D. L. Bogdan: The Forgotten Queen

[bibliogramma]

A reasonably good interpretation of the life of the oft-forgotten elder sister of Henry VIII - Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland (in fact, she was completely excised from the recent TV series based on the Tudors). A pivotal woman in the royal dynasties of two countries, she was the grandmother (by different husbands) of both Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband Henry Lord Darnley, twice over the great-grandmother of James, king of England and Scotland, closest heir to Elizabeth of England.

Sent to marry a Scottish king in an attempt to make peace between the two countries, she was often torn between her loyalty to her father and brother (Henrys VII and VIII) and to her husband (James V), especially when the hoped-for peace failed to materialise. Indeed, Scotland and England would be at odds until united as one kingdom in the person of her great-grandson, James I of England.

I found it enjoyable reading. I also appreciated the prominence given to her lady in waiting, "black Ellen" - one of at least two free women of African heritage known to be in the courts of Scotland around this time.