Gender, Family, and Politics

Always, these were Howard women regardless of life course, yet Clark shows that their actions were never solely defined by this element of their identity. Clark engages sensitively and expertly with her selected sources throughout, especially in relation to letters and burial sites...[this study] not only shows how contemporaries saw these women, but how they saw themselves and each other and, as it does so, makes an original contribution to existing work on the Tudor Howard family, Tudor rule, and studies of early modern dynasty. * Sally Fisher, Monash University, Parergon *
This work adds a much-needed dimension to Tudor scholarship by revealing the fascinating, complex world of the Howard women and the significant, complicated roles they played in their world. * Dwight D. Brautigam, Fides et Historia *
this is a quality work of scholarship, which will encourage other scholars to find what the Percy, Clifford, and Neville women were doing to help navigate the fortunes of these other Tudor noble families. * Charles Beem, Early Modern Women *
Gender, Family, and Politics is a welcome addition to the field. * Susan Wabuda, Fordham University, Renaissance Quarterly *
Clark reassesses traditional assumptions, frequently arguing that the extent of their agency has been overlooked. Moreover, this comparative work presents a fresh perspective on the different consequences of their experiences and indicates the wider impacts of their agency and political involvement throughout the dynasty. In so doing, Clark both enriches our understanding of the actions and experiences of more famous members of the dynasty and provides hugely useful context for examining other late medieval and early modern aristocratic families. This is a fascinating and persuasive contribution to a more balanced understanding of a turbulent age. * Joanna Laynesmith, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Reading *