Synopses & Reviews
The Peter Pan of English monarchy Edward VI, the only son of Henry VIII, became king at the age of nine and died wholly unexpectedly at the age of 15. All around him loomed powerful men who hoped to use the child to further their own ends, but who were also playing a long gameandmdash;assuming that Edward would long outlive them and become as commanding a figure as his father had been. Stephen Alfordand#39;s wonderful book gives full play to the murky, sinister nature of Edwardand#39;s reign, but is also a poignant account of a boy learning to rule, to enjoy his growing power, and to come out of the shadows of the great aristocrats around him. Englandand#39;s last child monarch, Edward would have led his country in a quite different direction to the catastrophic one caused by his death.
Review
andquot;Alford is an expert on all things Elizabethan, and his intimate knowledge of the queenandrsquo;s ministers and the periodandrsquo;s political history guarantees the accuracy and thoroughness of this rip-roaring story. . . .A great spy novelandmdash;except that itandrsquo;s all true.andquot;and#160; andmdash;Kirkus Reviews on The Watchers
Synopsis
Edward VI, the only son of Henry VIII, became king at the age of nine and died wholly unexpectedly at the age of fifteen. All around him loomed powerful men who hoped to use the child to further their own ends, but who were also playing a long game - assuming that Edward would long outlive them and become as commanding a figure as his father had been. Stephen Alford's wonderful book gives full play to the murky, sinister nature of Edward's reign, but is also a poignant account of a boy learning to rule, learning to enjoy his growing power and to come out of the shadows of the great aristocrats around him. England's last child monarch, Edward would have led his country in a quite different direction to the catastrophic one caused by his death.
About the Author
Stephen Alford is the author of The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I.