The Reign of Mary Tudor

In 'The Reign of Mary Tudor', James Anthony Froude challenges the common view of Queen Mary as a bloodthirsty tyrant and instead presents a nuanced portrait of a queen caught in the crosshairs of history. Despite the persecution of nearly 300 people during her reign, Mary was more merciful than many of her predecessors, and her record pales in comparison to the atrocities committed by other European monarchs of the time. Froude suggests that Mary's unpopularity was due in part to her marriage to Philip of Spain, which aroused intense national jealousy among the English. Additionally, Mary's tragic personal life, marked by loneliness and ill-health, may have contributed to her perceived harshness. Overall, this book offers a compelling and sympathetic portrayal of a much-maligned queen.