Mary, Bloody Mary

Princess Mary Tudor, the only surviving daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, was promised the crown. She, being Henry's only legitamate heir, would rule England one day... That is, until a young Anne Boleyn showed up. Soon, Henry wanted to divorce Queen Catherine so he could marry Anne. Catherine was distraught, and Mary was shocked and angry. She resented her father for this, but even more she abhored Anne Boleyn. Mary, along with many others, believe Anne was a witch and is controlling the king with her spells. 6 years later, Henry has finally divoced Catherine, and married Anne, who is pregnant. Because of this, Mary has now been declared illegitamate and will not gain the throne. Henry's successor will be Elizabeth, his daughter with Anne Boleyn, now declared Queen. Mary has now been stripped of everything she had: Her title (Princess; Now Mary is to be called "Lady Mary"), her elegant clothes, her ladies-in-waiting and servants, most of her possesions... Now Mary is a servant herself to her half-sister, Elizabeth. She is as bitter as ever, and not just to her father. Mostly to Anne. Anne has ruined her life that was once so perfect. Mary believes Anne has driven her father mad, into doing things that he wouldn't have done before... Mary prays for the death of Anne Boleyn, and she will never forgive her for what she has done...

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction, Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.