Tag: Elizabeth I

Guest Post: “The Challenges Elizabeth I Had to Face” by Janet Wertman

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Today, I am pleased to welcome Janet Wertman back to my blog to share some challenges that Elizabeth I had to face as a young queen as part of  the blog tour for her latest novel, “What Love E’er Meant.” I would like to thank Janet Wertman and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

At the start of her reign, Elizabeth’s main challenge was misogyny; indeed, she encountered it on every level. Despite her razor-sharp intelligence and unique abilities, she still had to constantly overcome men’s belief that a woman was too emotional, too intellectually lacking, too weak – simply too flawed – to rule. Admittedly, England had just endured Mary’s disastrous reign, during which marriage to a foreign prince had led to joining his stupid war and losing Calais. And for nothing: Mary had thought to placate God by burning heretics in His name, but He still withheld the son she craved enough to believe she carried. No, Englishmen did not want a reprise: they wanted Elizabeth to marry. An Englishman. Quickly.  

She bought delay by using their own prejudices and arguments against them. Her Council and Parliament might press, but she had the perfect response: it would be foolish for her to wade into such a serious matter with “so shallow a wit”. Faced with such impeccable logic, they showed her patience. 

Then she bought power by asserting it. She had to claim all of its indicia – or have it taken away from her. She knew long before the Scottish Ambassador would famously articulate it years later that she had to be both king and queen and not only queen. She went right up to the line of what was allowed in her behavior with Robert Dudley, at least in part to remind people that she was entitled to do as she pleased.  

She also bought power by limiting her subjects’ ability to disagree or moralize. As her grandfather had shown, solvency was power: she funded her government and court out of Crown revenues, so that she needed Parliament only for extraordinary items. This allowed her to call very few Parliaments, only 13 over her 44-45 years on the throne, which sharply limited their ability to try to condition her subsidies on some concession (like her agreement to marry or name a successor) or exert other pressure.   

At the same time, she bought loyalty by valuing advice and demonstrations of love (or seeming to). She created opportunities for people to see and interact with her, paying rapt attention in a ritual that was as exhausting for her as it was gratifying to them.  

And she bought magic by acknowledging her femininity and using the advantages it offered. Admittedly, these were not many – but she embraced the courtly rules that required all men to love their queen more than any other woman, and elevated that imperative to an art form. 

In all, this first half of Elizabeth’s reign gave her the practice she would need to truly become Gloriana. Just as her youth forged her for the throne, the throne itself forged her for greatness. While a strategic marriage could get her out of any jam, she could afford to make mistakes: it was all part of learning the lessons that would help her survive the second half of her reign, when the world would come against her. But that’s for the next book…  

Blurb: 

A new queen must prove she deserves the throne God gave her, while the path everyone insists will secure it might cost her everything. 

Against all odds, Elizabeth Tudor has become Queen of England. Determined to fulfill what she sees as a divine responsibility, she sets out to heal a country ravaged by religious discord, war, and debt – and vindicate the legacy of Anne Boleyn, the mother who did not deserve her fate. 

But Elizabeth’s crown is not fully secure: to the Catholic world, her cousin Mary Stuart is the rightful Queen of England, and there are rumblings to put her there. Shoring up defenses requires that Elizabeth challenge France’s control of Scotland and Spain’s dominance on the seas, as well as calm internal strife. Above the din of menace, one question dominates all others: who will she marry? 

William Cecil, her trusted Secretary of State, urges her to secure an alliance through a strategic match. Robert Dudley, the love of her life, pressures her to choose him. And Mary herself presents a cautionary tale. In the end, Elizabeth chooses not as a woman but as a queen, and learns the sobering truth of sovereignty: to rule is to stand alone. 

What Love E’er Meant, the searing second volume in the Regina Trilogy, captures a young queen’s struggle to balance love and power, duty and desire…and the profound cost of choosing crown over heart. 

Buy Links: 

Amazon & Apple Ebook Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XqdD7  

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/what-love-e-er-meant?  

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-love-eer-meant-janet-wertman/1151015402  

Author Bio: 

Janet Wertman’s critically acclaimed, character-driven historical novels reflect a passion for the Tudor era she had harbored since she stayed up late at age eight to watch The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R.  

Her Seymour Saga trilogy (Jane the Quene, The Path to Somerset, The Boy King) took her deep into one of the era’s central families – and now her follow-up Regina series (Nothing Proved and What Love E’er Meant out now, Forever Gloriana to come) explores Elizabeth’s journey from bastard to icon. 

She shares interesting takes on the Tudors at http://www.janetwertman.com  and her YouTube channel @TooMuchTudor. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://janetwertman.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetwertmanauthor/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetwertman/  

https://www.instagram.com/toomuchtudor

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/janetwertman.bsky.social  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/janetwertman/  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/janet-wertman  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janetwertman  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TooMuchTudor  

Amazon Author Page:  

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Janet-Wertman/author/B01CUSMWFA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2028387.Janet_Ambrosi_Wertman  

Book Review: “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon

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When we think about pirates, we often think of the scallywags of the late 17th and early 18th century. We think about predominantly men who sailed in the tropical waters of the New World, stealing and pillaging while drinking rum and avoiding the navies of Spain, France, and England. While this image is relatively accurate, piracy has been an occupation for centuries,s and it was not just a job for men. There were some famous women pirates like Anne Bonny and Mary Read, but there is one who does not get a lot of attention. Her name is Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen of 16th-century Ireland, who met with Queen Elizabeth I. How did Grace become a pirate, and what were the circumstances of her legendary meeting with Queen Elizabeth I? Ariel Lawhon explores the life of this extraordinary woman in her latest novel, “The Pirate Queen.”

I would like to thank Doubleday and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have heard of Grace o’Malley in previous books that I have read about Elizabeth I, but I didn’t know much about Grace. When I heard that there was going to be a novel about her life, I knew I wanted to read it. This is the first time I have read a novel by Ariel Lawhon, so I was excited to see how she would tell Grace’s story.

This novel is very unique in the way the story is told. It is based on the Trinity knot, in which Grace’s story is told in three separate parts: Maiden, Mother, and Matriarch. Each chapter focuses on one of the stages of Grace’s life. Grace O’Malley, also known as Grainne O’Malley, was the daughter of Eoin O’Malley, The O’Malley, and his wife Maeve. Grace also has an illegitimate brother named Donal, who is basically her best friend. All Grace wants to do is sail the seas like her father, but her gender hinders her ability to do so. To her family, she is a pawn in the marriage market to make a strong alliance with the O’Flaherty clan.

Through the Mother storyline, we see Grace’s tumultuous relationship with her first husband, Donal O’Flaherty, who likes to pick fights with everyone. Grace does not love her husband, but a childhood friend, Richard Bourke. However, Grace is a mother of three and a woman who is willing to fight on the sea for her family, even if it means she gains powerful enemies, including the Governor of Connaught, Sir Richard Bingham.

I enjoyed this book, even though the format took me a minute to get used to, as I prefer a novel in chronological order. The actual story was compelling,g and Grace was a strong female lead; I just wish we got to see more of her pirate antics. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope Lawhon continues writing about women in the 16th century and further back. If you want a novel about a female pirate, I suggest you check out “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon.

Book Review: “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley” by Rosemary Griggs

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When we think about monarchs, we tend to think about a central person who ruled alone or with someone they married. We tend to forget that behind the monarchy is an entire village of people supporting them in this endeavor. For the most part, they were loyal to the crown, not necessarily to whoever wore it. Yet, there are some whose loyalty to a particular monarch extended far before their coronation. Take, for example, the story of Kate Ashley, formerly Kate Champernowne, a trustworthy governess of Elizabeth I. While she made some questionable decisions, her loyalty to Elizabeth never wavered. So who was Kate Ashley? Rosemary Griggs hopes to answer this question in her book, “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I know a little bit of Kat Ashley’s story, primarily when it comes to the Thomas Seymour scandal. So I was hoping to learn more about this woman who was so close to Elizabeth.

Griggs begins with an explanation of the difference between a Lady Mistress and a governess, before diving into Kate’s family origins. The Champernowne family’s origins stretch as far back as the Norman Conquest. Kate was the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne and Katherine Carew, and the sister of another Katherine and two sisters named Jane, just to add to the confusion. As a Champernowne, Kate was connected to the Courtenays and the Carews, which would be useful when Kate transitioned to the Tudor court, especially the connection to Anthony Denny. Griggs explains how Kate was able to join Elizabeth’s court shortly after the death of Anne Boleyn.

We get to see Kate move up the ranks to Elizabeth’s Mistress while falling in love and marrying John Astley. Kate was by Elizabeth’s side through most of Henry VIII’s reign, alongside Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I’s early reign. She went through so much for Elizabeth, including numerous arrests and plots, but Kate stayed loyal until her dying breath. I enjoyed this book so much. I learned so much about Kate Ashley and her family, alongside Kate’s sacrifices for Elizabeth. If you want a fantastic biography about someone very close to Elizabeth I, I highly recommend you read “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley” by Rosemary Griggs.

Book Review: “Henry Tudor Must Die” by Jillian Laine

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We all know the stories of the wives of Henry VIII and how they met their end due to that annoyingly catchy rhyme: divorce, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. But what if things were different? What if Anne Boleyn survived her beheading and joined forces with the other wives to get revenge on their dear ex-husband, Henry VIII? What if Anne Boleyn was a witch and joined a secret sisterhood with Catherine of Aragon to take Henry down? Old rivalries are broken as revenge unites these two women in Jillian Laine’s debut novel, “Henry Tudor Must Die.”

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. What initially caught my attention with this book was the cover, which reminded me a bit of the Burn Book from Mean Girls. And then I read the description of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon seeking revenge, and I knew I wanted to read it. 

We begin with the day before Anne’s execution. As she waits for the executioner, she receives an unexpected guest, Catherine of Aragon, now known as Lina, who allegedly died a few months ago. She offers Anne, her once mortal enemy, a chance at revenge against Henry, but only if she survives her execution. For a witch like Anne, escape is possible, and once she does escape her dark fate, she joins Lina and the Helleborne Sisterhood, a secret society of witches and women who want a better life, that was founded by Marguerite d’Angouleme. 

We get to see Lina and Anne’s friendship blossom through their separate adventures as they are part of the Helleborne Sisterhood in Spain and France. But fate had a different path for these two women, as a prophecy pulled them back to England not only to protect their daughters but also to protect the queens who had followed their path to be married to Henry VIII. This novel was gripping to the very end, which was a shocking yet satisfying ending, with a hint at a sequel novel. 

I think those of us who study the Tudors, especially the wives of Henry VIII, have wondered what it would be like if they survived and the wives were friends. This novel allows that idea to run wild with the fun aspect of magic, fictitious relationships, and murders. This is easily one of my favorite historical fantasy novels, and I cannot wait to see what Laine will write next. If you are a Tudor nerd who wants a casual read where the wives get revenge, I highly recommend you read “Henry Tudor Must Die” by Jillian Laine.

Book Review: “Heresy” by S. J. Parris

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Tudor England was a chaotic dynasty, especially when it came to issues pertaining to religion. If you were a citizen, you had to either sacrifice your faith to stay alive or sacrifice yourself for your faith. This animosity between Catholics and Protestants came to the forefront during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the most prominent battleground was the universities. To protect the queen, Sir Francis Walsingham has decided to send Giordano Bruno to Oxford University to uncover a Catholic conspiracy, but as soon as he arrives, the murders begin. Can Bruno uncover the conspiracy and find the murderer before they murder him? And can Bruno find his own treasure at the university? This is the premise of the first novel in the Giordano Bruno series by S.J. Parris, “Heresy.”

I am always looking for a new take on the Tudors. I have heard about S. J. Parris’s novels online, but I have yet to read any of her books. The description of this novel was intriguing, and Bruno sounded like a Shardlake-esque character, which I love.

So let’s talk about Bruno. Giordano Bruno was a free thinker and a monk at the monastery of San Domenico. Bruno is not afraid to read controversial texts, even if it means that the Inquisition is fast on his heels. We jump a few years ahead when Bruno is living in England and is friends with Sir Philip Sidney. Sir Francis Walsingham has heard about Bruno and asked him to visit Oxford to uncover a Catholic conspiracy, which works out well since Bruno was planning on debating the Copernican theory of the universe with one of Oxford’s greatest minds. But Bruno also has another goal in going to Oxford, which is to find a controversial book that is rumored to be at Oxford, for his own enjoyment.

Unfortunately, things at Oxford are not as calm as they seem. A sinister plot begins to unfold as it is discovered that a man is mauled to death by a dog. It seems to be a tragic accident, but Bruno soon discovers that this was only the beginning of a series of murders. While the murders may not seem connected, Bruno finds out that there is a Catholic thread connecting them all. Rector Underhill may want to hide these murders from the public to protect the school, but he struggles to protect his own family, especially his headstrong daughter Sophia.

Bruno reminds me a lot of Shardlake in the best possible way. The man is intelligent and is willing to find out the truth no matter what it takes. This novel felt so similar in style but unique in the writing style, the characters, and the macabre crimes. It is so compelling that I cannot wait to read more of this series. If you want a mystery series set during the reign of Elizabeth I with a religious twist, I highly suggest you read book one of the Giordano Bruno series, “Heresy” by S. J. Parris.

Book Review: “The Boleyn Secret” by Alison Weir

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The Boleyns were one of the most infamous families during the Tudor reign in England. The rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, her father, Thomas, and her brother, George, were seismic. However, there was one Boleyn who didn’t get nearly enough attention, and that is Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn’s sister, who was mistress to King Henry VIII before Anne was even part of his life. Throughout history, it has been debated that Mary’s children with her first husband, William Carey, were in fact the illegitimate children of Henry VIII. Alison Weir explores the life of Mary Boleyn’s daughter, Catherine Carey, in her latest novel, “The Boleyn Secret.”

I would like to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. Alison Weir is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, so whenever I hear that she has a new novel coming out, I jump at a chance to read it. The idea of a new novel about Catherine Carey was an appealing concept, and I could not wait to see how she would approach Catherine’s story.

Catherine, known in this novel as Kate, did not have the greatest start at court, as her first assignment was to assist her aunt Anne Boleyn in the Tower as she awaited her execution. For a young woman, it was a time that would change her life forever. Kate would help serve her cousin, Elizabeth Tudor, the recently declared bastard child of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The two cousins have a strong connection that will last for decades. However, Kate falls in love with a young courtier named Francis Knollys, and they begin a life away from court at their new home, Greys Court.

While Kate is creating a family with Francis, she learns two major aspects that will define her life moving forward. She becomes aware of the secret that her mother kept until her deathbed about who Kate’s true father was. This secret will radically alter how she views her own family and her connection to Elizabeth. Kate also explores her own faith, becoming one of the Reformist faith, like Francis, but it puts the family in danger during the reign of Mary I. We get to see the struggle of those who did reform during Mary’s reign, seeking refuge in other European countries like Germany, which, at the time, was more lenient towards Reformers. When Elizabeth becomes queen, Kate believes that this will be a time of peace for her and her family. But Kate learns that Elizabeth’s love towards her cousin is possessive, and Kate is in a constant state of tug-of-war between Elizabeth and Francis with her 16 children.

Catherine Carey/Kate Knollys’ story is one filled with love and dangers of living with a secret that, if it were revealed, would alter history forever. Kate’s story is often overlooked when we talk about the Tudor dynasty, but it shows the dangers of the dynasty and what it meant to fight for your family and for love in the 16th century. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Alison Weir wrote this novel and gave Kate her own voice. If you want a delightful novel full of love and danger set in the midst of the Tudor court and focusing on a Boleyn cousin of Elizabeth I, I highly recommend you read “The Boleyn Secret” by Alison Weir.

Book Review: “Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor” by H.F.M. Prescott

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Mary Tudor, the daughter of Katherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII, has been viewed as a villainess for centuries due to her treatment of Protestants. She has unfortunately been given the nickname of “Bloody Mary.” However, if we really take a look at this woman’s life, we will see that it is full of tragedies and the search for love. Who was Mary Tudor, later known as Queen Mary I, the first ruling Queen of England, and why has she been misunderstood for centuries? H.F.M. Prescott explores the life of this much-maligned queen in her biography, “Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor.”

This was a used bookstore find for me. When I began studying the Tudors when I was younger, I fell into that category of seeing Mary I as a horrible villainess, but as I have gone on with my adventures into the Tudor dynasty, I have felt more sympathetic towards Mary’s story. I wanted to read a biography about her, so when I saw this thick tome, I decided to give it a try.

Mary Tudor, later Queen Mary I of England, was the only child of Katherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII. Since she was the only legitimate child of Henry VIII at the time, she was named Princess of Wales. Things were going well until Henry decided to divorce Katherine to marry Anne Boleyn. By the time Anne Boleyn had her daughter, Elizabeth, Mary was declared a bastard, separated from her mother, Katherine, forever, and forced to serve her half-sister. The humiliation as she was forced to submit to her father’s authority as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Only after she submitted to her father was she able to return to his favor for a bit, and Mary and Elizabeth were returned to the line of Succession until he died in 1547.

Mary’s younger half-brother, Edward, was now King, which meant that he could bring forth a more Protestant-leaning government, putting Mary, a devout Catholic, in a dangerous predicament. Mary thought about running away, but she ultimately decided to stay and wait it out because she believed that she would be queen after Edward died. She was right, but it took a few days to figure it out as Edward chose Lady Jane Grey to be the next queen. Eventually, Mary did become the first ruling Queen of England, but she soon learned that just because she wore the crown did not mean she would gain the love she so wanted. She fought for her religion, the love of her husband, Philip II of Spain, and the child she would never have. In the end, Mary’s life and legacy were tarnished for centuries, which is a sad conclusion to such a tragic tale.

Prescott does a great job telling Mary’s story with a more sympathetic look. While I did enjoy this biography, I wish we had a bit more about Mary’s reign, as it felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the biography. I also wish she had provided translations of the Latin texts she had within the biography for those of us who are not familiar with Latin. Overall, I found this biography informative and well-researched. If you want a solid biography about Queen Mary I, I recommend you read “Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor” by H.F.M. Prescott.

Book Review: “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power” by Clare Hunter

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The field of history is ever-expanding as we find new artifacts and documents that change our understanding of the past. Some of the more precious artifacts are textiles, from clothing to embroidery and even wall hangings and bedding. They can tell us a lot about their owner if you understand the symbolism. While some symbolism can be rather simple, other textile symbolism could help display the voice of a woman who was silenced, like the women of the 16th century. One woman who used textiles to display her power and her own voice was Mary Queen of Scots. Clare Hunter explores Mary’s life through the textiles connected with her life in her book, “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power.”

I have seen this book mentioned on a few pages and podcasts, and it sounded alluring to me. I have tried my hand at embroidery, so I appreciate the craft itself. I have wondered about textiles and how they could be interpreted, which is why this appealed to me so much. I couldn’t wait to own it and read it.

So how do you tell the story of Mary Queen of Scots through the textiles connected to her life? Well, for Hunter, she decided to weave her own interactions with these textiles into Mary’s life in chronological order while analyzing the textile artifacts. Each chapter focuses on a different stage of Mary’s life, as well as the textiles that fit that period. Some of the examples of the artifacts that are mentioned in this book include the gowns she wore when she was about to marry the Dauphin, the fashion dolls to help bring French fashion to Scotland, Catholic banners, and memorabilia to spread the faith. We also get to see the embroideries that she planned meticulously while in custody with Bess of Hardwick, to spread their own truths and their political power while being silenced. Finally, Hunter explores the dress that Mary wore during her execution and what happened to her clothing after her death.

I will say that this is one of the most original nonfiction books that I have read in a long time. It presented Mary’s life through a different lens and showed that she did have power even as a prisoner. It gave me a better appreciation for Mary’s life and the amount of effort it took to craft such intricate pieces of textiles. I hope Hunter writes more about the history of textiles beyond the 16th century because I think her writing style and knowledge of the subject can help grow interest in this area of historical studies. If you want a book that explores the life of Mary Queen of Scots from a different angle, I highly recommend you read “Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power” by Clare Hunter. 

Book Review: “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey

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Have you ever stared at a portrait of a historical figure and wondered if that’s what they really looked like? Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous queens in all of English history. Her image of a woman with dark hair, wearing a dark gown with a French hood, and a B initial necklace. For many people, this is what Anne Boleyn looked like, but is that accurate? What did Anne Boleyn look like, and why does it matter? The most recent exhibit at Hever Castle explores these questions, and the book that accompanies this exhibit goes deeper into the research behind this exhibit. The book shares the same name as the exhibit, “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey.

I would like to thank Owen Emmerson for sending me a copy of this book. I have been interested in this exhibit ever since it was announced that Dr. Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey were researching portraits of Anne Boleyn. Since I could not visit the exhibit in person, I really wanted a copy of this companion book as a way to support the research that is ongoing at Hever Castle.

So how can we possibly understand what a woman who lived over 500 years ago looked like? Well, to begin with, we need to examine how her daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, brought her mother’s name and figure out of obscurity to solidify her own legitimacy as Queen of England. We get an exploration of corridor portraits and the famous Chequers Ring to show how the Elizabethans remembered Anne Boleyn. The book then moves to the term damnatio memoriae, which was a Roman practice to eliminate someone’s name and images from history. In the case of Anne Boleyn, her image and name were not eliminated, and in fact, we do have a few artifacts that survived to the modern day, including some that were recently discovered, and her personal books.

Now, we come to the main topic of the exhibition, what Anne Boleyn looked like. We get to examine physical descriptions of Anne, including her hair color, which might surprise people. We also get a glimpse of how Anne’s European education shaped her time as queen consort. Finally, Emmerson and McCaffrey give their readers a deep dive into contemporary portraits of Anne, what messages the portraits tell, and how the image of Anne transformed over the centuries through different media. This includes an in-depth analysis of the Hever Rose portrait, which is one of the most famous portraits of Anne Boleyn, that recently underwent more scientific research.

I loved this book so much. I learned a great deal from this book, and I am sure the exhibit is fabulous in person. The amount of research that went into this exhibit and this book was extraordinary, and I applaud the respect that they gave to those historians who came before in this field of research. If you are a Tudor nerd or an Anne Boleyn fan, the new exhibit at Hever Castle is a must-see exhibit, and “Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn” by Owen Emmerson and Kate McCaffrey is a book you must read.

Book Review: “The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty” by Tracy Borman

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It is March 1603, and the Virgin Queen is dying. She has no children to inherit her throne directly, so she must choose a successor. She chooses the son of Mary Queen of Scots, the queen who had been executed a few years before. James VI of Scotland will become James I of England, but was it as easy as William Camden makes it in his account? What does a recent discovery about Camden’s original manuscript of Annales tell us about James’ succession to the throne of England? Tracy explores the messy conflict to find an heir to the English throne in her latest book, “The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty.”

I would like to thank Grove Atlantic and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have been a fan of Tracy Borman’s books for a few years now because of how she is able to present new information about stories from the past that I already know and give them a fresh look. When I heard that James might have stolen the crown from Elizabeth I, that thought intrigued me so much that I knew I wanted to read this book.

So how did the Stuarts come into power, and why did Elizabeth have James as her successor? To understand that question, we have to explore briefly the origins of the Tudor dynasty and how Elizabeth I came to the throne. After we are firmly established in the reign of Elizabeth I, Borman goes through why Elizabeth needed to elect a successor and the nominees. Those up for Elizabeth’s throne were: James VI, Arbella Stuart, Lady Katherine Grey, Mary Grey, and Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon. We get to see how Elizabeth handled each of her potential choices as the next ruler of England, but the two that are highlighted significantly in this book are Arbella Stuart, the daughter of Charles Stuart, 5th Earl of Lennox, and Elizabeth Cavendish, and the man who would become King James VI of Scotland.

Borman shows her readers the complex relationship between Elizabeth and James, a tumultuous relationship, especially after the death of James’ mother, Mary Queen of Scots. It was not the most cordial relationship that has been shown in history, including the Annales written by William Camden. However, due to extraordinary research that was revealed in 2023, it was shown that Camden’s writing had serious revisions to paint James in a better light during the fight for succession. In fact, there were attempts on Elizabeth’s life that James knew about, including one incident where he might have been directly involved. Just because James became King of England after Elizabeth’s death does not mean that he had an easier time in England. In fact, the Stuarts lasted less than a hundred years before the monarchy was dissolved with the execution of James’s son Charles I in 1649.

This is another spectacular book by Borman, one that changed how I viewed the relationship between Elizabeth and James in the final years. It reads like a political thriller and offers a deeper appreciation for Elizabeth’s fight for the English throne, while also highlighting how the Stuarts employed similar tactics to the Tudors in securing their right to rule England. Suppose you want an extremely well-researched book that provides great insight into the end of Elizabeth’s reign and provides new information about this period. In that case, I highly recommend you read “The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty” by Tracy Borman.