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WORK TITLE: Crown of Blood
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://nicolatallis.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY: British
http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/authors/nicola-tallis * http://nicolatallis.com/biography/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2017024807
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2017024807
HEADING: Tallis, Nicola
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100 1_ |a Tallis, Nicola
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374 __ |a Historians |2 lcsh
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Tallis, Nicola. Crown of blood, 2016: |b title page (Nicola Tallis) page 3 of jacket (Nicola Tallis; currently the resident historian for Alison Weir Tours; lives in England)
PERSONAL
Born in Cardiff, Wales.
EDUCATION:Bath Spa University, B.A., 2011; University of London, M.A., 2013; University of Winchester, Ph.D. candidate.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Historian. Hampton Court Palace, intern; National Trust at Montacute House, volunteer; Sudeley Castle, curator; Alison Weir Tours, resident historian, 2013—.
AWARDS:Book of the Year, BBC History magazine, 2016, for Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
In her first book, Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey, historian Nicola Tallis offers a biography of Lady Jane Grey, the Tudor dynasty queen who ruled Britain for all of nine days. Jane was only seventeen during her brief reign, ruling between Edward VI and Mary I. While most histories feature basic biographical details, Tallis fills out a portrait of a young woman fated to be used, abused, and killed simply because of her royal blood. The great-niece of Henry VIII, Lady Jane’s claims to the throne were hotly contested. Yet, over the course of her brief life, Jane proved to be an intellectual and spiritual scholar of astounding talents. Indeed, Tallis reports that Jane was an accomplished Protestant theologian who maintained detailed correspondences with several leaders in Protestant thought.
Critiques of Crown of Blood were largely positive, with a Kirkus Reviews contributor advising that “readers will share Tallis’ sympathy with the devout, passive Jane but also approve of her emphasis on the more powerful, ambitious, and unpleasant men and women that surrounded her.” Sara Shreve, writing in Library Journal, was also impressed, finding that Tallis’s portrayal of Jane “makes her more than a mere pawn in a power struggle but an important historical figure in her own right.” In the words of Spectator correspondent Nigel Jones, “Tallis combines Jane’s virtues as a scrupulous scholar herself, with a colourful background of how Tudor England looked, sounded and smelled. She has succeeded in drawing Jane out of the shadows, despite mysteriously not reproducing an image of her subject.”
Further applause was offered by a contributor to the Tudor Enthusiast Web site, who declared: “Through contemporary letters and accounts, as well as Nicola Tallis’ flawlessly-researched and articulated analyses, the reader gets what I consider to be a full picture of Jane’s story. The themes of her life are conveyed beautifully (and tragically)—from her ravenous desire for learning and religious discourse, to her unfortunate tendency to be ‘used and abused’ by powerful men around her. The ultimate theme that royal blood was often a curse, as opposed to a blessing, is absolutely clear in Jane’s story.” The contributor went on to assert: “I can’t give any more of this fabulous book away, because I want ALL of my readers to buy it and enjoy it as I did. No number of reviews can do “Crown of Blood” justice, and I’m afraid, even in my enthusiasm, that I can’t get across just how well I enjoyed it.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2016, Brad Hooper, review of Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2016, review of Crown of Blood.
Library Journal, October 15, 2016, Sara Shreve, review of Crown of Blood.
Publishers Weekly, October 10, 2016, review of Crown of Blood.
Spectator, January 14, 2017, Nigel Jones, “The Puppet Queen.”
ONLINE
Freelance History Writer Notes and Reviews, https://flhwnotesandreviews.com/ (April 5, 2017), Susan Abernethy, review of Crown of Blood.
Nicola Tallis Home Page, http://nicolatallis.com (July 19, 2017).
Sydney Morning Herald Online (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), http://www.smh.com.au/ (December 23, 2016), review of Crown of Blood.
Tudor Enthusiast, http://thetudorenthusiast.weebly.com/ (December 6, 2016), review of Crown of Blood.*
Let me introduce myself – my name is Nicola Tallis and I am a British Historian. I was born in Cardiff, but I have spent most of my life living in Wiltshire. However, you are more likely to find me sat at my computer in the British Library or the National Archives, or perusing the treasures of a stately home or castle.
I’ve been interested in history all of my life – when I was a small child my mother used to read me stories about King Arthur, which then progressed to Henry VIII and his six wives, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I’m particularly interested in fifteenth and sixteenth century history – everybody loves the Tudors! I am constantly trying to broaden my horizons though, and I love learning about new people and periods.
I graduated from Bath Spa University with a first class BA Hons. degree in History in 2011, and from Royal Holloway College, University of London in 2013 with an MA in Public History. Since 2013 I have been studying for my PhD at the University of Winchester, where I have also taught History to undergraduates. My thesis, entitled ‘All the Queen’s Jewels, 1445-1548’, examines the jewellery collections of the Queen’s of England, and the role of jewels during this period. It’s fascinating stuff!
I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed a varied career in the history and heritage sector since graduating. I completed an internship with the interpretation department at Hampton Court Palace, which led to further work with the curatorial department providing research for their 2013 exhibition, Secrets of the Royal Bedchamber. I have also volunteered with the National Trust at Montacute House, delivering their education programme to schoolchildren. I have worked as the curator at Sudeley Castle, and featured prominently on BBC’s Countryfile in April 2013, guiding at Sudeley. You can watch a clip of my appearance by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sTtshpISXU
I have also worked as a historical researcher, most notably for Sir Ranulph Fiennes whilst he was working on his 2014 book, Agincourt: My Family, the Battle and the Fight for France. Since 2013 I have been extremely privileged to have been working as the resident historian for Alison Weir Tours – it’s a job I absolutely adore!
I’ve also written for a number of history magazines on a variety of topics. My article about the fall of Lady Jane Grey was the cover feature for the November 2016 issue of BBC History Magazine, and I’ve also written pieces for All About History and Explore. I’ve also been interviewed by BBC Radio Leicester and Talk Radio Europe.
I spent three years researching and writing a biography of Lady Frances Brandon, mother to Lady Jane Grey – as of yet it has not been published, but I hope that it will be at some point in the future! My first book, Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey, is a new non-fiction biography, and was recently published by Michael O’Mara Books in the UK, and Pegasus in the US. I’m currently working on my second book – more details to follow soon!
You can follow my progress by ‘connecting’ with me via my social media channels below.
Nicola Tallis Biography
Nicola Tallis graduated from Bath Spa University with a first class BA Hons. degree in History, and has an MA in Public History from Royal Holloway College, University of London. She is currently conducting research for her PhD at the University of Winchester, where her thesis investigates the jewellery collections of the queens of England between 1445 and 1548.
She has been passionate about English history all of her life, and has worked as a historical researcher, and with Historic Royal Palaces and the National Trust. Nicola currently works as the Curator at Sudeley Castle, and featured prominently on BBC’s Countryfile in April 2013, guiding at Sudeley. She also works for Alison Weir Tours as Assistant Historian, and teaches at the University of Winchester.
'Nicola Tallis....surely destined to be one of our great popular historians of the future', Alison Weir
How I Found the Agency
When I began to think about looking for an agent Andrew’s name was highly recommended to me by a colleague. As soon as I contacted him I discovered that I needed to look no further! I was impressed with Andrew’s enthusiasm and his ideas, and knew straight away that he was the right agent for me.
Author News
US rights sold in Elizabeth’s Rival: The Life of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester 03 Feb 2017
Pegasus have bought US rights in Nicola Tallis’ Elizabeth’s Rival: The Life of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester UK rights have already been sold to O’Mara Books.
Crown of Blood is a BBC History Magazine Book of the Year 29 Nov 2016
Congratulations to Nicola Tallis whose Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey is one of the BBC History Magazine’s ‘Books of the Year’. They describe it as “stunning…throws new light on the dramatic life of one of the most tragic figures in history…Drawing on new research, Tallis presents Jane as complex, intelligent, charismatic, radical and, ultimately, courageous.”
Life of Lady Jane Grey sold to Pegasus 29 Jun 2015
Pegasus have bought US rights in Nicola Tallis’s biography of the ‘Nine Day Queen’ Lady Jane Grey.
The puppet queen
Nigel Jones
Spectator.
333.9829 (Jan. 14, 2017): p37.
COPYRIGHT 2017 The Spectator Ltd. (UK)
http://www.spectator.co.uk
Full Text:
Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
by Nicola Tallis
Michael O'Mara Books, 20 [pounds sterling], pp. 376
It is easy to see why the bare century of the Tudor dynasty's rule has drawn so much attention from contemporary women historians. Without
breaking sweat, I can think of at least ten--four of whom garland this book with advance praise--who have written biographies or studies of the
Welsh upstarts, leaving aside the acclaimed fictional efforts of Hilary Mantel. For of the six Tudor monarchs who steered England's destinies
through the tumultuous 16th century, three were female. The half-sisters Elizabeth and Mary--who both loom large in Nicola Tallis's stunning
debut--need no introduction, but the third, Lady Jane Grey, the subject of her searching biography, has until now remained in the shadows.
The main reason for that obscurity, of course, is the brevity of the reign of 'Jane the quene', as she styled herself on one of the few documents she
signed during her fortnight on the throne. (Tallis points out that Jane's nickname, 'the nine days' queen', is inaccurate: in fact she reigned for an
unlucky 13 days in July 1553.)
Jane, therefore, simply did not have the time to assert her authority and establish her identity in the same manner as her forceful cousins. But
Tallis leaves us in little doubt that had she been afforded that opportunity she would have proved as true a Tudor as the rest of her imperious
family.
Stubborn, wilful, sometimes angry and intellectually able to run rings round most of the men surrounding her, the Jane Grey drawn by Tallis is
neither a pallid, passive victim of ruthless male power players, nor the saintly woman in white martyr's weeds depicted in Paul Delaroche's
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famous painting of her execution.
The broad outlines of Jane's story are well known. The granddaughter of Henry VIII'S youngest sister Mary, brought up in wealthy rural seclusion
as a firm, indeed fanatical, Protestant reformer, she was a gifted and precocious scholar. But Jane played no part in the murderous politics of her
era until the dying boy king, Edward VI, another rigid reformer, was persuaded to name his co-religionist as his successor-cutting out the rightful
heiress, his equally fanatical, but Catholic, half-sister, Mary.
The man orchestrating these machinations, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, had taken the precaution of marrying one of his sons, Lord
Guildford Dudley, to Jane, ensuring his place as the power behind her throne.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Dudley, however, had not reckoned on the steely determination of Mary to claim her inheritance, nor on the power of the common people who
backed her. Jane's reign, conducted from within the walls of the Tower of London, was swiftly concluded. She remained in the Tower--now as
Mary's prisoner--until a Protestant rebellion persuaded the queen to order the beheading of both Jane and her unfortunate husband.
Tallis narrates these dramatic events with all the verve and excitement that they deserve. Her portrait of Jane as something of a feminist before her
time carries complete conviction. Ironically, it was only when she was a real prisoner that Jane was finally able to free herself from the control of
those men--including her weakling of a father, Henry Grey--who had so ineptly sought to use her as their puppet.
In stubbornly and stoically sticking to her Protestant faith despite all the blandishments and pressures applied by the Queen and her priests to
convert her to Catholicism up to the very steps of the scaffold, Jane Grey emerges in her true colours as a brave and principled person who might
well have proved a better and stronger sovereign than the bigoted and vengeful Mary.
Nicola Tallis combines Jane's virtues as a scrupulous scholar herself, with a colourful background of how Tudor England looked, sounded and
smelled. She has succeeded in drawing Jane out of the shadows, despite mysteriously not reproducing an image of her subject. (Although she
includes pictures of Jane's two younger sisters, the Streatham Portrait, now widely thought to be Jane, is omitted). Not least, in establishing the
likely date of Jane's birth, she reminds us that the teenage 'Lady Jane Grey' was in fact a child, and a very abused child at that.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Jones, Nigel. "The puppet queen." Spectator, 14 Jan. 2017, p. 37. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA477315522&it=r&asid=f173fdf8bff825c1fdb023e82108374b. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A477315522
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Tallis , Nicola: CROWN OF BLOOD
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Tallis , Nicola CROWN OF BLOOD Pegasus (Adult Nonfiction) $27.95 12, 6 ISBN: 978-1-68177-244-8
A new biography of the Nine Day Queen, "a young lady sacrificed through the actions of powerful and ambitious manipulators in the complex
world of sixteenth-century politics."After the death of Protestant Edward VI in 1553, his Catholic sister, Mary, was heir to the English throne.
Preferring a Protestant, the dying Edward proclaimed his 17-year-old cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his successor. Most lords were too law-abiding
to tolerate this action, so she was quickly deposed and executed. Many scholars of the period mention this in passing, but in her first book, Tallis,
resident historian for Alison Weir Tours, makes an energetic case that Grey deserves more attention. Almost all existing documents cover only
her final months, but Tallis does an admirable job turning up sources on her subject's early life which concentrate on her high-ranking parents and
Jane's intense religious education; she was very pious. As is usual for biographies where evidence is lacking, the author concentrates on the great
events of those years that are turbulent enough to satisfy readers. Henry VIIII, despite breaking with the pope, had little interest in radical
religious reform. This was not the case after his son, Edward VI, succeeded in 1547. With approval of the new king, Thomas Cranmer, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, pushed through changes that created a visibly Protestant Church of England. Most Englishmen remained Catholic, and
even sympathetic nobles felt that Mary's legal claim to the throne overrode religious considerations, so Edward's deathbed decree was brushed
aside. Jane was never crowned, but neither were Edward V or Edward VIII, so the author maintains that she was queen of England, if only for
slightly less than a fortnight. Readers will share Tallis' sympathy with the devout, passive Jane but also approve of her emphasis on the more
powerful, ambitious, and unpleasant men and women that surrounded her.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Tallis , Nicola: CROWN OF BLOOD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466329155&it=r&asid=3c1be23638050eb0b3000ccd3d819479. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466329155
---
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Nicola Tallis: CROWN OF BLOOD
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Nicola Tallis CROWN OF BLOOD Pegasus (Adult Nonfiction) 27.95 ISBN: 978-1-68177-244-8
A new biography of the Nine Day Queen, “a young lady sacrificed through the actions of powerful and ambitious manipulators in the
complex world of sixteenth-century politics.”After the death of Protestant Edward VI in 1553, his Catholic sister, Mary, was heir to the
English throne. Preferring a Protestant, the dying Edward proclaimed his 17-year-old cousin, Lady Jane Grey, as his successor. Most lords were
too law-abiding to tolerate this action, so she was quickly deposed and executed. Many scholars of the period mention this in passing, but in her
first book, Tallis, resident historian for Alison Weir Tours, makes an energetic case that Grey deserves more attention. Almost all existing
documents cover only her final months, but Tallis does an admirable job turning up sources on her subject’s early life which concentrate
on her high-ranking parents and Jane’s intense religious education; she was very pious. As is usual for biographies where evidence is
lacking, the author concentrates on the great events of those years that are turbulent enough to satisfy readers. Henry VIIII, despite breaking with
the pope, had little interest in radical religious reform. This was not the case after his son, Edward VI, succeeded in 1547. With approval of the
new king, Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pushed through changes that created a visibly Protestant Church of England. Most
Englishmen remained Catholic, and even sympathetic nobles felt that Mary’s legal claim to the throne overrode religious considerations,
so Edward’s deathbed decree was brushed aside. Jane was never crowned, but neither were Edward V or Edward VIII, so the author
maintains that she was queen of England, if only for slightly less than a fortnight. Readers will share Tallis’ sympathy with the devout,
passive Jane but also approve of her emphasis on the more powerful, ambitious, and unpleasant men and women that surrounded her.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Nicola Tallis: CROWN OF BLOOD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466551405&it=r&asid=891b5a274f78252a0c1c5b2c3c496088. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466551405
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Tallis, Nicola. Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of
Lady Jane Grey
Sara Shreve
Library Journal.
141.17 (Oct. 15, 2016): p95.
COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Tallis, Nicola. Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey. Pegasus. Dec. 2016.384p. illus. notes, bibliog. index. ISBN
9781681772448. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781681772875. BIOG
The tragic life and short (nine-day) reign of English monarch Lady Jane Grey (1537-54) is eloquently explored in debut author Tallis's biography
of the precocious 17-year-old who dared to wear the crown between the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. Ably guiding readers through the
complex maze of familial connections and Tudor politics, the author presents an engaging portrait of a young woman whose sole crime was
having had the misfortune to be born the great-niece of Henry VIII. Undoubtedly an innocent victim of the ambitions and machinations of those
around her, Jane experienced a devastating downfall, an aspect of her life on which this study doesn't dwell. This account is particularly
noteworthy for its exploration of Jane's accomplishments, foremost among them her intellectual attainments and correspondence with leading
Protestant figures. Tallis illustrates how Jane's steadfast devotion to Protestantism, even in the face of imminent death, makes her more than a
mere pawn in a power struggle but an important historical figure in her own right and fully worthy of being studied alongside the rest of
England's queens. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in British history or the Tudor era.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Shreve, Sara. "Tallis, Nicola. Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey." Library Journal, 15 Oct. 2016, p. 95. General
OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466413011&it=r&asid=ea772ce0241eeb490dbf773979950e83. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466413011
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Crown of Blood: A Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
Brad Hooper
Booklist.
113.5 (Nov. 1, 2016): p12.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Crown of Blood: A Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey. By Nicola Tallis. Dec. 2016.400p. illus. Pegasus, $27.95 (9781681772448). 942.053.
There are many portals into the vibrant Tudor period in English history, each marked with the name of an individual whose life contributed to the
drama of the era. One such significant personage was Lady Jane Grey, who is usually thought of as a poor little creature caught up in the devious
schemes of opposing court factions. Lady Jane was a great-granddaughter of Henry VIII. Inheritance of the throne, as we all know, was a central
theme of the Tudor years, and Lady Jane found herself proclaimed queen upon the demise of Henry's son, Edward VI. Jane's reign lasted only
nine days. Henry's eldest daughter booted Jane off the throne and had her executed for treason. The Jane whom Tallis presents is a young woman
of great intelligence who received a superior education, especially for a young lady at that time. A victim easily manipulated by others who were
interested only in pursuing their own selfish goals? No, Tallis asserts--a heroine who stood up for the causes in which she believed.--Brad Hooper
Hooper, Brad
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hooper, Brad. "Crown of Blood: A Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2016, p. 12. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471142749&it=r&asid=35112989ea7d50773426b0bc0d46efdb. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471142749
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Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
Publishers Weekly.
263.41 (Oct. 10, 2016): p69.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
Nicola Tallis. Pegasus, $27.95 (400p)
ISBN 978-1-68177-244-8
British historian Tallis portrays nine-day queen Grey (1536/1537-1554) as a determined, devout, and clothes-loving teenager whose intellect,
youth, and religious fervor perpetuate her mythologizing centuries later. During the dawn of English Protestantism, Grey vigorously discussed
religious tenets with both Catholic and Protestant theologians, garnering praise for her understanding and later inspiring her inclusion in John
Foxes Book of Martyrs. Tallis humanizes Grey, showing her willfulness--she refused to corule with her husband, whose father placed her on the
throne--as well as her desperation to please her remarkably unwise parents, whose ambition cost Jane her freedom and life. Popular myths and
earlier historical interpretations of key events receive fresh analysis aided by diligent research (a minor complaint is an odd reference to Henry
VIII's "divorce" of Anne of Cleves--it was technically annulled). Tallis's clear writing and well-paced narrative heighten the story's climactic and
tragic ending. She also pays careful attention to the relationship between Mary I and Grey, noting warm, long-standing family ties and similarities
in religious fervor--albeit for different denominations--and key differences in how each approached her claim to the throne. Tallis successfully
champions Jane's reign as legitimate and elucidates her role as a key player in the battle for England's official church. Illus. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey." Publishers Weekly, 10 Oct. 2016, p. 69+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466616204&it=r&asid=ec87a89ab9a9664c409d51266f2643b9. Accessed 21 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A466616204
Review of Nicola Tallis' "Crown of Blood"
12/6/2016 0 Comments
Happy Publication Day to Nicola Tallis for her first nonfiction book, "Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey." I was approached by Pegasus Books a few months ago about reading and reviewing this book, and I happily accepted. I always love receiving new books - and this one looked great, considering I haven't read many nonfiction books about Lady Jane Grey, though I already know her story well.
I wasn't prepared for just how good this book would be, though. I have to say, without exaggerating, that this is the best nonfiction book I have read recently, and I literally could not put it down. I couldn't be happier today to be writing this review, and helping Ms. Tallis celebrate her publication day here in the US. I hope that ALL Tudor Enthusiasts will jump on the opportunity to purchase this book and dive right in.
Picture
Back Cover Blurb:
"Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a law I am condemned to the same.” These were the heartbreaking words of a seventeen-year-old girl, Lady Jane Grey, as she stood on the scaffold awaiting death on a cold February morning in 1554. Minutes later her head was struck from her body with a single stroke of a heavy axe. Her death for high treason sent shockwaves through the Tudor world, and served as a gruesome reminder to all who aspired to a crown that the axe could fall at any time.
Jane is known to history as "the Nine Days Queen," but her reign lasted, in fact, for thirteen days. The human and emotional aspects of her story have often been ignored, although she is remembered as one of the Tudor Era’s most tragic victims. While this is doubtlessly true, it is only part of the complex jigsaw of Jane’s story. She was a remarkable individual with a charismatic personality who earned the admiration and affection of many of those who knew her. All were impressed by her wit, passion, intelligence, and determined spirit. Furthermore, the recent trend of trying to highlight her achievements and her religious faith has, in fact, further obscured the real Jane, a young religious radical who saw herself as an advocate of the reformed faith—Protestantism—and ultimately became a martyr for it.
Crown of Blood is an important and significant retelling of an often-misunderstood tale: set at the time of Jane’s downfall and following her journey through to her trial and execution, each chapter moves between the past and the “present,” using a rich abundance of primary source material (some of which has never been published) in order to paint a vivid picture of Jane’s short and turbulent life. This dramatic narrative traces the dangerous plots and web of deadly intrigue in which Jane became involuntarily tangled—and which ultimately led to a shocking and catastrophic conclusion.
My Review:
As I said, I couldn't possibly be happier to be writing this review. I often read good books as The Tudor Enthusiast. Authors and publishers send me book after book, and I have the opportunity to read A LOT over the course of a year. Of course, the majority of these are good. This book, however, was fantastic. I can't actually believe that this is Nicola Tallis' first book, because it's so well-written and engaging. From the very first page, I knew this was going to be a book that I couldn't put down, and I was right - I read for approximately six hours straight.
The story of Lady Jane Grey is one that most Tudor Enthusiasts are quite familiar with. A tragic, young figure in sixteenth-century English history, she's one that most of us have read about in the past - but strangely, she's also one of the least-known figures of the time period, in terms of the little details. Her birthday, for example, is unknown - as is the place of her birth. Her familial relationships are clouded in rumors of bad (and possibly abusive) parenting, and therefore difficult to reliably pinpoint. Her personality is tough to decipher, though we have reason to believe - from several surviving letters - that she was strong-willed, highly intelligent, and often hard-headed. The story of Jane is well-known, but the person is harder to grasp.
Tallis does a phenomenal job of walking us through every aspect of Jane's life - as well as the world around her at the time. She explains in exquisite detail Jane's parents' lineages and how they all connect. Not once was I left feeling flustered that I couldn't follow the family trees. - thanks to Tallis' casual, familiar writing style, everything flowed beautifully to paint the clearest image of Jane and her family that I can imagine. And in those places where Tallis doesn't know the exact answer, she speculates (which may frustrate some other historians, but I find it helpful). I like that Tallis dives into the "what if" questions, and imagines what Jane might have been like, what she may have been thinking at certain times, and what people may have thought of her. At times, her writing becomes almost like that of a novel, and her descriptiveness makes the reader feel as if they are actually in the scene with Jane. Literally - during those six hours of reading - I felt like I was "hanging out" with Jane. Any nonfiction history book that brings out that feeling deserves an A+ in my mind!
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Nicola Tallis
Despite having read countless books on Tudor England in the past, I actually learned new facts about the time period in this book. Nicola Tallis' level of description and attention to detail is wonderful, and she brings not only the character of Jane Grey, but the entire period, to life. From Jane's birth beyond her death, I felt like the entire story was beautifully-written and explained, and - like I said - where exact facts could not be given (for lack of evidence), Tallis gave examples and possibilities for the "what ifs". All in all, a reader can finish this book and feel absolutely satisfied, without question.
Jane's story is one that evokes a ton of emotion, and that's evident throughout every page. Tallis even goes so far as to question the real reason why Jane is such a tragic figure. Is it because she was just seventeen when she died, making her the youngest woman at the time to be executed in such a way? Or is it because she was an innocent pawn who wanted nothing to do with the queenship that was thrust upon her by the greedy, ambitious men surrounding her? More still, is it because Jane was so full of promise - highly intelligent, incredibly passionate about religion, gifted in eight languarges, and intent on scholarly pursuits, that makes her so tragic? The "what if" of Jane's life - what she could have been, had she been given the chance to mature to adulthood - is perhaps what makes Jane's story such a sad one, as Tallis argues. I'd say I have to agree.
I also like that Tallis doesn't paint Queen Mary as a villain in Jane's story. Too many portrayals of Jane's downfall peg Mary as the evil cousin who couldn't wait for her opportunity to destroy anyone who had a different religious view from hers. But in fact, in this book, Mary is somewhat sympathized with, for the horrible decision that fell on her shoulders as the result of Jane's queenship, the horrible treason of her father and Northumberland, and the ultimately fatal Wyatt Rebellion. Mary is actually depicted as a generous and loving cousin, despite her differences with Jane - and her decision to execute her is all the more tragic as a result.
Through contemporary letters and accounts, as well as Nicola Tallis' flawlessly-research and articulated analyses, the reader gets what I consider to be a full picture of Jane's story. The themes of her life are conveyed beautifully (and tragically) - from her ravenous desire for learning and religious discourse, to her unfortunate tendency to be "used and abused" by powerful men around her. The ultimate theme that royal blood was often a curse, as opposed to a blessing, is absolutely clear in Jane's story.
I can't give any more of this fabulous book away, because I want ALL of my readers to buy it and enjoy it as I did. No number of reviews can do "Crown of Blood" justice, and I'm afraid, even in my enthusiasm, that I can't get across just how well I enjoyed it. Suffice it to say that this book will remain proudly displayed on my bookshelf, and will probably be re-read (something that very rarely happens with my nonfiction collection), and I'll recommend it to absolutely every Tudor enthusiast I come across.
Here's "Crown of Blood"'s Amazon page. If you're at all intrigued by this wonderful read, I encourage you to purchase it now! Let's help Nicola Tallis celebrate her extremely well-deserved publication day!
Huge thanks to Katie McGuire of Pegasus Books, and Nicola Tallis, for the opportunity to read and review this book! It certainly goes down as one of my overall favorites.
Happy Publication Day, Ms. Tallis, and Happy Reading, Tudor enthusiasts!
DECEMBER 23 2016
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Crown of Blood review: Nicola Tallis' story of the doomed Lady Jane Grey
Steven Carroll
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Crown of Blood
Nicola Tallis
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http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/crown-of-blood-review-nicola-tallis-story-of-the-doomed-lady-jane-grey-20161216-gtcnb0.html
Michael O'Mara, $29.99
For 13 days in 1553, between Edward VI and Mary, the little known Lady Jane Grey wore the crown. Reluctantly. The backroom boys, notably her father-in-law, Northumberland, had talked the dying king into naming her as his successor. Young, shocked, she begged not to be queen. But the wheels of history were moving. So too was Mary, the people's favourite, who wanted to be queen. Nicola Tallis' sympathetic, authoritative and lively account of the intellectually gifted and probably beautiful Jane (records are scant), not only details what is the shortest reign in British history but also highlights the precariousness of life inside the court and its intrigues: the whole story emerging like a lethal game of chess, with most of Jane's moves (all of which led the chopping block) decided for her.
Book Review: “Crown of Blood” by Nicola Tallis
Posted on April 5, 2017 by Susan Abernethy
The subtitle of this book is “The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey”. There are several biographies available on the life of Lady Jane Grey. This is a new one by historian Nicola Tallis published in December 2016.
I have to give Ms. Tallis a lot of credit. This is a well-written, well-footnoted and obviously well researched look at the life of Lady Jane Grey. Tallis gives us a great deal of detailed background on Jane’s family. I especially liked the description of Jane’s father, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk. He has a well-deserved, disreputable reputation and Tallis explains why.
Tallis also has examined the reputation of Jane’s mother Frances Brandon. She believes the status of Frances’ character has suffered because of one comment by Jane in an interview. I believe Nicola is right. It is easy to lay 21st century values on the past which is what has happened here with Frances. If we examine Frances’ manner in dealing with the ever-changing politics of the Tudor era, she appears to have survived where the rest of her family didn’t. This is greatly to her credit.
As for Jane, Tallis describes her family life, her education and her correspondence with learned Protestants on the continent, her marriage and her elevation to the throne of England and her downfall in spectacular detail. It is almost as if you are there with Jane. Tallis uses direct quotations from primary sources to tell Jane’s sad story.
There is a section of wonderful color illustrations in the book with portraits of the main players. There are genealogical tables for the house of Tudor, Grey and Suffolk and a timeline of Jane’s life. The appendixes cover the lack of portraits of Jane, a transcript of her debate with Dr. John Feckenham shortly before her death and a list of places to visit to follow in Jane’s footsteps. Tallis has written a very comprehensive bibliography which is a valuable resource for Tudor historians. I cannot recommend this book enough. It was hard to put it down.