An Associate Fellow with the Royal Historical Society, James D. Taylor Jr. is an independent scholar who has published a series of books with Algora pulling together all the available documentary evidence relating to key figures from English history. Painstakingly piecing together a wealth of details that were hidden away in archival records, old correspondence and other documents, he brings back in vivid color outstanding individuals whose flamboyance, character and stalwart dedication to their causes enabled them to shape the events of their times.

Taylor is particularly fascinated by figures from the treacherous era of the Tudors and Stuarts, times that tried men's souls but their characters as well — and it's their characters that shine clearly in the documentary evidence he unearths. The subjects of his books are paragons of courage, loyalty and integrity in the face of temptation and intimidation. Clear headed and well spoken under the direst of circumstances, these men and women lived life intensely, always keeping conscience ahead of comfort, whether they won their cause or lost everything. 

James Taylor has also published two books profiling actresses involved in creating beloved characters like Betty Boop who have been entertaining America since the 1930s.

Documents trace the Grey lineage back as far as 1100 CE. This venerable family was intermingled with many other well placed and ambitious figures of medieval England, and these axes of power and influence all came into play upon the death of the...

Documents trace the Grey lineage back as far as 1100 CE. This venerable family was intermingled with many other well placed and ambitious figures of medieval England, and these axes of power and influence all came into play upon the death of the young King Edward VI. Alliances and conspiracies first put Jane on the throne, then brought Henry VIII's daughter Mary to claim the crown herself. In the end, Henry Grey brought destruction upon his daughter and himself, as they were sent to the executioner within a week of each other. The tensions and emotions of this high-stakes game can be sensed from the documentary record. A genealogy of the Grey family, descriptive information on Henry Grey's wife Frances Brandon - an ambitious granddaughter of King Henry VII, a list of Knights made by King Edward VI and other historical documents accompany the text. The author also presents some dramatic narratives from the 1700s and 1800s which add flavor to the story.

My intent for this book is not to place Henry Grey in a positive or negative light; instead, it is to provide essentially all the known historical information regarding the man. Henry Grey, descended from a distinguished and noble heritage that produced two queens, gave up a comfortable, quiet and leisurely life to become one of the most powerful and influential men in England. His influence was so strong that, working in alliance with the Duke of Northumberland, was able to coerce the young and dying King Edward VI to change the order of succession to the crown, making his daughter, Lady Jane Grey, next in line for the throne, so that Henry Grey became the father of the Queen of England. The task of pulling together all reliable information on a subject is not as simple as it might sound. We are living in the information age, yet with all our quick and easy access to a multitude of information, too much is incorrectly recorded and repeated. Many people do not take the time to review the original source information to determine whether it is accurate. Even verifying such fundamental facts as Henry Grey s birth year and the year of his first marriage were problematic. These issues and several others are addressed in this publication and corrected. Compounding these difficulties was another Henry Grey, actually Sir Henry de jure Lord Grey of Ruthin, the fourth Earl of Kent, who lived during the same time as our Henry Grey. It appears that this Lord Grey of Ruthin has been a source of confusion in both early and recent accounts of the period when brief accounts are given of Henry Grey. I have also encountered a few modern historians who have labeled Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, as "that most stupid of peers" and "surely the most empty-headed peer of England." But as I reviewed and accumulated information about the man for this book, a much different image emerged. He may have miscalculated, but surely no empty-headed person could not have come so close to glory.

Introduction Chapter 1. The Grey Ancestry Chapter 2. Prosperity Chapter 3. Jane the Queen Chapter 4. A Little Rebellion Chapter 5. Conclusion Appendix II. Officers of State during the majority of the

Introduction Chapter 1. The Grey Ancestry Chapter 2. Prosperity Chapter 3. Jane the Queen Chapter 4. A Little Rebellion Chapter 5. Conclusion Appendix II. Officers of State during the majority of the period of this book. Appendix III. Knights elected in the time of King Edward VI Appendix IV. The "Lane Letters" Appendix V. Autographs of some of the main characters in this book Appendix VI. A Story of Frances Brandon Appendix VII. Fifth Decade dedication from Henry Bullinger to Henry Grey. Bibliography Index