Lady Jane Grey: Nine days queen

by Alison Plowden

For most, the name of Lady Jane Grey means the "nine days queen," the child who was used as a pawn in the power politics of the Tudor realm by both her parents, the Suffolks, and Northumberlands. Alison Plowden's new book tells the tragic story of Jane's life, and death, but also reveals her to be a woman of unusual strength of conviction, with an intelligence and steady faith beyond her years. Told with Alison's usual skill and adeptness, this is a story which will stir compassion in the hearts of the hardiest readers. It also gives us insight into the least known of Henry VIII's wives, Katherine Parr.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Tudor Period, Royalty, Biography Memoir, Historical

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last, a biography that does not paint Lady Jane Grey as a Protestant saint.

I've read several accounts of Lady Jane Grey, and have always felt that Jane is wrongly portrayed as being a saintly, pious Protestant teenager who was forced to accepted a crown she knew wasn't hers. I've always felt that Jane was self-righteous, full-of-herself, sanctimonous, pompus, and quite possibly a religious fanatic.

Alison Plowden portrays Jane for what she seems to have been; a self-righteous teenager who was a pawn of her parents political ambitions.

An excellent and refreshing take on Lady Jane Grey.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Jane Grey...16 years old and Queen of England for 9 days. Controlled by her family, pushed into a treasonous conspiracy against her will, forced to marry a man she didn't love in order to cement her claim to the crown. A wallflower pushed into the limelight of 16th century English court politics...with deadly results. Full story of the events leading up to the coup...her family, their greed and abuse, sixteen years of being unloved and wanted only as a matrimonial prize to increase the family's coffers and status.

The author does an excellent job of climbing into the drawing rooms, bedrooms and minds of the players involved. Enjoyed this book
very much!

[Briar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but not particularly scholarly. As there was very little referencing it was hard to know what was from sources (reliable or unreliable) and what was interpretation. Still, an interesting read.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this reviewer read Alison Plowden’s Lady Jane Grey: Nine Days Queen many years ago, it recently came to my attention and so I pulled out my notes to write a review.

Was Jane’s life tragic? Yes. Misunderstood? Yes. Plowden sheds light on Jane’s nurtured intelligence and her scholarly pursuits (which were interrupted due to her proximity to the throne), religious convictions (which were more radically Protestant then most of the country), and the political alliances (which ultimately sealed her fate).

Plowden provided a well-sourced narrative which unfortunately leaned more on secondary sources, that was accessible to more casual readers yet suitable for those with a background in the Tudor era. Any analysis of the broader political and religious themes is perfunctory.

Was Jane a victim? Yes. Full of resolve? Yes. Plowden expresses the ambitions and motivations of the key figures surrounding Jane and her successor, while falling for the usual issue with biographers—sympathy toward her subject. Yet any reader has to understand the sacrifices that this young woman’s life held for her country and family.

[Keri-Ann Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel this wasn't so much about Jane herself but more about what went on around her that led to her being either lead or pushed to the throne. That may come from the fact that much is probably not known about her. Which is sad as I was hoping to read more about who she was as a person and her personality but I feel I read more about her sisters and the Turdors themselves then Jane.

[Gabriele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rather critical but I loved this book. Although not a work of fiction this book was a great pleasure, easy to read and very engrossing. It is written fluently, in a light tone, sometimes ironic, sometimes compassionate, providing well-grounded historical information and an understanding of the times, beliefs, and circumstances in which the real-life protagonists found themselves.

[Trisha Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of historical context, love

the way Alison writes, easy to follow

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and sad account of the life of Lady Jane Grey

[Anthony Cleveland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not pass the 50 page test????

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty short on details and nothing new that can't be found in any other biography of Lady Jane Grey. In fact, some of the wording seemed lifted right out of other people's books (and I don't mean contemporary quotes). Ms Plowden goes so far out of her way to point out what a religious zealot and bigot Lady Jane was - without really putting it into historical context - that the reader loses any sympathy for her plight. A sixteen-year old executed for political reasons after being forced into a loveless marriage so she could be the pawn of the ruthless and power-hungry Duke of Northumberland? Come on! Ya gotta be able to wring some pathos out of that story! And other biographers have managed to put the whole religous bigotry in perspective while still sympathising with the girl's plight. With this book, I didn't really care that Lady Jane's life was pretty much a big unhappy mess that ended very very badly.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Tudor history, than this book is for you!

Alison Plowden delves into the life of the ill-fated Jane Grey and her family. The not so subtle manipulation of a young woman who had no say in her future, and the tragic events which led to her her death are recounted here in detail.
From the beginning of her life, to her death and beyond, Plowden goes into the family history and the events which surrounded the short reign of the young woman, who had events turned out differently might have left a more favorable impression on history. Instead she has been condemned for taking a crown that was not hers, although the decision was not hers to make. The manipulation of a child king and the protector of the nation who saw more power for himself all lead to one thing - death.

A MUST READ!

[Shadoshard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accurate, brief and doesn't pull punches, this version of Lady Jane Gray gives what many books do not; a picture of Lady Jane that goes beyond the innocent saint. This book portrays her with more agency than most books - it explores her motivation - that she actually had a motive of her own - for becoming queen. It gives the reader a better, coolly clear idea via documentation and a presentation of a less romantic era, of a teenager who had her own beliefs about life and how where to go with them. She was more than the puppet of her parents, and while they did force a great deal on her shoulders, she was a separate being and this book shows us that person. The book does not romanticize her, rather it offers up a human being rather than an extension of her parents. A great read in the quest for the historical accuracy of the nine day queen.

[Amr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terribly written, full of unnecessary quotations. A load of irrelevant incidents and tales of no direct link to Jane Grey herself. Who cares how Duke something got to that position? How a conversation between child king Edward and his uncle when Jane was practically a baby, of any importance? Why filling the Jane Grey's biography with news of Bloody Mary and her future husband? To hint at the political atmosphere, and to shift the narrative completely, are different things. Too many annoying quotations everywhere, what's the point?

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book that started my life-long fascination with Lady Jane Grey. I can picture myself laying on my stomach in my family's old pop-up trailer on some long-ago vacation, my brows knit in distress as I learned of Lady Jane's plight. I don't remember thinking the writing was anything special, but the subject was another matter altogether!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, especially for a biography of someone who lived in the 1500s. I enjoyed how the book was laid out. It started with the family history before Jane was born and continued with what happened to her immediate family after her execution. I enjoyed the simple writing style that got right to the point of what happened and didn't start too much into different theories.

[Angela Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy reading this book and think I came away knowing a bit more about Lady Jane Grey, but it was also padded out with a lot of other things Tudor. I can understand there being a lack of really extensive material about her as she lived such a short life, anyhow not as dry as some history books can be.

[Bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pop history lite: less dense than Alison Weir, Antonia Fraser et al. but nevertheless enjoyable and informative.

[Trudy Hodkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a tragic tale but intersting insight to the life and times of this queen- worth a read

[Emma Ludlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heroine, made extremely difficult to read, even to a seasoned historical non fiction reader like myself.

[Mark Ludmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, fascinating book on Jane Grey, summarising well how she came to be the focus of a Tudor political power struggle.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was a bit dry, but informative. It seems as though Plowden couldn't find a natural stopping point, continuing the narrative long after it was required.

[Dale Harrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mindblowing

This book is so full of facts its hard to follow the genealogy unless you are a scholar on the subject. Too much information for me

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting background and insights