A striking and sympathetic portrait of England's first Queen, Mary I - whose character has been vilified for over 400 years. Instead of the bloodthirsty bigot of Protestant mythology, Mary Tudor emerges from the pages of this deeply-researched biography as a cultured renaissance princess, a courageous survivor of the violent power struggles that characterised the reigns of her father, Henry VIII, and brother Edward VI. The author does not belittle Mary's burning of heretics, which earned her the subriquet 'Bloody Mary', but she also had many endearing personal qualities and talents, not least the courage of leadership she showed in facing down Northumberland's rebellion. A well-balanced and readable biography of Mary I is long overdue.

Reviews

• ‘beautifully written and consistently engrossing’ TLS
• 'A richly researched, marvellously realised historical biography' TELEGRAPH
• 'Mary deserves her proper account and this friendly and appreciative biography gives her the credit she is due' THE TABLET
• 'This well-researched biography about "Bloody" Mary is fascinating. I loved the way the author shattered the misconceptions we have of her' WOMAN'S OWN

Paperback: £10.99

Published 05/02/2009