Last Tudor Summary
Gregory, Philippa

Last Tudor Overview

The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory, a novel of historical fiction, follows the lives and imprisonment of the Grey sisters, heirs to the Tudor throne through their mother, who was the daughter of Henry VIII's favorite sister, Mary Queen of France. Jane's crime was being an obedient daughter, and she was beheaded for her father's attempt to seat her on the throne instead of the rightful heirs, Mary and Elizabeth. Jane's sisters, Katherine and Mary, were only guilty of falling in love with kind, decent men, which was also interpreted to be a conspiracy against the throne. While the Grey sisters face charges of treason or conspiracy, they hold onto faith as long as they can -- until they are beheaded, die of broken heart, or are finally freed. Themes of the novel include, among others, conspiracy, independence, religion, legitimacy, and sex.