Alison Weir - Innocent Traitor

For some reason I am fascinated by Tudor England. Maybe it is the appeal of Henry VIII, or the customs and traditions of the time, or perhaps the Showtime series that is visually stunning. Whatever the case may be, Tudor history has been of great interest to me over the years. I picked this book up for the reason that it was historical fiction and I am as yet adapting to that genre.

Innocent Traitor is a novel about Lady Jane Grey, more commonly known as 'The Nine Day Queen'. The prologue along with the historical details alerts you to the fact that this is not going to be a happy ending. I felt Weir could've utilized less space to account for what happened, since at times the story seemed stagnant. However the various character voices lent to this narrative made it possible to provide a back story as well as create a wholesome image. It is interesting to read about the Tudor period, King Henry VIII at a time when he isn't the self-assured handsome man he is reported to have been, the various connections drawn between the characters, the etiquettes and the customs and the tyranny of that age; everything worked together to bring the world alive. At times I felt I was there at court.

It's an amazing world where you realize Lady Jane being treated as a pawn. By her own father for social advancement. Here mothers have forsaken daughters, and the daughters have to look elsewhere for motherly affection. In a way it is a very contemporary issue. But then the universal issues never change. They might take on new names but they never change.

The only hindrance I felt in really getting into the book was my inability to empathize with the lead character, Lady Jane. Her sense of righteousness got to me at times but then I had to discount the fact the she wasn't an adult, only a child. Her life was far from easy.

Excited about reading more from this author.