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Crown of Blood

The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey

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Crown of Blood

By: Nicola Tallis
Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
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'Good people, I am come hither to die and by a law I am condemned to the same.' These were the words uttered by 17-year-old Lady Jane Grey as she stood on the scaffold on a cold February morning in 1554. Forced on to the throne by power players at court, Queen Jane reigned for just 13 days before being imprisoned in the tower, condemned for high treason and executed.

In this dramatic retelling of an often misread tale, historian Nicola Tallis explores evidence that has never been before used in a biography to sweep away the myths and reveal the moving story of an intelligent, independent and courageous young woman

©2017 Katie Hickman (P)2017 Oakhill Publishing 16th Century Europe Great Britain Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Royalty England Tudor
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Critic reviews

"A stunning debut...vivid, colourful, pacy and evocative." (Alison Weir)
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Listening to this, I felt I really got to know Jane. It contains a lot of detail about her lifestyle, attitudes and the people who surrounded her.
Before listening to this I really knew nothing about Jane, now I feel very well acquainted. I most liked the transcript between Jane and Feckenham in the appendix of the book, where they debate the doctrinal differences between the catholic and reformist christian faiths.
What a courageous and dignified young woman she was. How tragic that through her obedience she was sent to her death. What ruthless times she lived in.

Detailed and personal

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An enjoyable listen of what I believe is the author's debut work. This is an episode in English history that I knew only sketchily, and I feel the story was told here in a clear and easy to understand manner. Very well read - it kept me absorbed throughout and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history.

Absorbing and well read episode of Tudor history.

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Brilliantly written and easy to follow the sad story of a courageous young lady whose fate and ultimate demise was sealed at 17 years old.

Sad but true

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What an incredible debut from an outstanding historian and author. I knew very little about Lady Jane Grey when I began listening to this book, and Nicola Tallis’ writing made her incredible, tragic, story come to life. I cannot recommend this book enough, it was beautifully written and truly captivating. I have already begun Tallis’ second book!

Captivating and beautifully written!

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What a waste of an intelligent young life, I found myself longing for a different ending to what would eventually become inevitable. I have listened to several of Nicola Tallis’ books and her biggest strength is how sensitively and sympathetically the women are portrayed, this book is no exception. I highly recommend.

Sensitive and informative!

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