Her Highness the Traitor

England! One of Europe's crowning jewels and the nation that has long been known for its splendor and greatness. Its castles, its countryside, its people, and most of all, its royal families. For years the royals that have graced the throne of Great Britain have amazed the world; people such as King Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria each left their marks on the English monarchy. And each in their turn passed on their crown to the next royal in for the throne. Most of the time the passing down of power goes smoothly and the monarchy is granted a new ruler swiftly and without incident. But there are times when problems arise. Her Highness the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham recounts an example of this, perhaps the most notorious in all of English history.

Very few people know who Jane Grey was; hardly anyone knows her name, and even fewer remember the women who put her on the throne of England. Jane Grey did not know that she was fourth in line for the monarchy; she only cared about her studies and her books. Her mother, on the other hand, wanted her daughter to rise to greatness, she wanted her to be the queen of England; but there was no way to do this. But after young King Edward died without and heir, an opportunity opens up. Together with Jane Dudley, Francis Grey planned to fulfill her plans for her daughter, putting all three women in a dangerous position.

This book was an interesting read. A strange mix of historical facts and character driven story, Her Highness the Traitor gave an interesting look at English court after the reign of King Henry VIII. While it is definitely  a book for teenagers and young adults due to many descriptions of marriage relations, this book was an enjoyable read that history fanatics will enjoy. It is a thinking book and should not be read casually.

*****
RJ