Book Review: The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor by Linda Porter

Overall Rating: ★★★½☆

Earlier this year, I read Sisters of Richard III and found myself intrigued by the women behind the throne. Wanting to dive deeper into the period following the Wars of the Roses, I picked up The Thistle and the Rose by Linda Porter. This biography promised a fresh look at Margaret Tudor—a figure often left in the shadow of her more famous relatives—and I was curious to learn more. There was a lot I liked, and a few things that didn’t quite work for me. So, let’s get into it.

Podcast shoutout (not sponsored, unfortunately):

Before I go further, I want to recommend an excellent episode of the Not Just the Tudors podcast, featuring Linda Porter discussing this very book. It's a History Hit production (available on Spotify), and it helped me better appreciate the author's perspective—even more than the book itself did at times. No one’s paying me to say that, I just genuinely enjoy the podcast.

Is Margaret really the "forgotten" Tudor?

The book opens by situating Margaret within the Tudor dynasty, offering context on her parents and the fragile nature of the new regime. While the book description suggests she’s the forgotten Tudor, I’d argue her sister Mary—and even their brother Arthur—have faded more from public memory than Margaret. Still, I went in knowing very little about her, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning.

One of the standout sections covers Margaret’s marriage to James IV and her journey north to become Queen of Scotland. Her royal progress was elaborate and meticulously documented. Your head might start hurting from the amount of nobility accompanying and greeting Margaret, but it’s well worth it to read through. Margaret’s life between 1503 and 1513, her time as queen consort, was so interesting. That may be partly because I have a soft spot for James IV. Porter’s vivid descriptions of James’s effort to unite the nobles was fascinating and really made me appreciate James a lot. The lead-up to the Battle of Flodden was genuinely gripping. In fact, her depiction of the battle itself might be my favorite section. The English victory over the Scots is often attributed to Katharine of Aragon, as Henry was campaigning in France at the time, but I found it disappointing that one of my least favorite characters, Earl of Surrey, was actually the commander.

Nevertheless, the Battle of Flodden reads almost like an action scene or a compelling Game of Thrones plot point, and it was amazing. If you know other non-fiction books with battle descriptions this good, please do let me know, I’d happily read them.

Where the book faltered for me

Where I struggled a bit was in how sympathetically Margaret is portrayed throughout. I understand that historians—particularly women—often face the uphill task of defending historical figures from centuries of dismissive male scholarship. Still, I sometimes felt that Porter leaned too far in the opposite direction, justifying or glossing over Margaret’s more questionable decisions. I recognize that Margaret was in a difficult position following James IV’s death, and I can sort of understand justifying her second marriage. Everything after that feels like Margaret was struggling, and made the decisions she made out of fear and financial struggle—which is very human and oddly relatable. So it’s okay to admit that she made mistakes—what powerful figure didn’t?

The podcast helped clarify the author’s intentions, and I came away with a better understanding of where she was coming from. But on the page, I sometimes found myself wishing for a more balanced analysis.

Legacy and lasting impressions

One thing the book made crystal clear: Margaret’s legacy is far greater than most give her credit for. Despite all of Henry VIII’s scheming, it’s Margaret’s bloodline that ultimately inherited the English throne. Elizabeth I died the Virgin Queen, never married and had no children. The crown passed to James VI of Scotland—Margaret’s great-grandson—who became James I of England and founded the Stuart dynasty. The current royal family still traces its lineage to her. There’s something poetic about that… or maybe I’m just petty. Either way, it’s satisfying.

Final thoughts

This was a solid 3.5-star read for me. It’s well-researched, accessible, and offers a detailed portrait of a woman who deserves more attention. While I didn’t always agree with the author’s interpretations, the book definitely sparked my interest in both Tudor and Scottish history. I’d love to read more about James IV and Margaret, and who knows—maybe that will change my perspective on this book with time.