3 Review(s)

The novel is set during the reign of Mary I of England, often referred to as "Bloody Mary," and her marriage to Philip II of Spain. The central figure of the novel is Cardinal Reginald Pole, a key historical figure who played a significant role in the religious politics of the time. Pole was the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury and a staunch supporter of Queen Mary’s efforts to restore Catholicism in England after the Protestant Reformation initiated by her father, Henry VIII.The story intertwines historical events with fictional romance, focusing on the tumultuous period of Mary’s reign, which was marked by religious persecution, the burning of Protestant heretics, and political intrigue. Through the character of Cardinal Pole, Ainsworth explores the complex relationships between the monarchy, the church, and the people during this era.