The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn is a vivid and compelling work of historical fiction that brings Tudor England to life through the eyes of two young women caught in the deadly politics of the 16th century. This richly atmospheric novel centres on Lady Jane Grey — famously known as England’s ill-fated ‘nine days queen’ — and Elizabeth Tilney, the young Catholic woman assigned to watch over her during her imprisonment in the Tower of London.
Told from Elizabeth’s candid perspective, the story captures the claustrophobic tension between these two sixteen-year-olds: Jane, a devout and distant Protestant, and Elizabeth, spirited, conflicted, and far from pious. As the days stretch into months following Mary Tudor’s succession to the throne, the girls’ prickly companionship is tested by personal differences, the unsettling presence of Jane’s husband Guildford Dudley, and the shifting danger outside the Tower’s walls. Loyalties blur, beliefs are questioned, and when fate takes a perilous turn, both young women are forced to confront their choices and allegiances.
Perfect for readers of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, The Lady of Misrule offers an intimate, humanised glimpse into one of history’s most turbulent moments through the bonds and betrayals of girlhood under threat.
