The Tudor Wench - A Play in Three Acts - Dramatized From an Episode in the Book of the Same Name

by Elswyth Thane

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Tudor Period

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Thane is most famous for her "Williamsburg" series of historical fiction. The books cover several generations of a single family from the American Revolutionary War up to World War II. The action moves from Williamsburg in later books to England, New York City and Richmond, Virginia.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

The rating, any status updates, and those bookshelves, indicate my feelings for this book.

[Garnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book once a decade since 1978. Thought it was time to read again on the second Elizabeth Rex jubilee. The writing is limpid, enchanting and the research impeccable. Author spent happy times in the British Museum discerning the history. Then well-grounded in her favorite period, imagined successfully what might have been. I love this book, have loved it for long. Whenever I read Thane, I am inspired to write.

However, the version I read is clearly pirated as the copyright and publishing company are expired. There are so many obvious typos, even a dedicated fan sees them, and is distracted. But now that it is more than a month after finishing it, I find all I remember are the story, the details, the feel of the times - and that makes it a five star event.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a way it is odd to think back to a time when the dramatisation of Elizabeth I's life didn't include Elizabeth R and Glenda Jackson. The Tudor Wench was Beatrix Lehmann's first major starring role. She was 30 at the time (being born only 3 years after the author) and playing a teenage girls, but all the newspapers gave her glowing reviews and not one commented on her age.

The play itself was taken from a part of Thane's novel. It focused on the young Elizabeth. The play was little more than a romance. Indeed it reminded me much more of the hollywood film than the BBC serial. A young squire at court had caught Elizabeth's eye and the two flirted despite the danger. The character of Seymour was particularly hideous as he attempted to manipulate the girl into his arms, to secure the throne for himself. Reading the play was difficult to see how much Elizabeth would fear him or how much she welcomed his attentions. It seemed like she wasn't fond of him. The one point she did kiss him back she admitted it was the throne that attracted her, not the man.
It was for the last part of the play, when Elizabeth came into her own, that I give this 4 instead of 3 stars. It was nice to see the glimpses of the Queen she was to become. Though having had her mother executed, I don't see her as quite the young carefree teenager she was in the first couple acts.

It was an interesting play and I would have liked to have seen Beatrix in the performance. I must admit it is not one I would be that interested in if someone else was playing the young princess.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rather old, but that isn't a bad thing. I love stories of Tudor England and this had it all. The ending got a little long winded and had more history telling than story, but it was still a really good book. If you read books of this period in history you'll be happy with this one, if you're lucky enough to find a copy as it's been out of print for ages.