Innocent Traitor
In college I squandered all of my European history credits on Medieval history and World War II. I never took a class where we studied the Tudors in depth. However, like Twain, I try to self-educate by reading voraciously. When I had signed up for Audible, I had no idea what book to use my free credit on. I came across the audible top first listens and stumbled upon Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. I’ve had Weir’s non-fiction on my TBR for awhile but had not done much digging into her fiction. What a dumb idea. Seriously, her historical fiction is actually quite decent. And really, if you don’t believe you can learn anything through fiction, then you have no business being here.
Innocent Traitor is about the Nine Days Queen, Lady Jane Grey who was on the throne after Henry’s son Edward died. The book begins with the narration of Davina Porter as Lady Frances of Dorset, Jane’s mother. Frances is yammering on about giving birth and how it feels less noble, and how she doesn’t like it because it is not dignified. I tend to agree (I saw the Miracle of Life… grosssss). Anyways, she pops out a girl and is all FML I wanted a boy. Then her and her hubs are all, let’s make Jane marry Henry’s son! Later, we see Jane grow into a young woman.
Characterized by intelligence, an inquiring mind, and strict devotion to Protestantism, Jane had a strength I greatly admired. She puts up with so much BS but holds her ground, and I really, really like that. I mean, I regret not taking a history class where I could learn about Jane. Also, the person who did her voice, Stina Nielson was spot on with emotions. She made Jane sound like a girl just on the cusp of womanhood. Her vocals were excellent.
I think my favorite thing about this audiobook were the multiple narrators. It kept the story fresh. Plus, the different voices made each character distinctive. I mean, this was a book I could work out to and not worry how much freakin longer until the chapter ends.
So, what do you all read when you are self-educating? Any particular period of history you enjoy reading/learning about?
Disclosure: Audible audiobook obtained with audible credit.
Other Reviews:
Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Better World Books/ The Book Depository/ Indiebound
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April (Books&Wine) – who has written 1074 posts on Good Books And Good Wine.
April is 24 years old. She is an educator. In her free time she can be found reading, working out, or eating junk food. She often wears her sunglasses at night.
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I sorta squandered my history/literature credits away as well. So I can understand the self-education. I usually try to read relatively accurate historical fiction or literature from the time period I’m looking at. I was really into the French Revolution a while back, and I read all about Marie Antoinette and such. I think the Tutors will be my next project, because there seems to be so many great fiction written about that time period. Great review and recommendation!
I liked this book a lot, there was so much information to be had that has often been difficult to find elsewhere. And sure you can say that it’s fiction and so not all of it is factual, but for the most part you can see that it is and that the fiction parts provide an idea of what could have been. It took me a while to get used to the way Weir writes her fiction because she includes so many facts, but now I love it.
I havnt really finished the book i started it and i love it before i was more into katherine howard and her story but now this is soooooooooooooo much better i was aiming for the book romeo and juliet but i cant find it yes i know i am a geek about books loe em if u hav an idea where i can find a romeo and juliet book reply!
xx
please please reply and help me find the book im looking for!
I listened to this on audio in November. I thought it was fantastic. I have gone on book binges about Elizabeth I in the past, but I never read up on Lady Jane Grey. After reading this one, I looked up several more titles, nonfiction and fiction ones. Have you listened to Weir’s The Lady Elizabeth? I liked that one as well. Also, I adore Rosalyn Landor as narrator. She is amazing. (The Lady Elizabeth)
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