Yes, I'd like the same, except . . . with Edward, Jane, and Mary as the main characters, and Elizabeth as a secondary character. Even though I see dramatic problems with all 3. And taking them in reverse order.
Mary. Controversial. Unlikable.
English Protestants 1
Catholic Mary 0
And winners write the history.
While her reputation has taken a much needed rehabilitation recently, even in this day and age, burning people at the stake, for whatever reason, because they will not or cannot recant their religious beliefs is controversial and does not make her the most likable of women.
Book. Unfortunately, I don't have a recommendation.
Jane. Unknown figure.
Was she a victim of rape? Did her teenage husband rape her on their wedding night, as some have written. Is that why she wanted to leave the house where her husband lived with his parents and move back to her own home. Probably not. More likely appalled mentally and physically by the idea of sex. Which in an era of where women . . .
got married.
had sex with their husbands
and produced children to continue the family bloodline.
No ifs, ands or buts.
Would make her for that time someone who was going to be difficult to be married to and live with.
And did she marry a handsome, even pretty boy, who was not only a rapist, but a momma's boy, and a drunk? Who knows? Which is why I prefer . . .
Book. Suzannah Dunn's "The Lady of Misrule"
Which is more logical in its presentation of what we do know that is not bogus. To whit . . .
If her death was an injustice, his death was even more of an injustice, as no one was trying to put him on the throne, when they were both imprisoned in the Tower. And if she was once removed from the treasonous plots . . .
Her father-in-law and father
She
Then, he was twice removed.
His father and father-in-law
His wife
He
If he had walked away from her while in the Tower together and tried to have their marriage annulled, he'd probably would have survived, but . . .?! He stayed by her side and died with her.
And while we are now getting further away from the facts that we know, she comes across as someone who rolled over and accepted her death, while he was more of a fighter, who wanted to find some way for them to escape to the Continent and continue their fight from there.
And if she was young, he was not much older than her. Being thought to be no older than 17, when he was executed along with his wife.
At least, we know so little, there will be little question as to the veracity of whatever we see.
Edward. Short life. Short reign.
Which makes for a tragic story, but . . .?! One in which not much happens, except the Protestant Reformation, which I believe was mostly peaceful. Good politics. Bad drama.
Book. Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper"
Of course, historically incorrect, but . . .?! one that seems to be true to its time.
No.
If one wants to do something new, then the best bet is the man who started it all. Henry VII. And did he have a suspenseful life. From the time he was smuggled out of England to the Continent, there was probably not a day, that it was feared he would not be handed over to his enemies, taken back to England, and probably executed as the last major threat to Yorkish rule. And if not handed over, then kidnapped, and/or even murdered, because of the threat he posed.
Then there was his invasion of England, which was not expected to succeeed.
The battle of Bosworth Field, which was a near run thing.
And two major attempts to overthrow him, when he was king.
And while he often appears in film and TV versions of Shakespeare's "Richard III," and the 1939 version of "Tower of London," I can't recall any film or TV production specifically about him.
And we will see what we will see.
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