Bloody Mary

By: Carolly Erickson

Narrated by: Corrie James

Length: 23 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the tragic, stormy life of Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Her story is a chronicle of courage and faith, betrayal and treachery - set amidst the splendor, pageantry, squalor, and intrigue of 16th-century Europe.

The history of Mary Tudor is an improbable blend of triumph, humiliation, heartbreak, and devotion - and Ms. Erickson recounts it all against the turbulent background of European politics, war, and religious strife of the mid-1500s. The result is a rare portrait of the times and of a woman elevated to unprecedented power in a world ruled and defined by men.

©1978 Carolly Erickson (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Woefully Unspecific

The Tudor Dynasty is fascinating and I was very much learning forward to learning more about Mary specifically. However I feel as if the book focuses a bit too much on the history of her ascension rather than what she actually did during her reign. I may be wrong about this, but I am not entirely sure that this specific book explains how she got the nickname ‘Bloody’ Mary. Bizarre, considering it is the title of the book.

I feel as if there were large gaps here that went completely unexplored and worse, unmentioned.

Not the best of books, not the worst of books

I usually love Carolly Erickson's books but this one failed to capture me. Mary Tudor is certainly an Interesting subject so I don't know why I was unable to connect here. Ms. Erickson provides plenty of information in a well written format and the narration was okay but I just found myself wandering while listening.

An absolutely WONDERFUL narrative of Queen Mary I

Would you listen to Bloody Mary again? Why?

This book takes the life of Queen Mary far beyond the accepted stories and gives us a view of her personal life and trials.

Mary Tudor

I loved this book. learned a few things I didn't know. I feel this book was very well written. I love English history especially about the Tudors you have to like and hate Mary. her having all those people burned just because they were Protestant just makes you so mad. unfortunately it was the time people lived in but sad. her marrying Phillip was happy for her as she really loved him. but him treating her like he did or I should say using her once he fell out of love and became king of Flanders and the Netherlands, you have to feel sorry for her. however no matter she is still bloody Mary.

Well told but felt Imbalanced

I like Carolly Erickson’s books. But, I felt this story did not answer the question posed by the title, why was she known as Bloody Mary? Author does a great job of telling a story that makes a heroine of whomever her subject may be. But still, it seems she favored this one more than some of her others and certainly more than history has favored this one. She was harshly honest about Elizabethan court, but seems to have smoothed over the uglier aspects of this monarch.

Disappointing

Too much expositional background, which is unfortunate. You have to get about midway in the book to even start Mary's life. The orator was ok—except you could hear the saliva moving around in her mouth which was gross. Overall, this was a disappointment, and just a vague history of 40 years of Tudor history in which Mary just "happened" to live.

A good history

If your a Tudor history fan this is deep and thorough. But it is a history - not a fictionalization scandal funhouse - so be prepared for some dry content but faithful telling of a queens life.

I'm sure it's great! the narrator needs a drink

I can't! I can't continue to listen to the narrators spittle and strange pauses. she sounds like she needs some water. I'll just purchase the book and read it myself.

amazing story exquisite narration w/ some hiccups

Queen Mary's is amazingly and beautifully complete. HERstory is exquisitely narrated, loved the voice, the beautiful accent and the narrator's rhythm, but:
1. at chapter changes there are excerpts read with a really strong weird accent and a different tone that breaks the books spell on the listener, it made me cringe and want to skip it all together, even if I wanted to know what was in it.
2. the track pauses at odd moments as if the tapes were digitized and not seamlessly stitched together.

Bloody Mary missing in action...

I agree with other comments about this audio book.
There's very little about Mary Tudor and most of it is dedicated to her father, mother, intrigues, politics, wars, etc.
Very disappointing. I'll try to find another author about this subject.