Wasn't quite what I was expecting. Was less memoir, more essay. I can see what she is trying to do and I respect how her experience has tailored her opinions but at times I found her approach a little heavy handed. But maybe that was her intent.

I enjoyed it but I'm always looking for a more everyday version of what it was like to live during the Tudor Age. I already know that it was brutal for the nobles, entangled as they always were with who was on the throne. But what was it like for the regular people, just trying to earn a living and survive? I' still searching for that book. but in the meantime, this provided me with some good nuggets of information.

I really enjoyed this portrait of the Grey sisters. After a little wikipedia action post-read I'm amazed at how much of the story that Ella March Chase created is true. It really makes it that much more tragic. What a life, deprived of all love and hope for a life of their own, simply because they were born of noble blood. It made me cry!

Alan Bradley is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors thanks to the brilliant Flavia De Luce! These books are brilliant!