar 17 toen ze stierf - en al de politieke ontwikkelingen en intriges die rond haar plaatsvonden. Erg interessant om te lezen, maar soms wel verwarrend, omdat de personen nu eens met hun naam, dan weer met hun titel aangesproken worden. En zovele namen zijn dan ook nog eens moeilijk uit elkaar te houden. Bv. Suffolk en Somerset...
Al bij al een leerrijk boek voor geschiedenisliefhebbers.
November 11, 2019
Esta obra não se trata de um romance mas de verdadeiros factos históricos. Desde que vi o quadro da execução de Lady Jane no National Gallery em Londres que fiquei impressionada, e quis saber quem foi Lady Jane. O meu tio contou-me que tinha sido a rainha dos nove dias e depois havia sido presa por traição. Esta seria informação suficiente para uma pessoa menos curiosa do que eu, e cheia de fome
de saber.
O tempo passou... E sou agora quando estou na universidade concluindo o meu curso, apareceu-me este livro abordando a vida de Jane desde do seu nascimento a sua morte. Dando detalhes inclusive dos seus antecedentes nobres. Claro que todos os que pertencem a nobreza estão ligados entre si. Mas não deixa de ser interessante descobrir que cada daqueles pormenores ajuda a conhecer a Lady Jane.
Foi uma criança cuida por amas, ignorada pela mãe. Foi na juventude que aprendeu a falar fluentemente latim e grego, e a estudar a cultura clássica. Tinha mais carinho pelo seu mestre do que pela sua mãe. E quando morreu os seus familiares não estiveram presentes. Abandonada na vida e na morte.
Lady Jane é uma vitima neste jogo de poder. Utilizada pela mãe, pelos primos e pelo marido. Mas mesmo assim ela não deixou que seu marido , que quando ela subiu o poder queria ser rei e ela não permitiu. A relação deles sempre de desamor, um casamento para formar alianças como era habitual naquele tempo.
Depois de conhecer a historia de Lady Jane jà posso ler um romance dela, que descobrir ter alguns muito bons. E eu pensava que ela era uma figura desconhecida....
de saber.
O tempo passou... E sou agora quando estou na universidade concluindo o meu curso, apareceu-me este livro abordando a vida de Jane desde do seu nascimento a sua morte. Dando detalhes inclusive dos seus antecedentes nobres. Claro que todos os que pertencem a nobreza estão ligados entre si. Mas não deixa de ser interessante descobrir que cada daqueles pormenores ajuda a conhecer a Lady Jane.
Foi uma criança cuida por amas, ignorada pela mãe. Foi na juventude que aprendeu a falar fluentemente latim e grego, e a estudar a cultura clássica. Tinha mais carinho pelo seu mestre do que pela sua mãe. E quando morreu os seus familiares não estiveram presentes. Abandonada na vida e na morte.
Lady Jane é uma vitima neste jogo de poder. Utilizada pela mãe, pelos primos e pelo marido. Mas mesmo assim ela não deixou que seu marido , que quando ela subiu o poder queria ser rei e ela não permitiu. A relação deles sempre de desamor, um casamento para formar alianças como era habitual naquele tempo.
Depois de conhecer a historia de Lady Jane jà posso ler um romance dela, que descobrir ter alguns muito bons. E eu pensava que ela era uma figura desconhecida....
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews