The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor

December 7, 2015
The rumors about a romance between the young Elizabeth Tudor and her guardian, Thomas Seymour, have been the basis for novels, films, and speculation. Tudor historian Norton (The Illustrated Six Wives of Henry VIII) recounts the tale without adding anything substantial to it, consulting a plethora of primary sources but employing no scholarly discretion in using them. She treats hearsay as having the same authority as state documents. An entire chapter is spent repeating a folktale that was old when Elizabeth was born, that of a midwife called at midnight to deliver a baby for a masked noblewoman, hinting that the mysterious child was that of Elizabeth and Seymour. Many private conversations are quoted with no citations given at all, leaving one to assume that they are made up. Similarly, Norton states the feelings and motivations of her subjects, without supporting evidence. When the book isn’t trying to be titillating, it becomes tedious, chronicling every bickering exchange between Seymour and his older brother, the guardian of Edward VI. The events leading up to Seymour’s execution are jumbled and confusing. Norton might have been more successful at crafting a well-researched historical novel than she was with this botched attempt at history. Agent: Andrew Lownie, Andrew Lownie Literary Agency.

November 1, 2015

In another of her well-researched and intriguing Tudor period titles, with this volume, historian Norton (England's Queens; The Anne Boleyn Papers) thoroughly conveys the environment that bred Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, and brought her to the attention of the ambitious (and married) Thomas Seymour. Beginning with Elizabeth's tumultuous childhood as the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Norton guides readers through the ups and downs of the queen and Seymour's improper relationship and details those involved in both pushing them together and pulling them apart. The author's use of quotes from 16th- century England may trip up some readers, but her narrative style helps the story flow smoothly. While books such as Alison Plowden's The Young Elizabeth chart the monarch's early years, Norton's work supplies unprecedented breadth on this topic. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers interested in British history and the Tudor dynasty. Fans of historical fiction such as Philippa Gregory's "Tudor Court" series will also find themselves invested in the real-life scandal that befell one of England's most famous queens.--Katie McGaha, Cty. of Los Angeles P.L.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.