INNOCENT TRAITOR (Alison Weir)

Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this is one of Weir's 2 works of historical fiction. Innocent Traitor is the story of Lady Jane Gray, whose brief claim to the throne of Britain ended in her beheading at the tender age of 16. The novel is written from several points of view: Jane, her mother Frances, and Queen Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. Frances is an abusive mother, perpetually disappointed by her failure to produce a son and her failure to achieve the social status that she feel her family deserves. She is an embittered social climber who lacks any empathy or motherly instincts. Katherine Parr, by contrast, is a warm, loving woman whose interest and attention provide Jane with her only experience of maternal love and attention aside from her nurse, Ellen. The character of Jane is a bit troubling as she is portrayed her as unnaturally intelligent and well-spoken beyond her years. At the age of 4 she seems to have the personality of a 20-year-old!

This novel is rich in historical details, especially concerning the conduct of everyday family life and the customs of the royal court. As we all know, though, it does end badly. If you are not in the mood for a sad outcome, this might not be the book for you, but if you love attention to historical minutiae, pick this one up. You won't be able to put it down.