The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The tragedy of Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey

Leanda de Lisle brings the story of nine days queen, Lady Jane Grey and her forgotten sisters, the rivals of Elizabeth I, to vivid life in her fascinating biography Philippa Gregory

The dramatic untold story of the three tragic Grey sisters, all heirs to the Tudor throne, all victims to their royal blood.

Lady Jane Grey is an iconic figure in English history. Misremembered as the Nine Days Queen, she has been mythologized as a child-woman destroyed on the altar of political expediency. Behind the legend, however, was an opinionated and often rebellious adolescent who died a passionate leader, not merely a victim. Growing up in Janes shadow, her sisters Katherine and Mary would have to tread carefully to survive.

The dramatic lives of the younger Grey sisters remain little known, but under English law they were the heirs and rivals to the Tudor monarchs Mary and Elizabeth I. The beautiful Katherine ignored Janes dying request that she remain faithful to her beliefs, changing her religion to retain Queen Marys favour only to then risk life and freedom in a secret marriage that threatened Queen Elizabeths throne.

While Elizabeths closest adviser fought to save Katherine, her younger sister Mary remained at court as the queens Maid of Honour. Too plain to be considered significant, it seemed that Lady Mary Grey, at least, would escape the burden of her royal blood. But then she too fell in love, and incurred the queens fury.

Exploding the many myths of Lady Janes life and casting fresh light onto Elizabeths reign, acclaimed historian Leanda de Lisle brings the tumultuous world of the Grey sisters to life, at a time when a royal marriage could gain you a kingdom or cost you everything.

This is the true story behind Philippa Gregorys The Last Tudor and the only authoritative history book about the Grey sisters.