Margaret Pole is no stranger to fortune’s wheel. From her childhood as firstborn of the heir apparent of England, she was brought low as the daughter of a traitor. After years of turmoil as the Tudor dynasty made its roots, Margaret finds favor with her cousin, King Henry VIII.
Will the remnant of the York dynasty thrive under this tempestuous king or will Margaret discover that there is a … there is a price to pay for having an excess of royal blood?
Step into Tudor England . . . .
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For most of us, the Pole family is one of those historical entities always nagging in the background of Tudor history. I couldn’t get my hands around them until luckily Samantha Wilcoxson took their story in hand. Our protagonist Margaret, the dowager who tries to hold her family together, must tread a fine line between the unpredictable Henry VIII and her family’s prominence. Even though the king’s mother was a Yorkist, the rest of the dynasty is a constant threat to his grip on the throne. Margaret is close friends with Queen Catherine of Aragon and she even tutors young Princess Mary, but this connection, too, fails her as Catherine is cast aside. There’s nothing Margaret can do to retain the king’s favor except kowtow to him every time she is summoned to the royal presence. That works for a while. But her best efforts are thwarted by her son Reginald, whose religious stance makes him a constant thorn in the king’s side; we’ll see more of that in the next volume. Margaret is portrayed as a brave and resourceful woman buffeted by the winds of fate. Hers is a sad story but you root for her all the way to the end, hoping against hope that she’ll outlast her enemies. I recommend this well-written story.
4 and 1 / 2 stars
This book discusses the tragic life of Margaret Pole who was somewhat outspoken and devoted to Queen Catherine and her daughter, Princess Mary. She was to speak intemperately at times and ran afoul of her cousin, King Henry VIII.
At first, she and Henry had a close relationship. She was restored to her former status as Countess of Salisbury and her finances increased accordingly. But when Henry decided to rid himself of his first wife, Catherine, Margaret spoke up for Catherine and the cracks in her and Henry’s friendship began to show. Still, when Mary was forbidden to see her mother Margaret was chosen to be her governess.
Margaret and Mary got along quite well and Margaret was certain that Henry would name her heir to the throne when he passed. However, it was not to be. Mary’s refusal to acknowledge Henry’s new wife, Anne brought Henry’s wrath down upon her. Margaret supported her in this. Mary was ordered to atttend upon her half-sister Elizabeth, bastardized and must now call herself Lady Mary.
While two (actually three, but one died), of Margaret’s sons attended Henry at his court, another son, Reginald, could not keep his counsel regarding the divorce and exile of Catherine. The aging and increasingly paranoid and wrathful Henry could not tolerate this. Reginald fled England.
Fate continued to deal Margaret Pole deadly blows.
This book was well written in a linear fashion. One event followed another in a logical progression. I like the way that Ms. Wilcoxson portrayed the women in the story as strong and capable, without needing a man to lean on. The book shows clear evidence of exhaustive research, but the story is told in a less formal manner. It is a compulsive read and I strongly suggest it to anyone who enjoys Tudor history, or just history in general.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this informative and instructive book for me to read, enjoy and review.