The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England
January 2, 2023
In this engrossing and well-researched debut, historian Wilkie spotlights one of Princess Diana’s most remarkable female ancestors. Born into a family of prosperous sheep farmers determined to ascend to the aristocracy, Alice Spencer (1559–1637) wed Ferdinando Stanley, the fifth Earl of Derby. She and Ferdinando, who enjoyed an affectionate relationship, established themselves as patrons of the arts, becoming fixtures “in the vibrant literary and theatrical outpouring that was thriving in England at the time.” After Ferdinando’s death in 1594, his brother William challenged the will, and Alice spent years fighting to hold on to the property her husband bequeathed her. She prevailed because of her careful attention to legal and financial matters and because she made a strategic second marriage in 1600, to Thomas Egerton, a well-connected lawyer. Thomas died in 1617, leaving Alice a tremendously wealthy widow, and she used her fortune to prepare her 20 grandchildren to continue the family dynasty. She also put her power to use in the early 1630s, when she obtained royal pardons for her daughter, Anne, and granddaughter, Elizabeth, after Anne’s second husband, Mervyn Touchet, Earl of Castlehaven, was executed for sodomy and rape. Wilkie writes with focus and economy, weaving in fascinating information about Tudor-era nuptial contracts, medical practices, and dynastic intrigues. This biography fascinates.
June 10, 2024
Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby, was a Renaissance woman--both literally and figuratively. Born in the mid-16th century to an aristocratic family, she made a name for herself as a patron of the arts and a royal insider. In this engaging debut biography, Wilkie shows how Spencer rose from the daughter of a wealthy sheep farmer to a major player in both the Tudor and the Stuart courts. As was typical for women of the era, advantageous marriages helped her move up in society, but it was her determination and forceful will that cemented her enduring legacy. Faced with a crisis, she was a shrewd thinker able to outmaneuver her opponents, building her family's fortune and protecting their reputation. Narrator Imogen Church brings her trademark vibrant theatricality to Spencer's story, using varied intonation and volume to engage the listener and keeping the pace brisk. At times, listeners may wish for a bit more gravitas, but they'll be captivated nonetheless. VERDICT Listeners with an interest in the Tudor era or women's history will appreciate this well-researched biography of an iconic woman who was well ahead of her time.--Nanette Donohue
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