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 Margaret Tudor Unlucky In Love November 22, 2008
This book paints a colorful and pitying portrait of the older sister of the infamous Henry VIII. Married off to the older Scots Stuart King, James IV, at a young age, she would become mainly remembered for being the grandmother to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Margaret was obviously one who was ruled by her emotions (actually making her very much like her brother, Henry). In fact brother and sister were so very much alike it's a mystery why they were not as close or closer than Henry and his younger sister, Mary Rose. It seems that Margaret who's life was spent trying to obtain the love of a man. So desperate she was for this affection and attention, she alowed herself to be used by the men she married (especially her last two husbands). It seems that Margaret Tudor was a woman of very little confidence and self esteem. Her emotions and insecurities led her into her two unhappy mariages where the love was completely one sided. She did not command respect from anyone it seemed, which made her story very sad. I enjoyed reading this book dedicated to this obscure pitiful queen. It was an easy read, but very interesting for no other authors have given this character much life like Jean Plaidy has. Margaret may have been a Princess and Queen, but she was very human and imperfect in this book. I recommend this book to any fans of Tudor Historical Novels and Jean Plaidy.
 Nothing but whining and bellyaching October 24, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I only managed to read half of this. Margaret, queen of Scotland, princess of England, does nothing through out the entire book but complain and whine and bellyache about her husband's mistresses and unfaithfulness. She has no role beyond getting pregnant and bearing heirs. All she does in an effort to remedy her situation is complain about it. At the death of her first son, she cries that it is not fair that his illegitimate children live and not hers and then revels in the attention it warrants her from her husband, James. Not much of a fine lady.
 Margaret Tudor August 4, 2008
Henry VIII has two sisters, both of whom become queens themselves. The oldest, Margaret, is promised to King James IV of Scotland, who is sixteen years older than herself. This marriage is an extremely significant event in the history of the United Kingdom, since it is through this link that the kingdoms of Scotland and England will one day be united. Meanwhile, Margaret has high hopes for her marriage, but James is heartbroken over the murder of this fiancee (also, unfortunately, named Margaret) and unable to devote himself completely to his young bride. Margaret becomes a controversial figure when her husband is killed by the armies of her brother, and she fights for control of her adopted country and her young son.
Quote: "James was always remorseful when he disappointed his Queen She was so much younger than he was that he forgot she had left childhood behind. He always saw her as the girl of thirteen she had been when she first came to him."
This is a very good novel chronicling the troubled life of Margaret Tudor, who spent much of her existence trying to shape her life without the pull of outside forces, usually the strong-willed men in her life (father, brother, son, husbands). Margaret is passionate herself, but she is often misled or overruled by those in her life she had considered to be allies. She is often confliced - the needs of her new country versus the needs of her native land, the desires of her husband or son versus the loyalty to her brother. It is not a simple life.
Interesting Look at a Lesser-Known Tudor May 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This novel, told in the third person, picks up with Margaret in her early girlhood at Henry VII's court and ends with her death in Scotland after having given birth to two surviving children and married three husbands.
As I knew little about Margaret before reading this novel, I found it quite interesting. Margaret's first marriage ended when she was still quite young, leaving the widowed Margaret to choose first one unsuitable husband of lower rank, than another. I can't say that I found Margaret a particularly likable character, but Plaidy did do a good job of portraying the difficulties she faced from warring factions in Scotland, pressures from England and France, and her own stubborn nature. In some ways, Margaret reminded me of Mary, Queen of Scots, with the difference being that Margaret ultimately died in her bed.
One thing I did wish had been included in here was a genealogical table, not so much for the English characters but the Scottish ones. That aside, I found this to be an interesting introduction to Margaret, one that will have me on the outlook for nonfiction about her as well.
womananother tough tudor April 26, 2008
being tudor women was a tough life.margaret was married off to a man she never met 16 years older than her,but was happy in a short lived marriage.she was put in the middle of love for her birth land and the one her son would rule.
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