Page 94 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

Reviews

THE LAST TUDOR

The final chapter on the Tudor reign

Author Philippa Gregory Publisher Simon & Schuster
Price £20 Released Out now

s he lay on his deathbed, aged just to marry and produce an heir to the throne,
15-year-old, King Edward VI named then she would not allow her cousins to do
his Protestant cousin Lady Jane so, either. As the story unfolds, the author
Grey as his heir. Within days of his delves into the gossip and rumours that the
Adeath, despite her vehement refusal Virgin Queen was not all she seemed, ruling
to be the de facto queen, Lady Grey was her country and her court with an iron fist.
forced onto the throne. Bitter envy from The fifteenth novel in Gregory’s
Mary Tudor and her supporters dictated the Plantagenant and Tudor series will not
queen’s short reign and by day nine she was disappoint long-running fans. Although a
removed from power. little slow at first, she does well to create an
Considered a threat to the crown, she and intricate world around such a short-term and
her inner circle were escorted to the Tower lesser-known monarch and her family.
of London where they faced certain death Told through the voices of each of the
— the victims of the papist and Protestant Grey sisters — Jane, Mary and Katherine
battle that dominated England. Spared her — Gregory turns even the most minute of
life by Mary, the outlook for the Nine Day characters into a glistening part of history’s
Queen continued to look bleak as Elizabeth rich tapestry. Her literary flair and structured
I ascended to the throne. Gregory paints research make this book just as impressive
a controversial picture of Elizabeth, who as the rest, although not necessarily the best
appears determined that if she is not the one in her Tudor queen saga.

ENDING THE AFRICAN
SQUADRON: SLAVE TRADE
A tale of unsung heroes
Author John Broich Publisher Duckworth Overlook Price £20 Released Out now

RECOMMENDS… eopold Heath, George Sulivan, real experiences of these men. For be told. It is a great read for those
Edward Meara and Philip Colomb. example, the tale of Sabourri, a young who want to try something a little
Gibraltar: The Greatest Four Royal Naval officers who East African boy and slavery refugee bit different.
Siege in British History were determined to end the who falls gravely ill with cholera on
Author: Roy and Lesley Adkins LEast African slave trade, despite Colomb’s ship, HMS Dryad, exposes
Price: £20 Publisher: Little, Brown the opposition they faced from the real fear of disease at sea —
the merchant class and the British and Colomb’s fear that it would
Britain was fighting
on all fronts in the government. Their story has been decimate his crew.
late 18th century, largely forgotten but historian John It is clear to see how much
most notably with
the American War of Broich has made a brilliant attempt at time Broich has spent delving into
Independence from bringing these men back into the fold. archives for this book, and that’s
1775, another war with Laid out chronologically, Broich before the hefty notes section at
France in 1778 and with entwines their stories with their the back, detailing his numerous
Spain from 1779.
The Siege of Gibraltar in 1778 saw battles against the slavers, seizing sources. He successfully incorporates
the Spanish and the French assault the their ships and freeing the slaves this research throughout without
British garrison together in a sustained trapped on board. He includes the it becoming too dry and academic,
attack that lasted three years and seven
months — the longest ever endured by impact their campaign had back which is no mean feat for a
the British Armed Forces. home — it is interesting to discover historically accurate book! The
This highly readable account is told how the abolition movement, glossaries at the beginning are
through papers and documents left which at this point was lulling in great additions for those who know
behind by the people involved, so you
feel as if you’re among the action. With 19th-century Britain, was hit with nothing about this area of history.
plenty of drama to draw upon and an renewed zeal as abolitionists seized Captivating, insightful and concise
impressive commitment to research, on the actions of the officers and their this book serves as reminder that
this is a book to delight the military
history enthusiast. squadron. The little personal stories out there are true stories that have
that pop up provide insight into the been swept aside and deserve to

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