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Queen Mary I: A Life From Beginning to End
Queen Mary I
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Mary I, perhaps best known by the moniker Bloody Mary, was England’s first female monarch who ruled in her own right. A fighter from birth, she was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and his wife Catherine of Aragon. Mary would make her way back to her father’s good graces after being cast out by him in favor of his numerous wives and would eventually undo her father’s religious reforms by restoring Roman Catholicism in England. The fourth Tudor to rule England, Mary is remembered for burning around three hundred Protestants at the stake on her quest for religious reform.
Inside you will read about...
✓ A Survivor from Birth
✓ Her Father’s Six Wives
✓ Long Road to the Throne
✓ Executions and Phantom Pregnancies
✓ The Death of Bloody Mary
And much more!
In this book, we will discover the true-life story of Mary I—the infamous English queen who claimed her place in history after a mere five years as regent.
* * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * *
Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet.
Mary I, perhaps best known by the moniker Bloody Mary, was England’s first female monarch who ruled in her own right. A fighter from birth, she was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and his wife Catherine of Aragon. Mary would make her way back to her father’s good graces after being cast out by him in favor of his numerous wives and would eventually undo her father’s religious reforms by restoring Roman Catholicism in England. The fourth Tudor to rule England, Mary is remembered for burning around three hundred Protestants at the stake on her quest for religious reform.
Inside you will read about...
✓ A Survivor from Birth
✓ Her Father’s Six Wives
✓ Long Road to the Throne
✓ Executions and Phantom Pregnancies
✓ The Death of Bloody Mary
And much more!
In this book, we will discover the true-life story of Mary I—the infamous English queen who claimed her place in history after a mere five years as regent.
40 pages, Paperback
Published January 22, 2019
217 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 22, 2025
A fascinating tail of intrigue and violence... Bloody Mary well earned her nickname and reputation. Was she ill-treated? Aye, but so was her half-sister and yet the latter is not bloody Elizabeth. A tale of two sisters.
September 25, 2023
Queen Mary I
If you haven’t started reading the Hourly History series, this is your sign to do so. They are quick reads that are very informative. Plus, they affordable and sometimes even free. All of books that they release are amazing and worth the few minutes that it takes to read.
If you haven’t started reading the Hourly History series, this is your sign to do so. They are quick reads that are very informative. Plus, they affordable and sometimes even free. All of books that they release are amazing and worth the few minutes that it takes to read.
July 14, 2019
The palace intrigues and complex relationship with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth mark the narration in the book. It provides an insight into mechanization that finally led to the execution of Mary. A fascinating tale indeed.
May 2, 2021
A very quick introduction to Mary Tudors life and reign.
July 18, 2021
“She was a king’s daughter; she was a king’s sister; she was a king’s wife; she was queen, and by the same title a king also.”
July 10, 2021
Did the adult beverage “bloody Mary”, get its name from the queen of England?
All kidding aside, the reign of Queen Mary first was indeed a bloody rain. When Mary ascended the throne, her one and only goal, at least initially, was to restore Catholicism to England. During her reign she had over 300 protestants burned at the stake. However, those she tried to give birth to an heir to her throne, she and her husband Philip of Spain never succeeded in doing so. Therefore, at the end of her rain, Elizabeth started her reign of the renaissance in England.
Knowing a great deal through my readings about the tutors, I do believe the entire family was “mad”.
All kidding aside, the reign of Queen Mary first was indeed a bloody rain. When Mary ascended the throne, her one and only goal, at least initially, was to restore Catholicism to England. During her reign she had over 300 protestants burned at the stake. However, those she tried to give birth to an heir to her throne, she and her husband Philip of Spain never succeeded in doing so. Therefore, at the end of her rain, Elizabeth started her reign of the renaissance in England.
Knowing a great deal through my readings about the tutors, I do believe the entire family was “mad”.
September 9, 2020
Until Mary actually became the first queen regnant of England, she had the most popular support from the citizens. However, she soon turned her citizens against her because she was vicious about returning England to Catholicism and killed dissenters. Although she was only on the throne for 5 years, they were tumultuous years in England.
This book makes a point of saying that Henry VIII remained a Catholic throughout his life; he sparked the Reformation for personal convenience (so he could divorce at will), not religious beliefs. It also says that Henry never demanded that his citizens abandon their Catholic beliefs.
The years after Henry Vlll's death were extremely difficult for British citizens. Mary married a man they did not want, had two phantom pregnancies, and died alone. She is certainly a tragic figure.
This book makes a point of saying that Henry VIII remained a Catholic throughout his life; he sparked the Reformation for personal convenience (so he could divorce at will), not religious beliefs. It also says that Henry never demanded that his citizens abandon their Catholic beliefs.
The years after Henry Vlll's death were extremely difficult for British citizens. Mary married a man they did not want, had two phantom pregnancies, and died alone. She is certainly a tragic figure.
July 7, 2021
Mary I, Queen for Only Five Years
Although Mary I was only Queen for five years, she is well remembered for condemning Protestants in England as being heretics and having them burned at the stake. Her moniker has always been "Bloody Mary." She lived a sad life, being estranged from her mother by King Henry VIII, because she would not accept his ruling of their marriage being annulled and herself deemed illegitimate. She was wed at 37 to Prince Phillip of Spain, whom she grew to love but that love was one-sided. She had two false pregnancies and left no heir. Her half-sister, Elizabeth, who was Ann Boleyn’s daughter and 17 years younger than Mary, succeeded her and restored Protestantism as the national religion.
Although Mary I was only Queen for five years, she is well remembered for condemning Protestants in England as being heretics and having them burned at the stake. Her moniker has always been "Bloody Mary." She lived a sad life, being estranged from her mother by King Henry VIII, because she would not accept his ruling of their marriage being annulled and herself deemed illegitimate. She was wed at 37 to Prince Phillip of Spain, whom she grew to love but that love was one-sided. She had two false pregnancies and left no heir. Her half-sister, Elizabeth, who was Ann Boleyn’s daughter and 17 years younger than Mary, succeeded her and restored Protestantism as the national religion.
March 30, 2019
This book is about the Queen known as Bloody Mary. It goes into her past and her relationships with her parents and her sister, Elizabeth. It point out that Mary was a devoted Catholic at a time when her father, Henry VIII, was moving England to a Protestant-based religion.
A good bit of space is taken up over the issue of who Mary was going to marry and what the result of that was. He health problems are covered along with the, at times, terrible effects she had on the people of England as she tried to force the country back to the Catholic mold.
It covers the basics and it's an interesting book.
A good bit of space is taken up over the issue of who Mary was going to marry and what the result of that was. He health problems are covered along with the, at times, terrible effects she had on the people of England as she tried to force the country back to the Catholic mold.
It covers the basics and it's an interesting book.
July 24, 2021
Bloody Mary
She truly deserved this nickname. She obviously had some serious mental health issues. She also had some serious physical health issues too. In a different time, she might have been a decent queen. She was too brainwashed and emotionally damaged to have been truly great at ruling England during her rain. She was a sad creature. I feel sorry for her. She was a casualty of the mind set then.
She truly deserved this nickname. She obviously had some serious mental health issues. She also had some serious physical health issues too. In a different time, she might have been a decent queen. She was too brainwashed and emotionally damaged to have been truly great at ruling England during her rain. She was a sad creature. I feel sorry for her. She was a casualty of the mind set then.
July 27, 2021
This was a very interesting read and I love how quick and to the point it was. I've never read about Queen Mary I so it was new information. It was hard to fathom how easily people were killed and the significant divides between Protestantism and Catholicism. Looking forward to reading the books prior to and immediately after her reign.
January 22, 2020
Good overview of the life of Queen Mary
Liked the overview. Enough information to help clarify questions about the life of Mary I. Not enough for comprehensive study, but a good start.
Liked the overview. Enough information to help clarify questions about the life of Mary I. Not enough for comprehensive study, but a good start.
November 12, 2020
Another great book even though it is short it covers the life of Mary very well.
Popular as a princess Mary soon managed to turn the people against her when she became queen and tried to undo what Henry started and Edward continued.
Popular as a princess Mary soon managed to turn the people against her when she became queen and tried to undo what Henry started and Edward continued.
January 3, 2021
There weren't a lot of revelations that were new to me, since I'm already a fan of British history, but as a high-level introduction to the subject (which is what I view these Hourly History entries to be) it is readable and informative.
July 18, 2023
A quick, informative overview of the first Queen of England. Not an in-depth biography by any means, but definitely suitable for those unfamiliar with her story and that of the religious and political turmoil of the Tudor age.
October 2, 2023
Sad life
What could have been if history were slightly different. What could have been if true christianity had been followed rather than a perverted intolerant creed. Luckily religion no longer plays an important role in English or Western affairs.
What could have been if history were slightly different. What could have been if true christianity had been followed rather than a perverted intolerant creed. Luckily religion no longer plays an important role in English or Western affairs.
June 30, 2025
The book is an interesting look at the life of Mary Tudor. She was a devout Catholic and earned the infamous nickname “Bloody Mary,” due to her persecution of Protestants. The methods she chose were horrific. She accomplished a few things but I associate her reign with the terror she caused.
January 28, 2019
Enlightening
As a history buff I appreciate the brevity of the book. The court intrigue in this makes Game of Thrones look tame.
As a history buff I appreciate the brevity of the book. The court intrigue in this makes Game of Thrones look tame.
January 20, 2020
Bloody Mary
I had just read the biography of Ann Boleyn and read help the fill in the period and the end of the House of Tutors.
I had just read the biography of Ann Boleyn and read help the fill in the period and the end of the House of Tutors.
June 23, 2023
Quick brief but informative. Very surface level because it’s short but I enjoyed it all the same.
July 30, 2023
Good book
One of the best biographies about Queen Mary th First I’ve read or seen. A fast read with many facts. Well done.
One of the best biographies about Queen Mary th First I’ve read or seen. A fast read with many facts. Well done.
September 23, 2023
Good read
Concise history of Queen Mary. For someone like me who found history boring this was written in a fascinating style that made it easy to comprehend and interesting.
Concise history of Queen Mary. For someone like me who found history boring this was written in a fascinating style that made it easy to comprehend and interesting.
June 21, 2024
Enjoyable read
Enjoyable read about Henry VIII's eldest daughter. A good review of her life, her beliefs and marriage as well as her relationship with her siblings.
Enjoyable read about Henry VIII's eldest daughter. A good review of her life, her beliefs and marriage as well as her relationship with her siblings.
September 16, 2025
Excellent!
Informative and organized!
Keeping English lineage straight is difficult. This book makes this era clear. Appreciate Hourly History a lot.
Informative and organized!
Keeping English lineage straight is difficult. This book makes this era clear. Appreciate Hourly History a lot.
January 29, 2026
Finished
Short and sketchy. It touches on all the basics but if you really need to know I would suggest a more lengthy bio
Short and sketchy. It touches on all the basics but if you really need to know I would suggest a more lengthy bio
September 4, 2023
I finished this book in a day, it was great. 5 ⭐️
If you are doing a report on Mary, I highly recommend using this book
If you are doing a report on Mary, I highly recommend using this book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews