I want to first clarify that yes, The Lazy Historian is still technically on hiatus. This book was sent to me by Pen and Sword Books in exchange for an honest review so here I am, posting a review.

Please check out Jilly.ca for my regularly updated blog or my historical fiction book blog, Old Timey Books.

Although beautifully and intelligently written, Melanie Clegg’s Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister, unfortunately, reminded me so many other frustrating biographies of queens and women from the past.

There’s a reason the Jane Seymour chapter of my book, The Lazy Historian’s Guide to the Wives of Henry VIII, is so brief: there’s not much to go on. The lives of women, unfortunately too often, were not documented nearly to the degree of the men around them. If there’s not much to go on, there’s not much an author can do but fill in the gaps by using the actions of the men around her.

Unfortunately, this biography fits that common mould.

With that being said, it’s a well-crafted account of the Scottish royal court in the early 16th century, something I’ve never looked into before now. I’m glad Clegg covered Margaret and Scottish royal intrigue, an aspect of Tudor history that doesn’t get touched on too often.

Her husband, King James, was another figure I wasn’t familiar with and Clegg’s book filled in the gaps of my knowledge base nicely.

Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister on Pen & Sword
Melanie Clegg on Facebook
Margaret Tudor: The Life of Henry VIII’s Sister on Amazon