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The Lost Tudor Princess: The Life of Lady Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Royal Tudor blood ran in her veins. Her mother was a Queen, her father an Earl, and she herself was the granddaughter, niece, cousin and grandmother of monarchs.
Beautiful and tempestuous, she created scandal not just once but twice by falling in love with unsuitable men. Fortunately the marriage arranged for her turned into a love match.
Beautiful and tempestuous, she created scandal not just once but twice by falling in love with unsuitable men. Fortunately the marriage arranged for her turned into a love match.
537 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2016
913 people are currently reading
7512 people want to read
About the author
Alison Weir
80 books8,202 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
December 17, 2015
3.5/5
Margaret Douglas, niece to Henry VIII by his sister Margaret Tudor, Dowager Queen of Scotland, came into the world under rather extraordinary circumstances, when her royal mother of renowned Tudor lineage, heavy in the last stages of pregnancy and in fear of her life, fled from Scotland and her enemies to seek protection under her formidable brother on English soil. In the sixteenth century, England and Scotland had hardly a neighborly, peaceful relationship, the two shared long established hostilities - just 2 years prior, Margaret Tudor's (1st ) husband, King James IV, was slaughtered at "one of the most cataclysmic events in Scottish history", the battle of Flodden. With his death that September, he left behind his heir, 17 month old James V and a 2 month-pregnant Queen (she gave birth to Alexander the following April).
In the year of Margaret's birth, 1515, Henry VIII had "no surviving child to succeed him; his nearest heirs were his sister Margaret Tudor, and her children, James V and now Margaret Douglas.". This bloodline fact would later cause conspiracy theories, distrust in the issue of succession to the English throne, and be used to entice advantageous political relations.
Margaret's childhood was soured by conflicting loyalties as her parents, Margaret Tudor and Angus Douglas viciously fought each other over royal properties and revenues, infidelities, power struggles and treasonable alliances. More harmfully, her legitimacy and subsequent Douglas inheritance came into question when her mother petitioned for annulment in the circulating belief that Angus had a marriage contract with another lady prior to their own marriage. She was thus from an early age exposed to political parlaying, intrigue, conspiracy and backstabbing.
By reason of her royal blood and her claim to the English succession, and as James V's half-sister and Henry VIII's niece, Margaret was a highly desirable bride - a great prize in the European marriage market.
Like a dramatic scene from a soap opera, her father, seeking to ally himself to England, actually kidnapped her from her mother's care - afterall, she was at a "marriageable age which for girls was then twelve, and she could be a valuable political asset in terms of a marriage alliance." The one piece of luck that came out of a relationship with Cardinal Wolsey (he having been her godfather), was that Margaret's welfare and safety was transferred indirectly to him and, after his demise, at the behest of King Henry, spent her adolescent years in the household of her cousin, Princess Mary.
Though probably sympathetic toward Princess Mary's controversy with her father, Margaret made sure not to involve herself in the issue of the Great Matter between Mary's parents, Queen Katherine and Henry VIII; by doing so, she retained good favor with Henry, who lavished gifts upon her, called her a 'princess,' (though not born one ), treating her better in fact than his daughters (seeing he disowned his own daughters as bastards), and appointed her as the Queen's first lady of honor, a title she held for all his subsequent wives.
She survived the wrath of Henry VIII twice in his reign for love affairs not royally sanctioned, since "a woman of royal blood to indulge in a clandestine romance was to court scandal and disaster." She was thrown in the towers for the first error of love, suffering the thought of a death sentence, and pushed her luck the second time when she was once again arrested for pretty much the same thing. Both love crimes dangerously occurred when Henry's own love-lives ( with Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard) had freshly ended in heads falling.
She married finally with the good wishes of her uncle to Matthew Stewart, the Scots Earl of Lennox with whom the political arrangement became one of mutual love and regard. She bore him many children, but the child who most elevated her position in history was Henry, Lord Darnley. Here, Weir's story of Margaret Douglas finally made the connection since prior to this I had not realized this 'Margaret' was Darnley's mother. And in recognizing her leathery toughness, strength of faith and religious views, penchant for conspiracy and political intrigue, and a driven dynastic ambition , she paralleled her great grandmother: the other Margaret Tudor, mother of King Henry VII and matriarch of the Tudor Dynasty. Her plotting to seal the marriage between Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots landed her in the towers again, sent there by a seething Elizabeth I (and it would not be the only time). How tenacious a schemer this woman was for I have counted at least 5 separate times in the book that she had been sent either to the towers or placed under house arrest. And how resilient to have made it to 62 years old, to die of natural causes in medieval times when often heads rolled off blocks or bodies withered, forgotten in stone-walled cells.
Problems with Weir's biography include the most annoying thing to me that some biographers of medieval history do, and that is to fill reams of paper with irrelevant fluff about the lavish clothes, the rich textures and garment colors popular at the time. Furthermore, while gathering some detailed information, Weir misunderstood that copying whole passages of poetry (Margaret dappled in it) or reciting large extracts from legal and political documents without the value of her interpretation of them, would be biographically-worthy material. On the contrary, this is more on the lines of superfluous ink in a lazy pen used to fill in blank spots.
Generally speaking of the Margaret Douglas story, I found a very interesting medieval figure previously not well sketched. Weir was able to bring some illuminating and appreciable features to Margaret who was, in my estimation, schemer or not, a relevant link in the Tudor/Stewart narrative: always in the top 3 positions in line to the throne of England, surviving many accusations of treason during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, mother-in-law to Mary, Queen of Scots, and grandmother to the one who eventually united the two realms, King James I and VI.
Margaret Douglas, niece to Henry VIII by his sister Margaret Tudor, Dowager Queen of Scotland, came into the world under rather extraordinary circumstances, when her royal mother of renowned Tudor lineage, heavy in the last stages of pregnancy and in fear of her life, fled from Scotland and her enemies to seek protection under her formidable brother on English soil. In the sixteenth century, England and Scotland had hardly a neighborly, peaceful relationship, the two shared long established hostilities - just 2 years prior, Margaret Tudor's (1st ) husband, King James IV, was slaughtered at "one of the most cataclysmic events in Scottish history", the battle of Flodden. With his death that September, he left behind his heir, 17 month old James V and a 2 month-pregnant Queen (she gave birth to Alexander the following April).
In the year of Margaret's birth, 1515, Henry VIII had "no surviving child to succeed him; his nearest heirs were his sister Margaret Tudor, and her children, James V and now Margaret Douglas.". This bloodline fact would later cause conspiracy theories, distrust in the issue of succession to the English throne, and be used to entice advantageous political relations.
Margaret's childhood was soured by conflicting loyalties as her parents, Margaret Tudor and Angus Douglas viciously fought each other over royal properties and revenues, infidelities, power struggles and treasonable alliances. More harmfully, her legitimacy and subsequent Douglas inheritance came into question when her mother petitioned for annulment in the circulating belief that Angus had a marriage contract with another lady prior to their own marriage. She was thus from an early age exposed to political parlaying, intrigue, conspiracy and backstabbing.
By reason of her royal blood and her claim to the English succession, and as James V's half-sister and Henry VIII's niece, Margaret was a highly desirable bride - a great prize in the European marriage market.
Like a dramatic scene from a soap opera, her father, seeking to ally himself to England, actually kidnapped her from her mother's care - afterall, she was at a "marriageable age which for girls was then twelve, and she could be a valuable political asset in terms of a marriage alliance." The one piece of luck that came out of a relationship with Cardinal Wolsey (he having been her godfather), was that Margaret's welfare and safety was transferred indirectly to him and, after his demise, at the behest of King Henry, spent her adolescent years in the household of her cousin, Princess Mary.
Though probably sympathetic toward Princess Mary's controversy with her father, Margaret made sure not to involve herself in the issue of the Great Matter between Mary's parents, Queen Katherine and Henry VIII; by doing so, she retained good favor with Henry, who lavished gifts upon her, called her a 'princess,' (though not born one ), treating her better in fact than his daughters (seeing he disowned his own daughters as bastards), and appointed her as the Queen's first lady of honor, a title she held for all his subsequent wives.
She survived the wrath of Henry VIII twice in his reign for love affairs not royally sanctioned, since "a woman of royal blood to indulge in a clandestine romance was to court scandal and disaster." She was thrown in the towers for the first error of love, suffering the thought of a death sentence, and pushed her luck the second time when she was once again arrested for pretty much the same thing. Both love crimes dangerously occurred when Henry's own love-lives ( with Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard) had freshly ended in heads falling.
She married finally with the good wishes of her uncle to Matthew Stewart, the Scots Earl of Lennox with whom the political arrangement became one of mutual love and regard. She bore him many children, but the child who most elevated her position in history was Henry, Lord Darnley. Here, Weir's story of Margaret Douglas finally made the connection since prior to this I had not realized this 'Margaret' was Darnley's mother. And in recognizing her leathery toughness, strength of faith and religious views, penchant for conspiracy and political intrigue, and a driven dynastic ambition , she paralleled her great grandmother: the other Margaret Tudor, mother of King Henry VII and matriarch of the Tudor Dynasty. Her plotting to seal the marriage between Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots landed her in the towers again, sent there by a seething Elizabeth I (and it would not be the only time). How tenacious a schemer this woman was for I have counted at least 5 separate times in the book that she had been sent either to the towers or placed under house arrest. And how resilient to have made it to 62 years old, to die of natural causes in medieval times when often heads rolled off blocks or bodies withered, forgotten in stone-walled cells.
Problems with Weir's biography include the most annoying thing to me that some biographers of medieval history do, and that is to fill reams of paper with irrelevant fluff about the lavish clothes, the rich textures and garment colors popular at the time. Furthermore, while gathering some detailed information, Weir misunderstood that copying whole passages of poetry (Margaret dappled in it) or reciting large extracts from legal and political documents without the value of her interpretation of them, would be biographically-worthy material. On the contrary, this is more on the lines of superfluous ink in a lazy pen used to fill in blank spots.
Generally speaking of the Margaret Douglas story, I found a very interesting medieval figure previously not well sketched. Weir was able to bring some illuminating and appreciable features to Margaret who was, in my estimation, schemer or not, a relevant link in the Tudor/Stewart narrative: always in the top 3 positions in line to the throne of England, surviving many accusations of treason during the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, mother-in-law to Mary, Queen of Scots, and grandmother to the one who eventually united the two realms, King James I and VI.
November 7, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
Ah the Tudors – a Showtime series made you hot all over again. Not that you ever lost the hotness, you understand.
And to be fair to Weir, she was writing about the Tudors long before Showtime got its idea, so she wins.
There are problems with books like this one. There are reasons why full length studies of Margaret Douglas (or Lennox) and Elizabeth of York are not often done. There really isn’t quite much information in terms the ladies themselves. This is more of a sign of the ladies’ times than anything else. Yet, it is true that every so often and historian finds something new about such a personage or presents a new theory that will get people to look at said women differently.
That really isn’t the case here.
This is not to say that Weir’s biography is a bad book; it isn’t. In some places, while not shedding new light on events, Weir moves them into the spotlight and presents the details in one place, something that is not usually done. Weir’s book, however, does fail into the pitfall that most other books about “lost” people fall into.
It’s less about the person and more events that surround that person.
At times, Margaret disappears for pages. This isn’t so surprise –after all she was Mary Queen of Scots’ mother-in-law, her mother was the queen of Scotland, her brother a king, her cousin a queen, and she was a woman living in a man’s world. It is too Weir’s credit that there is discussion and dissection of Margaret’s poetry as well as her early “love affairs”. There is a wonderful section about the symbolism of the Lennox jewel.
Yet, at times, the book is less about Margaret and more about the power politics that she lived with and in. Therefore, if you are a long time reader of Tudor biographies and histories, or even a long time reader of Weir (or Fraser) much of this book is, quite frankly, old hat. Furthermore, the reader comes away still with a vague idea of Margaret. It’s true that this image is better drawn then the power hungry woman that is often seen in connection Mary, Queen of Scots – an image that Weir never endorsed - , yet the Lost Tudor Princess is hardly found and is still less well known than those who shared the stage.
This isn’t Weir’s fault, but it is still the case. If you come to this book for a better look at Margaret Lennox, then you will be disappointed in some ways. If you come to this book because you are trying to complete your Weir reading list or because you enjoy Weir’s writing, you will not be disappointed – Weir’s writing is engaging as always -if one sided in some of her depictions.
Ah the Tudors – a Showtime series made you hot all over again. Not that you ever lost the hotness, you understand.
And to be fair to Weir, she was writing about the Tudors long before Showtime got its idea, so she wins.
There are problems with books like this one. There are reasons why full length studies of Margaret Douglas (or Lennox) and Elizabeth of York are not often done. There really isn’t quite much information in terms the ladies themselves. This is more of a sign of the ladies’ times than anything else. Yet, it is true that every so often and historian finds something new about such a personage or presents a new theory that will get people to look at said women differently.
That really isn’t the case here.
This is not to say that Weir’s biography is a bad book; it isn’t. In some places, while not shedding new light on events, Weir moves them into the spotlight and presents the details in one place, something that is not usually done. Weir’s book, however, does fail into the pitfall that most other books about “lost” people fall into.
It’s less about the person and more events that surround that person.
At times, Margaret disappears for pages. This isn’t so surprise –after all she was Mary Queen of Scots’ mother-in-law, her mother was the queen of Scotland, her brother a king, her cousin a queen, and she was a woman living in a man’s world. It is too Weir’s credit that there is discussion and dissection of Margaret’s poetry as well as her early “love affairs”. There is a wonderful section about the symbolism of the Lennox jewel.
Yet, at times, the book is less about Margaret and more about the power politics that she lived with and in. Therefore, if you are a long time reader of Tudor biographies and histories, or even a long time reader of Weir (or Fraser) much of this book is, quite frankly, old hat. Furthermore, the reader comes away still with a vague idea of Margaret. It’s true that this image is better drawn then the power hungry woman that is often seen in connection Mary, Queen of Scots – an image that Weir never endorsed - , yet the Lost Tudor Princess is hardly found and is still less well known than those who shared the stage.
This isn’t Weir’s fault, but it is still the case. If you come to this book for a better look at Margaret Lennox, then you will be disappointed in some ways. If you come to this book because you are trying to complete your Weir reading list or because you enjoy Weir’s writing, you will not be disappointed – Weir’s writing is engaging as always -if one sided in some of her depictions.
March 6, 2016
Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor (one-time Queen of Scotland) is a woman whom often pops up in Tudor and Stuart history (especially as her son married Mary, Queen of Scots). Douglas was always omnipresent even if sort of lurking in shadows. Despite this appearance, she has yet to be discussed on her own merit. Alison Weir pens the first full-biography of this formidable lady in, “The Last Tudor Princess: The Life of Lady Margaret Douglas”.
“The Last Tudor Princess” noticeably begins on a stronger note than Weir’s recent works which have been notably thin and flimsy. In “The Last Tudor Princess”, Weir returns somewhat to her roots of meticulously detailed writing, sleuth work, presenting new and fresh angles, and debunking myths. Although Margaret doesn’t come fully to life; a lot is revealed which will definitely present the reader with new information even for those familiar with the history setting.
That being said, as per usual Weir bravado, “The Last Tudor Princess” often strays from streamlining Margaret and instead describes events surrounding her (versus Margaret directly). This is coupled with speculative statements and assumptions which weaken some of the credibility and provides false images. For example, p. 48 states, “Already members of Anne’s household were being interrogated as to the conduct of their mistress, and Margaret must have been one of those questioned, although no sources name her” -- Must have? Doesn’t seem likely, then! Why mention this at all?!
“The Lost Tudor Princess” also suffers from a slow over-analyzing of minor details such as logistics, spending, and gifts received. Although the research/information gathered is impressive; the pace is slackened and this does not help reveal Margaret at all. Some readers may be inclined to skim large chunks of text.
A noticeable flaw to those familiar with the material is Weir’s staunch presentation of information as facts when not fully argued in the notes. Weir often offers factual claims of material that is debated as inconclusive amongst other authors and historians. Readers new to the material will take this as hard-proof when it is not the case.
On a positive note, the pace quickens and the text is quite exciting and informative as the book progresses and Weir explains the involvement of Mary, Queen of Scots with Margaret’s son, Lord Darnley. However, this is still more of a discussion of events and circumstances than Margaret, herself. Weir supplements this absence with many letters and documents personally written by Margaret which haven’t been observed in other texts. This certainly adds some meat to “The Last Tudor Princess”.
The conclusion of “The Last Tudor Princess” is decently memorable and is a sufficient round-up of the material. Although Margaret’s inner psyche wasn’t every truly revealed; Weir does eulogize her on the final pages.
The text is also supplemented by compelling appendices discussing the portraiture of Margaret and poems copied by her into the Devonshire Manuscript (the other poems specifically written by her are discussed elsewhere in the book). This is followed by a well-detailed list of key figures from the time period down to priests, household attendants, servants, etc; which is useful for anyone interested in the period. Weir also includes a bibliography, notes, and a section of color plates (which include more photos than most history books – this is a good thing!).
Even though “The Lost Tudor Princess” suffers from flaws and doesn’t necessarily reveal Margaret Douglas completely; it certainly brings to the forefront a woman whom is always mentioned but never completely in the spot light. The text reveals new information and is clearly well-researched. Plus, “The Lost Tudor Princess” is Weir’s best work from most recent years making it worth reading on two counts. “The Lost Tudor Princess” is suggested for all readers interested in Tudor and Stuart politics as much can be learned from the text. Just don’t expect a biography solely on Margaret and you then you won’t be disappointed.
**Note: This would be more of a 3.5 but rounding up to 4 in comparison to recent Weir works**
“The Last Tudor Princess” noticeably begins on a stronger note than Weir’s recent works which have been notably thin and flimsy. In “The Last Tudor Princess”, Weir returns somewhat to her roots of meticulously detailed writing, sleuth work, presenting new and fresh angles, and debunking myths. Although Margaret doesn’t come fully to life; a lot is revealed which will definitely present the reader with new information even for those familiar with the history setting.
That being said, as per usual Weir bravado, “The Last Tudor Princess” often strays from streamlining Margaret and instead describes events surrounding her (versus Margaret directly). This is coupled with speculative statements and assumptions which weaken some of the credibility and provides false images. For example, p. 48 states, “Already members of Anne’s household were being interrogated as to the conduct of their mistress, and Margaret must have been one of those questioned, although no sources name her” -- Must have? Doesn’t seem likely, then! Why mention this at all?!
“The Lost Tudor Princess” also suffers from a slow over-analyzing of minor details such as logistics, spending, and gifts received. Although the research/information gathered is impressive; the pace is slackened and this does not help reveal Margaret at all. Some readers may be inclined to skim large chunks of text.
A noticeable flaw to those familiar with the material is Weir’s staunch presentation of information as facts when not fully argued in the notes. Weir often offers factual claims of material that is debated as inconclusive amongst other authors and historians. Readers new to the material will take this as hard-proof when it is not the case.
On a positive note, the pace quickens and the text is quite exciting and informative as the book progresses and Weir explains the involvement of Mary, Queen of Scots with Margaret’s son, Lord Darnley. However, this is still more of a discussion of events and circumstances than Margaret, herself. Weir supplements this absence with many letters and documents personally written by Margaret which haven’t been observed in other texts. This certainly adds some meat to “The Last Tudor Princess”.
The conclusion of “The Last Tudor Princess” is decently memorable and is a sufficient round-up of the material. Although Margaret’s inner psyche wasn’t every truly revealed; Weir does eulogize her on the final pages.
The text is also supplemented by compelling appendices discussing the portraiture of Margaret and poems copied by her into the Devonshire Manuscript (the other poems specifically written by her are discussed elsewhere in the book). This is followed by a well-detailed list of key figures from the time period down to priests, household attendants, servants, etc; which is useful for anyone interested in the period. Weir also includes a bibliography, notes, and a section of color plates (which include more photos than most history books – this is a good thing!).
Even though “The Lost Tudor Princess” suffers from flaws and doesn’t necessarily reveal Margaret Douglas completely; it certainly brings to the forefront a woman whom is always mentioned but never completely in the spot light. The text reveals new information and is clearly well-researched. Plus, “The Lost Tudor Princess” is Weir’s best work from most recent years making it worth reading on two counts. “The Lost Tudor Princess” is suggested for all readers interested in Tudor and Stuart politics as much can be learned from the text. Just don’t expect a biography solely on Margaret and you then you won’t be disappointed.
**Note: This would be more of a 3.5 but rounding up to 4 in comparison to recent Weir works**
February 9, 2017
Why do I keep giving Weir chance after chance. Yet another 500 plus pages of history lessons replacing much lacking fact. Another case of quantity over quality.
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, mother of Darnley and mother-in-law of Mary Queen of Scots - yes, a lost Tudor princess; yes, a woman whose life deserves the spotlight; yes, another case where fact is more interesting than fiction. A woman whose life reveals to us very little - and yet - 500 plus pages!
I have said this over and over - I would rather 100 pages of what is known rather than 500 pages of boring, rehashed history, personal opinion, and filling in the gaps with dates and documents. As I stated in my review of Weir's "Elizabeth or York" - "I am trying very hard to fathom the amount of actual information there is on Elizabeth that was worthy of 600 odd pages - quite frankly it required barely a quarter in my opinion. The larger the book ... overcompensating for a distinct lack of anything else.". The same can be said, I am sorry to say, of this tome on Margaret Douglas.
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, mother of Darnley and mother-in-law of Mary Queen of Scots - yes, a lost Tudor princess; yes, a woman whose life deserves the spotlight; yes, another case where fact is more interesting than fiction. A woman whose life reveals to us very little - and yet - 500 plus pages!
I have said this over and over - I would rather 100 pages of what is known rather than 500 pages of boring, rehashed history, personal opinion, and filling in the gaps with dates and documents. As I stated in my review of Weir's "Elizabeth or York" - "I am trying very hard to fathom the amount of actual information there is on Elizabeth that was worthy of 600 odd pages - quite frankly it required barely a quarter in my opinion. The larger the book ... overcompensating for a distinct lack of anything else.". The same can be said, I am sorry to say, of this tome on Margaret Douglas.
November 6, 2016
This has to be the most mundane biography of any Tudor lady I have yet read. She must have done loads of vicarious living because the majority of the events that happened in her life actually happened to other people. She was a passive participant. Full of quotations from letters and journals, which turned my audio narrator into a cartoon character. I found myself mimicking her to others to their great joy. I'm only about halfway through, so my opinion may change
Nope, didn't change I rejoiced when this book ended because I couldn't stand the narrator much longer. However, I did not allow that to affect my rating. This book is an excellent reference tool for the queen of scots drama.
Nope, didn't change I rejoiced when this book ended because I couldn't stand the narrator much longer. However, I did not allow that to affect my rating. This book is an excellent reference tool for the queen of scots drama.
March 14, 2016
This extensive and exhaustive biography of Lady Margaret Douglas covers all documented instances of her and tells about the general goings on around her during her lifetime.
She is the daughter of Margaret Tudor (and her second husband), niece of King Henry VIII, and granddaughter of King Henry VII. She had lots of royal ties to both England & Scotland and the current British Royal family are descended through her.
Included are lots of letters written by and to Margaret, which are interesting and add to the complete feel of the book.
Margaret, as one in line to the throne, led a life full of intrigues, both for herself and her children. Previous to reading this, I didn't know much concrete about her. I feel fully informed now about her and am excited to be able to make connections I previously couldn't do. For example, her son Lord Darnley was married to Mary Queen of Scots and fathered the Scottish heir. I knew previously of him, but didn't quite know how to connect him to the British Royal family.
Recommended to those wanting a detailed history of Margaret and Tudor history aficionados!
**Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for a review copy**
She is the daughter of Margaret Tudor (and her second husband), niece of King Henry VIII, and granddaughter of King Henry VII. She had lots of royal ties to both England & Scotland and the current British Royal family are descended through her.
Included are lots of letters written by and to Margaret, which are interesting and add to the complete feel of the book.
Margaret, as one in line to the throne, led a life full of intrigues, both for herself and her children. Previous to reading this, I didn't know much concrete about her. I feel fully informed now about her and am excited to be able to make connections I previously couldn't do. For example, her son Lord Darnley was married to Mary Queen of Scots and fathered the Scottish heir. I knew previously of him, but didn't quite know how to connect him to the British Royal family.
Recommended to those wanting a detailed history of Margaret and Tudor history aficionados!
**Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for a review copy**
February 25, 2016
This is a thorough detailing of the life of Lady Margaret Douglas. She was Henry VIII's niece, the daughter of his sister, who was Queen in Scotland.
She lived, for her time, a long life. It was wrought with complicated association to the royals of England, Scotland and other relatives in power hierarchies. This put her into a crack of nearly constant diplomacy/manipulation/power association for survival.
She succeeded in surviving and at times thriving. But overall, her life was extremely sad. And all was compromise, even on her luckiest days.
This includes many original copy poems, letters, business orders and other first source materials. So there is dense, dense reading upon budgets and expenditures for households and dress, servants, moving etc. Also included are many house views, present day remains of her various lodgings and portraits. Her entire life was directed by without, and not within her own inclinations. But she did try and when she did, to "own" herself- she was also savvy enough to save her own skin. Just!
Still, it truly is a sad, sad story, IMHO.
She lived, for her time, a long life. It was wrought with complicated association to the royals of England, Scotland and other relatives in power hierarchies. This put her into a crack of nearly constant diplomacy/manipulation/power association for survival.
She succeeded in surviving and at times thriving. But overall, her life was extremely sad. And all was compromise, even on her luckiest days.
This includes many original copy poems, letters, business orders and other first source materials. So there is dense, dense reading upon budgets and expenditures for households and dress, servants, moving etc. Also included are many house views, present day remains of her various lodgings and portraits. Her entire life was directed by without, and not within her own inclinations. But she did try and when she did, to "own" herself- she was also savvy enough to save her own skin. Just!
Still, it truly is a sad, sad story, IMHO.
January 29, 2016
interesting and detailed historical book about the life of a tudor princess who was in both the spheres of the scottish and english courts and survived where alot didnt but her ultimate aim came at a high price
November 12, 2015
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Alison Weir, and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
In a style that she has made popular, Weir chooses a lesser known member of the the English monarchy (more times than not, a Tudor, as is the case again here) and gives a thorough account that leaves amateur enthusiasts astounded and begging for more. Answering that key question, 'Who was Margaret Douglas?', Weir offers the reader an explosive look into her life, filled with an assortment of dramatic and politically monumental events. Born to a Scottish earl and Margaret Tudor (sister to the famed Henry VIII) in England, Douglas spent much of her early years in Scotland, living under the reign of her half-brother, James V. Weir depicts a somewhat rebellious Douglas, who became a thorn in her father's side as she sided with the English in the ongoing skirmishes with Scotland, which was further exacerbated when she entered into an unauthorised engagement to Thomas Howard which saw her uncle, Henry VIII, send her to the Tower of London. Douglas was able to return to her uncle's favour in her young adult life and served within the court to some of her step-aunts, though left for Scotland later in her adult life to make roots of her own. Marrying the 4th Earl of Lennox, she secured a place in the Scottish aristocracy, while remaining on the cusp of being in line for the English throne. It was while Elizabeth I ruled England that Weir presents a new round of trouble for Lady Lennox, whose son was set to marry the famous Mary, Queen of Scots. With Elizabeth I ill-prepared to stomach deception, even by her cousin, Lady Lennox was forced before a tribunal to face charges related to this potential union. When Mary gives birth to a son, the future James VI of Scotland and James I of England, the key player in Weir's story secures her place in English history, as both a mother and grandmother to an English monarch. As Weir paints an interesting portrait of Lady Lennox's waning years, the reader can bask in the depths to which this lesser known Tudor truly reached in her life and the number of key players in history who owe some success to her influence. Weir's recent effort is to be lauded by amateur historians and Tudor fanatics alike, as she brings to life a seemingly obscure character and solidifies the extreme importance of a previously unknown Margaret Douglas.
Weir's ability to tell such an intricate story should be applauded on numerous levels. First and foremost, the intricate detail found within the pages of this biography comes from painstaking research and obscure document retrieval. As the scores of footnotes exemplify, Weir relies on first-hand accounts and not solely previous published works to give depth to her book. Secondly, that this is a biography can be lost on the reader at times, as the prose is less a dry presentation of facts, but a well-plotted story, whose narrative flows as seamlessly as a piece of fiction. This could be why Weir is so accomplished at turning some of her non-fiction pieces into works of fiction as well. Her voice flows through the text and the story comers to life, almost allowing the reader to illustrate the goings-on in their mind as they read. Finally, she not only highlights key events in English (and European) history, but places her seemingly lesser-known key figure into the mix and shows how they shaped history and proved to be highly important in the larger narrative. Events well known to the reader are fleshed out and the influences are better understood when told through this narrative.
Weir has been a formidable figure in English history, specifically during the reign of the Tudors. For many years I have found myself flocking back to her tomes to learn more about the family, the dynasty, and the legacy that this one family left the English people. That Weir is able to complete thorough and captivating biographical pieces of these figures never ceases to astound me. I will gladly recommend this and all her other pieces of fiction and non-fiction alike to any reader who seeks to better understand the Tudors and those within their tangled family tree who influenced change during their time on the English throne.
Kudos, Madam Weir for this fascinating biography. The forgotten and lost princess is surely a wonderful title, though Margaret Douglas is soon seen to be a powerful force in the Tudor court.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In a style that she has made popular, Weir chooses a lesser known member of the the English monarchy (more times than not, a Tudor, as is the case again here) and gives a thorough account that leaves amateur enthusiasts astounded and begging for more. Answering that key question, 'Who was Margaret Douglas?', Weir offers the reader an explosive look into her life, filled with an assortment of dramatic and politically monumental events. Born to a Scottish earl and Margaret Tudor (sister to the famed Henry VIII) in England, Douglas spent much of her early years in Scotland, living under the reign of her half-brother, James V. Weir depicts a somewhat rebellious Douglas, who became a thorn in her father's side as she sided with the English in the ongoing skirmishes with Scotland, which was further exacerbated when she entered into an unauthorised engagement to Thomas Howard which saw her uncle, Henry VIII, send her to the Tower of London. Douglas was able to return to her uncle's favour in her young adult life and served within the court to some of her step-aunts, though left for Scotland later in her adult life to make roots of her own. Marrying the 4th Earl of Lennox, she secured a place in the Scottish aristocracy, while remaining on the cusp of being in line for the English throne. It was while Elizabeth I ruled England that Weir presents a new round of trouble for Lady Lennox, whose son was set to marry the famous Mary, Queen of Scots. With Elizabeth I ill-prepared to stomach deception, even by her cousin, Lady Lennox was forced before a tribunal to face charges related to this potential union. When Mary gives birth to a son, the future James VI of Scotland and James I of England, the key player in Weir's story secures her place in English history, as both a mother and grandmother to an English monarch. As Weir paints an interesting portrait of Lady Lennox's waning years, the reader can bask in the depths to which this lesser known Tudor truly reached in her life and the number of key players in history who owe some success to her influence. Weir's recent effort is to be lauded by amateur historians and Tudor fanatics alike, as she brings to life a seemingly obscure character and solidifies the extreme importance of a previously unknown Margaret Douglas.
Weir's ability to tell such an intricate story should be applauded on numerous levels. First and foremost, the intricate detail found within the pages of this biography comes from painstaking research and obscure document retrieval. As the scores of footnotes exemplify, Weir relies on first-hand accounts and not solely previous published works to give depth to her book. Secondly, that this is a biography can be lost on the reader at times, as the prose is less a dry presentation of facts, but a well-plotted story, whose narrative flows as seamlessly as a piece of fiction. This could be why Weir is so accomplished at turning some of her non-fiction pieces into works of fiction as well. Her voice flows through the text and the story comers to life, almost allowing the reader to illustrate the goings-on in their mind as they read. Finally, she not only highlights key events in English (and European) history, but places her seemingly lesser-known key figure into the mix and shows how they shaped history and proved to be highly important in the larger narrative. Events well known to the reader are fleshed out and the influences are better understood when told through this narrative.
Weir has been a formidable figure in English history, specifically during the reign of the Tudors. For many years I have found myself flocking back to her tomes to learn more about the family, the dynasty, and the legacy that this one family left the English people. That Weir is able to complete thorough and captivating biographical pieces of these figures never ceases to astound me. I will gladly recommend this and all her other pieces of fiction and non-fiction alike to any reader who seeks to better understand the Tudors and those within their tangled family tree who influenced change during their time on the English throne.
Kudos, Madam Weir for this fascinating biography. The forgotten and lost princess is surely a wonderful title, though Margaret Douglas is soon seen to be a powerful force in the Tudor court.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 27, 2016
A full scale bio of Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox has been long overdue. Alison Weir has now filled in this gap. The book is well researched with long footnoted passages. It is readable, but not a page turner.
The narrative of Margaret’s parents, her youthful romance and her eventual love match with Henry Stewart (the 4th Earl of Lennox) necessarily covers the politics of royal succession in England and Scotland. The detailed sequence of events leading up to the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to Margaret’s son Henry Stuart (Lord Darnley) covers not just the Lennox's schemes but also documents the role of Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) and Elizabeth’s approval/disapproval. After the death/murder of Margaret’s son, Weir documents the continued Lennox influence in Scotland (as grandparents to King James VI) and England and Margaret’s scheming for an advantageous match for her only remaining son, Charles Stewart, 5th Earl of Lennox.
Through all this, you see the fragility of Elizabeth’s position. The Tudor claim to the throne had solidified, but the issue of which Tudor had rights was clouded by religion. It was an unusual time. Elizabeth was the last remaining legitimate (still questioned by some) heir of the previous king, resulting in suspicion and scheming among the grandchildren of the previous king's father; first cousins to Elizabeth.
Weir shows Elizabeth’s inconsistency in her treatment of her cousin claimants through her equivocation on the Darnley-Mary match and her comparative restraint in dealing with Margaret compared with her treatment of the Grey sisters and Mary (Queen of Scots). Margaret Douglas was the most effective of these cousins, and through risk and pluck, managed to put her grandson on the thrones of Scotland and England.
The book suggests there is a lot more to Robert Dudley than has appeared in print, and there is a lot in print on him. To name a few books: Sweet Robin: A Biography of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester 1533-1588 ; Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics; Death and the Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I and the Dark Scandal That Rocked the Throne. Why did Elizabeth promote him as a match for Mary? Did the suspicious death of his wife play a role? Was Leicester’s promotion of Darnley as equally treasonous as Margaret’s? The male/female friendship of Margaret and Leicester seems unusual for its time and the charges of Leicester as a poisoner were new to me; perhaps these were mentioned in passing elsewhere but so briefly it passed my notice.
This book, well documented in footnotes and text, (inclusive of Margaret’s poetry) “finds” this “lost” princess for the general reader. Hopefully the trail Weir blazed will be followed by other writers with interpretive works.
The narrative of Margaret’s parents, her youthful romance and her eventual love match with Henry Stewart (the 4th Earl of Lennox) necessarily covers the politics of royal succession in England and Scotland. The detailed sequence of events leading up to the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to Margaret’s son Henry Stuart (Lord Darnley) covers not just the Lennox's schemes but also documents the role of Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) and Elizabeth’s approval/disapproval. After the death/murder of Margaret’s son, Weir documents the continued Lennox influence in Scotland (as grandparents to King James VI) and England and Margaret’s scheming for an advantageous match for her only remaining son, Charles Stewart, 5th Earl of Lennox.
Through all this, you see the fragility of Elizabeth’s position. The Tudor claim to the throne had solidified, but the issue of which Tudor had rights was clouded by religion. It was an unusual time. Elizabeth was the last remaining legitimate (still questioned by some) heir of the previous king, resulting in suspicion and scheming among the grandchildren of the previous king's father; first cousins to Elizabeth.
Weir shows Elizabeth’s inconsistency in her treatment of her cousin claimants through her equivocation on the Darnley-Mary match and her comparative restraint in dealing with Margaret compared with her treatment of the Grey sisters and Mary (Queen of Scots). Margaret Douglas was the most effective of these cousins, and through risk and pluck, managed to put her grandson on the thrones of Scotland and England.
The book suggests there is a lot more to Robert Dudley than has appeared in print, and there is a lot in print on him. To name a few books: Sweet Robin: A Biography of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester 1533-1588 ; Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics; Death and the Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I and the Dark Scandal That Rocked the Throne. Why did Elizabeth promote him as a match for Mary? Did the suspicious death of his wife play a role? Was Leicester’s promotion of Darnley as equally treasonous as Margaret’s? The male/female friendship of Margaret and Leicester seems unusual for its time and the charges of Leicester as a poisoner were new to me; perhaps these were mentioned in passing elsewhere but so briefly it passed my notice.
This book, well documented in footnotes and text, (inclusive of Margaret’s poetry) “finds” this “lost” princess for the general reader. Hopefully the trail Weir blazed will be followed by other writers with interpretive works.
November 11, 2015
Well, if Margaret Douglas ever was lost, Alison Weir has certainly found her in this incredibly thorough revival of sorts. As a historical figure, the lost Tudor princess was certainly a significant character, a direct royal bloodline to the throne that never got to sit on it, an unusual example of a genuinely happy marriage at the time when marriages were nothing but contracts and breeding projects, relative and friend to the most important figures of her time and a grandmother to James VI (of Scotland) or I (of England), the inceptor of the unification of both countries and the current royal Stuart line that rules to this day. And yet apparently not enough is known about her or was known, because no one can claims that after reading this book. I've not read Weir before and as a project that sheer magnitude of it is most impressive and reading this was as exhausting as researching it must have been. To refer to it as incredibly detailed would be a major understatement, Weir has dug up every bone as it were, from lists of gifts and their prices to poetry (there is en entire chapter of it)to original letters in all their tediously compound sentenced glory. The entire last quarter of the book is dedicated to additional materials, dramatis personae, sources, etc. I have great interest in history and this book had plenty of fascinating facts and I did learn a lot, although upon finishing it the main feeling is that of a proud achievement of plowing through this behemoth. Sadly this must have been an ARC and none of the portraits or art was included, there were described with Weir's meticulousness and yet even though there was probably something like a thousand words allotted for each, the effect just wasn't the same. Apparently the famous idiom just doesn't hold up in this case. At any rate I'm glad to know more on the subject, not sure I needed to know quite so much, but knowledge is good and free and outshines the alternatives, so there it is. Thanks Netgalley.
December 25, 2017
Well-presented details of the life of a key member of the Tudor-Stuart dynasties: grand-daughter of Henry VII, first cousin of Elizabeth, and grandmother of James I. Unfortunately for her, she seemed to have a knack for getting involved in situations that ended up angering Henry VIII and Elizabeth (she and Mary Tudor, being co-religionists, were close friends).
Audio narration is well done. However, I found nnoying the constant shift between the narrator's text voice "However, she later said ..." and the character voice "I shall not stand for such and vow to thwart such evil plans." Followed by a bit of text voice, and yet another quote. Yadda yadda yadda ..... in that respect I would have preferred the print edition.
Audio narration is well done. However, I found nnoying the constant shift between the narrator's text voice "However, she later said ..." and the character voice "I shall not stand for such and vow to thwart such evil plans." Followed by a bit of text voice, and yet another quote. Yadda yadda yadda ..... in that respect I would have preferred the print edition.
May 21, 2019
Interesting and thorough.
March 22, 2019
Im so sorry, but this book was so hard to read. I found there was just too many facts and too much information and context, and honestly not all of it relevant. It felt as if this was a book about the time featuring a bit about Margaret Douglas. I found it such a drudge to get through, really not my preferred style of biography. There just wasn't much focus about Margaret Douglas, and I came away not really knowing much more about her.
July 23, 2023
I can't believe I never knew (until I read this book) that the reason Elizabeth I chose James IV & I to be her heir is not only because of his mother's blood but because of his father's as well. I never knew Margaret Douglas existed as a possible successor to the Tudor monarchs of her day. "Lost" Tudor princess indeed. The book as a whole was very interesting, but there were certainly times where I was insanely bored. This is not a book meant to be picked up for fun and read strictly for enjoyment. It is more of a scholarly book, meant to tell the reader absolutely everything that happened in a person's life. Many of those things were interesting, but many of them were not. My biggest issue was the constant inclusion of poems and, to a lesser extent, letters. I simply do not need to read love letters and mushy poems between people to understand that they are in love. Perhaps include one example, but not seventeen. That got old real fast. Still a good read, even fascinating in places, but not my favorite biography by this author by a long shot.
November 19, 2021
Intrigues, intrigues, intrigues, one murder or two, one secret marriage or two, intrigues, intrigues. Those people really had a life like from "The Game of Throne".
Life of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was fascinating and a perfect material for a great book and movie. The granddaughter of Henry VII, the grandmother of James I, she was kin to many known historical figures.
I value this book for adding to and organizing my knowledge about Tudor court.
Unfortunately, there was too much redundant information for me. I understand that Alison Weir put much work researching and she did a splendid job, but I must admit I skipped many paragraphs about buying linens/clothes, what rooms had a building, etc. Moreover, a letter, quoted now and again would have provided a nice touch of reality, but a letter (part of it) on almost every page was wearisome.
So, as a historical work (value) it deserves probably 5 stars, but considering my enjoyment I can't give it as many.
I was totally gripped and moved by Weir's Innocent Traitor. But now, after this one, and after reading reviews of her other book I think I am done with Alison Weir's books (at least for a long time). I expect from a non-fiction book something more enjoyable than a long Wikipedia article or a scholarly article written by a historian.
Life of Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was fascinating and a perfect material for a great book and movie. The granddaughter of Henry VII, the grandmother of James I, she was kin to many known historical figures.
I value this book for adding to and organizing my knowledge about Tudor court.
Unfortunately, there was too much redundant information for me. I understand that Alison Weir put much work researching and she did a splendid job, but I must admit I skipped many paragraphs about buying linens/clothes, what rooms had a building, etc. Moreover, a letter, quoted now and again would have provided a nice touch of reality, but a letter (part of it) on almost every page was wearisome.
So, as a historical work (value) it deserves probably 5 stars, but considering my enjoyment I can't give it as many.
I was totally gripped and moved by Weir's Innocent Traitor. But now, after this one, and after reading reviews of her other book I think I am done with Alison Weir's books (at least for a long time). I expect from a non-fiction book something more enjoyable than a long Wikipedia article or a scholarly article written by a historian.
September 24, 2018
Audiobook. Reader okay. I did not always enjoy her dialect interpretation as some were hard to understand.
This was a trudge of a read. It had interesting parts, the overall story of her life was interesting but for me it could have been less detailed. There was lots of repetition and sometimes way too much detail. For example I did like the money comparisons to today's values. They were definitely 1 percenters but we know that already. The values put it into some perspective. And I didn't like hearing the entire litany of wardrobe fabrics,materials, color etc., and other material items multiple times.
The Tudors sure were some ambitious and ruthless schemers and Margaret was no different if not always as successful. Of course the irony is here grandson became James I.
The ambition and violence enacted to achieve goals back then make some of today's political thugs look mild. Good thing the justice system has progressed to some degree in parts of the world. Politics might not be so different or maybe today it's just less blatant.
This was a trudge of a read. It had interesting parts, the overall story of her life was interesting but for me it could have been less detailed. There was lots of repetition and sometimes way too much detail. For example I did like the money comparisons to today's values. They were definitely 1 percenters but we know that already. The values put it into some perspective. And I didn't like hearing the entire litany of wardrobe fabrics,materials, color etc., and other material items multiple times.
The Tudors sure were some ambitious and ruthless schemers and Margaret was no different if not always as successful. Of course the irony is here grandson became James I.
The ambition and violence enacted to achieve goals back then make some of today's political thugs look mild. Good thing the justice system has progressed to some degree in parts of the world. Politics might not be so different or maybe today it's just less blatant.
December 4, 2022
Even though at times I found the writing tedious (to the point of thinking the author was determined to quote from every single letter written from and to Margaret Douglas there ever was), I cannot deny this was a well-presented deep dive into a fascinating bit of Tudor history we do not hear about too often. The Duchess of Lennox apparently played and important part in the lives of bigger characters (Elizabeth I., Mary Stuart etc.) and was naturally impacted by them as well.
A book definitely worth the effort.
A book definitely worth the effort.
July 21, 2016
Don't read this book if you want slick, easy, pre-packaged history. There is plenty of romantic fiction out there, if you want that. This book is a serious look at a serious player in the Tudor game. Alison Weir goes to the primary sources; letters, ambassadors' reports, council memoranda, journals and contemporary chronicles. She digs out great big boulders of information and forms her theories about her subject. It is worth your time to follow her labors because she has written a comprehensive biography about a fascinating royal lady.
In her time, Margaret Douglas swished her black taffeta skirts over the marble floors of palaces, wore fabulous jewels and dined with princes. She was the daughter of a Queen of Scotland, and the half-sister of a king of Scotland. She was the granddaughter and great-granddaughter and the niece of kings of England. Her father was the Earl of Angus, a rich and mighty Scottish power player. She spent her young womanhood at the court of Henry VIII, on close and affectionate terms with his daughter Mary and several of his wives. She knew what it was to ride high in royal favor and to her great cost, she knew that fortune's wheel could cast you down as well as raise you up. As a young woman, she fell in love with a young nobleman from the wealthy and prominent Howard family, a cousin to Queen Catherine Howard. Unfortunately, she hadn't consulted King Henry the Eighth and she and her young swain both ended up in the Tower of London. Henry forgave his terrified niece, but the young man became ill and died in the King's custody. Margaret was not even twenty when she had her first taste of the pain that her royal birth could bring.
Eventually, Margaret married Mathieu Stuart, Earl of Lennox, son of a quasi-royal Scottish house. Depending on whose genealogy you followed, he was the second heir to the throne of Scotland. When they married, they created a potent allegiance near to two thrones, and thus of interest to many European rulers. Margaret bore Mathieu eight children, six of whom died in early childhood. It was a cruel time for parents and few mothers escaped the pain of deceased children. Perhaps this was part of Margaret's drive to see her remaining sons, Henry and Charles do well in life. Much of this biography centers on Margaret's tireless maneuvering to arrange a marriage between her son, Henry, Lord Darnley and her niece, Mary, Queen of Scots. The sad and terrible results of that wedding are well known and Margaret ended in the Tower for the second time. When her son was murdered, Margaret was released by her cousin Elizabeth I. Margaret immediately threw her indefatigable energy toward revenge against Darnley's murderers and gaining custody of her little grandson, who was now the King of Scotland. She rode Fortuna's wheel again, while plotting to marry her second son to wealth and power, risking Elizabeth's wrath by allying him to the wealthy Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of the redoubtable Bess of Hardwick. Once more she spent quality time in the Tower of London, but evaded the block. She spent the better part of her adult years under suspicion for her Catholic faith, but disdained to conform outwardly as her husband did. She protected priests and heard Mass in her private chapel. She corresponded with bishops, kings and princes and walked a thin line between her private business and treason. She was lucky in that she was happy in her marriage, but in the end she lost all of her great loves. Her story has a little bit of everything, love, death, jealousy, intrigue, danger, riches and poverty. Ultimately, her triumph is that through her grandson, James I of England and VI of Scotland, she is the ancestress of all the later kings and queens of England.
Alison Weir gives us all the twists and turns of an astonishing life. When Weir is finished, we feel as though we have visited Margaret in her Yorkshire homes, spied upon her at Whitehall and Hampton Court and feared for her life in the Tower. Weir selected an assortment of photo illustrations that let us see what a great lady of her time would wear, what her friends looked like and how such a lady would live. Any lover of Tudors, of marvelous royal ladies and the game of crowns will want to read this one.
In her time, Margaret Douglas swished her black taffeta skirts over the marble floors of palaces, wore fabulous jewels and dined with princes. She was the daughter of a Queen of Scotland, and the half-sister of a king of Scotland. She was the granddaughter and great-granddaughter and the niece of kings of England. Her father was the Earl of Angus, a rich and mighty Scottish power player. She spent her young womanhood at the court of Henry VIII, on close and affectionate terms with his daughter Mary and several of his wives. She knew what it was to ride high in royal favor and to her great cost, she knew that fortune's wheel could cast you down as well as raise you up. As a young woman, she fell in love with a young nobleman from the wealthy and prominent Howard family, a cousin to Queen Catherine Howard. Unfortunately, she hadn't consulted King Henry the Eighth and she and her young swain both ended up in the Tower of London. Henry forgave his terrified niece, but the young man became ill and died in the King's custody. Margaret was not even twenty when she had her first taste of the pain that her royal birth could bring.
Eventually, Margaret married Mathieu Stuart, Earl of Lennox, son of a quasi-royal Scottish house. Depending on whose genealogy you followed, he was the second heir to the throne of Scotland. When they married, they created a potent allegiance near to two thrones, and thus of interest to many European rulers. Margaret bore Mathieu eight children, six of whom died in early childhood. It was a cruel time for parents and few mothers escaped the pain of deceased children. Perhaps this was part of Margaret's drive to see her remaining sons, Henry and Charles do well in life. Much of this biography centers on Margaret's tireless maneuvering to arrange a marriage between her son, Henry, Lord Darnley and her niece, Mary, Queen of Scots. The sad and terrible results of that wedding are well known and Margaret ended in the Tower for the second time. When her son was murdered, Margaret was released by her cousin Elizabeth I. Margaret immediately threw her indefatigable energy toward revenge against Darnley's murderers and gaining custody of her little grandson, who was now the King of Scotland. She rode Fortuna's wheel again, while plotting to marry her second son to wealth and power, risking Elizabeth's wrath by allying him to the wealthy Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of the redoubtable Bess of Hardwick. Once more she spent quality time in the Tower of London, but evaded the block. She spent the better part of her adult years under suspicion for her Catholic faith, but disdained to conform outwardly as her husband did. She protected priests and heard Mass in her private chapel. She corresponded with bishops, kings and princes and walked a thin line between her private business and treason. She was lucky in that she was happy in her marriage, but in the end she lost all of her great loves. Her story has a little bit of everything, love, death, jealousy, intrigue, danger, riches and poverty. Ultimately, her triumph is that through her grandson, James I of England and VI of Scotland, she is the ancestress of all the later kings and queens of England.
Alison Weir gives us all the twists and turns of an astonishing life. When Weir is finished, we feel as though we have visited Margaret in her Yorkshire homes, spied upon her at Whitehall and Hampton Court and feared for her life in the Tower. Weir selected an assortment of photo illustrations that let us see what a great lady of her time would wear, what her friends looked like and how such a lady would live. Any lover of Tudors, of marvelous royal ladies and the game of crowns will want to read this one.
April 17, 2016
Margaret Douglas, descendant of Scottish kings and queens, niece of Henry VIII and cousin of Elizabeth I, mother in law of Mary, Queen of Scots, grandmother of James VI/I, is a woman little known in and of herself, a fact that Alison Weir attempts to remedy with this biography. Margaret was also a woman who tended to stir up a variety of emotions within the British Isles because of her place in the web of relationships and possible line of succession to the English throne.
Before reading this book, I was in the dark about Margaret and many of the interconnections of this period--an educational deficit that I have only slowly been filling. She appears to have lived most of her adult life in England, working with her husband, the Earl of Lennox, to regain their Scottish entitlements on behalf of their surviving children. She appears to have been an intelligent, formidable, loving, long-lasting, and, when necessary, wily, woman, who did all for her family and their future. This occasionally left her at odds with the Crown--Elizabeth, who had to constantly deal with her own legitimacy issues and questions of succession.
Weir, in turn, does all for Margaret Douglas, providing what appears to be as complete a portrait as possible of a woman who lived always on the edge of British royalty, sometimes accepted, sometimes enclosed in the Tower. Weir provides a lengthy and detailed list of those who populate this history and an extensive bibliography. There are forays into Margaret's youthful love poetry (and those written by her young lover) which I enjoyed for its glimpse into society and culture of the time. Likewise there are glimpses of royal and court life in the listing of holiday gifts and property.
My primary concern and complaint is that there seems to be some excess of information that really isn't new, a repetition of detail, one too many inventories of gifts and belongings, or one too many clarification of a betrayal. Not every letter needed to be included in the book. Some could perhaps have been included in a note. So my complaint has to do with length and amount of information--especially given the limited facts admittedly available on Margaret's life. A somewhat shorter book would have been perhaps better,
On the positive side-- I learned! And I learned so much. That era in English history is becoming more clear to me now though I still need far more education and plan to read more Weir in the process. I will do as I did here: take my time, going slowly and surely so as to absorb the most I can.
3.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Before reading this book, I was in the dark about Margaret and many of the interconnections of this period--an educational deficit that I have only slowly been filling. She appears to have lived most of her adult life in England, working with her husband, the Earl of Lennox, to regain their Scottish entitlements on behalf of their surviving children. She appears to have been an intelligent, formidable, loving, long-lasting, and, when necessary, wily, woman, who did all for her family and their future. This occasionally left her at odds with the Crown--Elizabeth, who had to constantly deal with her own legitimacy issues and questions of succession.
Weir, in turn, does all for Margaret Douglas, providing what appears to be as complete a portrait as possible of a woman who lived always on the edge of British royalty, sometimes accepted, sometimes enclosed in the Tower. Weir provides a lengthy and detailed list of those who populate this history and an extensive bibliography. There are forays into Margaret's youthful love poetry (and those written by her young lover) which I enjoyed for its glimpse into society and culture of the time. Likewise there are glimpses of royal and court life in the listing of holiday gifts and property.
My primary concern and complaint is that there seems to be some excess of information that really isn't new, a repetition of detail, one too many inventories of gifts and belongings, or one too many clarification of a betrayal. Not every letter needed to be included in the book. Some could perhaps have been included in a note. So my complaint has to do with length and amount of information--especially given the limited facts admittedly available on Margaret's life. A somewhat shorter book would have been perhaps better,
On the positive side-- I learned! And I learned so much. That era in English history is becoming more clear to me now though I still need far more education and plan to read more Weir in the process. I will do as I did here: take my time, going slowly and surely so as to absorb the most I can.
3.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 22, 2015
‘Who was Margaret Douglas?’
Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Mary Tudor and her second husband Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, was born on 7 October 1515 at Harbottle Castle. Margaret Douglas was the granddaughter, niece, cousin and grandmother of monarchs. At various times, there were those who saw Margaret herself as a potential queen of England.
In this detailed biography, Alison Weir, provides detail of Margaret Douglas’s life. Margaret Douglas ranked highly at the court of her uncle, Henry VIII and served five of his wives. She created scandal, twice, by falling in love with unsuitable men (first with Anne Boleyn’s uncle Thomas Howard, and then with his half-nephew Charles Howard), leading to the passing of the first Act of Parliament to regulate royal marriages. In 1544, Margaret Douglas married Matthew Stewart, the fourth earl of Lennox. This marriage, between two ambitious people, turned into a love match.
Margaret Douglas was imprisoned in the Tower of London on three separate occasions: a consequence of her love of intrigue and her ties to the thrones of England and Scotland. Margaret Douglas remained a Catholic, which meant that her relationship with Elizabeth I was never easy and became more complicated when her son, Henry, Lord Darnley, was married to Mary Queen of Scots in 1565. This marriage brought her tragedy as a consequence of it, both her husband and son were killed. But Margaret Douglas was a survivor, and her grandson James was to become the first Stuart monarch of England and Scotland in 1603.
Margaret Douglas was in debt when she died on 10 March 1578. Elizabeth I paid for her funeral in Westminster Abbey.
While I knew the outline of Margaret Douglas’s life, Ms Weir’s book provides much more detail and context. The Margaret Douglas in this book is both impetuous and calculating. She is fiercely loyal to family and always conscious of her heritage. Ms Weir’s inclusion of poems copied by Margaret Douglas into the Devonshire Manuscript serves also to make her seem less distant, more human. While it isn’t difficult for me to reconcile this Margaret Douglas with her appearance as a villain in Dorothy Dunnett’s wonderful historical fiction series ‘The Lymond Chronicles’, reality is always more complex. Margaret Douglas’s life was both privileged and dangerous. If you have an interest in the Tudors, this biography may well be of interest.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Mary Tudor and her second husband Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, was born on 7 October 1515 at Harbottle Castle. Margaret Douglas was the granddaughter, niece, cousin and grandmother of monarchs. At various times, there were those who saw Margaret herself as a potential queen of England.
In this detailed biography, Alison Weir, provides detail of Margaret Douglas’s life. Margaret Douglas ranked highly at the court of her uncle, Henry VIII and served five of his wives. She created scandal, twice, by falling in love with unsuitable men (first with Anne Boleyn’s uncle Thomas Howard, and then with his half-nephew Charles Howard), leading to the passing of the first Act of Parliament to regulate royal marriages. In 1544, Margaret Douglas married Matthew Stewart, the fourth earl of Lennox. This marriage, between two ambitious people, turned into a love match.
Margaret Douglas was imprisoned in the Tower of London on three separate occasions: a consequence of her love of intrigue and her ties to the thrones of England and Scotland. Margaret Douglas remained a Catholic, which meant that her relationship with Elizabeth I was never easy and became more complicated when her son, Henry, Lord Darnley, was married to Mary Queen of Scots in 1565. This marriage brought her tragedy as a consequence of it, both her husband and son were killed. But Margaret Douglas was a survivor, and her grandson James was to become the first Stuart monarch of England and Scotland in 1603.
Margaret Douglas was in debt when she died on 10 March 1578. Elizabeth I paid for her funeral in Westminster Abbey.
While I knew the outline of Margaret Douglas’s life, Ms Weir’s book provides much more detail and context. The Margaret Douglas in this book is both impetuous and calculating. She is fiercely loyal to family and always conscious of her heritage. Ms Weir’s inclusion of poems copied by Margaret Douglas into the Devonshire Manuscript serves also to make her seem less distant, more human. While it isn’t difficult for me to reconcile this Margaret Douglas with her appearance as a villain in Dorothy Dunnett’s wonderful historical fiction series ‘The Lymond Chronicles’, reality is always more complex. Margaret Douglas’s life was both privileged and dangerous. If you have an interest in the Tudors, this biography may well be of interest.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 29, 2015
This nonfiction book covers the life of Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. Not someone that one usually reads about when reading about the Tudor period so almost all of the information was new to me. However, having read Weir before, I was prepared for the fully detailed way in which the subject was covered. Weir presents the information in a way that it flows like I'm reading a novel.
Not only did I enjoy meeting Margaret, but I also felt like I good sense of the most powerful families and what was going on in both England and Scotland during Margaret's life. The book contains maps, genealogical tables and many illustrations that help me follow these families, their stories, and their interactions.
I encourage those interested in the Tudor period or anyone interested in historical biographies to give this one a try. It is well researched., detailed, and laid out in a very organized way for the reader. The additional aids such as letters and documents are plentiful and add to the true-life intrigue as the book progresses, as well as the murder mystery.
This book was provided to me by the Publisher and NetGalley.
Not only did I enjoy meeting Margaret, but I also felt like I good sense of the most powerful families and what was going on in both England and Scotland during Margaret's life. The book contains maps, genealogical tables and many illustrations that help me follow these families, their stories, and their interactions.
I encourage those interested in the Tudor period or anyone interested in historical biographies to give this one a try. It is well researched., detailed, and laid out in a very organized way for the reader. The additional aids such as letters and documents are plentiful and add to the true-life intrigue as the book progresses, as well as the murder mystery.
This book was provided to me by the Publisher and NetGalley.
March 29, 2017
Packed with an incredible amount of detail. If this time period is not something that really interests you, it might seem tedious, as there are many lengthy descriptions of costume, packing lists, as well as voluminous correspondence. If it's something you enjoy, however, it's nice to hear the subjects speak in their own words.
August 23, 2017
For the love of god don't listen to the audiobook version of this. The constant attempts to imitate the accents of every person who wrote any original source quoted in the book gets really tiring, really fast, and the dramatic reading of the alleged dying words of Matthew Lennox was just unnecessary.
Currently reading
October 10, 2015I just picked up this book today. Flicking through it have noted that there are 2 sections with illustrations, however, exactly same illustrations in both sections! Has anyone else noted this? Is it a fault with my copy or all copies?? Oh well back to bookstore next week to change
March 5, 2019
When I bought this book, on a ferry between Scotland and Ireland, I was under the impression that it was more story than research. It took me a very long time to get through for this reason alone, but I learned a lot and will always have the memory of seeing the heirlooms in person :)
November 18, 2017
Meticulous research; incredible book.
September 11, 2019
3.5 stars.
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January 12, 2023
This is not a book I’d recommend to just anybody which is why I gave it 2 stars. I think most people would find this book long and pretty boring.
However I didn’t totally hate it. It provided background information to other great books I’ve read—Wolf Hall and Outlander. As I listened I felt the puzzle pieces falling into place so my useless knowledge of 16th century European Royalty is really coming into focus.
Margaret Douglas Lennox lived in the 1500s and was niece to King Henry the VIII, cousin to Queen Elizabeth and Mother-in-law to Mary Queen of Scotts. This book seems really well researched and included lots (actually too many) quotes from letters and correspondences written by and to Margaret.
However I didn’t totally hate it. It provided background information to other great books I’ve read—Wolf Hall and Outlander. As I listened I felt the puzzle pieces falling into place so my useless knowledge of 16th century European Royalty is really coming into focus.
Margaret Douglas Lennox lived in the 1500s and was niece to King Henry the VIII, cousin to Queen Elizabeth and Mother-in-law to Mary Queen of Scotts. This book seems really well researched and included lots (actually too many) quotes from letters and correspondences written by and to Margaret.
July 3, 2017
Please don't look at the time it took me to finish this book to judge it. It was awesome as always from Weir. But I was in the middle of house-hunting when I started it and ended up putting in an offer on a house shortly after. And that house required a lot of work, so between moving and renovating and unpacking and planning a wedding, as well, there wasn't much time to read!
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