Journal 1 - Tudors

 

7/22/2000

 Mary Queen of Scots and the Isles by Margaret George

Mary queen of Scots

               Definitely shows the power hungry and how they manipulated and viewed people as tool.

               George seems to have gotten the character of Mary right.  But the difference between Mary and Elizabeth I lies in the what?  Elizabeth knew more about being cautious, considering her danger during Mary I’s rule, also Elizabeth knew how to control her lord.  Mary seems to lack this knowledge.  She does not think but acts.  She does not listen to her councilors.  She bases her relationship with Elizabeth I on nothing or very little.  

               But in all fairness to Mary she did not have very loyal subjects (loyal to her or country).  She should have been far more cautious.

               Every time that George describes the lord reading of the Casket Letters [Note: the letters that supposedly showed Mary QoS knew about the murder of her husband. Forgery question surrounds them] it reminds one of little old gossips in a small village.

               What else could she except from a son who did not know here?  She, at least, in the book, had no longer term sight. 

               George’s book is much different from the audio version of the Dumas [Note: Dumas’ Mary Queen of Scots].  Dumas’ focus is on the tragedy.  Willie Douglas’ dies in the battle after her escape and Mary Seaton was present at her execution.  Dumas is writing a romance; George attempts to tell a story.  But in George, Mary’s absorption in herself shows a lack of knowledge or caring about her Marys [Note: her four maids of honor, all with the first name of Mary].  Near the end of the book, she says that everyone deserted her, but Seaton was still there.  The Marys did not count.  Would the real Mary have felt this way?  She still had loyal friends but she doesn’t seem to care.  Her sadness at Norfolk’s death does not convince, it is more like she is trying to convince herself.

               Regardless, her prisons do not seem too bad especially when compared to Bothwell’s dungeon.

               Also the mention of Romeo and Juliet seems out of place, pushed forward to match the time.  In fact, it is out of place.

 

7/26/2000

The Wives of Henry VIII  by Antonia Fraser

Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Behead, Survived

               Henry VIII seems to have suffered in part from the same problem that Mary Queen of Scots did – he lacked foresight.  The man seems like such a monster.

               It is impossible not to feel sorry for both Catherine of Aragorn and Anne Boleyn.  More pity rests on Catherine because of her treatment at the hands of both Henry VIII and Henry VII.  But Anne Boleyn was executed simply for the lack of a male heir.  Ironic when the fault seems to have been with her husband.  None of his children that survived to have been very healthy.  While Elizabeth did live to a ripe old age, she did suffer from migraines.  Perhaps Henry should have been more concerned with the marriage of his children then his own marriages.

               Nor is it surprising that Anne miscarried considering her concerns and the desperation to provide a male heir.

               Comforting to know that neither Catherine nor Anne was stupid.  The movies seem to have gotten Catherine wrong.  They always show her as incredibly dark while Anne is fair.  But according to Fraser, Catherine was note entirely dark.  Her hair was not black.  Movies do get royal bearing correct and are sympathetic to her, so why the difference? [Note: I am pretty sure this remark is about the tendency to have blonde good girls and dark bad girls in movies]

               On the trial of Anne Boleyn, “For most people the sovereign was like a basilisk and his glittering stare, whether animated by favor or fury, held all but the strongest . . . in a hypnotic state of agreement” (251).

               By his martial career, Henry VIII “proved himself to be the glazier’s friend at least” (259)

               Jane Seymour is closer to Catherine than Anne Boleyn.  28 at the time of her death, always thought she was younger.

               Its ironic that Henry’s quest for a male child created problems after his death.  But these people who sacrificed their children in order for place, for power.  The man was such a tyrant in regards to his marriages and the virginity of his brides.  Did he treat his dogs and horses better?

               Anne of Cleves seems so tragic because of her divorce taking away her life in regards to having a family.  He could get re-married but she couldn’t.

 

7/28/2000

Sutton Place by Dinah Lampitt

The Real Sutton Place

[Note: I brought this book in 1996 at a bookstore that was having a going out of business sale in Newark, Britain.  First read it in London.  This is the first in the trilogy.  It took me 14 years to get the second book.  Series is about families that build houses on land that has been cursed]

               Madge Shelton makes an appearance.

               Character of Anne Boleyn remains a mystery.  Lamplit has her striking back for the broken betrothal of her and Percy.  Yet this makes her cruel in breaking Catherine’s heart.  She deals with Catherine’s pain that she herself felt.  There is a mixture of good and bad about her.  The lack of friendship with other women and the flocking of men to her.

               One likes Dr Zachery and yet is disappointed in is keeping a mistress.  But one cannot see how Rose was attracted to Francis because of his reckless.  IN fact a majority of the men in the book seem to process a lack of knowledge about woman’s feelings.  Dr. Burton and Sir Richard being the two expectations.

               None of Anne Boleyn’s knowledge of religion seems come out in this book.  She is a woman ruled solely by the desire for revenge, much in the same way that Edith curses the well.

               The scene where Catherine becomes Rogers’ lover is very well written and touching in regards to Giles the fool.

Newark Castle - death place of King John