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Katherine Howard: A Tudor Conspiracy
Joanna Denny, author of Anne Boleyn , reveals another sensational episode in Tudor history—illuminating the true character of Katherine Howard, the young girl caught up in a maelstrom of ambition and conspiracy, which led to her execution for high treason while still only 17 years old. Who was Katherine, the beautiful young aristocrat who became a bait to catch a king? Was she simply naive and innocent, a victim of her grasping family's scheming? Or was she brazen and abandoned, recklessly indulging in dissolute games with lovers in contempt of her royal position? Joanna Denny's enthralling new book once again plunges the reader into the heart of the ruthless intrigues of the Tudor court—and gives a sympathetic and poignant portrait of a girl tragically trapped and betrayed by her own family.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Joanna Denny
3 books12 followersJoanna Denny (died 2006) was a historian and author specialising in the court of Henry VIII of England. Her books include Katherine Howard: A Tudor Conspiracy and Anne Boleyn. Her books are usually considered to be sympathetic towards these women. She was published by Portrait Books, an imprint of Piatkus. She is a descendant of Sir Anthony Denny, Henry VIII's trusted servant. She died in 2006, shortly before the publication of her book on Anne Boleyn.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 23, 2009
I was highly disappointed with this book.
While accurate historical information is certainly difficult to find on Katharine Howard, I felt that the author spent much of her time filling this book with "fluff" in order to make it long enough to publish. While interesting, it didn't clearly relate to Katharine and her life.
Most annoying about this book was the very weak argument made by the author that Katherine was 15 or 16 when she married King Henry VIII, rather than the historically accepted age of 19-21. While Katherine's date of birth has not been able to be pinpointed, most reputable scholars agree that she was in her late teens to early twenties when she was executed on the orders of her husband, the king. Denny's argument that Katherine was actually 15 or 16 is not supported by historical fact.
While I certainly agree that Katherine was a victim of her family's political ambitions, I do not believe the authors assertion that Katherine was also a sexually abused young girl. I believe that Katherine was a woman of her time. Women were married and bore children at a much earlier age than what is accepted by todays standards. To paint her as a victim in that sense, at Henry as little more than a sexual predator chasing after young girls barely out of puberty, is ridiculous.
Poorly written, and poorly researched. I do not recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in Tudor history.
While accurate historical information is certainly difficult to find on Katharine Howard, I felt that the author spent much of her time filling this book with "fluff" in order to make it long enough to publish. While interesting, it didn't clearly relate to Katharine and her life.
Most annoying about this book was the very weak argument made by the author that Katherine was 15 or 16 when she married King Henry VIII, rather than the historically accepted age of 19-21. While Katherine's date of birth has not been able to be pinpointed, most reputable scholars agree that she was in her late teens to early twenties when she was executed on the orders of her husband, the king. Denny's argument that Katherine was actually 15 or 16 is not supported by historical fact.
While I certainly agree that Katherine was a victim of her family's political ambitions, I do not believe the authors assertion that Katherine was also a sexually abused young girl. I believe that Katherine was a woman of her time. Women were married and bore children at a much earlier age than what is accepted by todays standards. To paint her as a victim in that sense, at Henry as little more than a sexual predator chasing after young girls barely out of puberty, is ridiculous.
Poorly written, and poorly researched. I do not recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in Tudor history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2011
a little repetetive, but i blame the editor. a compationate and sympathetic view of kathryn howard, and very enjoyable. it was refreshing to read something other than 'what a whore!'. it made no excuses for what she did, only tried to explain them.
April 11, 2015
I bought this book for research, and I found that I simply cannot take it seriously. Denny's name had come up in another book I was reading for research, so I knew that I had to be careful while reading it. I found that I couldn't continue using it for research, as I would simply have to go back and fact check everything, which would consume even more of my time.
Denny alleges that Kathryn was a mere child when she began her relationship with Henry Mannox and Francis Dereham. She is the only person to believe this theory, and she doesn't even acknowledge that most historians believe that Kathryn was older.
I also found that Denny got off track fairly easily. While some of the information is interesting, it is not even related to Kathryn Howard or her family. If you do read this book, please take this information with a grain of salt, as it is full of theories and doesn't even mention that most historians have different beliefs on Kathryn's upbringing, namely her age.
Denny alleges that Kathryn was a mere child when she began her relationship with Henry Mannox and Francis Dereham. She is the only person to believe this theory, and she doesn't even acknowledge that most historians believe that Kathryn was older.
I also found that Denny got off track fairly easily. While some of the information is interesting, it is not even related to Kathryn Howard or her family. If you do read this book, please take this information with a grain of salt, as it is full of theories and doesn't even mention that most historians have different beliefs on Kathryn's upbringing, namely her age.
October 4, 2024
Joanna Denny has brought dynamism to this erstwhile two dimensionally portrayed girl, who earlier biographers (with no more cited evidence than Denny uses here) wrote off as a juvenile delinquent, a whore, etc. Denny offers a more balanced, wider range of possibilities around Katherine's level of guilt or innocence than earlier writers took the trouble to flesh out.
I contest arguments that this book is best suited for beginners to the period. Beginners do not turn to detailed accounts of this fleeting young queen. They aim to see the outline of Henry's reign, the shape of his dynasty's epoch - in which, contextually, Katherine Howard was barely relevant. We can only speculate on whether much would have unfolded differently had she survived the axe.
This is a book for those with the Tudors generally mastered but seeking deeper explanations lacking in the works of antiquated savants who grew academically lazy after enjoying higher acclaim from their fraternity than Denny so far has. She has dared offer diversion from the stiff consensus and been castigated accordingly for it. Denny has been made an easy whipping post for the unsubstantiated latter day academic snobbery of a handful of textbook greenhorns.
Those detractors, as they gain the wisdom of a mature readership rather than cramming in memorised indexes of names and dates, will see that all of history is drawn using some subjectivity, some opinion and some primary data. Much of it is dry, boring propaganda. Some of the most highly praised has been proven inaccurate with the passage of time, the opening of blinkered minds and the unearthing of new evidence.
I finished the this greatly entertaining work feeling I'd come to better know and understand this likeable girl, who has been so denigrated over the centuries.
Effective historical biography is a genre of its own, quite separate from plain academia, it strikes a fine balance between hard data and mere entertainment (if you want just data visit the archives or reference library, if you want only entertainment watch The Tudors). I found that special balance here.
Thank you, Joanna Denny.
I contest arguments that this book is best suited for beginners to the period. Beginners do not turn to detailed accounts of this fleeting young queen. They aim to see the outline of Henry's reign, the shape of his dynasty's epoch - in which, contextually, Katherine Howard was barely relevant. We can only speculate on whether much would have unfolded differently had she survived the axe.
This is a book for those with the Tudors generally mastered but seeking deeper explanations lacking in the works of antiquated savants who grew academically lazy after enjoying higher acclaim from their fraternity than Denny so far has. She has dared offer diversion from the stiff consensus and been castigated accordingly for it. Denny has been made an easy whipping post for the unsubstantiated latter day academic snobbery of a handful of textbook greenhorns.
Those detractors, as they gain the wisdom of a mature readership rather than cramming in memorised indexes of names and dates, will see that all of history is drawn using some subjectivity, some opinion and some primary data. Much of it is dry, boring propaganda. Some of the most highly praised has been proven inaccurate with the passage of time, the opening of blinkered minds and the unearthing of new evidence.
I finished the this greatly entertaining work feeling I'd come to better know and understand this likeable girl, who has been so denigrated over the centuries.
Effective historical biography is a genre of its own, quite separate from plain academia, it strikes a fine balance between hard data and mere entertainment (if you want just data visit the archives or reference library, if you want only entertainment watch The Tudors). I found that special balance here.
Thank you, Joanna Denny.
May 9, 2025
It is a bit difficult to rate this book, in my opinion, as it has both intriguing insights and glaring errors.
As such, I’m rating it a 2.5.
Let’s discuss.
The text is bookended with discussions of “the ghost of Hampton Court”. Although the author does mention it is a “myth” she spends quite a bit of time banging on about it, relishing the details etc. Any historian can tell you-at the time (and even now) there IS NO direct passage from the t chambers to the King’s chapel.
I was mystified as to why Denny left the quote discussing the Mary Rose in archaic text, as it’s impossible to comprehend. (Page 26).
“Deddeshares demi at 5s a mount by the seid tyme”.
Seriously, she couldn’t be bothered to translate and perhaps expand on what this person was discussing?
Then she turns my poor opinion on its head by flat out stating the Tudors had sister the crown by conspiracy and invasion-something many historians balk at confronting.
She also delves into the manipulation and lies of Catherine of Aragon, SO often depicted not only by historians but especially by the media as a saint, the long suffering, chaste and devoted first wife of Henry.
She wasn’t. And people seem to forget, gloss over or utterly refute the facts that we have ample evidence of her lies not only to the King and his council, but her own father.
She also trounces on the sacrificial lamb myth of Jane Seymour, which I have never seen another historian dare to do. Because she died in childbirth, she has been canonized as an almost mythological, maternal figure next to the Virgin Mary herself.
That she happily had relations with the King, with Anne pregnant and in the same household, as well as being formally betrothed him the day after Anne’s execution (all the while being a maid in Anne’s Ken household) speaks volumes.
Often Anne herself is slandered and denigrated for such things (although she resisted his advances and flat out told him she wasn’t interested. For years.), but we never see the same lens placed onto saintly Jane, the sweet, blonde martyr.
Denny takes the commonly held stance that Katherine was very young, only approx 15 at her marriage to the King. While this is, of course, possible-I find it out of character and therefore odd.
Henry always preferred mature, intelligent women. His first wife, Catherine, was significantly older than he. Anne Boleyn was a mature woman in her 20’s, highly intelligent and capable. Jane Seymour and Katherine Parr were likewise mature. (Anne of Cleves was also, but I leave this out as it was an arranged marriage).
Suddenly to be attracted to a girl young enough to be his granddaughter seems wildly out of character.
Page 142 she mentions “tight corsets”. Corsets were in fact, not invented yet and would not be for hundreds of years.
Corsets only became available in the mid 19th century . Previous to that were “stays”, and in Henry’s time, not even those were used. A “pair of bodies” is the closest we can come to and that was worn by Elizabeth I, a generation later.
Corsets couldn’t be used-because metal grommets (which make them possible) were not invented yet. Holes or grommets for lacing were hand sewn, and NOT capable of being pulled tightly.
Denny also seems to think medieval people stank, which is wildly inaccurate. People of the time while wildly concerned about smells and hygienic as they literally believe that diseases like travel through the air-and noxious smells carried disease. That excuse for Anne of Cleves’ rejection is entirely inaccurate and false.
Again, we encounter the idea of Henry’s size. He was over 6 feet, and authors exclaim over his “huge, piggy and disgusting weight” -when discussing his 54 inch waist. He was SO fat, thry claim, he had to be carried in a chair.
Well, no.
54 inches is a husky size, indeed, but not outrageously fat. Try this. Get a cloth tape measure and measure out 54 inches. Make a circle. It’s MUCH smaller than we are led to believe. Many tv actors are far beyond this size, but thry can walk just fine.
He couldn’t walk because his leg has a seething, often infected, open would oozing pus constantly and he was in agony. I would think that would be obvious.
But me cause he was a tyrant, with multiple terrifying qualities, the “excessive fatness” has become a physical embodiment of how we view his personality.
She waxes long on the “King’s table” and the number of dishes served, insinuating THAT is why he was so gross and disgustingly obese. Except….that was typical of English nobility. Nobody expected you to eat ALL the dishes, for heavens sake.
Then she redeems herself with a fascinating theory on Henry Fitzroy. I have NEVER heard much about him, other than he died young. Many people did. But the fact that he was so healthy, robust,attending parliament to make him heir-then suddenly sick and dead 3 days later is hugely convenient.
That an autopsy was not allowed, neither was a procession or funeral observation…..
Denny claims a Holbein portrait of Katherine (page 175)-however, we know no surviving portrait of her exists, and it was likely a misidentified portrait of Jane Seymour. As this was written 20 years ago, perhaps that is the explanation.
Another inaccurate statement is that rancid meats flavour were disguised by spices. This is…something SO wrong it makes me wonder about her research, as even I knew in primary school this was inaccurate.
Spices were a status symbol and HUGELY expensive. Nobody is going to use the equivalent of a 1500$ spice to cover up the rancid taste and smell of a 2$ roast.
This idea has been thoroughly debunked and has been for ages. Frankly I find the only people regurgitating it are those that get their history from American tv shows.
You have to wonder about the intelligence of Durham and Culpeper, boasting about sexual escapades and plight truths after what had happened with Anne Boleyn and her supposed “lovers”…
That it was Chapuys that started the runout that Katherine practiced with the block the night before her execution makes it entirely suspect. He is possibly one of the most unreliable sources in history.
Denny misrepresents the death of James V of Scotland, stating he died before his daughter was born.
In fact he died afterward.
So while this book raises some good points, there is far too much mythology related as fact, or purely false claims for me to give it a higher rating.
As such, I’m rating it a 2.5.
Let’s discuss.
The text is bookended with discussions of “the ghost of Hampton Court”. Although the author does mention it is a “myth” she spends quite a bit of time banging on about it, relishing the details etc. Any historian can tell you-at the time (and even now) there IS NO direct passage from the t chambers to the King’s chapel.
I was mystified as to why Denny left the quote discussing the Mary Rose in archaic text, as it’s impossible to comprehend. (Page 26).
“Deddeshares demi at 5s a mount by the seid tyme”.
Seriously, she couldn’t be bothered to translate and perhaps expand on what this person was discussing?
Then she turns my poor opinion on its head by flat out stating the Tudors had sister the crown by conspiracy and invasion-something many historians balk at confronting.
She also delves into the manipulation and lies of Catherine of Aragon, SO often depicted not only by historians but especially by the media as a saint, the long suffering, chaste and devoted first wife of Henry.
She wasn’t. And people seem to forget, gloss over or utterly refute the facts that we have ample evidence of her lies not only to the King and his council, but her own father.
She also trounces on the sacrificial lamb myth of Jane Seymour, which I have never seen another historian dare to do. Because she died in childbirth, she has been canonized as an almost mythological, maternal figure next to the Virgin Mary herself.
That she happily had relations with the King, with Anne pregnant and in the same household, as well as being formally betrothed him the day after Anne’s execution (all the while being a maid in Anne’s Ken household) speaks volumes.
Often Anne herself is slandered and denigrated for such things (although she resisted his advances and flat out told him she wasn’t interested. For years.), but we never see the same lens placed onto saintly Jane, the sweet, blonde martyr.
Denny takes the commonly held stance that Katherine was very young, only approx 15 at her marriage to the King. While this is, of course, possible-I find it out of character and therefore odd.
Henry always preferred mature, intelligent women. His first wife, Catherine, was significantly older than he. Anne Boleyn was a mature woman in her 20’s, highly intelligent and capable. Jane Seymour and Katherine Parr were likewise mature. (Anne of Cleves was also, but I leave this out as it was an arranged marriage).
Suddenly to be attracted to a girl young enough to be his granddaughter seems wildly out of character.
Page 142 she mentions “tight corsets”. Corsets were in fact, not invented yet and would not be for hundreds of years.
Corsets only became available in the mid 19th century . Previous to that were “stays”, and in Henry’s time, not even those were used. A “pair of bodies” is the closest we can come to and that was worn by Elizabeth I, a generation later.
Corsets couldn’t be used-because metal grommets (which make them possible) were not invented yet. Holes or grommets for lacing were hand sewn, and NOT capable of being pulled tightly.
Denny also seems to think medieval people stank, which is wildly inaccurate. People of the time while wildly concerned about smells and hygienic as they literally believe that diseases like travel through the air-and noxious smells carried disease. That excuse for Anne of Cleves’ rejection is entirely inaccurate and false.
Again, we encounter the idea of Henry’s size. He was over 6 feet, and authors exclaim over his “huge, piggy and disgusting weight” -when discussing his 54 inch waist. He was SO fat, thry claim, he had to be carried in a chair.
Well, no.
54 inches is a husky size, indeed, but not outrageously fat. Try this. Get a cloth tape measure and measure out 54 inches. Make a circle. It’s MUCH smaller than we are led to believe. Many tv actors are far beyond this size, but thry can walk just fine.
He couldn’t walk because his leg has a seething, often infected, open would oozing pus constantly and he was in agony. I would think that would be obvious.
But me cause he was a tyrant, with multiple terrifying qualities, the “excessive fatness” has become a physical embodiment of how we view his personality.
She waxes long on the “King’s table” and the number of dishes served, insinuating THAT is why he was so gross and disgustingly obese. Except….that was typical of English nobility. Nobody expected you to eat ALL the dishes, for heavens sake.
Then she redeems herself with a fascinating theory on Henry Fitzroy. I have NEVER heard much about him, other than he died young. Many people did. But the fact that he was so healthy, robust,attending parliament to make him heir-then suddenly sick and dead 3 days later is hugely convenient.
That an autopsy was not allowed, neither was a procession or funeral observation…..
Denny claims a Holbein portrait of Katherine (page 175)-however, we know no surviving portrait of her exists, and it was likely a misidentified portrait of Jane Seymour. As this was written 20 years ago, perhaps that is the explanation.
Another inaccurate statement is that rancid meats flavour were disguised by spices. This is…something SO wrong it makes me wonder about her research, as even I knew in primary school this was inaccurate.
Spices were a status symbol and HUGELY expensive. Nobody is going to use the equivalent of a 1500$ spice to cover up the rancid taste and smell of a 2$ roast.
This idea has been thoroughly debunked and has been for ages. Frankly I find the only people regurgitating it are those that get their history from American tv shows.
You have to wonder about the intelligence of Durham and Culpeper, boasting about sexual escapades and plight truths after what had happened with Anne Boleyn and her supposed “lovers”…
That it was Chapuys that started the runout that Katherine practiced with the block the night before her execution makes it entirely suspect. He is possibly one of the most unreliable sources in history.
Denny misrepresents the death of James V of Scotland, stating he died before his daughter was born.
In fact he died afterward.
So while this book raises some good points, there is far too much mythology related as fact, or purely false claims for me to give it a higher rating.
May 28, 2008
A wonderful look into the life of this poor, misguided, and pretty little girl. Having lost her innocence at such a young age under the guidance of her grandmother, who could care less what the girls in her household were doing, Kitty Howard was nothing more than a pawn in her once again politically hungry "Howard" family. As her cousin before her, Anne Boleyn, Kitty was thrown at Henry VIII with hopes that her nasty Uncle Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, would rise again in the king's favor. It all goes horribly wrong when the king, who is so infatuated and besotted with her, is told that she has had many lovers prior to marrying him and that she took some of those lovers to court with her and continued to sleep with them under his very own nose. All lies, of course. She was not an innocent when he married her, however, there was never any proof that she continued any romance AFTER marrying Henry. He once again has her taken away, never to see her again, and orders that she be beheaded. Crazy bastard. This is nonfiction and well worth the educational intake!
March 19, 2010
Interesting, I would give it two and a half if I could, as I don't really think it deserves a three.
Joanna Denny's account of Katherine Howard starts off as a piece of fiction, with her mother giving birth to her, and doesn't really improve drastically throughout.
Referring to unknown sources and getting sidetracked with long-winded explanations of people that were barely connected with the scandal makes this book just a little bit of a disappointment.
I was hoping to learn more about Katherine's life, but this book uses just a little bit more speculation then I would have liked (eg; 'Katherine must have felt so surprised about this...' etc)
This book had potential, but I feel it fell just a little flat of it's goal.
Joanna Denny's account of Katherine Howard starts off as a piece of fiction, with her mother giving birth to her, and doesn't really improve drastically throughout.
Referring to unknown sources and getting sidetracked with long-winded explanations of people that were barely connected with the scandal makes this book just a little bit of a disappointment.
I was hoping to learn more about Katherine's life, but this book uses just a little bit more speculation then I would have liked (eg; 'Katherine must have felt so surprised about this...' etc)
This book had potential, but I feel it fell just a little flat of it's goal.
April 19, 2008
Not bad, but the author doesn't have much to add to what's already known about Katherine Howard. The book did make me feel more sympathetic toward Katherine; the author points out that what happened to Katherine would be considered child sexual abuse if it happened today.
Like Jane Boleyn, this would be a good choice for someone unfamiliar with Tudor history. Anyone who knows a bit about the period will probably be bored.
Like Jane Boleyn, this would be a good choice for someone unfamiliar with Tudor history. Anyone who knows a bit about the period will probably be bored.
August 5, 2011
The author of this book was very biased and it showed greatly. Also there was a problem with her sources, she did not properly source many facts. She also made false assumptions based on very little evidence that she attempted to manipulate to her point of view. Such as the outlandish idea that Henry VIII plotted to kill Henry Fitzroy, his bastard son. Besides these problems, the book was still an interesting read, just don't believe everything the author says.
April 8, 2013
A little more biased against the Howard family to be considered non-fiction in my opinion, but other than the editorializing of the cause of Henry Fitzroy's death and Thomas Cromwell's conspiracy against Anne Boleyn (which takes up more of the beginning of the book than necessary), it was interesting to read more about the background of Katherine Howard.
February 18, 2015
Terribly written, too many debatable things presented as fact and Katherine Howard is barely mentioned in the first four chapters, it instead being an account of her entire family.
A lot of the book seems like Denny found out interesting facts about the time period and just shoved them into the book with no link at all to the book's subject matter.
Couldn't finish.
A lot of the book seems like Denny found out interesting facts about the time period and just shoved them into the book with no link at all to the book's subject matter.
Couldn't finish.
April 18, 2011
Easy read and well researched. For easily accessible history, Denny is highly recommended.
August 12, 2011
Also a good book, not as easy to read as Joanna Denny Anne Boleyn book but still a good read.
June 13, 2012
Very disappointed in this book. I was expecting a well-researched historical account of Katherine Howard but it was more of a historical fiction novel on the Tudor history.
June 1, 2012
If I could have finished it I might have rated it higher but it wasn't worth finishing...for me.
January 26, 2014
I was highly disappointed and I seriously learned nothing with this book
April 18, 2025
3/5
One thing I had to bear in mind with this book was hindsight. This book was originally published in 2005 and was probably one of the only books at the time to really look at Katheryn in a different way and champion her cause. Oftentimes, biographies and paragraphs on Katheryn Howard were practically just a game of 'how many insults can I throw at a young woman in a certain amount of pages'. Joanna Denny therefore can be applauded for her attempt at looking at Katheryn in a more sympathetic light for the time, and dispelling many myths which still somehow float around today. While I do not agree with everything she had proposed, it was nice to see someone from 2005 at least making some type of effort to sit and think about Katheryn's story and treat her with a bit of kindness which was seldom demonstrated by others.
Reading this in 2025, it shows that we have come quite a long way regarding Katheryn and her story. I found the constant mention of Anne Boleyn quite repetitive at times. In some ways I can understand why the author may have chosen to do this, as Anne has been an intensely popular figure amongst historians and readers alike. However, it took away from Katheryn being her own person, and it at some point felt like more of a biography on Anne than it did Katheryn. The first few chapters are pretty much detailing Anne with a few mentions of Katheryn and the situation with Manox.
There are also some pieces of information which made me mark a '?' onto the page, and seemed to be without some type of source - I was quite interested by Anne of Cleves remarking 'She was too much a child to deny herself any sweet thing she wanted.' Maybe I had missed this in other books I had read, but I do not recall any mention of Anne saying this and cannot find a source for it.
Overall, the book must be read with hindsight and must still be appreciated for what it did for Katheryn for the time. At least Denny gave her a chance - a rarity!
One thing I had to bear in mind with this book was hindsight. This book was originally published in 2005 and was probably one of the only books at the time to really look at Katheryn in a different way and champion her cause. Oftentimes, biographies and paragraphs on Katheryn Howard were practically just a game of 'how many insults can I throw at a young woman in a certain amount of pages'. Joanna Denny therefore can be applauded for her attempt at looking at Katheryn in a more sympathetic light for the time, and dispelling many myths which still somehow float around today. While I do not agree with everything she had proposed, it was nice to see someone from 2005 at least making some type of effort to sit and think about Katheryn's story and treat her with a bit of kindness which was seldom demonstrated by others.
Reading this in 2025, it shows that we have come quite a long way regarding Katheryn and her story. I found the constant mention of Anne Boleyn quite repetitive at times. In some ways I can understand why the author may have chosen to do this, as Anne has been an intensely popular figure amongst historians and readers alike. However, it took away from Katheryn being her own person, and it at some point felt like more of a biography on Anne than it did Katheryn. The first few chapters are pretty much detailing Anne with a few mentions of Katheryn and the situation with Manox.
There are also some pieces of information which made me mark a '?' onto the page, and seemed to be without some type of source - I was quite interested by Anne of Cleves remarking 'She was too much a child to deny herself any sweet thing she wanted.' Maybe I had missed this in other books I had read, but I do not recall any mention of Anne saying this and cannot find a source for it.
Overall, the book must be read with hindsight and must still be appreciated for what it did for Katheryn for the time. At least Denny gave her a chance - a rarity!
August 1, 2024
Katherine Howard was Henry VIII’s fifth queen and his teenage wife. She was executed because she had an affair with her husband’s servant, Thomas Culpepper. In this biography of Queen Katherine Howard, she is portrayed as a pawn for her uncle in order to restore Catholicism in England. Once her past was revealed, her uncle betrays her in order to save himself. This biography portrays Queen Katherine Howard in a sympathetic light. She was an obscure teenager who suddenly became Queen of England, a role in which she was unprepared for.
I liked Ms. Denny’s portrait of Queen Katherine Howard. Queen Katherine Howard was a neglected and often forgotten child. Because of this, she was forced to become an adult and learned more about sensual pleasures. Thus, she lost her innocence in her youth. Because of this, it would be her first step that would lead her to the execution block. Ms. Denny also shows how Katherine was a pawn and that she was unequipped to be queen. Therefore, Queen Katherine Howard was very sympathetic. If only she was looked after, cared for, and was brought up, then her fate might have turned out differently.
Overall, this was a very comprehensive biography of Queen Katherine Howard. Even though it was a short book, I did find it to be unnecessarily drawn out. I wished it was more focused on Queen Katherine Howard. Instead, it tended to go off on tangents not related to the subject. There was also a lot of speculation that was not founded on evidence. Still, it is a fascinating account of a young queen who died a tragic death. It also read like a thriller, for Queen Katherine Howard made many mistakes that caused to be executed. I recommend this for fans of Alison Weir, Gareth Russell, and Antonia Fraser!
I liked Ms. Denny’s portrait of Queen Katherine Howard. Queen Katherine Howard was a neglected and often forgotten child. Because of this, she was forced to become an adult and learned more about sensual pleasures. Thus, she lost her innocence in her youth. Because of this, it would be her first step that would lead her to the execution block. Ms. Denny also shows how Katherine was a pawn and that she was unequipped to be queen. Therefore, Queen Katherine Howard was very sympathetic. If only she was looked after, cared for, and was brought up, then her fate might have turned out differently.
Overall, this was a very comprehensive biography of Queen Katherine Howard. Even though it was a short book, I did find it to be unnecessarily drawn out. I wished it was more focused on Queen Katherine Howard. Instead, it tended to go off on tangents not related to the subject. There was also a lot of speculation that was not founded on evidence. Still, it is a fascinating account of a young queen who died a tragic death. It also read like a thriller, for Queen Katherine Howard made many mistakes that caused to be executed. I recommend this for fans of Alison Weir, Gareth Russell, and Antonia Fraser!
May 4, 2020
A good examination of daily life in Tudor England, the politics of Henry VIII's court, and the history of the Howard family.
But, sadly, Katherine Howard does not get as much attention, and what is there is mostly conjecture, with Denny doing a lot of guesswork about Katherine's actions and feelings and presenting them too often as fact.
I do applaud her pushing the fact that Katherine Howard was a victim of sexual harassment and assault, a narrative too long ignored and very much needing to be acknowledge these days, but the book could have focused more on Katherine Howard, and stuck closer to known events rather than spending times on things like the myth of Katherine's last appeal to Henry or sightings of her ghost.
January 10, 2025
I bought this book for research for my dissertation.
Although it is becoming more widely accepted that Kathryn Howard was closer to 15 when she met the king, this book was published at a time when that research hasn’t been backed up. (I have read books and articles by other historians suggesting this now)
It was poorly researched. I found it baffling that Denny wrote George Boleyn and Jane Parker had a son, when there is no record of them having any children.
I found this book a fast read due to how poorly written it was. I’ve given the book 3 stars as it’s officially a perfect book for me to criticise in depth in my dissertation.
Although it is becoming more widely accepted that Kathryn Howard was closer to 15 when she met the king, this book was published at a time when that research hasn’t been backed up. (I have read books and articles by other historians suggesting this now)
It was poorly researched. I found it baffling that Denny wrote George Boleyn and Jane Parker had a son, when there is no record of them having any children.
I found this book a fast read due to how poorly written it was. I’ve given the book 3 stars as it’s officially a perfect book for me to criticise in depth in my dissertation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2024
Although I finished this book I didnt read all of it, there was a lot of information that didnt really interest me. A lot of 16th century characters that I didnt want to read about. However what I did enjoy was the story of Katherine's marriage and early life, fact or fiction, it was an interesting read.
June 22, 2019
I was hoping to learn more about the history of that time period and how Katherine fit into it. The author's emphasis seemed to be almost exclusively on Katherine's sex life. Previous reviewers question the accuracy of the history.
October 10, 2025
This book changed my life when I picked it up outside my year 9 history classroom, and is honestly the reason I’m writing my dissertation on the topic I am. However. Joanna Denny when I catch you. Where! Is! Your! Evidence!
March 18, 2016
The confused record keeping of this age casts doubts on when Katherine Howard was actually born. Whether you believe she was 15, 18 or 19 when she married Henry, I think most people agree that she was young in mind and had not been trained in how to be a Queen or wife to a man like Henry.
I have no trouble believing that she was used by her powerful family as their actions prior to and after death show. This family were power mad and always seemed to be plotting something. They played dangerous games trying to manipulate Henry and Katherine was a pawn. Whether she was a willing one or not is anybody's guess. I still found this to be entertaining even if I'm unsure what is fact and fiction.
I have no trouble believing that she was used by her powerful family as their actions prior to and after death show. This family were power mad and always seemed to be plotting something. They played dangerous games trying to manipulate Henry and Katherine was a pawn. Whether she was a willing one or not is anybody's guess. I still found this to be entertaining even if I'm unsure what is fact and fiction.
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