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Uncrowned Queen

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Despite a detailed knowledge of the Tudors, I knew very little about Margaret Beaufort before I read this book, only that she was Henry VII's mother and involved with that plethora of Henry and Edwards that so confuse the period of the Wars of the Roses. However, she was a fascinating character, and the author has brought her to light in an interesting and scholarly manner. The author treats the peripheral characters with equal care, and the picture builds not only of Margaret but of Richard III, Elizabeth of York, Henry VII and even young Arthur, since their stories impinge on the life of the main character. The book is well researched, quoting many primary sources and using that material to flesh out the characters' lives through their papers, letters and above all what they spent their money on, and it serves as a history of the rise of the Tudor dynasty as well as a biography of Margaret.

Very readable, very interesting and a solid text. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, Perseus Books and Basic Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The movies I've seen and books I've read about the Tudors all tended to paint a less than admirable picture of Margaret Beaufort. She always was that greedy, ambitious, cold-blooded and obsessive part of the royal family.

It is refreshing therefore to read a different account of her.

Nicola Tallis has written a most fabulous book. So compelling that I always find it hard to put it down. I like that she has referred to a host of primary sources, of which she has gone to great lengths to secure a good readable transcript of. I find it so fascinating that she can turn a simple boring record of household accounts of one of Margaret's husband into intriguing details and events of her life.

I can't wait to see which historical figure Ms Tallis will tackle next, and I will be sure to get a copy!

Thank you, Netgalley and Perseus Books/Basic Books for a chance to read an early copy. This is my honest review.

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Meticulously researched and demonstrating a real passion for the subject, I nevertheless found this biography of Margaret Beaufort hard going due to its narrative style. The writing lacks coherence and clarity, and is often repetitive. Somehow Margaret just never came alive for me and all the political plots and machinations just became a litany of facts and figures, difficult to absorb. Margaret Beaufort’s life was an interesting one, with no indication at the beginning that she would end up so powerful and such a key player in the period’s turbulent history, and certainly this book tells you all you need to know. But I found it so lifeless that I gave up before the end, wishing that a good editor had tidied up the writing and inspired it with a bit more oomph.

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This is an absolutely fabulous biography. I learnt so much, not only about Margaret Beaufort but also other family members and the Tudor court especially Henry Tudor. In particular I never realised how involved Margaret was in her estates or that she was the only female appointed by Henry VII as a Lady of the Garter. She really was an uncrowned queen and was shown respect as such.

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This was a brilliant, well-researched, easy-to-read account of the life of Margaret Beaufort, the person who was instrumental in establishing the Tudor dynasty.

Despite not being a political historian, I have long been fascinated with learning about the tumultuous events that made up early-modern England. I studied a module on the Wars of the Roses while at uni, but since then I haven't read any books on the topic (or any history books at all, for that matter). I came across this book and quite randomly decided to give it a read. I'm really glad I did as it not only reignited my interest in reading and learning about history but also made me realise that I actually remember a lot more from my degree than I thought I did (it's always nice to feel like I didn't completely waste three years of my life!)

One thing that I think makes this period so interesting to me is probably the different historical figures involved, and Tallis does a great job at bringing them to life, presenting a well-informed yet interesting portrayal of them. Reading this book actually reminded me of some of my favourite historical figures and some of the sources related to them:

– Henry VI: If there were a Buzzfeed quiz titled "Which early-modern English King are you?", I would definitely get Henry VI! Kind of useless but trying his best? Crumbles under responsibility? Finds it hard to say no to people? Honestly, relatable. My favourite source relating to Henry VI is one that claims that Henry spent the Battle of St Albans sitting under a tree, singing.

– George, Duke of Clarence: I don't know what i find funnier—that Clarence switched sides more times than there were monarchs in the 15th century or that everyone trusted him to be loyal to their side each time. Edward, I'm sorry, but if you really believed Clarence was loyal to you after he had plotted against you twice previously, then that's on you! My favourite source relating to Clarence is the rumour that he chose to be executed by being drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine.

– Margaret Beaufort: Then, of course, we have the subject of this book herself—Margaret Beaufort, a figure who is often overshadowed in studies of this period by other powerful female figures, such as Margaret of Anjou and Elizabeth Woodville. I don't think I really appreciated how extraordinary her life and achievements were before reading this book. She was married at around 9 years old, then again at 12 years old. Shortly after this, she became a widow, then gave birth at just 13 years old. She used marriage throughout her life as a tactical tool to secure and enhance her and her son's positions, and—upon her son's ascent to the throne—secured herself the status of femme sole while still technically married, an unprecedented and powerful move that rewarded her with independence for the rest of her life. She lived to see six monarch ascend to the throne, managing to keep herself and her son relatively safe the entire time. She also played a significant hand in numerous rebellions (including the one that succeeded in putting her son on the throne). She was undoubtedly instrumental in setting up and securing the Tudor dynasty, and as Tallis highlights, she has an incredibly impressive legacy as every English monarch since Henry VII has been able to trace their descent from Margaret.

I think what is so great about this book is that it is quite thorough—covering the entire period of the Wars of the Roses in relation to Margaret, while also analysing sources to examine her character and dispel long-held myths about her character—as well as easy and interesting to read. In fact, Tallis relays the ups and downs of the events of this period in a way that reads almost like a novel.

I would really recommend this book to both people who are familiar with this period of history as well as people who have a general interest in history. It's probably not the most in-depth study out there, but it's a great study of an often-overlooked character from this period. I will definitely be checking out more of Tallis' books in the future as I really enjoyed her writing style.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review,

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I have yet to read a Nicola Tallis book that fails to educate the reader in an innovative way. Tallis has the ability to make her readers feel as though they've been transported to another time and place within history. As she describes, in immaculate detail, the profound life of Margaret Beaufort, the reader finds themself utterly enraptured. Some history books and biographies have the tendency to come across as dry and rather irrelevant. However Tallis, in her royal biography, presents us with a royal figure who comes across as larger than life.

Margaret Beaufort, otherwise known as the Matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, led a complex life full of tragedy, scandal, ambition, and hope. Tallis lays out the facts of Margaret's life in an engaging way and brings to life an extremely intelligent woman- a woman who was frequently dismissed due to her gender. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Tudor fanatic, a history lover, or someone who wants to educate themselves on the life of an impressive woman.

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This a a 5 star read. The writing flows as smoothly as fiction, the facts are documented, and the opinions are well formed, considered interpretations.

I couldn't put it down.

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Great writing and strong voice. Recommend if looking for a story that is as captivating as it is well-written.

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I could not put this book down! This story is fascinating and I had no idea the depth and richness of which this book would take me. Nicola Tallis is brilliant and her writing is so readable and engaging. I will be reading more of her work!

I loved the layout of the Tudor family in the prologue and the timeline was very helpful.

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Uncrowned Queen is an excellent biography of Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII and a savvy political figure active in the Wars of the Roses. Thoroughly researched, the book is an entertaining and detailed read, and Tallis does a great job of making all of the often complicated bloodlines and inheritances clear and relevant. Readers interested in the Tudors and their history will enjoy this account of Margaret's careful planning and plots to install her son on the throne, as well as the detail Tallis provides on Margaret's estates, clothes, and jewelry, all managed and and used for specific purposes to secure her life, that of her her heir, and her freedom and positions over the course of her life.

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Uncrowned Queen is an interesting, well researched biography of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. Absolutely fascinating.

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A good overall biography of Margaret from birth to death. Good information about her marriages, children the wars and so on. Good chunk of information for those who have an interest in the Tudors or that era.

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Margaret Beaufort is one of the most fascinating women of medieval history. She was a child bride and then a child widow but is probably most known for being King a Henry VII’s mother. She was an important political figure during the war of the roses and well after. Nicola Tallis written an incredibly entertaining biography of a woman who is often minimized or flat out erased from history.

Her passion and determination for not just herself but her son and then grandchildren is expertly explained by Tallis vividly. There is so much I didn’t know not just about her but about her family and the politics of the day. If you’re interested in the history of the Tudor era this book is a must read!

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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. What a great read. The author did a great job in researching Lady Margaret Beaufort. There are a few books out there about here but I feel this one is the best one I have read about her.

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A new and wonderfully written book by this author. Tells the true story of her life. Don't miss this one!

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Margaret Beaufort, the ultimate survivor of the 15th century. Henry VIII, Magaret's grandson, gets all the attention of the Tudor period but for me, Margaret is the star. When Margaret is an infant her father the Duke of Somerset is disgraced in France comes home and does suddenly. It is suspected he committed suicide leaving Margaret wealthy but unprotected. Henry VI gives the Duke of Suffolk Margaret's hardship and while she is still a child of 9 she is married to his son. Times being what they are the Duke of Suffolk runs afoul with the government and is exiled and murdered before he can leave the country. Her first married is dissolved and at 12 is married to Henry VI's half brother Edmund Tudor. Edmund doesn't control himself and beds Margaret immediately and gets her pregnant. He then skips off to fight, gets captured, catches the plague(?), and dies. Margaret, pregnant, at thirteen is left again wealthy without a protector and now with a kid on the way. She goes to her brother in law for help at Pembroke castle and has her baby, a son. However, because of this birth, she doesn't have any more kids probably because she has internal damage from the birth. The author floats the idea it could also have been because she was frigid.
After two months Margaret goes with her brother in law Jasper Tudor to the Duke of Buckingham to arrange a marriage between herself and his second son. She is STILL thirteen. She marries her third husband and this marriage is happy and there a many ups and downs due to the Wars of the Roses. The author dies a great job explaining who is who but the explanations are short. Not a lot of depth. This book is about Margaret, not the Yorks and the Lancasters. There is a fabulous bibliography at the back of this book if you want to read more about the War of the Roses and the cousins who fought it, the battles, and the complicated relationships of all personages involved. This also has an amazing number of footnotes to further explain things and to give sources to give background on what is going on. It really is a fascinating study. To make a long story short, Margaret sees little of her son as he goes up as his guardianship is given to others. It seems back then you were not allowed to raise your own child if your hub and died and there was money involved. By the way, Henry VI is dead and Edward IV is king but the wars rage on. Margaret's third husband dies of his wounds after a battle. Margaret buries her husband and hustles out and gets married a fourth time. She is still rich and needs a protector.
Margaret marries Thomas Stanley, Edward IV is in a bad mood and wants to do away with Margaret 's son Henry so Henry and Jasper go into exile on the continent for fourteen years. Edward IV does and Richard I I I usurps the throne from Edward V. The author makes a compelling case that Richard III killed the princes in the tower. I say he was in charge of the kingdom and the buck stops with him. He should have taken better care of his prisoners. I mean "Where are they?" Richard III and Henry fight it out at Bosworth for the throne Richard loses and Henry is king.
Henry is now Henry VII and Margaret is "My lady the king's mother." Henry married well has kids one being Henry VIII and rules England with the help of Margaret. Today Margaret does not have a great reputation. She is thought of a cold, conniving, fanatical about religion, and putting Henry on the throne. Contemporaries describe her as loving, King, and generous. She kept almshouses for the poor, gave generously to the church and the poor, cared for the sick, and patronized higher education. She also liked music, fine clothes, and jewelry. She was pious, fasted, heard mass 4-5 times a day, and spent long hours on her knees in prayer. She was wealthy and kept her own books. She had a large family and looked out for them. She loved her son and her grandchildren and was very close to them. She sadly outlived her son and several grandchildren including her first grandchild Arthur. I enjoyed this book and I would like to the Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

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I've read a lot of books about the Tudors. I've never read one about Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIII. As a result, I knew very little about her before picking up Uncrowned Queen. What do I now know? That she was a pretty incredible woman.
Married and a mother at the age of 13, her husband - and the father of Henry VII - died before she gave birth. Alone, and with a baby to take care of, she quickly found a new husband, choosing one who could protect her and her small family. Her choice was a smart one, a reflection of most of the decisions she made in her long life.
In many ways, Margaret was bound by the social rules of the time. What I found fascinating is how she worked within those rules to protect her only son and her own fortune at a time of huge political unrest (a large part of her story takes place during the War of the Roses). She walked a fine line that many other women of her era weren't able to.
It's obvious reading Uncrowned Queen that Nicola Tallis loves her subject. There is a warmth to her writing and the way she describes Margaret that makes me want to love her too. For the most part, I did. For me, a little more of Margaret's own voice would have helped turn this from a really good book into a great one.
Saying that, I recognise that given how long ago this was, and the fact Margaret was a woman means there isn't necessarily much of her own voice left; much of what we are told is through the eyes of others. I am forgiving of this personal 'niggle' then. It probably won't bother other people, who I hope really enjoy this journey into the life of a fascinating and strong woman.

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Uncrowned Queen offers an extensive story of the life of British royal Lady Margaret Beaufort. I love the Tudors and reading about this period of time in history and this book was extremely well researched and studied. The author's storytelling and narrative ability are exceptional. A great read for anyone interested in learning about the history of the British monarchy.

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I have always loved the Tudor period. I have read a lot of books about the family and seen a lot of documentaries. This book was very good and very informative.

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First line: As the bitter weather swirled, in the strong stone walls of Pembroke Castle a thirteen-year-old girl was undergoing the worst ordeal of her life.

Summary: Margaret Beaufort was the mother of King Henry VII. She lived during the War of the Roses in England. Stemming from a bastard line of Edward III her family had a small claim on the English throne. She married multiple times but only had one son at the age of thirteen. The rest of her life was dedicated to protecting herself and her son who would one day rule England.

My Thoughts: This was an outstanding biography of an amazing woman. She had lots of power in the time when women had very little. I knew Margaret’s story but this opened it up more and gave me a clearer look into who she really was. The author definitely did lots of research and found many sources to fill out her life.

I cannot even imagine having a child at thirteen. And then fighting for her son and her life for years to come using her influence and wealth to keep them alive. The author helped disprove several of the long standing myths about Margaret. She was a very pious woman but not a zealot. She most likely did not have anything to do with the deaths of the princes in the tower. She was a strong believer in education. I remember visiting Cambridge nine years ago and seeing the Beaufort portcullis in several of the colleges. She truly was a woman to be admired. Then and now.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get a deeper look into her life and the time of the War of the Roses. Plus visit Cambridge if you can. It is a beautiful city and has lots of hidden wonders that make it an ideal day trip from London.

FYI: I felt like this almost read like fiction.

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