Mary I, Queen of Sorrows is the final instalment in the author’s Tudor Rose Trilogy. It was preceded by Elizabeth of York, The Last White Rose and Henry VIII, The Heart & The Crown. Although always happy to read one of Alison Weir’s books, this latest offering was of particular interest having recently finishing another Tudor trilogy, the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel. Although written in a very different style, Weir’s books – including her Six Tudor Queens series – offer a perspective on the women within wealthy families impacted by the cruel manipulations of King Henry VIII, and their infighting as they attempt to curry favour within court circles.
This story opens with Mary’s happy memories of childhood, when her mother and father were living as man and wife, doting on their only surviving child. Mary was eager to please, particularly the king, and worked hard at her lessons.
“Mother had impressed on Mary that she was a very special little girl, and very lucky, for Father had decreed that she should have a fine education and grounding in all subjects appropriate to a princess.”
Unlike most of her father’s wives, growing up and then as young women, Mary remains sheltered from all but the impossible to hide court gossip – and anything to do with men. In this depiction she remained entirely innocent of what was required of a wife in the marital bed until she took a husband at the age of thirty-eight. She is aware that one day her father will find her a husband, and is betrothed on a couple of occasions. These promises come to nothing, her prospects not helped when Henry sets Mary and her mother aside in his pursuit of Anne Boleyn, bastardising the princess.
Mary, understandably, hates Anne, referring to her as a witch who has cast a spell on her father. When Henry demands that his daughter recognise him as Supreme Head of the Church of England she embarks on a personal, religious battle that will bring her into conflict with the king, and later with her brother and then subjects. She believes she is doing God’s work and tries to be strong and steadfast, loyal to her mother’s memory. Instead, what is portrayed is a weak, stubborn and overly emotional woman, unable to recognise good council when it is offered. She spends a great many of the episodes described weeping. There is nothing stately about her and little that is admirable. Those claiming a woman cannot rule will have felt justified in their conviction.
The interminable chapters on crises of faith reminded of the interminable chapters in other books recounting the years it took Henry to marry Anne Boleyn – time passes and little happens. The pace picks up somewhat as Henry nears his end and then his son becomes King. Mary remains overly emotional, continually breaking down in tears and succumbing to illness. This does not change when she becomes Queen, especially when her husband leaves to oversee his other dominions – and women. Although understandably jealous it is hard to believe Mary could be surprised given her upbringing. Kings, it seems, have never been known for fidelity.
‘Bloody Mary’ somehow felt justified in burning at the stake those who would not turn to her faith. The blinkered view she held appeared particularly foolish given her own refusal to modify religious adherences at her father’s and then brother’s behest. She berated protestants for clinging ‘stubbornly to their false beliefs’. It is hard to fathom how anyone could be so cruel, especially given what she herself was put through. She appears to have lacked both wisdom and empathy – her father’s daughter but without his occasional graces.
Mary’s half sister, Elizabeth, in this story is the stronger and more savvy of the two. The latter is fortunate in having a champion in Mary’s husband, although his desire to have her married is thwarted by Mary, showing there remained some sisterly sympathy. When Mary dies it provides relief, even to the reader. This is not a sympathetic portrayal despite the hardships suffered by the protagonist of which she could do little.
In the author’s note at the end there are explanations as to why Mary was portrayed in this way. Elizabeth remains the much more interesting of the sisters – for her relationship with Thomas Seymour and then the details of her long reign. Perhaps this will be a subject Weir covers in the future. That I found her book on Mary somewhat dull and tedious says as much about the secluded and deluded life lived as about the author’s writing.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
