The Lady of Misrule
Lady Jane Grey was only queen for nine days, but her story is unforgettable. Suzanne Dunn’s novel The Lady of Misrule focuses on Elizabeth Tilney, one of the ladies who stayed with Lady Jane during her imprisonment in the Tower. While there are some historical discrepancies that are admitted to by the author, this is still a good story for anyone who wants to read more about the Lady who time could not erase.
In The Lady of Misrule, Elizabeth is the only lady to stay with Lady Jane while in the Tower. There were actually a few young ladies who stayed with Lady Jane. There are a few other historical discrepancies, but this was the major one that was done for the sake of plot. By having only one lady, it heightened the relationship between Elizabeth and Jane. The progress from when Elizabeth arrived to Jane’s execution showed how devoted Elizabeth became to Jane and how much she truly cared for her. Their friendship was one of my favourite parts of Dunn’s book.
I liked how Elizabeth was meant to represent the average English lady during this time period. She, like many others, was just trying to ride the tide of royal unrest. She and her family were more concerned about whether their fields would produce crops and if they would have enough of a dowry for their daughter than who sat on the throne. They didn’t concern themselves with what religion dominated the day. Elizabeth was a simple lady of a good-standing family who volunteered to stay with Lady Jane merely because she had nothing better to do.
But by the end of the story, Elizabeth’s care and concern for not only Jane but Jane’s husband Guildford Dudley shapes how she views her world. She still isn’t particularly concerned about who rules, but she doesn’t truly believe Queen Mary would execute two children to satisfy her lords. Elizabeth doesn’t believe Jane would willingly become a martyr for her religion until it happens. Elizabeth’s rage at Jane’s choice is refreshing. So often when I read about Jane Grey, I too am angry at her decision to go to the block. I admire it, as do many who have a religious background of any kind, but to choose martyrdom over life boggles the mind. At the end of The Lady of Misrule, Elizabeth has done a great deal of growing up and is left changed by her time in the Tower.
I didn’t pick up this book with the intention of finding a perfect historical account, so unlike some other readers, I was not disappointed by the liberties Dunn took throughout the novel. Historical fiction is the genre where you should be allowed to pick away at history and tweak certain parts for your own enjoyment.
The Lady of Misrule is a good choice for any reader who wants to step into Jane Grey’s world but not get bogged down by historical detail.
The Lady of Misrule Rating: ★★★
In The Lady of Misrule, Elizabeth is the only lady to stay with Lady Jane while in the Tower. There were actually a few young ladies who stayed with Lady Jane. There are a few other historical discrepancies, but this was the major one that was done for the sake of plot. By having only one lady, it heightened the relationship between Elizabeth and Jane. The progress from when Elizabeth arrived to Jane’s execution showed how devoted Elizabeth became to Jane and how much she truly cared for her. Their friendship was one of my favourite parts of Dunn’s book.
I liked how Elizabeth was meant to represent the average English lady during this time period. She, like many others, was just trying to ride the tide of royal unrest. She and her family were more concerned about whether their fields would produce crops and if they would have enough of a dowry for their daughter than who sat on the throne. They didn’t concern themselves with what religion dominated the day. Elizabeth was a simple lady of a good-standing family who volunteered to stay with Lady Jane merely because she had nothing better to do.
But by the end of the story, Elizabeth’s care and concern for not only Jane but Jane’s husband Guildford Dudley shapes how she views her world. She still isn’t particularly concerned about who rules, but she doesn’t truly believe Queen Mary would execute two children to satisfy her lords. Elizabeth doesn’t believe Jane would willingly become a martyr for her religion until it happens. Elizabeth’s rage at Jane’s choice is refreshing. So often when I read about Jane Grey, I too am angry at her decision to go to the block. I admire it, as do many who have a religious background of any kind, but to choose martyrdom over life boggles the mind. At the end of The Lady of Misrule, Elizabeth has done a great deal of growing up and is left changed by her time in the Tower.
I didn’t pick up this book with the intention of finding a perfect historical account, so unlike some other readers, I was not disappointed by the liberties Dunn took throughout the novel. Historical fiction is the genre where you should be allowed to pick away at history and tweak certain parts for your own enjoyment.
The Lady of Misrule is a good choice for any reader who wants to step into Jane Grey’s world but not get bogged down by historical detail.
The Lady of Misrule Rating: ★★★