The sisters Mary and
Elizabeth, heirs of Henry VIII’s English empire, endure a tragic battle of wit
and will in Brandy Purdy’s The Tudor
Throne. As the daughter of the Spanish Catholic queen Catherine of Aragon,
Mary has inherited her mother’s dour and devout nature. Elizabeth, only child
of Anne Boleyn, is spirited like her mother, a source of painful memories for
Mary. Both women knew happiness in earlier times as the darlings of their
father and have witnessed Henry’s subsequent abandonment of their mothers in
pursuit of other women. Despite their commonalities and a series of shared
tragedies, distinct differences in personality will not allow Mary and
Elizabeth to trust each other for long.
The novel opens with the
death of their father, leaving them to an uncertain future. The only assurance
each has is that their younger brother, Edward, will inherit the throne as the son
of Henry’s third wife. His courtiers, including the rapacious Edward and Thomas
Seymour, want to ensure their ascendancy and keep England out of the sphere of
Catholic influence. As a Protestant, Elizabeth holds similar beliefs. Mary fears
for the future of her country and thinks any path but Catholicism will lead to
England’s ruin. The sisters each discover how dangerous the Seymour men can be,
as Thomas tries to entangle both in his schemes. Elizabeth pays the harshest
price with her reputation constantly questioned by everyone, including Mary.
The sudden death of King
Edward throws the kingdom into chaos. Factions at court put a bewildered Jane
Grey on the throne for a short time, ignoring Mary’s claim as elder sister.
When Mary finally ascends, she faces hard choices that imperil the lives of
those whom she once claimed to care for, including Elizabeth. Although
Elizabeth appears to submit, her defiant nature will allow her to give up the
dream of claiming the throne for herself one day.
The relationship between
Mary and Elizabeth is fraught with tension, deception and missed opportunities.
Mary’s portrayal as a woman with natural affection for her family, including
her siblings of half-blood, gives way to her religious fanaticism. Still, she
is sympathetic as a woman shunned by her father, his court and even her husband
in later years. Her slow descent into paranoid fear and judgment is
heartbreaking. Elizabeth shines as a vivacious young woman and while her later experiences
are painful life lessons, she appears less sympathetic for her willful disregard
of how much trouble her actions can cause. There are a few instances where she
deliberately provokes Mary that suggests too much youthful recklessness. Still,
at her heart, she is devoted to her people and country, willing to put their
interests first.
I would recommend The Tudor Throne for lovers of
historical fiction in the Tudor period. Those who have ready Ms. Purdy’s
previous titles in the same era will enjoy a chance for new perspective on old
characters, and learn about new ones.
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