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Innocent Traitor

By Alison Weir

(25)

| Hardcover | 9780091796624

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Book Description

Popular biographer Weir (Eleanor of Aquitaine, etc.) makes her historical fiction debut with this coming-of-age novel set in the time of Henry VIII. Weir's heroine is Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), whose ascension to the English throne was briefly and unluckily promoted by opponents of Henry's CatholicContinue

Critics

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey-- book review

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey Alison Weir Ballantine Paperback 432 pages November 2007 Click here to read reviewer Michael Leonard's take on Innocent Traitor. One of the great pawn’s of Tudor history, Lady Jane Grey is a fascinating cha ... (read full critics)

curledup published on Tue, 7 Sep 2010

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey-- book review

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey Alison Weir Ballantine Paperback 432 pages November 2007 Click here to read reviewer Luan Gaines' take on Innocent Traitor. In her novel Innocent Traitor , Alison Weir illuminates the life of Lady Jane Grey ... (read full critics)

curledup published on Tue, 7 Sep 2010

6 Reviews

2 people find this helpful

Inner strength

I've read a lot of bad historical fiction and I'm happy to say that this is not one of them! Alison Weir is firstly an historian and this makes all the difference. If you're a history buff as I am, you will appreciate her accuracy along with her writing.
The majority of the chapters are told f ... (continue)

I've read a lot of bad historical fiction and I'm happy to say that this is not one of them! Alison Weir is firstly an historian and this makes all the difference. If you're a history buff as I am, you will appreciate her accuracy along with her writing.
The majority of the chapters are told from Jane's perspective, but we also receive chapters from other characters and that gives the novel more depth. Jane had such a miserable life and it wasn't always easy to read. Weir brings this horrible time in English history alive for the reader, exposing just how disgusting and unsympathetic court life was. The last 100 pages or so made the book impossible to put down. Weir's narration is flawless and she created one of the most powerful ending scenes that I've come across.

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Moirne Stark said on Sep 6, 2008 | Add your feedback

Well written historical fiction.

Innocent Traitor was excellent. I could not put the book down and was glad I took the time the read it. Since I knew very little about Jane Grey, it was as if I got to know her a bit more throughout this book. My heart went out to her as although she tried hard to please her parents (her mother in p ... (continue)

Innocent Traitor was excellent. I could not put the book down and was glad I took the time the read it. Since I knew very little about Jane Grey, it was as if I got to know her a bit more throughout this book. My heart went out to her as although she tried hard to please her parents (her mother in particular) but never received the proper love and support except only when it suited them. It was only too late when her parents actually came to fully appreciate and love her. I really felt for Jane especially in her early childhood years. Her mother was just plain awful and only really cared for Jane (if you could call it that) when it suited her purposes (i.e. mostly for political gain and ambition). There were times when I thought Jane had what it took to stand up to her mother, but she backed down whenever she tried. It got frustrating and I thought Jane was never going to have her own personality and she’ll just be a puppet for everyone. Yet past the midway point of the novel Jane does take a slight turn for the better and eventually stands up for herself (particularly against her husband). Towards the end, Jane becomes a much stronger woman and despite her circumstances, maintains her strength. I loved that. She became such a strong character that I loved her even more than I did in the beginning.
The plot of this novel was well written and very interesting. It follows Jane all throughout her life and it highlights moments of interest such as the marriage of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, and its’ failure. The addition of something like this is a little strange considering this should have been told all in Jane Grey’s point of view. I’m not really sure why this was added as it really had nothing to do with her (except maybe because she was around Katherine a lot around the time?) yet it was a small but well done way to take a break from the main plot and add in a mini story arc to it. I’d have to say the ending was one of the most dramatic. Jane stayed true to herself and that makes her all the more admirable. I absolutely hated the way everyone around her just started using her as a political pawn and her parents are just as bad as parents today who live through their small children and use them for their own gains. I really disliked her mother though. She was horrible! and she didn’t gain any sympathies from me at the end. Her emotions and “love” came way too late to even make a difference. I’m not sure what to say about Jane’s father. It looked like he was the “better” parent of the two, but his love was misguided and ambition just went in the way. It was sad to see that, as I thought he loved Jane more than her mother did.
I thought this was a great novel featuring Lady Jane Grey. It’s a tragic story but her strength is strong throughout the last half of the novel it’s hard not to admire her. This is definitely a worthy read for Tudor fans.

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Sensitivemuse said on Nov 21, 2010 | Add your feedback

The first book I read about the Tudor saga and a real page turner. This is a beautiful novel detailing the tragic life of one of the most compelling women in English history, the Lady Jane Grey. It tells the whole story of her life from her birth right through her nine day reign to her untimely deat ... (continue)

The first book I read about the Tudor saga and a real page turner. This is a beautiful novel detailing the tragic life of one of the most compelling women in English history, the Lady Jane Grey. It tells the whole story of her life from her birth right through her nine day reign to her untimely death. It is written mainly through the eyes of all the people in her life who shaped her fate. We see events told through her parents, her nurse, the Duke of Northumberland, Queen Mary to name but a few, yet most of the story comes from Jane herself.

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Lunarossa said on Apr 20, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

The Nine-Day Queen Story

Weir's first novel, and she has executed relatively well besides some dialog details that she should have known better than any other history novel author. No sure those swearing words were existing in those age, but it has quite spicy up the temper of those characters, which could be rather dull. < ... (continue)

Weir's first novel, and she has executed relatively well besides some dialog details that she should have known better than any other history novel author. No sure those swearing words were existing in those age, but it has quite spicy up the temper of those characters, which could be rather dull.
She has written in a more sympathetic tone towards lady Jane Grey that has received different criticisms in the history.
Overall, it is quite entertaining, and I think she did not pass her achievement as a history researcher, which I do enjoy her Henry VIII alot.

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artie said on Apr 1, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Not quite history but still good

I know this isn't pure fact, but it's still such an interesting topic. I knew the outcome but I still found myself hoping the end would change for the better.

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michelleamanda said on Dec 29, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

This was pretty good except towards the end I was getting a bit bored with it. It leaned a little too heavy on to the religion aspect for me, but I have a feeling it's probably pretty close to how the real story went, so that can't be held against it. I probably just wouldn't have liked Jane Gray ... (continue)

This was pretty good except towards the end I was getting a bit bored with it. It leaned a little too heavy on to the religion aspect for me, but I have a feeling it's probably pretty close to how the real story went, so that can't be held against it. I probably just wouldn't have liked Jane Gray much.

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Deanna Kyre said on Apr 18, 2008 | Add your feedback