The Thistle and the Rose: The Tudor Princesses
by Jean Plaidy

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Book Reviews of The Thistle and the Rose: The Tudor Princesses

Book Review: THE THISTLE OF SCOTLAND AND THE ROSE OF ENGLAND...
Summary: 5 Stars

At the tender age of twelve, Princess Margaret was betrothed to the handsome and chivalrous King James IV of Scotland, who was sixteen years her senior. Her betrothal arose out of the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and was designed to bring about an end to the age old border wars between Scotland and England. Initially, Margaret viewed her forthcoming marriage with trepidation, only to find herself falling in love with her betrothed upon their first meeting. Theirs would be a love match, despite his philandering and siring of children outside their marriage. Unfortunately, their marriage did not have the intended effect upon the peace between Scotland and England, as King James IV courted the friendship of France, England's avowed enemy.

This put Margaret, now Queen of Scotland, in an awkward position. Her brother Henry VIII, now King of England, looked to Margaret to bring her husband back into the fold, but James IV had his own ideas and paid little heed to the advice of his wife. Consequently, Scotland waged war on England, only to be defeated at the battle of Flodden Field, by the army of King Henry VIII. There, King James IV was slain, and Margaret found herself widowed at a young age. Her baby son was crowned King James V of Scotland, and she was named Regent in accordance with her late husband's wishes.

Margaret, imbued with the same Tudor passion and tempestuousness as her brother, remained in Scotland, where she engaged in a lifelong battle for power and for control over her beloved young son. Ousted as Regent after a scandalous second marriage to the very handsome Archibald Douglas, head of the powerful Douglas clan and Earl of Angus, she eventually found herself battling not only her brother, but her craven second husband, as well. She ultimately sought to divorce him, much to the horror of her brother, King Henry VIII, who, unbeknownst to Margaret, was secretly mulling over the same marital resolution for himself.

Margaret would later fall in love with one of her son's courtiers, his Master Carver, Henry Stuart. This infatuation would ultimately lead to yet a third marriage for Margaret. Again, this marriage was, as were all her marriages, an initially happy one, but would, ultimately, end in infidelity by her husband, causing Margaret to despair of ever finding true love and happiness.

Throughout her life, Margaret's behavior would scandalize many, including her brother, King Henry VIII who, given his own behavior, should have been more tolerant, but it was definitely a man's world in those days. Still, notwithstanding her many disappointments, it would ultimately be Margaret's descendants who would, for a time, rule a united Scotland and England.

This book is a tribute to a woman who has been largely eclipsed by her brother, King Henry VIII, and her granddaughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. In the hands of an acclaimed writer of historical fiction, such as Jean Plaidy, her story comes vividly to life. Filled with larger than life historical personages and well known historical events, this book cannot help but capture the imagination of the reader. Those who like well-written historical fiction will especially enjoy it, as will those who simply enjoy a tale well told.

Summary of The Thistle and the Rose: The Tudor Princesses

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