Queen Mary – or “Bloody Mary” as she’s better known – has a strong claim to be the most reviled monarch in English history. Her reputation has always been overshadowed by that of her much-eulogised half-sister, Elizabeth, and she has been memorably dismissed as “the barren Catholic bigot who married an unpopular Catholic prince”. But was she really as weak-willed and unpleasant as she’s been made out to be? In this incisive guide, Anna Neima looks at the successes and failures of her short reign, taking in the conflicting views of historians along the way. ISBN- paperback: 978-1-911187-28-8 Contents Introduction The turbulent early years How did Catholic Mary fare under Protestant Edward VI?Mary’s rise to power Was Mary a pioneer of female rule? The failed Spanish marriage The loss of Calais The day-to-day of Mary’s reign The restoration of Catholicism: success or failure? Conclusion NOTES Mary in person The terms of the act for the marriage of Queen Mary Five facts about Queen Mary I Who was Reginald Pole? A short chronology Endnotes Further Reading
