The Nine Days Queen - Softcover

Bradford, Karleen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590716174 ISBN 13: 9780590716178

Publisher: Scholastic Book Service, 1986

Synopsis

At fifteen years of age, upon the death of her cousin, Edward, Lady Jane Grey was forced to accept the crown of England. She was queen for only nine days, however. Edward's eldest sister, Mary, soon challenged Jane for the throne, with tragic results. This is the true story of a bright and intelligent young woman who was manipulated and betrayed by the ambitious people who surrounded her.

About this title

About the Author

Karleen Bradford is one of Canada's most respected young adult authors. She is the author of several historical and contemporary stories, including WINDWARD ISLAND, which won the 1990 Max and Greta Ebel Award and THERE WILL BE WOLVES, the first book in the Crusades series, which won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award in 1993 and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the Best Books of 1996.

From the Back Cover

The Chief Justic stood up. His voice trembled. "The Lady Jane (Dudley) is hereby condemned to death--to be burned alive or beheaded, as the queen shall please."

Jane is only fifteen. For nine days, she was Queen of England. Now, locked in the Tower of London, she awaits the executioner's axe. Will anyone come forward to save her?

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The upstairs window of the narrow house on Tower Green was small and the glass of poor quality, giving a wavy picture of the view beyond. Nevertheless, Jane could see the scaffold that had been erected on the Green very clearly. it was draped in black cloth, and in the centre of it, surrounded by straw, was the stone that would serve as the executioner's block. There were four steps leading up to it.

In less than two hours, just weeks after her sixteenth birthday, Jane would be walking up those steps, kneeling, and laying her head on that block, her neck bare to the executioner's axe-- guilty of treason in the highest measure against her grace, Queen Mary. Seven months ago it had been Jane who was queen: Queen Jane of England. But only for nine days.

And before that?

Before that she had been Lady Jane Grey, a child, content and secure at Bradgate Park, with a small tower room of her own filled with books, and time to write, and deer to walk amongst and pet in the rolling, forested park that surrounded the Manor House.

It seemed so long ago...

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Book Service
• Publication date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590716174
• ISBN 13: 9780590716178
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192