Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Queen

  • Cecily Bonville-Grey – Marchioness of Dorset: From Riches to Royalty

    Cecily Bonville-Grey – Marchioness of Dorset: From Riches to Royalty

    Sarah J. Hodder has a passion for English History, in particular, Medieval and Tudor times. She has her focus set on the role of women during this era, and Elizabeth Woodville is her particular heroine. Sarah narrates this story with carefully researched precision with her descriptions drawing together places, people and their achievements is superb.

    The story begins at Shute Manor, in Devon, in 1459-1462, where Cecily was born. These were troubled times. There was ongoing hostility between the great Houses of York and Lancaster. At the time of Cecily’s birth, England’s King was Henry VI. Sarah explains the rivalries and animosities of the different groups, clearly portraying the people, and the battles that were fought. We are familiar with many of the names and battles presented, but now the background story is brought to light.

    At the age of fifteen, (in 1474) Cecily was married to Thomas Grey, eldest son of Elizabeth Woodville. A year later, Thomas was made the Marquis of Dorset. Cecily was connected to Lord Hastings, and her Mother-in-law was Elizabeth Woodville, (the White Queen.) Cecily became a wealthy woman inheriting a fortune after the death of her father, and her husband.

    For those who love History, this story is rich in detail and interest. Many familiar names are linked with deeds and actions with comprehensive detail. The costumes worn, the buildings and the countryside are all described. Sarah’s attention to detail includes Cecily as a baby, “she was wrapped in swaddling bands to keep her warm and ensure her tiny limbs formed correctly.”

    Cecily Bonville-Grey. Marchioness of Dorset. From Riches to Royalty is marvellously informative for any history buff.

  • Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots The Life of King Henry VIII’s Sister

    Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots The Life of King Henry VIII’s Sister

    Recently the focus worldwide has been on the modern day Royal family, their marriages and children and the new order evolving better suited to modern requirements. Therefore, it is relatively easy to forget that it is not so many years passed, that life was a very precarious thing for the Royals, as often they were political pawns, sometimes of their own making and others because of circumstance.

    Life in the 21st century is so much easier for the Princes William and Harry as they go about their lives, carrying out the often demanding roles of Royals in an ever changing society and world. But spare a thought for the lady who was the older sister of King Henry VIII, and her father’s darling.

    Margaret was groomed to be wed at the tender age of 7 years, although this was delayed until she was 10 years and married by proxy, to cement an alliance with the very troublesome Scot, James IV, in the hope of some sort of peace being established between the waring Scots and the reactive British.

    Sarah-Beth Watkins has taken the life of a woman who was politically active from a young age, was for a time the Queen of Scotland, fell on hard times after the death of her husband, who was a man beloved of his people, but headstrong and determined in war, bringing her sad but all to common story firmly into modern day history. A disastrous second marriage ended in poverty, exile from the Scottish Courts and toleration in the Court of Henry VIII, who for some reason retained a soft spot for his older sister, frequently rescuing her from penury.

    As the years rolled past, Margaret  managed to regains some standing through her young son and heir to the Scottish throne, but in a series of poor decision making once again, lost all the credibility she had gained, which as she grew older and fell from grace time and time again, could be considered a trademark of her life.

    Throughout all the tumultuous years she remained true to one ideal, that of attempting to bring peace to Scotland and England and to unite the two factions in harmony, a desire of her father, King Henry VII throughout his reign. This was finally achieved by her great grandson James VI

    Modern literature can in no way come close to the machinations undertaken by the forbearers of British Royal history. The life and times of Margaret Tudor, her children, husbands, the Court and politics of the day, lead to an uneasy life with alliances shifting in a split second of time, with murder, plots, betrayal and assassinations an everyday occurrence.

    History is indeed a detective story with the ending already known, but the twisting and turning down the alleyways of time make for seriously interesting and intriguing reading.