The story of seventeen year-old Lady Jane Grey - known as the Nine Day Queen. History concedes that she was manipulated by ambitious relatives; here, Ainsworth covers her life from her arrival in London to the day of her execution. Ainsworth delighted in the history of the Tower and there are descriptions of secret passages, dungeons and torture chambers; he also explores the characters in-depth. The values and every day life of the period are also present, as a few extra possibly fictional minor characters. Originally published in serial form in 1840, then in two volumes.