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Dignity
Dignity is the unrecorded story of a young, unknown girl who eventually became the Queen of England. Katheryn Howard’s story takes place in Tudor England where at age five she moves forward through her historically unknown life. This is Katheryn’s story presented in a romantic fashion and intertwined with historic events of the time. Katheryn Howard’s first mention in Tudor history was when she created the Gentlewomen’s Chamber at Lambeth about two years prior to her marriage to Henry VIII. Therefore, Katheryn’s history begins at the end of Dignity whereas the beginning, which explains her torrid lifestyle, is not historical.
Dark secrets of Katheryn’s childhood are exposed explaining the commonplace result of over-sexualization and promiscuity. Her lascivious lifestyle was to become her eventual demise as her pre-marital history was uncovered during her short reign as Queen of England. The story explores the viewpoints of many of the characters involved with Katheryn both historically and romantically as she searched for love through the only thing that she felt she had some control over, her sensuality.
In the time of Katheryn’s short life, women were considered little more than property in a male dominated world. Dignity does nothing to sugar coat this fact and because it is written in a romantic fashion, it can draw the reader in and be quite stimulating yet in some instances, it can be quite disturbing.
Dark secrets of Katheryn’s childhood are exposed explaining the commonplace result of over-sexualization and promiscuity. Her lascivious lifestyle was to become her eventual demise as her pre-marital history was uncovered during her short reign as Queen of England. The story explores the viewpoints of many of the characters involved with Katheryn both historically and romantically as she searched for love through the only thing that she felt she had some control over, her sensuality.
In the time of Katheryn’s short life, women were considered little more than property in a male dominated world. Dignity does nothing to sugar coat this fact and because it is written in a romantic fashion, it can draw the reader in and be quite stimulating yet in some instances, it can be quite disturbing.
632 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2011
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Christian Ashley
19 books18 followersChristian Ashley is an author of Historical Romance, Alternative History, Paranormal Romance, Modern Romance, and Erotic Fantasy. Many of her Historical Romance novels, such as Rose of Gwynedd, Sara’s Plan (In Daddy’s Arms), and Dignity, came to her through dreams that evolved with ample research into the historical period.
As Ms. Ashley has often said, “It’s so nice when history plays well into my story.” The author’s work is written in a romantic fashion where history and circumstance are intricately intertwined taking the reader back in time into the “real-life” situations indigenous to the place of the story.
It all began with Christian Ashley’s first novel, Dignity, which unintentionally has become highly controversial due to its context and lurid portrayal of a girl who found herself to become Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Dignity is a Tudor Romantic Tragedy that takes place in the sixteenth century and unleashes the historically unknown life of Katheryn Howard to end with a highly historical rendition of her execution. As numerous scenes in Dignity are extremely sexually explicit, the novel is available in a Censored version as well, Dignity (Censored): Rose Coloured Glasses Included.
Her second novel, Sara’s Plan, of which Redemption is its sequel, looks into the intriguing times and unique challenges of a fictional Mormon family in the mid-eighteen fifties.
Rose of Gwynedd, takes place in twelfth century Wales – four hundred years after the time of King Arthur. It is a story of love amidst a time of chaotic upheaval and war.
The highly requested sequel to Sara’s Plan, Redemption, takes place where Sara’s Plan left off and continues through the end of the Civil War. The events leading to Sara’s redemption and the justice that will soon be claimed are deeply contrasted with the chaos and upheaval of the historic period. An alternative historical romance, Yeshua HaMashiach: The Lost Years, is part one of a trilogy about the life of Christ.
The author is also an artist; Christian Ashley's illustrations are portrayed in her books, on book covers, and in book trailers.
As Ms. Ashley has often said, “It’s so nice when history plays well into my story.” The author’s work is written in a romantic fashion where history and circumstance are intricately intertwined taking the reader back in time into the “real-life” situations indigenous to the place of the story.
It all began with Christian Ashley’s first novel, Dignity, which unintentionally has become highly controversial due to its context and lurid portrayal of a girl who found herself to become Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Dignity is a Tudor Romantic Tragedy that takes place in the sixteenth century and unleashes the historically unknown life of Katheryn Howard to end with a highly historical rendition of her execution. As numerous scenes in Dignity are extremely sexually explicit, the novel is available in a Censored version as well, Dignity (Censored): Rose Coloured Glasses Included.
Her second novel, Sara’s Plan, of which Redemption is its sequel, looks into the intriguing times and unique challenges of a fictional Mormon family in the mid-eighteen fifties.
Rose of Gwynedd, takes place in twelfth century Wales – four hundred years after the time of King Arthur. It is a story of love amidst a time of chaotic upheaval and war.
The highly requested sequel to Sara’s Plan, Redemption, takes place where Sara’s Plan left off and continues through the end of the Civil War. The events leading to Sara’s redemption and the justice that will soon be claimed are deeply contrasted with the chaos and upheaval of the historic period. An alternative historical romance, Yeshua HaMashiach: The Lost Years, is part one of a trilogy about the life of Christ.
The author is also an artist; Christian Ashley's illustrations are portrayed in her books, on book covers, and in book trailers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 12, 2014
I happened to like it when a book cannot easily be classified in the narrow confines of a particular genre. Is this an Erotic Fiction, or a Historical Fantasy? In my mind, life itself (and the art that mirrors it) constantly changes from one genre to the next, depending on the moment of experience. I appreciate a story for its contrasts, which explains precisely why I enjoy this work, and why some readers may not. Perhaps they expect one thing, based on the title 'Dignity'--and on some pages they get something entirely different, such as a steaming, sensually described love scene. If you are one of these readers, beware. Otherwise, you will find such contrasts quite thrilling.
The book opens with an out-of-place Epilogue (titled Prologue) which describes the queen rehearsing for the most important day of her life, the day of her execution. "It was important, she believed, do end with the dignity of a queen. After all, the only thing that she had left was her dignity." From there, we cut back to her childhood and her affair and marriage to the king. She becomes the witness--and in the end, the victim--of the high drama surrounding him. "His arrogance both attracted and infuriated her... She knew he could take her by force... she'd still have her dignity, and even he couldn't have that."
Katheryn Howard, the heroine of this story, is based on a historical figure about whom little is known (not even her date and place of birth.) Henry the VIII married her immediately after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves was arranged. Katheryn was beheaded after less than two years of marriage, on the grounds of treason for committing adultery. This life, which is barely sketched in historical books due to its unknowns, provides a great, blank canvas for painting every emotion, every thought of this sensual woman. Confined in the tight dresses of the time, she is fighting to survive, as best she can, in the world of men.
One last note: when his painting The Nude Maja created an uproar, Goya created another painting of the same woman identically posed, but clothed. This book is provided in two versions: censored and uncensored, so you may take your pick.
Four stars.
The book opens with an out-of-place Epilogue (titled Prologue) which describes the queen rehearsing for the most important day of her life, the day of her execution. "It was important, she believed, do end with the dignity of a queen. After all, the only thing that she had left was her dignity." From there, we cut back to her childhood and her affair and marriage to the king. She becomes the witness--and in the end, the victim--of the high drama surrounding him. "His arrogance both attracted and infuriated her... She knew he could take her by force... she'd still have her dignity, and even he couldn't have that."
Katheryn Howard, the heroine of this story, is based on a historical figure about whom little is known (not even her date and place of birth.) Henry the VIII married her immediately after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves was arranged. Katheryn was beheaded after less than two years of marriage, on the grounds of treason for committing adultery. This life, which is barely sketched in historical books due to its unknowns, provides a great, blank canvas for painting every emotion, every thought of this sensual woman. Confined in the tight dresses of the time, she is fighting to survive, as best she can, in the world of men.
One last note: when his painting The Nude Maja created an uproar, Goya created another painting of the same woman identically posed, but clothed. This book is provided in two versions: censored and uncensored, so you may take your pick.
Four stars.
December 18, 2011
I'll admit, reading Dignity made me blush. I enjoy historical perspectives, especially those of royalty, but the steamy romances and intricate detail took the story to a much deeper level. Christian Ashley truly has a gift for the visual, and it was a joy working with her on the Dignity book trailer which can be seen at http://youtu.be/IlnBFYDkuVU
Thanks, Christian. Look forward to your next literary work!
Sam Samson
techNartistry.com
Thanks, Christian. Look forward to your next literary work!
Sam Samson
techNartistry.com
April 12, 2012
Dignity covers a span of about 15 years of Katheryn Howard’s life and moves from event to event and place to place without leaving the reader bewildered. Also the story is told not only from Katheryn’s perspective, but from many of the character’s perspectives which allows the reader to understand and empathize with the characters. At the end of Dignity, the reader will understand what has perplexed historians for centuries such as, Katheryn admitting to hundreds of sexual encounters yet denying her betrothal to Francis Dereham despite Francis insisting that they were betrothed. It also explains King Henry VIII’s motivation in having his young wife beheaded which was in direct opposition to his Archbishop and Privy Council who wished for him to simply have the marriage annulled.
February 21, 2015
A wonderfully written, difficult read that captures the times and genre beautifully. I've studied this time period and read about King Henry VIII but never focused on Katheryn Howard as a person before. This well structured novel, and the author's first, shows she has a great compassion and understanding for those whose lives she's exposing to the world (graphically) but also for the reader. She published a censored version for those of certain sensitities. I'll be reading it over and over again...it's that compelling. Historically accurate there is no changing the tragic ending, but the journey there is compelling enough to keep you reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews