A Dangerous
Inheritance
by Alison Weir
Rating: 3 out of 5
Genre:
Historical Fiction

Katherine and Jane Grey are puppets of their parents, Henry Grey and Lady
Frances Brandon. They plot and scheme until Jane is placed on the throne, only
to be imprisoned for unlawfully accepting the English crown for nine days (hence
the term The Nine Days' Queen). Katherine's life story in the sixteenth
century is then told and entwined with Kate (Katherine) Plantagenet's life in
the fifteenth century. When Katherine Grey finds a portrait of Kate Plantagenet
and old letters in a chest, dating back more than seven decades, she becomes
intrigued with the writer's quest to find out what happened to the Princes. Her
interest follows her for the rest of her life.
Katherine Grey ends up in the Tower because of her closeness to the throne.
Queen Elizabeth I sees her as a threat and places her in the Tower along with
her husband (which the Queen refuses to acknowledge as legitimate) and children.
Although she holds them in different areas of the Tower, they manage to see one
another by bribing the guards and because of the kindheartedness of one of their
jailers.
Much of the story tells of both women questioning the disappearance of the
Princes in the Tower in the fifteenth century. They each seek to find the truth.
One, to clear her father's name in the involvement of the Princes and the other as
a mystery to be solved and as a diversion for all she has to endure.
During many centuries of British history, people who were even remotely
close to the throne lived life on the edge. The King--or Queen--in power had the
say over who could marry. These two women dared to live for the love of their
lives, even to the point of imprisonment or death.
With Kate Plantagenet being the illegitimate daughter of King Richard III,
one would think there would be much more historical evidence to aid Ms. Weir in
telling her story--even the portions of the book that delve into the
disappearance of the royal Princes held in the Tower. She admits there is not
sufficient evidence to do justice in telling Kate's story, yet she does a
marvelous job of inventing a believable character for the era.
Her telling of Katherine Grey's life is followed so closely to documented
facts--and expertly told--that I felt like I was there in the Tower of London
with her. Overall, I would recommend this book if you are into historical
fiction. These two young women endured sad, oppressed existences, yet they
stood their ground and were brave right up until the end of their short lives.
They may have been rich in wealth by the standards of their day, yet they had no
freedom.
Recommendation: If you
like A Dangerous Inheritance, check out by My Enemy the
Queen by Victoria Holt.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I would like to read! It sounds a lot like the diary books I've read about the royal family. Hope to see you this week!
ReplyDeleteGreat...come by and I'll tell you all about it!
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