"The Parrs are on the rise thanks to you."
The thought of it is like a nail hammered into her. But it is not Will's fault the King has set his eye on her. Neither is it his fault that he wants the Parrs to go up in the world; he was bred for that, they all were. Every last noble swaggering about this court is gazing at the stars.
...The King will take her for a wife and she will not have any choice in the matter. All these men--the King, her brother, Hertford--have sealed her fate. She is no more free than she was as a girl ... There is no escaping .... It is a whore's job, this business of being a woman.
I've always been intrigued by the Tudors and the many wives of Henry VIII. This historical fiction novel tells the story of his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, the one who survived him. It begins with the death of her second husband and goes through her marriage to Henry VIII, his death and her own last chance at a happily ever after with her secret marriage to Thomas Seymour. It details the intrigues of the Tudor court and what life was like in the 1500s, and paints a picture of just how strong and resilient the real Katherine must have been. I'm no historian, so I don't know how accurate Elizabeth Fremantle's version of Katherine Parr's life is, but I felt like she took a few liberties with the facts. Still, I found this novel to be both interesting and readable. I only wish that Katherine Parr had had a happier ending. The next book about the Tudor queens I want to read is Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir. Check out Helen's review of this book and you'll see why.
Happy Reading!
I've always felt sorry for Katherine Parr. One of the best ways to learn history is to have a good historical novel that provokes research. The Jane Seymour novel sounds good, too!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it? I really want to read that one, too.
DeleteI don’t know why but I’ve always had an interest in the Tudors too. I might have to check these out.
ReplyDeleteIt's such an interesting time period, with so many fascinating people to read about. :)
DeleteI've read different books about the Tudors and even if they are based on the same wife it is still a fascinating look into what their lives must have been like. I'll have to add this one to my list!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was an interesting look at Katherine Parr's life! :)
DeleteThe Tudor period is just one of those rich mines of material for historical fiction. The Julio-Claudian dynasty of the Roman Empire is another one.
ReplyDeleteI read a couple of the Phillipa Gregory books back in the day and I really enjoyed Alison Weir's nonfiction book about Henry VIII's six wives. What I am really waiting for is Hilary Mantel's final book in the Cromwell trilogy! Write faster Hilary! :)
I've heard good things about Alison Weirs' books, and I've read one by Phillipa Gregory that I quite liked. It seems everyone wants to write about this popular time period. :D
DeleteWhen I was ypung I saw a miniseries about the Six Wives of Henry VIII and have been fascinated ever since. Have you read Jean Plaidy's novels on these women. She does a very good job.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever read Jean Plaidy but I've heard about her books and how good they are. I'll have to see if they're still in print. :)
DeleteHenry VIII and his wives are always interesting to read about! I have read all of Elizabeth Fremantle's books, including this one, and enjoyed them all. Thanks for linking to my review of the Jane Seymour book - I hope you like it if you do read it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on reading the Jane Seymour book this summer, and am really looking forward to learning more about her and her life. :)
DeleteThe Tudors have always intrigued me too. This book sounds like a fascinating read. I might have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone finds the Tudors fascinating. :)
DeleteI've read a couple books about the Tudors, but I'm always up for more. I'll have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read much about Katherine Parr so I found it really interesting. :)
DeleteI'm no history buff but I think it you were an unfortunate woman if you caught Henry the VIII's attention! It usually didn't end well. I'm sorry to hear that Katherine survived Henry but didn't have a happy ending. Someday I'll get into these queens. Wonderful review, Lark! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel! And I agree....any woman who caught Henry VIII's eye was VERY unlucky.
DeleteI love historical fiction, but admit I shy away from most books about royalty. I don't know why exactly. Too much drama maybe. Although that doesn't explain some of my other reading choices. LOL This does sound interesting though. Henry VIII certainly has earned his reputation!
ReplyDeleteAnd the Tudors certainly come with A LOT of drama! :)
DeleteI really enjoyed this book-it's one of the few books I've ever won!
ReplyDeleteLucky! I've never actually won a book, although I keep trying. :)
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