Judith M. Richards

A concise and carefully thought out biography; Richards explains Mary's reign in the context of the brutalities of the Reformation, and makes a strong case that Mary's achievements as England's first queen regnant are significant and deserve to be recognise as such, while not holding back from the reality of the religious executions that took place during her five years on the throne. If anything the book is a little too brief, but as a springboard and a start of the reconsideration of Mary's place in history this is well worth a look.… (mere)