Three Sisters, Three Queens

Locations
Call Number: BOCD Fiction, Adult BOCD / Fiction / Historical / Gregory, Philippa
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	BOCD Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult A/V 4-week checkout	Adult BOCD / Fiction / Historical / Gregory, Philippa	4-week checkout	On Shelf

Compact discs.
Read by Bianca Amato.
When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined with Margaret's younger sister Mary to a sisterhood unique in the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland, and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Through betrayals, dangers, loss, and passion, they find the only constant in their lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
Booklist Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Margaret Tudor submitted by Jen Chapin-Smith on July 24, 2017, 8:19am Philippa Gregory's novel follows most of the life of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland. She is perhaps best known as the sister of England's Henry VIII, grandmother of Mary, Queen of Scots and great-grandmother of Scottish King James VI, who then became England's King James I. After the death of Margaret's husband, King James IV of Scotland, she becomes regent for her son, King James V of Scotland.

As there is very little historical record about Margaret Tudor, the author takes great liberties in describing the queen's inner thoughts and motives, which often center around her family, particularly her brother Henry VIII, sister Mary (who became Queen of France), and sister-in-law Katherine of Aragon. Margaret is alternately judgmental, sympathetic and envious of her sister and sister-in-law, often changing quickly from one to another and back again. She and Katherine are allies, then enemies, then allies again.

While many historians portray Margaret as fickle, Gregory points out in her author's note that this is actually typical of medieval rulers who constantly sought to secure and strengthen their own power.
The author also gives a poignant description of Margaret falling in love and her terrible distraught at her husband's betrayal, as well as the dismal depression brought on my the death of her children.