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Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor
Notorious for her persecution of Protestants, Queen Mary I has been vilified by generations of historians as Bloody Mary. But this award-winning biography offers a more humane and measured perspective on the life of this tormented woman. With sympathy, Prescott examines just how Mary, who was swept to the throne on a wave of popular acclaim, fell so far in her countrymen's esteem that just five years after her coronation, her death was greeted with universal relief.
562 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1940
24 people are currently reading
2183 people want to read
About the author
H.F.M. Prescott
22 books21 followersHilda Francis Margaret Prescott, MA, MA, D.Litt, FRSL was born in Cheshire, the daughter of Rev. James Mulleneux Prescott and his wife Margaret (née Warburton).
She was educated at Wallasey High School and subsequently read Modern History at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford where she received her first MA. Later, she studied Medieval and Modern History at Manchester University, from which she earned a second MA. She was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Durham. In 1958, she was elected Jubilee Research Fellow at Royal Holloway College in the University of London where she researched the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
She is perhaps best known for her historical novel 'The Man on a Donkey;' written in the form of a chronicle, it tells the story of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a popular rising in protest at the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII.
Her biography of Queen Mary I of England, 'Mary Tudor' (originally titled 'Spanish Tudor'), won the James Tait Black Prize in 1941 and remains a well-respected biography.
Prescott wrote one thriller, 'Dead and Not Buried,' and this was adapted in 1954 for CBS's Climax! television series under the title 'Bury Me Later.'
Her interests included travel and a love of the English countryside and she lived for many years in Charlbury, Oxfordshire.
She was educated at Wallasey High School and subsequently read Modern History at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford where she received her first MA. Later, she studied Medieval and Modern History at Manchester University, from which she earned a second MA. She was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the University of Durham. In 1958, she was elected Jubilee Research Fellow at Royal Holloway College in the University of London where she researched the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
She is perhaps best known for her historical novel 'The Man on a Donkey;' written in the form of a chronicle, it tells the story of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a popular rising in protest at the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII.
Her biography of Queen Mary I of England, 'Mary Tudor' (originally titled 'Spanish Tudor'), won the James Tait Black Prize in 1941 and remains a well-respected biography.
Prescott wrote one thriller, 'Dead and Not Buried,' and this was adapted in 1954 for CBS's Climax! television series under the title 'Bury Me Later.'
Her interests included travel and a love of the English countryside and she lived for many years in Charlbury, Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 36 reviews
July 17, 2014
Not everyone is able to look past the sullied “Bloody Mary” image of Henry VIII’s eldest daughter in order to see the ‘real’ Mary. Her life was filled with ups and downs, trials and triumphs; which would affect the mental state of anyone dead or alive. HFM Prescott follows Mary’s life in, “Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor”.
Prescott’s portrait of Mary is award-winning (in 1941) and thus definitely has both strong suits and weaknesses. “Mary Tudor” plunges into the childhood of Mary with accuracy and drive. The issue is with inconsistent storytelling. For one, Prescott is very dry in her narrative. I enjoy and even prefer academic pieces but the text is too much of a recanting of events versus truly illuminating Mary and her thoughts, actions, and life. Second, there are overly dramatized and speculative statements which stand out amongst the work that strives to otherwise be so factual.
Also noticeable is Prescott’s habit of choppy writing: jumping from detail to barely grazing a topic and back to heavy detail. The events which are most momentous in Mary’s life are barely discussed and when they are; they are told with a dry and detached tone, taking away from their unique value and impact. This makes much of “Mary Tudor” better as a review of the topic or an introduction for those new to the subject worried about being overwhelmed.
On a positive note, Prescott does apply some detective work and attempts to debunk some myths with solid and educated arguments versus merely loading the text with emotion and biases. Mary therefore receives a better-rounded portrayal than she is given by most other authors.
A compelling feature within “Mary Tudor” is the inclusion of full quotes, letters, and documents allowing Mary to speak for herself, at times. On the other hand, Prescott doesn’t always translate foreign language statements which not only confuses the reader but takes away from the ‘moment’. Plus, the text often deviates and runs off on tangents attempting to embody Mary’s environment but instead highlights everything but her.
As naturally expected, “Mary Tudor” gains some momentum when Mary secures the throne. Instead of a straight, chronological biography; Prescott opts to focus on how events affect Mary’s already fragile psychological state and her actions/reactions, in turn. This helps unwrap Mary’s layers and allows readers to see past the superficial propaganda (especially in the topic of her marriage to Philip).
Even though I disagree with the name calling and slander of Mary; I don’t sympathize with belittling her enemies with juvenile libel, either. That is simply an elementary form of “debate” which Prescott is guilty of in her concluding chapters. Two wrongs don’t make a right, they say!
The final chapters of “Mary Tudor” provide a detailed and thorough look at the loss of Calais; revealing the military, political, and emotional ramifications adding a boost at the end of the book. Sadly though, the conclusion is abrupt and rushed with Mary suddenly being sick and dying but with no depth in presentation even though the book is supposed be her spotlight. In the most blunt terms, the ending is poor and lacks memorable essences.
Prescott does follow this with an exceptionable explanation of the book’s sources which is useful for Tudor readers overall (versus singularly for this book). “Notes” are also offered (although this is more of a sources list without elaboration) and color plates (black and white) are also featured. “Mary Tudor” does not contain genealogical charts.
“Mary Tudor” is not a terrible book but somewhat dry and doesn’t bring Mary to life. Seemingly though, that is precisely the perfect recipe for a strong resource for research but not necessarily as an ideal text for reading as a pleasure piece. Prescott’s “Mary Tudor” is recommended for those readers swayed towards Mary but not for all Tudor fans, overall.
Prescott’s portrait of Mary is award-winning (in 1941) and thus definitely has both strong suits and weaknesses. “Mary Tudor” plunges into the childhood of Mary with accuracy and drive. The issue is with inconsistent storytelling. For one, Prescott is very dry in her narrative. I enjoy and even prefer academic pieces but the text is too much of a recanting of events versus truly illuminating Mary and her thoughts, actions, and life. Second, there are overly dramatized and speculative statements which stand out amongst the work that strives to otherwise be so factual.
Also noticeable is Prescott’s habit of choppy writing: jumping from detail to barely grazing a topic and back to heavy detail. The events which are most momentous in Mary’s life are barely discussed and when they are; they are told with a dry and detached tone, taking away from their unique value and impact. This makes much of “Mary Tudor” better as a review of the topic or an introduction for those new to the subject worried about being overwhelmed.
On a positive note, Prescott does apply some detective work and attempts to debunk some myths with solid and educated arguments versus merely loading the text with emotion and biases. Mary therefore receives a better-rounded portrayal than she is given by most other authors.
A compelling feature within “Mary Tudor” is the inclusion of full quotes, letters, and documents allowing Mary to speak for herself, at times. On the other hand, Prescott doesn’t always translate foreign language statements which not only confuses the reader but takes away from the ‘moment’. Plus, the text often deviates and runs off on tangents attempting to embody Mary’s environment but instead highlights everything but her.
As naturally expected, “Mary Tudor” gains some momentum when Mary secures the throne. Instead of a straight, chronological biography; Prescott opts to focus on how events affect Mary’s already fragile psychological state and her actions/reactions, in turn. This helps unwrap Mary’s layers and allows readers to see past the superficial propaganda (especially in the topic of her marriage to Philip).
Even though I disagree with the name calling and slander of Mary; I don’t sympathize with belittling her enemies with juvenile libel, either. That is simply an elementary form of “debate” which Prescott is guilty of in her concluding chapters. Two wrongs don’t make a right, they say!
The final chapters of “Mary Tudor” provide a detailed and thorough look at the loss of Calais; revealing the military, political, and emotional ramifications adding a boost at the end of the book. Sadly though, the conclusion is abrupt and rushed with Mary suddenly being sick and dying but with no depth in presentation even though the book is supposed be her spotlight. In the most blunt terms, the ending is poor and lacks memorable essences.
Prescott does follow this with an exceptionable explanation of the book’s sources which is useful for Tudor readers overall (versus singularly for this book). “Notes” are also offered (although this is more of a sources list without elaboration) and color plates (black and white) are also featured. “Mary Tudor” does not contain genealogical charts.
“Mary Tudor” is not a terrible book but somewhat dry and doesn’t bring Mary to life. Seemingly though, that is precisely the perfect recipe for a strong resource for research but not necessarily as an ideal text for reading as a pleasure piece. Prescott’s “Mary Tudor” is recommended for those readers swayed towards Mary but not for all Tudor fans, overall.
September 20, 2012
This is the biography that got me started on Mary Tudor and got me away from the common, popular view you still see in the media and popular fiction. Despite being decades old it is a neat and very good study and the author is partial, brutal and very firm about the facts, Mary's flaws as well as her attributes and is very thorough from what she had to pay the physicians, her servants, her ailments, her trips to go hunting, her charities, etc ...
I HIGHLY recommend this.
My favorite one I would recommend though after reading this would be Bloody Mary by Carolly Erickson she writes good biographies despite her fiction tends to be sensationalist and Linda Porter's "The Myth of Bloody Mary" and of course the most recent which brushes up on all this: "Mary Tudor" by Anna Whitelock.
I HIGHLY recommend this.
My favorite one I would recommend though after reading this would be Bloody Mary by Carolly Erickson she writes good biographies despite her fiction tends to be sensationalist and Linda Porter's "The Myth of Bloody Mary" and of course the most recent which brushes up on all this: "Mary Tudor" by Anna Whitelock.
August 8, 2022
4 stars - English Ebook
Mary I is notorious for her persecution of Protestants and has been vilified by generations of partisan historians. This book brings a more humane and measured perspective to the life of this tormented woman.
Prescott sums up her subject's life as follows: "Perhaps no other reign in English history has seen such a great endeavour made, and so utterly defeated. All that Mary did was undone, all she intended utterly unfulfilled, mistaken often, almost always misguided in her public office, with much blindness, some rancour, some jealousy, some stupid cruelty to answer for, she had yet trodden, lifelong and manfully, the way that other sinners know."
you won't find a "bloody Mary" here because this book deals with the relations between Spain and England during the 1500's.
Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.Seeing as Spain and England would go to war on numerous occasions culminating in the Spanish Armada defeat in 1588,Queen Mary's selection of a husband from Spanish royalty,seems like it would have been very unpopular in 1554.
And indeed it was,one has to wonder if the objection of the English to Phillip of Spain had less to do with his Catholicism and more to do with his suspected Spanish sympathies.Sometimes a royal marriage between two rival nations can unite,but in this case it aggravated the rivalry.
In this book the burnings and religious persecutions are downplayed deliberately to focus on the political rivalries between France,England, and Spain and about a dozen or more other countries. Indeed it is hard to keep track here.
Still though it must have given Mary,secret delight to see Archbishop Cranmer burned however because he was the main prosecutor of Mary's mother,Catherine of Aragon and Cranmer sent her packing in humiliation.Headstrong Mary or "Bloody Mary" as she is known made in retrospect an unwise marriage in the Spanish union,and when you're the head of a nation,that can be a disaster.being the child of Queen Catharine of Aragon.
Mary saw her reign as a vindication of her mother and her catholic faith.All this at atime when England was becoming a world power and the main competitor was Catholic Spain.
This book seems to see Mary's reign as a brief step backward and the Queens inability to govern because of infighting over numerous issues of religion and politics.It would take the reign of elizabeth
The first,Mary's half sister to reign.
The first half of this book is pretty much devoted to Mary's traumatic childhood where she is exposed to huge amounts of cruelty from her father and his cohorts.
Her mother and her religion were Mary's only balm.when she became queen by accident,the results were not surprising.
With Ann boleyn's title of "the great whore" and Mary tudor's "Bloody Mary",how is it everyone but Henry the eigth gets a bad nickname yet he himself doesn't.
At least Henry the Alehound maybe.Seems he was even bloodier than his daughter, sending people to the block on a whim, and his reputation even more tarnished than Ann Boleyn's could ever have been."Great Harry"!
Intresting read, and not a difficult one.
Mary I is notorious for her persecution of Protestants and has been vilified by generations of partisan historians. This book brings a more humane and measured perspective to the life of this tormented woman.
Prescott sums up her subject's life as follows: "Perhaps no other reign in English history has seen such a great endeavour made, and so utterly defeated. All that Mary did was undone, all she intended utterly unfulfilled, mistaken often, almost always misguided in her public office, with much blindness, some rancour, some jealousy, some stupid cruelty to answer for, she had yet trodden, lifelong and manfully, the way that other sinners know."
you won't find a "bloody Mary" here because this book deals with the relations between Spain and England during the 1500's.
Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.Seeing as Spain and England would go to war on numerous occasions culminating in the Spanish Armada defeat in 1588,Queen Mary's selection of a husband from Spanish royalty,seems like it would have been very unpopular in 1554.
And indeed it was,one has to wonder if the objection of the English to Phillip of Spain had less to do with his Catholicism and more to do with his suspected Spanish sympathies.Sometimes a royal marriage between two rival nations can unite,but in this case it aggravated the rivalry.
In this book the burnings and religious persecutions are downplayed deliberately to focus on the political rivalries between France,England, and Spain and about a dozen or more other countries. Indeed it is hard to keep track here.
Still though it must have given Mary,secret delight to see Archbishop Cranmer burned however because he was the main prosecutor of Mary's mother,Catherine of Aragon and Cranmer sent her packing in humiliation.Headstrong Mary or "Bloody Mary" as she is known made in retrospect an unwise marriage in the Spanish union,and when you're the head of a nation,that can be a disaster.being the child of Queen Catharine of Aragon.
Mary saw her reign as a vindication of her mother and her catholic faith.All this at atime when England was becoming a world power and the main competitor was Catholic Spain.
This book seems to see Mary's reign as a brief step backward and the Queens inability to govern because of infighting over numerous issues of religion and politics.It would take the reign of elizabeth
The first,Mary's half sister to reign.
The first half of this book is pretty much devoted to Mary's traumatic childhood where she is exposed to huge amounts of cruelty from her father and his cohorts.
Her mother and her religion were Mary's only balm.when she became queen by accident,the results were not surprising.
With Ann boleyn's title of "the great whore" and Mary tudor's "Bloody Mary",how is it everyone but Henry the eigth gets a bad nickname yet he himself doesn't.
At least Henry the Alehound maybe.Seems he was even bloodier than his daughter, sending people to the block on a whim, and his reputation even more tarnished than Ann Boleyn's could ever have been."Great Harry"!
Intresting read, and not a difficult one.
December 27, 2017
She was a small, thin creature, slightly built with reddish hair. She had, a strange thing in one so small and thin, a loud and deep voice, almost like a mans. A keen and searching intellect, she had not. Her chief interests were those of a very ordinary woman - namely people, clothes and babies.
Simplicity and sincerity were fundamental in her character.
Before coronation: 1544
During these years she lived a quiet life in her own household in the country. Of that private side of her life the only recorded history is to be found in the pages of her account book. Many of the entries deal with games and amusements. Besides her frequent losses of money at cards, the Lady Mary lost her breakfast on day in a wager. She would hunt at Waltham Forest and the keepers got 5s. Always too there was music and dancing at her house. For more merriment she had Jane the Fool, whose head was regularly shaved.
As queen:
When it was a matter of physical danger, she was a lion. When it was a matter of judgement and policy, she was a sheep, or, as disastrously, a mule.
Religion continued with her to the end, for it was a basic need of her heart. Reason has little to do with it. She thanked God she had never read Protestant books of divinity. Conscience with her took the place of judgement.
As you can tell from these quotes, the author pulls you right in. You feel you know the characters. The author brings history to life! The reference section in the back is impressive. There are some photos of portraits, and some direct quotes from actual letters that really added to my enjoyment.
Simplicity and sincerity were fundamental in her character.
Before coronation: 1544
During these years she lived a quiet life in her own household in the country. Of that private side of her life the only recorded history is to be found in the pages of her account book. Many of the entries deal with games and amusements. Besides her frequent losses of money at cards, the Lady Mary lost her breakfast on day in a wager. She would hunt at Waltham Forest and the keepers got 5s. Always too there was music and dancing at her house. For more merriment she had Jane the Fool, whose head was regularly shaved.
As queen:
When it was a matter of physical danger, she was a lion. When it was a matter of judgement and policy, she was a sheep, or, as disastrously, a mule.
Religion continued with her to the end, for it was a basic need of her heart. Reason has little to do with it. She thanked God she had never read Protestant books of divinity. Conscience with her took the place of judgement.
As you can tell from these quotes, the author pulls you right in. You feel you know the characters. The author brings history to life! The reference section in the back is impressive. There are some photos of portraits, and some direct quotes from actual letters that really added to my enjoyment.
February 17, 2012
I had never really read anything about Mary Tudor before, other than small mentions in books about Elizabeth I or Henry VIII, so I was very interested in reading this biography. Though maybe not the best biography out there on Mary Tudor being a bit out dated, it was quite an interesting read and I was glad to pick it up.
The biography starts strong with an in-depth look at Mary's childhood and young adulthood, where she went from beloved only child of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon to the unwanted daughter declared illegitimate by her father in his quest for a male heir. It discusses her religious devotion and inability to accept religious change. The book started to drag for me when she actually ascended the throne and married Phillip; it seemed there were many extraneous details and rabbit trails included in that part of the book that made it difficult to read. I still learned quite a lot and sympathized with Mary's struggle to produce an heir for England and to keep her husband and her council and the English people happy. It really was a tragic life though the author does well in not sanctifying Mary or debasing her. The biography seems quite objective.
I had a few problems with this book. First, and I have found this to be a problem in many books, is that foreign words and phrases are not translated in text, you have to go back to the appendix to get a translation of them. This can be quite irritating. Second, the author is overfond of lists. I don't have a good example, but some sentences run on and on with the author listing every single thing contained in a certain bedchamber or every emotion that a person must have been feeling at a certain time. Some of these were appropriate, but in the end it just seemed like an overused device. My last issue is not so much an issue for me personally, but more a warning to people thinking of reading the book. The book was originally written in the 1940s and like all books is a product of the time in which it is written. There are many not-so-feminist ideals in this book which some people may take offense to.
All that being said, this was a pretty well-written biography of Mary Tudor. I took a lot away from it and will probably supplement this with more current books on Mary Tudor. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Tudors, though its probably not the best book to start with your Tudor reading.
Royalty Reading Challenge: Read a book where a female ruler is the central character.
The biography starts strong with an in-depth look at Mary's childhood and young adulthood, where she went from beloved only child of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon to the unwanted daughter declared illegitimate by her father in his quest for a male heir. It discusses her religious devotion and inability to accept religious change. The book started to drag for me when she actually ascended the throne and married Phillip; it seemed there were many extraneous details and rabbit trails included in that part of the book that made it difficult to read. I still learned quite a lot and sympathized with Mary's struggle to produce an heir for England and to keep her husband and her council and the English people happy. It really was a tragic life though the author does well in not sanctifying Mary or debasing her. The biography seems quite objective.
I had a few problems with this book. First, and I have found this to be a problem in many books, is that foreign words and phrases are not translated in text, you have to go back to the appendix to get a translation of them. This can be quite irritating. Second, the author is overfond of lists. I don't have a good example, but some sentences run on and on with the author listing every single thing contained in a certain bedchamber or every emotion that a person must have been feeling at a certain time. Some of these were appropriate, but in the end it just seemed like an overused device. My last issue is not so much an issue for me personally, but more a warning to people thinking of reading the book. The book was originally written in the 1940s and like all books is a product of the time in which it is written. There are many not-so-feminist ideals in this book which some people may take offense to.
All that being said, this was a pretty well-written biography of Mary Tudor. I took a lot away from it and will probably supplement this with more current books on Mary Tudor. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Tudors, though its probably not the best book to start with your Tudor reading.
Royalty Reading Challenge: Read a book where a female ruler is the central character.
September 9, 2011
This book was heavy-going - I had to skip a few sections! But considering that it was written in the 1940s, this is understandable. It is well-written, if slightly dry, and well-researched, although not necessarily a perspective of Mary that I agree with. All in all, a book I would recommend to someone interested in a detailed, factual history of Mary Tudor.
February 23, 2026
This is a very detailed telling of Mary Tudor for me a touch too dry and almost like a text book though I appreciate the attention to detail. The detail did give additional insight into Mary's state of mind in particular her dynamic with her husband. Make no mistake this is a daunting read though.
January 21, 2010
This book was written in the early twentieth century and has become increasingly dated with age – Prescott keeps apologizing for the fact that Mary was “just” a “weak” woman – and she isn’t saying it in an ironic way the way Elizabeth I did. Prescott continually gives Mary a pass for all her mistakes, citing the fact she was emotionally troubled woman. Emotionally scarred I can buy, but saying that being a woman was the reason for her problems does a disservice to everyone. The biggest issue, the Protestant burnings, is not a main focus, and too quickly glossed over. Prescott seems to think Mary was more or less unaware of the extent of them, or at least, not heavily involved.
However, what does make this book worth reading is the amount of research that was poured into this book, showing in how Prescott is able to name and describe the many, many people of the era, obviously having poured over every record available; citing all sorts of court documents that show who was doing what when, and more importantly, whose side they were on at any one time.
The best part of the book is Wyatt’s rebellion – most historians and historical fiction writers dismiss Wyatt as a fool who accomplished nothing except getting lady Jane Grey killed and nearly getting Princess Elizabeth killed. Here, however, Prescott takes us through the rebellion moment by moment, sucking you into the drama of what it had been like for Mary and her court to be in London – while a rebel army was camped outside the town gates!
The anxiety of the rebellion is highlighted when she described written reports that came to the court from people scouting the rebels – she explains how at the time parchment was rolled and sealed closed with a wax seal, then later opened by heating the tip of a dagger in a candle flame and slicing through the wax – she then describes these reports with the seals cracked and the paper edges torn – explaining how people were so anxious for news they ripped opened the messages, not bothering to take the time to slice through the wax. Damn, now that’s bringing history alive!
However, what does make this book worth reading is the amount of research that was poured into this book, showing in how Prescott is able to name and describe the many, many people of the era, obviously having poured over every record available; citing all sorts of court documents that show who was doing what when, and more importantly, whose side they were on at any one time.
The best part of the book is Wyatt’s rebellion – most historians and historical fiction writers dismiss Wyatt as a fool who accomplished nothing except getting lady Jane Grey killed and nearly getting Princess Elizabeth killed. Here, however, Prescott takes us through the rebellion moment by moment, sucking you into the drama of what it had been like for Mary and her court to be in London – while a rebel army was camped outside the town gates!
The anxiety of the rebellion is highlighted when she described written reports that came to the court from people scouting the rebels – she explains how at the time parchment was rolled and sealed closed with a wax seal, then later opened by heating the tip of a dagger in a candle flame and slicing through the wax – she then describes these reports with the seals cracked and the paper edges torn – explaining how people were so anxious for news they ripped opened the messages, not bothering to take the time to slice through the wax. Damn, now that’s bringing history alive!
March 8, 2011
A wonderful and insightful read into the life and short lived reign of Queen Mary I of England. Prescott seems to take pity on the often misunderstood Queen, showing us reason as to why she was often indecisive, and ruled by emotions of the heart. Prescott explores the inaccurate title "Bloody Mary" given to the Queen during her attempt to return England to the "True Faith". He also discusses the issue of who was really behind and in favor of the persecutions of the protestant population. Prescott gives us a look at the ill fated marriage of Queen Mary to Phillip King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor (the latter title came later in the marriage)and discusses how this marriage had a direct and disastrous effect on England. This biography is wonderfully written and gives unique accounts and interesting introspection and understanding of the sorrow filled, tumultuous, and disappointing life and reign of Queen Mary I.
June 6, 2014
This is the biography that got me started on Mary Tudor and got me away from the common, popular view you still see in the media and popular fiction. Despite being decades old it is a neat and very good study and the author is partial, brutal and very firm about the facts, Mary's flaws as well as her attributes and is very thorough from what she had to pay the physicians, her servants, her ailments, her trips to go hunting, her charities, etc ...
I HIGHLY recommend this.
My favorite one I would recommend though after reading this would be Bloody Mary by Carolly Erickson she writes good biographies despite her fiction tends to be sensationalist and Linda Porter's "The Myth of Bloody Mary" and of course the most recent which brushes up on all this: "Mary Tudor" by Anna Whitelock.
My only problem with this was that Mary is still downplayed by her religion and later ailments and the authie assumes she mistve always been like that, sickly, naive, and inept at politics.
I HIGHLY recommend this.
My favorite one I would recommend though after reading this would be Bloody Mary by Carolly Erickson she writes good biographies despite her fiction tends to be sensationalist and Linda Porter's "The Myth of Bloody Mary" and of course the most recent which brushes up on all this: "Mary Tudor" by Anna Whitelock.
My only problem with this was that Mary is still downplayed by her religion and later ailments and the authie assumes she mistve always been like that, sickly, naive, and inept at politics.
June 21, 2009
For me, Mary Tudor is one of those historical figures you feel sorry, but would never want to met. She had a horrible life during her parent's divorce, but does that excuse burning all those people? Needless to say, I'm conflicted over how to view her. Prescott's book is very engaging. She does a very good job of painting the court and Mary's life there. The problem is that Prescott is very sympathic to Mary. While I can understand why, it seems lacking to gloss over the people who died during Mary's reign. It should also be noted that Prescott's book is no where near as biased as Anne Boleyn A New Life of England's Tragic Queen. If you want a good biography of Mary, this is a good one to start with.
August 23, 2015
Prescott is someone who really likes "Bloody Mary", and spends a great deal of effort and time arguing that you should too. Admittedly, much of what we think we know about Mary Tudor is hopelessly inaccurate. For those imagining her as a 16th Century Emperor Nero lining gardens with the burning corpses of Christians serving as torches, you would be wrong. Prescott does a good job of portraying Mary as an individual of great personal convictions at a time that many around her simply wanted the right to freedom of conscience. Frankly, I found this book to be exhausting. The prose is difficult to navigate, and the amount of information feels ponderous at times. But, if you can get past that, you get a first rate glimpse into Tudor era England, and a greater appreciation for the challenges to the people living at that time.
October 27, 2009
I bought this book as part of a "Women in History" boxed set that I was afraid contained bodice-rippers. Nope! In fact, this rather scholarly biography of Mary Tudor (complete with copious footnotes, which I skipped) was a bit hard going ... until I realized it was written in something like 1940. Then I was able to sit back and really enjoy sentences like, "Woman-like, she was unable to make up her mind." After about a third of the book as a warm-up, I could barely put it down, although I don't seem to share the English ability to keep names, titles, and family trees straight without assistance.
March 7, 2012
This book was a fascinating look into the motives behind the "Spanish Tudor". I usually enjoy reading about Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth, I never read a lot about the oldest of the the three Tudor children before. I always knew the basic facts of her childhood and brief reign as queen, but this took the story to another more personal level. I felt for Mary, her fears, her disappointments, her brief moments of success, and her continuing and prevailing loneliness.
This book did lack some research, which is acknowledged in my copy's forward.
This book did lack some research, which is acknowledged in my copy's forward.
March 11, 2008
I am fascinated with English history and particularly the kings and queens. I have read many book about Henry VIII and his wives. I found this book a good read with many deailes of Mary's live that I hadn't heard before.
April 29, 2009
A good book, but a little heavy on the intrigues of the court and it factions. The biography dipicts Mary (aka: "Bloody Mary")as a troubled soul. After you read the book, you'll understand why and feel pity for her.
June 11, 2009
This was actually one of the better biographies of one of the Tudor Monarchs that I have read...I love this time period and hearing this story again reminded me of some of the aspects that I had forgotten.
December 16, 2014
I loved reading this book and all the information offered but because of the length of the book it did get a little tedious.
April 10, 2015
Enjoyable read and an engaging subject.
September 19, 2025
Prescott's study of Mary I serves as good foundation for understanding the person Mary was and how her life leading up to her reign shaped her into the Queen that she became in a way that challenged the dominate historiographical image of 'Bloody Mary'.
Whilst Prescott's attention to detail is immaculate, there are occasions where she flies straight pass momentous events in Mary's life, the most egregious of these being the burnings, which does leave the reader with some significant gaps. That being said, when Prescott does choose to focus on a particular event, such as Mary's aborted attempt to flee England during Edward VI's reign, an immersive and well-research study is produced wherein the broader arguments Prescott seeks to convince the reader of are aptly demonstrated.
In particular the study of Mary's distrust of English men and her overreliance on her Spanish relatives, and their ambassadors, during her reign was a highlight of this monograph, that serves to contextualise a controversial aspect of her government in a way that made logical, and emotional, sense even if it was a disaster for her politically.
The only grating fault of this monograph is, in my opinion, Prescott's view of Mary as a woman. There is much to be agreed with in terms of her conclusion that Mary was a simple woman, but the way in which her femineity is constantly compared negatively to that of her successor Elizabeth I can only speak of a blatant favouritism towards the latter. Perhaps if time was taken to provide a more in-depth reasoning behind the stance it would be more tolerable but as it stands it is, unfortunately, a drag on what is otherwise a commendable appraisal of Mary.
Overall, this book, when taken in stride with it's faults, achieves it's aims in presenting a convincing and researched study of Mary Tudor as a person, in her character, in her relationships, in her Queenship, in her courage, and in her indecisiveness.
Whilst Prescott's attention to detail is immaculate, there are occasions where she flies straight pass momentous events in Mary's life, the most egregious of these being the burnings, which does leave the reader with some significant gaps. That being said, when Prescott does choose to focus on a particular event, such as Mary's aborted attempt to flee England during Edward VI's reign, an immersive and well-research study is produced wherein the broader arguments Prescott seeks to convince the reader of are aptly demonstrated.
In particular the study of Mary's distrust of English men and her overreliance on her Spanish relatives, and their ambassadors, during her reign was a highlight of this monograph, that serves to contextualise a controversial aspect of her government in a way that made logical, and emotional, sense even if it was a disaster for her politically.
The only grating fault of this monograph is, in my opinion, Prescott's view of Mary as a woman. There is much to be agreed with in terms of her conclusion that Mary was a simple woman, but the way in which her femineity is constantly compared negatively to that of her successor Elizabeth I can only speak of a blatant favouritism towards the latter. Perhaps if time was taken to provide a more in-depth reasoning behind the stance it would be more tolerable but as it stands it is, unfortunately, a drag on what is otherwise a commendable appraisal of Mary.
Overall, this book, when taken in stride with it's faults, achieves it's aims in presenting a convincing and researched study of Mary Tudor as a person, in her character, in her relationships, in her Queenship, in her courage, and in her indecisiveness.
June 12, 2025
DNF: This book is inaccurate and misleading! I only got around 70 pages in before I stopped, mostly because the author kept referring to Mary and Elizabeth as "Princess of Wales" in turn. A quick Google search will tell you that there has NEVER been a Princess of Wales in their own right. Mary was treated as Princess of Wales, but was never formally invested with the title (although there was some contemporary confusion). I have no idea where the idea of Elizabeth being Princess of Wales comes from.
In addition, there are several stories and claims within the book that the author fails to provide proper citations for. All in all, this book is not accurate and several facts or statements could be misleading.
In addition, there are several stories and claims within the book that the author fails to provide proper citations for. All in all, this book is not accurate and several facts or statements could be misleading.
January 27, 2018
Great biography of Mary I that really paved the way in the turn of appreciation scholars have had for her in the last decades.
The writing is really dense, almost dry at times, quite scholarly, but the research that has been put into writing it clearly shows.
Brillant read for everyone who wants past that awful "Bloody Mary" nickname (which is totally undeserved, compared to her contemporaries and relatives), but it requires a solid background knowledge in Tudor History.
Might be difficult to read for people who are not native speakers - I know I had a few issues at times.
The writing is really dense, almost dry at times, quite scholarly, but the research that has been put into writing it clearly shows.
Brillant read for everyone who wants past that awful "Bloody Mary" nickname (which is totally undeserved, compared to her contemporaries and relatives), but it requires a solid background knowledge in Tudor History.
Might be difficult to read for people who are not native speakers - I know I had a few issues at times.
June 13, 2017
Great biography of Mary Tudor, aka Bloody Mary. As the monarch of England preceding Elizabeth I, she is easily overshadowed and forgotten about. While her reign was disastrous, the author truly examines her character and the history that led her to be the ruler she was. Her continual mistakes and flawed decisions are painful, yet one can't help but pity her and what she could have been had things been different. Definitely a fascinating read!
January 14, 2019
This book is very thorough and detailed about a woman who, in my opinion, has been slandered by history.
April 2, 2022
Very informative, a nuanced and detailed introduction to Mary I. It is not an easy read, and the author occasionally includes Latin phrases with no translation, so be aware of that.
April 25, 2023
HFM Prescott has written a cautious, well-researched book on the life of Queen Mary I. Mary was the daughter and sole surviving child of Henry VIII and Katherine Aragon, King and Queen of England.
December 14, 2007
I'm a big fan of Tudor history and even I found this one to be a bit tough to get through.
July 27, 2008
It's a biography, but it reads like a book. Very good read. I went from knowing Mary Tudor as only "Bloody Mary" to sympathizing with her and frankly feeling sorry for her.
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March 1, 2011not sure I'm going to finish this one but I'll give it a try. I think Mary was a messed up pill but I should give her a chance.
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