ancient times, thinking today

In her book "The Red Queen" PG describes a very contradictory character: Margaret Beaufort, the pious and politically active mother of Henry VII who helped by clever tactics to the English throne to her son and thus the Tudor dynasty. As in other historical novels can Gregory speak later Queen Mother herself. A successful way when it comes to the reader the tribulations of the roses and countless Edwards, Richard, Elizabeth and Mary wishes to do.
Unfortunately, completely unsuccessful, when it comes to exploring the inner workings Margarets. For one simple reason: Margaret, child of the 14th century, thinks like a woman of the 20th century: It reflects the age of twelve in an arranged marriage that her husband marries a child and raped her quasi, condemns the attitude of her mother, who it - after all, the richest heiress in England - mainly looks as marriage game, into question, it can not be determined solely on their lives. But all these atrocities were normal for a noble girl born at that time: The minimum age for marriage was 12, girls (and boys) were most of it already engaged as children. It is unlikely that Margaret Beaufort, the word "rapist" ever knew; back then it was a "fulfillment of marital duties", especially as it the importance of male heirs should have been aware. Especially in such high families, people had no individuality, but primarily a role in the current system.
Women's and human rights were then unknown, of death in childbirth normal, and that in an emergency, the mother is considered the life of the newborn before, was partially to the 20th century in Catholic circles recognized fact. It may be that Margaret has decided after this experience, that marriage and motherhood nothing for them (especially since the birth must have been so traumatic that even historical sources of reports), I can not imagine not but that they like her mother has faced described. Equally unlikely are the constant accusations of unkindness to his mother. Margaret Beaufort was a progressive and educated woman for her time, but she will have never been so placed surrounding social system into question, we we do today. This makes them unreliable as a protagonist. One would have understood her hard life without the author leaves you constantly reflect about it from today's perspective.