Three Sisters, Three Queens

Author/Guide: Philippa Gregory

Why a Booktrail?

1501: Katherine, Margaret, and Mary – Henry’s VIII’s first wife, his older sister and his younger sister. One unique sisterhood.

ISBN: 978-1471133015
Genre:

Comment

What you need to know before your trail

Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, it’s not Prince Arthur or Henry that she needs to be afraid of. For the brother’s sister Margaret immediately takes her measure. Along with Princess Mary, these three women are set to become the Queens of England, Scotland and France.

Despite their shared fate, the queens find that they are also set against each other. They three of them suffer tragedy, crisis and death of a loved one, the fate of Kingdoms and the lives of three women change on the whims of a man. But despite all of this the bond between the three Queens is unbreakable. Not even a King can break it.

Locations

Reset

Travel Guide

London

Margaret is married off to the King of Scotland at the age of 14. Mary is married off to the aging king of France. Katherine enters this family to marry Arthur but when he dies she then marries Henry – Henry 8th

The novel opens in Baynard’s Castle in London where Margaret is She is only twelve and having to marry their neighbour in order to make them a good friend and ally. Arthur is about to marry Katherine

Katherine’s journey is perilous – all the way from Spain over rough seas.

This is Margaret’s story and her journey towards marrying the King of Scotland and how she became the mother of James V of Scotland. Three countries and three very different kingdoms. For in a few years time, the most turbulent time of the Tudor reign – when Henry VIII married Katherine himself and his reign of terror began.

Scotland

However in Scotland, the story of war and the fight for the crown was an even more bloody time in many respects. Scotland was a country at war on many respects and it was marred by wars and the polarizing of the Scottish people.

Margaret and James marry at palace-of-holyroodhouse Margaret Tudor’s lifetime is marred by her husband’s death at the Battle of Flodden. Her story is the story of Scotland’s history and legacy. Struggling to keep power in Scotland, the North South divide is played out in the Royal Court. And all the while, Henry VIII sits and rules from London.

Three histories with the focus on Margaret told via letters the three women wrote to each other.

Booktrailer Review

Susan: h@thebooktrailer

I never get bored reading Philippa Gregory. I’ve read every single one of her novels and am constantly in awe of how she makes sense of some of the most complicated parts of history and makes it not only accessible but really interesting. You can tell the level of research that goes into her books but it never reads like a history lesson. In this book I was with Margaret the whole time – can’t say I liked her very much at first – she did like a moan! But it made me look at this forgotten lady in history for the first time.I knew Henry VIII had a sister but it’s his story and his version or events which is more widespread.

The fact that these three women were bound together in such dangerous times was shocking when you think about it. I really liked meeting Katherine of Aragon again and seeing her arrival and wedding through Margaret’s eyes. Having read her story in The Constant Princess, it was nice to see her from a new angle and from a woman’s point of view

Philipa Gregory writes with passion and a deep seated interest and you can tell. I love it how she picks an unusual or long forgotten angle and presents things through new eyes. And it’s always nice to learn some more history and to spend time in those sumptuous castles as a woman living in the 21st century thank goodness. I would never have been allowed inside one if I’d lived in those days, I’m sure!