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Tudor Saga #4
Katharine of Aragon: The Story of a Spanish Princess and an English Queen
For the first time in paperback--all three of Jean Plaidy's "Katharine of Aragon" novels in one volume.
Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy begins her tales of Henry VIII's queens with the story of his first wife, the Spanish princess Katharine of Aragon.
As a teenager, Katharine leaves her beloved Spain, land of olive groves and soaring cathedrals, for the drab, rainy island of England. There she is married to the king's eldest son, Arthur, a sickly boy who dies six months after the wedding. Katharine is left a widow who was never truly a wife, lonely in a strange land, with a very bleak future. Her only hope of escape is to marry the king's second son, Prince Henry, now heir to the throne. Tall, athletic, handsome, a lover of poetry and music, Henry is all that Katharine could want in a husband. But their first son dies and, after many more pregnancies, only one child survives, a daughter. Disappointed by his lack of an heir, Henry's eye wanders, and he becomes enamored of another woman--a country nobleman's daughter named Anne Boleyn. When Henry begins searching for ways to put aside his loyal first wife, Katharine must fight to remain Queen of England and to keep the husband she once loved so dearly. "From the Trade Paperback edition."
Legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy begins her tales of Henry VIII's queens with the story of his first wife, the Spanish princess Katharine of Aragon.
As a teenager, Katharine leaves her beloved Spain, land of olive groves and soaring cathedrals, for the drab, rainy island of England. There she is married to the king's eldest son, Arthur, a sickly boy who dies six months after the wedding. Katharine is left a widow who was never truly a wife, lonely in a strange land, with a very bleak future. Her only hope of escape is to marry the king's second son, Prince Henry, now heir to the throne. Tall, athletic, handsome, a lover of poetry and music, Henry is all that Katharine could want in a husband. But their first son dies and, after many more pregnancies, only one child survives, a daughter. Disappointed by his lack of an heir, Henry's eye wanders, and he becomes enamored of another woman--a country nobleman's daughter named Anne Boleyn. When Henry begins searching for ways to put aside his loyal first wife, Katharine must fight to remain Queen of England and to keep the husband she once loved so dearly. "From the Trade Paperback edition."
ebook
First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
Jean Plaidy
192 books1,594 followersEleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 12, 2020
I have been collecting Jean Plaidy novels for more than 10 years. I read her Norman Trilogy years ago and loved it....so I started on a mission to collect every historical novel she wrote. At the time, her books were pretty much out of print...and hard to find. Several have been released in new editions though, so it's much easier to find her books now. I have made it part of my annual reading goals this year to focus on Jean Plaidy. I was so caught up in finding all the books that I never took the time to actually read them! Silly me! I can free up almost an entire bookcase of storage space in my library if I read my Plaidy books and donate them to charity. So....getting started!
I love the drama and politics of the Tudor Era...so I decided to start with Plaidy's Tudor Saga. There are 11 books in the series. The King's Secret Matter is the 4th book (the last in a trilogy about Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs first wife). There is a lot of political wrangling in this book. Henry wants to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn....and he's willing to do just about anything to accomplish that goal. We all know the story....and its outcome. I loved reading Plaidy's version....she creates a dramatic historical fiction picture of how things played out. This isn't historical romance. Plaidy takes history and fleshes out the scenes....puts the humanity, emotion and drama into it. No sex....just intrigue, politics and power plays.
I am loving the Tudor Saga so far! So much plotting, disappointment, and intrigue. This book really gave insight into Henry's personality changes....he became obsessed with having a male heir, he made rash, emotional, violent decisions. He really is larger than life and, for me, one of the most interesting English monarchs to study....but he was a terrible king. Paranoid. Mentally unbalanced. Obsessed. Impulsive. I can't imagine the stress, fear and strain that his wives endured. Makes it such an interesting era in history to read about.
I'm glad I'm finally reading my Plaidy books! Excellent novels!
Jean Plaidy is only one of many pen-names used by author Eleanor Hibbert. Another of her pseudonyms that many readers might recognize is Victoria Holt. Plaidy was the name she used when writing historical fiction. She used Victoria Holt for romantic suspense novels. She also wrote as Philippa Carr and several other pseudonyms. Quite the prolific writer!
On to the next book -- Murder Most Royal!
I love the drama and politics of the Tudor Era...so I decided to start with Plaidy's Tudor Saga. There are 11 books in the series. The King's Secret Matter is the 4th book (the last in a trilogy about Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs first wife). There is a lot of political wrangling in this book. Henry wants to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn....and he's willing to do just about anything to accomplish that goal. We all know the story....and its outcome. I loved reading Plaidy's version....she creates a dramatic historical fiction picture of how things played out. This isn't historical romance. Plaidy takes history and fleshes out the scenes....puts the humanity, emotion and drama into it. No sex....just intrigue, politics and power plays.
I am loving the Tudor Saga so far! So much plotting, disappointment, and intrigue. This book really gave insight into Henry's personality changes....he became obsessed with having a male heir, he made rash, emotional, violent decisions. He really is larger than life and, for me, one of the most interesting English monarchs to study....but he was a terrible king. Paranoid. Mentally unbalanced. Obsessed. Impulsive. I can't imagine the stress, fear and strain that his wives endured. Makes it such an interesting era in history to read about.
I'm glad I'm finally reading my Plaidy books! Excellent novels!
Jean Plaidy is only one of many pen-names used by author Eleanor Hibbert. Another of her pseudonyms that many readers might recognize is Victoria Holt. Plaidy was the name she used when writing historical fiction. She used Victoria Holt for romantic suspense novels. She also wrote as Philippa Carr and several other pseudonyms. Quite the prolific writer!
On to the next book -- Murder Most Royal!
December 15, 2018
Audiobook #248
June 15, 2012
This is the second book of Eleanor Hibbert’s, aka Jean Plaidy, that I’ve tried, and I have to say, I stop here. The King’s Secret Matter is just the same as The Shadow of the Pomegranate, there’s no change in style or quality. Plaidy’s historical fiction novels seem to be characterised by incredibly dry, unimaginative, dull writing that add nothing to the genre. Historical events are vastly oversimplified or skipped over entirely. Historical personages are reduced to one-dimensional stock caricatures. The book is peppered with obvious and immensely boring info dumps, and the writing is just overall flat and sleep-inducing. There’s no attempt at any depth or sophistication, there’s nothing that grabs my interest here, it just feels grey and devoid of spark or life. I’ve read far worse, for sure, I’ll give Plaidy that – but at least some of those truly terrible books held my attention by being so bad that they were absurdly funny. Plaidy’s novels are about as enjoyable as eating shredded cardboard instead of cereal in your morning milk – and they’re far from memorable. They provide only the absolute basics of events – if this hadn’t been published in 1962, I’d almost think that Plaidy had spent ten minutes on Wikipedia in research time, maximum, before sitting down and churning out a manuscript in a day or two, her works are really that sketchy and loose, offering only the basic facts, regurgitated as simplistic narrative but offering nothing more. It just doesn’t have life or imagination at all, and what little story it has is thinly sketched at best. I’m done with Jean Plaidy as an author. Again, nothing against the late author personally, and I have definitely read far worse, but I just find Plaidy’s writing so dull and lifeless, I’m not motivated to ever pick up one of her books again. I gave it two books to draw me in, and I'm finished - Plaidy's just not my cup of tea.
3 out of 10.
3 out of 10.
September 4, 2023
This is an old school historical novel from the 1960s by a writer who was found in libraries, along with Dorothy Dunnett, as one of the few historical novelists still in print in the 1970s when the received wisdom among publishers was that there was no market in historicals. (A self fulfilling prophecy given the lack of material in print.) Luckily the advent of the Cadfael series from 1977, pitched as a crime series that just happened to be set in the C12th and massively popularised by the TV series, together with the literary 'Name of the Rose' and its well-received film, relaunched the genre. Initially, there was a flood of crime novels set in past eras but things settled down and straight historical novels began to be published, creating the immersive and widely-read genre of today. (I don't think it's a coincidence that Ken Follett only made the switch from contemporary thrillers at the end of the 1980s).
Anyway, for many years, Plaidy was one of the few carrying the flag for fiction set in historical periods prior to our own. Unfortunately, her style does not resonate with modern readers as it comes across as pretty 'dry'. There is 'head hopping' in scenes where the viewpoint suddenly switches between participants and a fair amount of info dumping which made things a little hard going at times. There was some interest in the various characters focused upon, tracing the career of Thomas Wolsey as a pompous and fabulously wealthy cleric at the right hand of the King to his descent into a pathetic figure in a reduced household and eventually summoned to stand trial. Similarly, there was a shorter thread from the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell, rather different than more recent portrayals of the character: although loyal to Wolsey to a point, he also has his eye on the main chance.
Katherine is another main character along with Henry VIII and it was good, for once, to see his nasty side emerging years before the incident at the jousting match which some writers blame for a personality change - as this novel authentically shows and various actual history books I've read, there was plenty of evidence of the King's vile temper and vindictiveness long before his accident. Anne Boleyn though is only a background character who shows unremitting spite against Queen Katherine and Mary and their supporters, and also Wolsey despite his being the Queen's 'enemy'.
Technically, the matter of obtaining a divorce or more strictly accurate an annulment of his marriage was 'the King's Great Matter' but I suppose the publishers thought 'secret' sounded better as a title and whenever it's referred to in the book.
I found the scenes near the end of the dying Katherine comforted by her friend Maria who managed to win through to her side despite obstacles, and their shared childhood reminiscences of Spain, quite touching. But on the whole, I don't think I would bother with another of the writer's works. Overall, a workmanlike 3 star rating from me.
Anyway, for many years, Plaidy was one of the few carrying the flag for fiction set in historical periods prior to our own. Unfortunately, her style does not resonate with modern readers as it comes across as pretty 'dry'. There is 'head hopping' in scenes where the viewpoint suddenly switches between participants and a fair amount of info dumping which made things a little hard going at times. There was some interest in the various characters focused upon, tracing the career of Thomas Wolsey as a pompous and fabulously wealthy cleric at the right hand of the King to his descent into a pathetic figure in a reduced household and eventually summoned to stand trial. Similarly, there was a shorter thread from the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell, rather different than more recent portrayals of the character: although loyal to Wolsey to a point, he also has his eye on the main chance.
Katherine is another main character along with Henry VIII and it was good, for once, to see his nasty side emerging years before the incident at the jousting match which some writers blame for a personality change - as this novel authentically shows and various actual history books I've read, there was plenty of evidence of the King's vile temper and vindictiveness long before his accident. Anne Boleyn though is only a background character who shows unremitting spite against Queen Katherine and Mary and their supporters, and also Wolsey despite his being the Queen's 'enemy'.
Technically, the matter of obtaining a divorce or more strictly accurate an annulment of his marriage was 'the King's Great Matter' but I suppose the publishers thought 'secret' sounded better as a title and whenever it's referred to in the book.
I found the scenes near the end of the dying Katherine comforted by her friend Maria who managed to win through to her side despite obstacles, and their shared childhood reminiscences of Spain, quite touching. But on the whole, I don't think I would bother with another of the writer's works. Overall, a workmanlike 3 star rating from me.
September 16, 2018
An easy read, and an enjoyable way to learn about the history of the time. The author brings the characters alive although sometimes I'd have liked more depth to them, and to the lifestyles of the time. Ends rather abruptly but presumably the story is picked up in the next book in the series. I picked this up from the Lilliput library and it's the only book in the series I've read.
February 22, 2019
I liked this fourth Tudor book more than the first two, but not as much as the third. The pace often drags, and little action occurs.
Cardinal Wolsey is the most vivid of the characters. The author also does a good job of making me feel sympathy for the cardinal when his power starts to wane. The further he drops in status, the more I sympathise, despite his former arrogance.
The Tudor series is not a string of novels written one after the other; they were written at different stages during Plaidy’s life. The first book was the last to be written. This subsequent three are a continuation of the Daughters of Spain series.
As with all Plaidy novels, “The King’s Secret Matter” features a lot of repeated info and dry facts. The main reason why her works are so dry is because there’s far too much *telling*, as opposed to *showing*. The reader is often told what happened in a few sentences, when the author could’ve dramatized scenes to show what happened.
Something else Plaidy’s guilty of is her continuous use of the passive voice. In this novel we’re told that: “At the door of the Palace stood the Queen holding the hand of her daughter,” as opposed to the active voice: “The queen stood holding her daughter’s hand at the place door.”
Passive voice = passive prose.
Another annoying trait this author has is writing with hindsight. Her characters say prophetic things, which is too unrealistic, or they wish for things – repeatedly – until they either get their wish or die trying.
For example, Katherine of Aragon won’t allow her devotees to bad-mouth Anne Boleyn, as Katherine is convinced that Anne’s fortunes will turn sour. At one point when Katherine alludes to Anne’s uncertain future, “her women looked after her in wonderment. Then they shivered, for she spoke with the voice of a prophet.”
The future was unknown for these people as it is for us, but in these stories they have premonitions, which I can’t believe the real people these characters are based on would ever have, such as Katherine prophesising her own death: “some premonition told her that her end was near.”
It’s all down to the author writing with hindsight, which I find very irritating.
Something about Jean Plaidy’s books keep me coming back for more. Perhaps it’s her obvious love for English history, which I share, that draws me back. I wish she’d focused less on turning out as greater quantity of novels as possible and concentrated more on quality writing.
“The King’s Secret Matter” has some good moments, and I liked more than I disliked, but it would’ve benefited from ten or more redrafts, followed by a meticulous inspection by a copy-editor.
Cardinal Wolsey is the most vivid of the characters. The author also does a good job of making me feel sympathy for the cardinal when his power starts to wane. The further he drops in status, the more I sympathise, despite his former arrogance.
The Tudor series is not a string of novels written one after the other; they were written at different stages during Plaidy’s life. The first book was the last to be written. This subsequent three are a continuation of the Daughters of Spain series.
As with all Plaidy novels, “The King’s Secret Matter” features a lot of repeated info and dry facts. The main reason why her works are so dry is because there’s far too much *telling*, as opposed to *showing*. The reader is often told what happened in a few sentences, when the author could’ve dramatized scenes to show what happened.
Something else Plaidy’s guilty of is her continuous use of the passive voice. In this novel we’re told that: “At the door of the Palace stood the Queen holding the hand of her daughter,” as opposed to the active voice: “The queen stood holding her daughter’s hand at the place door.”
Passive voice = passive prose.
Another annoying trait this author has is writing with hindsight. Her characters say prophetic things, which is too unrealistic, or they wish for things – repeatedly – until they either get their wish or die trying.
For example, Katherine of Aragon won’t allow her devotees to bad-mouth Anne Boleyn, as Katherine is convinced that Anne’s fortunes will turn sour. At one point when Katherine alludes to Anne’s uncertain future, “her women looked after her in wonderment. Then they shivered, for she spoke with the voice of a prophet.”
The future was unknown for these people as it is for us, but in these stories they have premonitions, which I can’t believe the real people these characters are based on would ever have, such as Katherine prophesising her own death: “some premonition told her that her end was near.”
It’s all down to the author writing with hindsight, which I find very irritating.
Something about Jean Plaidy’s books keep me coming back for more. Perhaps it’s her obvious love for English history, which I share, that draws me back. I wish she’d focused less on turning out as greater quantity of novels as possible and concentrated more on quality writing.
“The King’s Secret Matter” has some good moments, and I liked more than I disliked, but it would’ve benefited from ten or more redrafts, followed by a meticulous inspection by a copy-editor.
January 24, 2025
The twelve-year marriage of Henry and Katharine has declined from an idyllic union into an uneasy stalemate. The king's love for his aging queen has grown cold, and he is angry with her failure to give him the heir to the throne he desperately wants. When the seductive Anne Boleyn arrives at court, the king is captivated by her dark beauty and bold spirit, and becomes obsessed with his desire to possess her. With his chief advisor, Cardinal Wolsey, the king devises a secret plot to declare the marriage with Katharine null and void. But Katharine refuses to surrender to his wishes and fights desperately to retain her title and safeguard her daughter, Mary.
My Thoughts:
This is the fourth in the Tudor series by Miss Plaidy. The story continues with Henry and Katherine twelve years in to their marriage and still no heir to the throne. Henry is getting worried and along comes Anne Boleyn who gives him hope, but first he must rid of Katherine.
As always the book is well written and full of historical facts. Again as I have said before the books are slightly dated and and don’t have the passion that is in todays historical reads. The book is still a very good read and won’t dissapoint any Tudor or historical fiction fans.
My Thoughts:
This is the fourth in the Tudor series by Miss Plaidy. The story continues with Henry and Katherine twelve years in to their marriage and still no heir to the throne. Henry is getting worried and along comes Anne Boleyn who gives him hope, but first he must rid of Katherine.
As always the book is well written and full of historical facts. Again as I have said before the books are slightly dated and and don’t have the passion that is in todays historical reads. The book is still a very good read and won’t dissapoint any Tudor or historical fiction fans.
April 18, 2019
Depending on the order that you read the novels, this was the third book on the Katharine of Aragon series. I actually really enjoyed it! Plaidey has been rather hit or miss for me in regard to her novels, but I found this one to be well written and interesting. It was primarily told from the perspectives of Katharine and Cardinal Wolsey. Though Anne Boylen was referenced and referred to at times, she was not a key character in the story itself, which was a change from other novels I’ve read. Usually she is the lead character trying to win the crown while Katharine is the secondary character. It was very interesting to see it in reverse, and how Katharine was reacting to what was going on around her, trying to protect and secure her daughter’s future. One of my biggest complaints about Plaidey is that she tends to be repetitive with a specific word or phrase to the point of it being incredibly annoying, but I actually did not notice it at all in this novel! It was really a great ending to the trilogy.
November 28, 2019
For half of this novel I would have awarded it 3 stars. I enjoyed it, but having read a lot of historical fiction about the Tudor period previously it was not setting me alight. However by the end the character of Queen Katherine is so well-drawn and the writing so good, that I had to give it four stars. Unusually this novel also draws other characters more fully than I have previously encountered, and one has sympathy for Wolsey and for others encountered during the story, so it seemed more balanced and unbiased than many Tudor novels are.
It seems that Jean Plaidy has researched a few well-known women extremely thoroughly, and I shall look out for other titles by her when I am next in the library.
It seems that Jean Plaidy has researched a few well-known women extremely thoroughly, and I shall look out for other titles by her when I am next in the library.
October 26, 2018
The third book in the tale of Katherine of Aragon. Henry VIII is desperate for a son and his middle aged wife is obviously not going to produce one. Stimulated by the refusal of Anne Boleyn to succumb to his advances outside of marriage, he starts wondering whether this lack of healthy offspring is due to God's displeasure with his marriage to his brother's bride. Unaware of Anne's role, Wolsey encourages plans for annulment or divorce and thus starts the chain of events leading to the disgrace of Wolsey, the deaths of many intellectual leaders of Henry's early reign and the breach with Rome. Through it all Katherine struggles to maintain her position and her dignity.
February 28, 2019
An easy read and is enjoyable. I would of liked a little more depth with the characters and a little bit more action. This book and the others end rather abruptly but I've read the next book in the series and the story is continued just in the point of view of Anne Boleyn. If you like historical fiction based on this time period you'll like Jean Plaidy.
Read
February 3, 2023This is one of the best books I've read, even though I know the history and ending I was still enthralled. The journey of Katharine of Aragon's downfall is a very sad one and the transformation of the king from a happy, go-lucky boy to nasty brute has transformed my thinking about one of Britain's greatest monarchs. My sympathies lie with Katharine.
October 14, 2021
Audiobook.
Delicious, delicious. Not a patch on Mantel but it's a joy to read. I especially was waiting for Cromwell's appearance and his schemings, but for that, I must wait. The writing is considerably more lyrical than the previous novels.
Delicious, delicious. Not a patch on Mantel but it's a joy to read. I especially was waiting for Cromwell's appearance and his schemings, but for that, I must wait. The writing is considerably more lyrical than the previous novels.
December 27, 2017
No Review
January 21, 2018
A tribute to the noble Katherine of Aragon, who refused to declare her marriage to King Henry VIII invalid. A Queen by every right and with absolute dignity.
February 28, 2019
Read the Tudor saga at school and re-reading them all again
July 15, 2020
Popsugar 2020: A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics.
November 13, 2021
A very easy read.
March 2, 2022
There just doesn't seem to be a lot of soul in these books, despite the fascinating and as far as I can tell well-researched stories
January 8, 2023
Included as part of the 1 volume of Queen Catherine of Aragon stories
December 13, 2024
Surprisingly for this type of book, Anne Boleyn is only in the sidelines here, as we focus on how Katherine of Aragon and Cardinal Wolsey are impacted by the King's "secret" matter.
June 28, 2025
The King's Secret Matter is where you see hope die slowly in Katherine.
June 18, 2012
"She still could not believe that the gay young husband who had married her in the days of her humiliation was in truth the brutal murderer of good men. She still clung to the belief that it was those about him who urged him to these deeds. Now she feigned to believe it was Anne Boleyn, as once she had believed it was Wolsey.
Yet in her heart she knew that he was all-powerful; more so than ever now that he had cut himself off from the Pope.
John Fisher! she sighed. Thomas More! My dear friends.....and the King's! How could he murder two such men?
But she knew. And she wondered: Who will be next?
She was very fearful for her daughter.....and herself."
Ooooooh that nasty awful Henry VIII!! And that dreadful Cardinal Wolsey - who lived in even more luxury than the monarch. Henry's life revolved around women, obtaining sons, and being cruel to his lovely wife, Katharine of Aragon; whilst Wolsey took advantage of Henry's lack of focus on state matters to form allegiances with countries - sometimes behind Henry's back.
The King's Secret Matter is the seemingly endless fight that Henry puts up to confirm that he and Katharine were never truly married; he needs to prove the marriage's invalidity so he can marry the lustrous and flirty Anne Boleyn. There are court sittings, personal battles between King and Queen Katharine, executions of those who don't agree with the King, and a break away from the Catholic church. Add onto that Henry banishing Katharine to a series of unhealthy living abodes and denying her visits to/from her daughter Mary, and you have a very sad and tragic picture of the lifestyle of poor Katharine as she lives out her final days.
A great book - easy to read and a page-turner into the bargain. If you like history-of-the-monarchy novels, I would recommend Jean Plaidy's books. They do not disappoint.
Yet in her heart she knew that he was all-powerful; more so than ever now that he had cut himself off from the Pope.
John Fisher! she sighed. Thomas More! My dear friends.....and the King's! How could he murder two such men?
But she knew. And she wondered: Who will be next?
She was very fearful for her daughter.....and herself."
Ooooooh that nasty awful Henry VIII!! And that dreadful Cardinal Wolsey - who lived in even more luxury than the monarch. Henry's life revolved around women, obtaining sons, and being cruel to his lovely wife, Katharine of Aragon; whilst Wolsey took advantage of Henry's lack of focus on state matters to form allegiances with countries - sometimes behind Henry's back.
The King's Secret Matter is the seemingly endless fight that Henry puts up to confirm that he and Katharine were never truly married; he needs to prove the marriage's invalidity so he can marry the lustrous and flirty Anne Boleyn. There are court sittings, personal battles between King and Queen Katharine, executions of those who don't agree with the King, and a break away from the Catholic church. Add onto that Henry banishing Katharine to a series of unhealthy living abodes and denying her visits to/from her daughter Mary, and you have a very sad and tragic picture of the lifestyle of poor Katharine as she lives out her final days.
A great book - easy to read and a page-turner into the bargain. If you like history-of-the-monarchy novels, I would recommend Jean Plaidy's books. They do not disappoint.
September 6, 2015
Review - This book was particularly interesting because it was quite good to see the juxtaposition of Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon, and the differences in how they interacted with Henry VIII. This is what Jean Plaidy is good at - showing the similarities and differences in characters and how they interact with each other. It was also interesting for me personally because I've read a lot around the divorce, and it was eye-opening to see how fiction writers see the great matter. Many people know of the divorce but this is the first book I know of that deals with it as an individual matter, instead of as a larger whole. A great effort.
Genre? - Historical / Drama / Romance
Characters? - Henry VIII / Katherine of Aragon / Anne Boleyn / Thomas Wolsey / Thomas Cromwell / Thomas More / Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk / Francis I / Charles V / Thomas Boleyn / George Boleyn / Henry Norris / William Brereton / Mark Smeaton / Elizabeth Boleyn / Mary I / Elizabeth I
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Tudor Saga #4
Recommend? - Maybe
Rating - 15/20
Genre? - Historical / Drama / Romance
Characters? - Henry VIII / Katherine of Aragon / Anne Boleyn / Thomas Wolsey / Thomas Cromwell / Thomas More / Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk / Francis I / Charles V / Thomas Boleyn / George Boleyn / Henry Norris / William Brereton / Mark Smeaton / Elizabeth Boleyn / Mary I / Elizabeth I
Setting? - London (England)
Series? - Tudor Saga #4
Recommend? - Maybe
Rating - 15/20
February 11, 2011
I give this 3.5 stars, because the story is a pretty interesting story and Plaidy adds some nice dramatic flair to the last chapter of Katharine of Aragon's marriage to Henry VII. But by the end of the book, I was thinking, "Please let Katharine die already so that she and I can both be done with this business." The ending dragged on way too long for my liking. The book emphasizes Katharine's point of view, so not as much time was spent on Henry's decision to split from the Catholic Church. I recognize that this isn't a history book, but the schism between England and Rome sent shock waves through Europe at its time, and it gets just a passing mention in this novel. Overall, I enjoyed it enough that I'm going to keep reading the Tudor novels.
February 13, 2017
I'm not a huge fan of Jean Plaidy or of Tudor novels but I found this one I can read till the end without any trouble. Comparing with "Katharine, the Virgin Widow" I found this one better written and more interesting because we see the story from the defeated side.
For anyone who've read Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl", in this you're given the chance to took from the opposite site. I enjoy historical novels, (which country they may be from) and and according to my knowledge,Plaidy has been praised for the historical accuracy in this collection. This is a well written novel in detail and I felt like I actually took a glimpse into the Tudor court. I don't mind reading another from her Tudor Saga.
For anyone who've read Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl", in this you're given the chance to took from the opposite site. I enjoy historical novels, (which country they may be from) and and according to my knowledge,Plaidy has been praised for the historical accuracy in this collection. This is a well written novel in detail and I felt like I actually took a glimpse into the Tudor court. I don't mind reading another from her Tudor Saga.
October 16, 2017
The King's Secret Matter is the heartbreaking ending to Queen Katharine's trilogy, and the 4th in the Tudor Saga series. Queen Katharine fights valiantly to retain her place in politics, and in her family. She fights not only for herself but for her daughter, and for what she believes to be God's will. She is one of the strongest figures in King Henry VIII's court, and in Tudor history. There is so much meat to this story - the battle betweeen Katharine and Anne Boleyn, and their strategies, the King's break with the church, all of the political intrigue, and more. It is a worthy conclusion to Queen Katharine's story.
August 26, 2014
I've read a good number of books on Anne Boleyn and yet I never tire of finding a new portrayal of her. This one was good and I love the writings of Jean Plaidy. However, I felt that she didn't entirely do justice to Anne. Her portrayal of her as a young girl was of a somewhat meek woman, eager to please her Mistress at the time (Henry Tudor's sister, Mary). The transformation from this child to the woman we all know to be vibrant, bold and haughty was not well documented. It's like suddenly one day Anne woke up and realized she had a spine.
Otherwise, the story flowed well and the writing, as always with Jean Plaidy, was beautifully done.
Otherwise, the story flowed well and the writing, as always with Jean Plaidy, was beautifully done.
February 7, 2009
I found this less interesting then the previous novels in this series. I was also disappointed that we never hear from Anne other than via other people. This seemed odd considering the major role she played in the events of the novel - it is almost as if Plaidy wants to channel the readers thoughts and sympathy for Katharine and Mary so chooses not to look at why Anne set out the path she did.Not my faviurite historical novel.
September 8, 2016
I’d only ever read one other novel by Jean Plaidy (The Lady in the Tower) and I loved it, but this one was a little disappointing by comparison, which is a shame, because it follows the story of Queen Katharine of Aragon as King Henry VIII tires of her and tries to divorce her. It just wasn’t as engaging as I’d hoped and I found it a little plodding with lots of repetition, and rather a slog to reach the end. The story is there, I just think it could have been handled better.
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