The Book: Princess Margaret Tudor is the greatest prize when her father, Henry VII, negotiates the Treaty of Perpetual Peace with neighboring Scotland. The betrothal is meant to end decades of bloody border wars, but it becomes a love match: To Margaret's surprised, she finds joy in her marriage to the dashing James IV of Scotland, a man sixteen years her senior. But the marriage, and the peace it brings to both nations, does not last. When King James is struck down by the armies of Henry VIII, Margaret - Princess of England, but Queen of Scotland - finds herself torn between loyalty to the land and family of her birth and to that of her baby son, now King of the Scots. She decides to remain in Scotland and carve out her own destiny, surviving a scandalous second marriage and battling with both her son and her brother to the very end. Like all the Tudors, Margaret's life would be one of turmoil and controversy, but through her descendants, England and Scotland would unite as one nation, under one rule, and find peace.
My review: Despite the fact that I have done a lot of research on the Tudors, I still didn't know much about Margaret Tudor. This well-written book not only tells us about the tumultuous life of the English Princess, but also of the emotions that were felt so deeply by the Scottish Queen. Following her journey from a naive, spoilt Princess to a weathered, experienced Dowager Queen, Plaidy makes us sympathise with her and admire her spirit. Despite the many betrayals that she experiences, Margaret remains idealistic and is deeply hurt when her loved ones betray her. We really feel her frustration when she realizes that she has no influence with James IV, her love for her four lovers, her pain when a rift rises between her and her son and her contentment when she no longer has to fight for her place or for her son's place. Well done to Plaidy for choosing a topic that is not as well known but is nevertheless vital in the place of British history.
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