“The Last Tudor,” written by New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory, tells the story of three sisters in the English court of Queen Elizabeth I. The book is told from three perspectives. The eldest, Jane Grey — who temporarily served as Queen of England before King Henry VIII’s eldest daughter Mary — opens the book, and the book closes with the perspective of Jane’s youngest sister, Mary. Through the sisters’ perspectives, readers can see the power exchange in the Tudor court; from the death of Prince Edward to Jane’s brief stint as Queen, to Mary’s rise to power and finally to the competing politics of inheritance that wracked Queen Elizabeth’s court.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the harsh, critical portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. Gregory does an excellent job of illuminating the power struggle in the Tudor court, both for inheritance of Mary’s throne and Elizabeth’s. The book’s three protagonists — Jane, Katherine and Mary — have an equal, if not superior, claim to the English throne as Elizabeth, the bastard daughter of a beheaded queen.
Gregory’s Elizabeth is vindictive, cruel and obsessed with maintaining her own power. For me, as a lifelong Elizabeth fan, this portrayal of the Virgin Queen was unexpected and admittedly persuasive. The main tension between Elizabeth and the Grey sisters is Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir, leaving the line of succession in limbo. The drama of the book — including multiple visits to the Tower of London — is built around the quintessential question: who has the right to rule? And to what length will a ruler go to protect her power?
Gregory is a bestselling author for a reason. The story is high drama, but amazingly seems to stay within the boundaries of historical truth. Now, did Katherine Grey really marry Ned Seymour in secret, get pregnant and then turn to Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth’s unofficial suitor, for help? Probably not. But was Katherine condemned to the Tower of London for carrying a son who would serve as a direct challenge to Elizabeth’s throne? Yes. Did Jane Grey knowingly martyr herself at sixteen years old for the Protestant cause? Yes. Did Elizabeth try to convince her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, to marry Robert Dudley, Elizabeth’s own suitor? Yes. The most impressive thing about “The Last Tudor” is Gregory’s ability to construct a narrative that somehow fits and justifies the absolute madness that was the historical Tudor court.
Finally, the book is just fun to read. Not at all academic, the book still manages to illuminate the predominant themes and characters of the Tudor court. The characters are well fleshed out, the plot lively and the portrayal of the inimitable “Queen Bess” both thorough and thought provoking. For lifelong Tudor fans, it’s an eye opening new perspective on the famous Queen Elizabeth, who looms large in the narratives. For anyone with an interest in a good story and three well-written heroines, it’s a must-read.
Georgina Tierney, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached for comment at GTierney22@wooster.edu.