Henry VIII's True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life

by Wendy J. Dunn

The lives of Tudor women often offer faint but fascinating footnotes on the pages of history. The life of Catherine – or Katryn as her husband would one day pen her name – Carey, the daughter of Mary Boleyn and, as the weight of evidence suggests, Henry VIII, is one of those footnotes.

As the possible daughter of Henry VIII, the niece of Anne Boleyn and the favourite of Elizabeth I, Catherine’s life offers us a unique perspective on the reigns of Henry and his children. In this book, Wendy J. Dunn takes these brief details of Catherine’s life and turns them into a rich account of a woman who deserves her story told. Following the faint trail provided of her life from her earliest years to her death in service to Queen Elizabeth, Dunn examines the evidence of Catherine’s parentage and views her world through the lens of her relationship with the royal family she served.

This book presents an important story of a woman who saw and experienced much tragedy and political turmoil during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I – all of which prepared her to take on the vital role of one of Elizabeth I closest and most trusted women. It also prepared her to become the wife of one of Elizabeth's privy councillors – a man also trusted and relied on by the queen. Catherine served Elizabeth during the uncertain and challenging first years of her reign, a time when there was a question mark over whether she would succeed as queen regnant after the failures of England's first crowned regnant, her sister Mary.

Through immense research and placing her in the context of her period, HENRY VIII’S TRUE CATHERINE CAREY, A TUDOR LIFE draws Catherine out of the shadows of history to take her true place as the daughter of Henry VIII and shows how vital women like Catherine were to Elizabeth and the ultimate victory of her reign.

Genres: History, Tudor Period, Nonfiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

About the author

WENDY J. DUNN is an award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history – so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing suggestion that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – likely knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. Wendy is married, the mother of four adult children and the grandmother of two amazing boys. She gained her PhD in 2014 and loves walking in the footsteps of the historical people she gives voice to in her books. Wendy also tutors writing at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.

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Reviews

[Beata]

Ms Dunn presents a quite convincing idea behind the parenthood behind Mary Boleyn's children, focusing mainly on Catherine (Katryn) who married Francis Knollys and whose blood still flows in the Windsors' blood. Catherine may have witnessed the execution of her aunt at the Tower, experienced Marian exile, and later on remained close to Elizabeth Tudor despite being in her late thirties/early forties and having born probably fifteen children. It seems she did not do any grand deeds but she was clever enough to survive in times when heads rolled down easily, especially that her husband was a Puritan. Among many daughters, you will find Lettice Knollys of whom Tudor fans must have heard.
An interesting read, written in an accessible way, not too scholarly although you may feel a bit lost if this will be your first book on the Tudor period.
*Many thanks to Wendy J Dunn, Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

[theliterateleprechaun]

This was absolutely fascinating!

With obvious passion, author Wendy J. Dunn makes a strong case for the possibility that Catherine Carey was Henry VIII’s daughter.

Catherine is Anne Boleyn’s niece, the eldest daughter of Mary Boleyn (Henry VIII’s mistress) born during her first marriage to William Carey. This supposition would also hold that Catherine was Elizabeth I’s half-sister, bringing her into the spotlight as a Tudor woman who definitely contributed to the success of her half-sister’s reign. So little is known about Catherine, but Dunn’s conjecture is worthy of belief.

The royal watcher within was hooked by the statement that Queen Elizabeth II “bore the blood not of the first Elizabeth, but of Mary Boleyn, via her daughter, Catherine". I immediately went to do a surface-level search online and came across the fact that both of Princess Diana’s sons, William and Harry, are descended from Mary Boleyn not only through Prince Charles (Elizabeth II), but also through their mother’s Spencer family ancestry!

I was captivated by this fascinating research that drew Catherine Carey from the shadows and allowed her to shine as an important Tudor-era figure and as a daughter of Henry VIII.

I was so intrigued by the author’s research that I’ve searched out her backlist (historical fiction) and will definitely make it a priority to read this winter.

I was generously granted a wish through Pen & Sword Publishers and was given this copy by NetGalley with no obligation to provide a review.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf)]

A look at the possible life of Catherine Knollys (nee Carey) who was probably the daughter of Henry VIII & his mistress, Mary Boleyn. Niece of Anne Boleyn, Catherine was looked after but not favoured by Henry VIII, & was pretty much ignored by Edward VI & Mary I, but Elizabeth I would go on to welcome her into her inner circle of trusted women where she stayed until her early death around the age of 45. Balancing her duty to her monarch alongside birthing fifteen children (with thirteen living into adulthood), Catherine's line survives down to modern times in the British Royal family with Elizabeth II having been directly related via her maternal family.

This was an interesting & engrossing read. Unfortunately there is very little evidence left today of how Catherine lived, & much of the book is "probably" this & "maybe" that, with a lot of the day-to-day details extrapolated from the lives of Elizabeth's other Ladies -in-Waiting. The book does give us a lot of insight into the lives of high-born Tudor women including the birthing chamber. (The supposition that it could have been a popular herbal medicine (actually a poison) used in childbirth that was to blame for the deaths of Katherine of Aragon's short-lived other children is sad & poignant.) I think it could have been organised a little better in respect of the fact that topics seemed to skip around a bit rather than being strictly linear. Sentences in one chapter could have perhaps fitted in better in another & some seemed to be almost repeated. I did enjoy reading it though & feel as if I have learned some new information about the Tudors. 3.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Pen & Sword History, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Mary Virginia]

It’s clear that Dunn really respects and loves Catherine Carey and I think it’s fabulous when authors write in such a familiar way in a nonfiction book. Her descriptions of Carey and her times were so easy to visualize that I learned a lot about a little known woman in history.

[Stephanie P]

Thank you NetGalley, Wendy J. Dunn, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Henry VIII's True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life. I received an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The author of this book has a clear passion for this subject matter. It is evident in the abundance of research that pours off of the pages. It is written using "I" and "you," which gives it a feel as if you are talking to a friend about her interests. This made the book feel fresh and new when compared to other non-fiction works that list details with no emotions behind them.

I do wish there was a bit more organization because some of the topics discussed were a bit repetitive, but it felt like I was reading the author's personal journal, which made this minor issue easily overlooked.

Catherine Carey came from a fascinating lineage and I wholeheartedly believe she was Henry VIII's biological daughter. This book would be great for anyone wanting to learn more about her life and about those who were involved around her. I also appreciated all of the illustrations used to assist in visualizing the people and places discussed throughout.

[Vanessa]

Wishes do come true and I am a big fan of these books.....Thank you.

Henry VIII’s True Daughter by Wendy J Dunn was a book I enjoyed from start to finish and I love reading about Henry VIII and Tudor times, not saying I would love to live then........

The lives of Tudor women were amazing women especially what they had to put up with and Catherine's life was no different. She was the daughter of Mary Boleyn and the possible daughter of Henry VIII, the niece of Anne Boleyn and the favourite of Elizabeth I.

Wendy J. Dunn takes these brief details of Catherine’s life and turns them into a rich account of a woman who deserves her story told and I am glad she did. This book follows a faint trail of her life from her earliest years up to her death in the service to Queen Elizabeth,

Wendy examines in detail the evidence of Catherine’s parentage and views her world through the lens of her relationship with the royal family she served till her death. It presents an important story of a woman who saw and experienced much tragedy and political turmoil during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. All of which prepared her to take on the vital role of one of Elizabeth I closest and most trusted women. It prepared her to become the wife of one of Elizabeth’s privy councillors, who was a man also trusted and relied on by the queen. Catherine served Elizabeth during the uncertain and challenging first years of her reign, a time when there was a question mark over whether she would succeed as queen regnant after the failures of England’s first crowned regnant, her sister Mary.

This book was amazing and a joy to read from the very first page.
I loved it.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and especially Pen & Sword, Pen & Sword History for making my wish come true - well, the book to review!!!

[Lena Andrews]

What a intriguing book that adds some amazing uncovered historical facts about King Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn, and there relationship together. You can determine whether you feel Mary Boleyns daughter, Catherine Carey was really Henry VIII daughter. Mary was Anne Boleyns sister.
The book is full of information to let you know what it was like to live during that time period. This is important to know as it plays a key role in understanding and unraveling this complex story. Life was very different and you're dealing with when dates were not documented as they are now, two different calendars adds to the confusion.
Find out about how Anne Boleyn plays in this puzzle. Also what happens to Catherine Carey during her lifetime.
It's most enlightening book and anyone who loves this the Tutors this is one for your library.

[Catherine]

I always knew that Mary Boleyn had children that could have been the result of her relationship with Henry VIII. However, I like I'm sure countless others have never given a second thought to those children. We were only interested in those born in wedlock..

Catherine 'Katryn' Carey was Mary's daughter her father rumoured to be the king. Hers' is not a name that goes down in history. The author Wendy Dunn has done a wonderful job with her research. She brought the person to life. We are able to see more of what life was like at court for the second Queens niece.

I finished the book feeling I had learnt something rather than reading a retelling of an old story.

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to see an ARC

[Marie]

I would rate this overall 1.5 out of 5.

I want to thank Netgalley and Pen and Sword Publishing for an uncorrected proof of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read any of Dunn's fictional work, but it is clear from this book that she has a strong connection to the real-life people for whom she creates fictional works. She speaks of Catherine Carey Knollys with reverence and respect that I not only admire but indicate to me she is the kind of person who writes enthralling fiction.

That being said, this work of nonfiction was not enjoyable for me. I've tried to condense my reasoning for disliking this work into a short list which I expand on further down.

1. Feelings are not facts.
2. Quotes from uninteresting sources
3. Events were difficult to follow and were repetitive
4. It is unclear if Dunn believes her argument
5. I am not sure what value this work adds to the larger narrative of Tudor History

Point 1. As a reader of history, I understand that the sources for those less prominent figures in history can be difficult to find and sometimes historians have to extrapolate. For example, Anne Boleyn's birth date is not known, but historians use contextual clues to help formulate an argument for 1501 or 1507. However, after reading this book there appears to be very little evidence about Catherine Carey's life at all. At every turn, Dunn says things like "lost to time", "speculate", and "if only we knew for sure". Now, some of this makes perfect sense, Catherine lived nearly 500 years ago, but to write a whole biography and have nothing of any historical substance makes this book really hard to justify. And to make it all the way to the end and hear that Dunn wants to write another Elizabethan historical novel with Catherine as a background character (which is excellent and should be commended) and this current work of nonfiction on Catherine helped push her forward in that process makes it feel a bit like this book should have been an extended blog post or promotional speech.

Point 2. There were several times throughout this work when Dunn quotes her own work of fiction about Catherine's life and merely mentions actual historical records that I would have much rather read a quote from. For instance, the correspondence between her husband and Robert Dudley. I understand we have no surviving letters of Catherine's but it really feels like the sources are there for her husband and even maybe her children so why did Dunn not make this a work about the Knollys' family? The quotes did make me want to pick up Dunn's fiction writing, but that is not why I was reading this book. Also, the letter Elizabeth wrote to Catherine before she left England for a time really does A LOT of heaving lifting in this book. Dunn uses it to justify Catherine's level of intelligence and their close connection.

Point 3. There were so many times throughout this book when I had to go back and reread sections because we went from a moment in time when Catherine was pregnant at court and then jumped back to before she was pregnant. The difficulties with time also became more pronounced when we discussed Catherine's life (or conjecture of it) during Elizabeth I's reign. One minute we were on progress, then we were dealing with Elizabeth's smallpox, but now we were in the later 10 years of Elizabeth's reign. Francis Knollys was busy housing Mary, Queen of Scots, then in the next paragraph Mary, Queen of Scots had her son, James. It was whiplash-inducing at times and honestly, there are still a series of events I am not sure in what order they happened.

Point 4. The central argument of this book is that Catherine Carey was Henry VIII's daughter with Mary Boleyn and that everyone at the time knew this as fact. However, I am not entirely sure what evidence Dunn has to support this argument other than the timing works out and they look alike. Is that circumstantial evidence, sure. Is it definitive no. Also, given how dangerous it was to have royal blood during this time I cannot imagine that would have been a thing that Catherine or her mother highlighted especially after Anne Boleyn was beheaded. Also, if Dunn is so certain that she has proven Catherine is Henry's daughter why does she refer to Catherine as Elizabeth's cousin throughout the book and sister only a few times? Setting aside the paternity of Catherine, isn't it possible that Catherine was so well esteemed by Elizabeth simply because she was a Boleyn? Elizabeth cared greatly for her mother's family and that in my opinion would have been more than enough to cement a relationship between the two. I feel like if Dunn had really made her argument she wouldn't have been so willing to say it's possible that Henry wasn't Catherine's father in later chapters.

Point 5. There are a great deal more facts about the women who surrounded Elizabeth I and Elizabeth herself than there are about Catherine. Which really left me wondering what Dunn's goal was with this book. The title tells the reader this book will be about Catherine Carey, but the only actual evidence that I saw about Catherine's life were, letters written to her and information about her funeral. The rest was conjecture. So, is Dunn's goal to paint a picture of court life under Elizabeth? I think maybe as we take several tangents to look at other ladies of the bedchamber, maids of honour, and ladies in waiting but when those stories become interesting we have to go back to "our Catherine". Dunn cites interesting sources in this work including Weir, Fraiser, and Borman, which is excellent we love a nice citation, but I am not entirely sure how this work distinguishes itself from those cited.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. I did not feel that it deepened my understanding of Catherine Carey or her relationship with Elizabeth I at all. It did leave me a clear understanding of Dunn's opinions on the matter, which while not unreasonable are not really substantiated with clear evidence. I also do not think this book did a good job connecting Catherine and the other members of her acknowledged family. The greatest detail we have is her connection with her husband, Francis Knollys, but even the details about their relationship were not overly specific.


Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Religious bigotry, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Cancer and Miscarriage
After reading this book I don't want to read the word "blood" for a long while. It seemed to be the only descriptor available for either Anne Boleyn's execution or Henry VIII's reign as a whole.

[LOIS]

A well written and detailed look into
a woman's life in the sixteenth century.
A life with royal connections. The book is extremely readable and gives valuable insight to fraught times. The well off didn't have easy lives.

[Madeleine]

The book Henry VIII’s True Daughter by Wendy J. Dunn tells the story of Catherine Carey, the daughter of Mary Boleyn and, probably, Henry VIII. The author has done an excellent job of describing Catherine’s fate in a way that reads like a novel. It is evident that Dunn has a background in writing historical novels, and this is reflected in her writing style. I enjoyed reading about how the author came to her conclusions.
It is interesting to note that the author is Australian.
The chapters are well divided, and the historical surroundings give you a lot of context. I recommend this book to all Royal history enthusiasts. It is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for a free digital review copy. This is my honest review..

[Rosie Lee]

I absolutely loved this book The story of Catherine Carey daughter of Mary Boleyn and niece to Anne Boleyn a must read I learned so much from this little gem

[Julia]

A likely daughter of Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn, niece of Anne Boleyn and the favourite of Elizabeth I, Catherine’s life was both privileged and fraught with political difficulties. Dunn uses the scant details of Catherine’s life to complete a personal exploration not only of Catherine’s lived experience but also of the women who surrounded her and the lives of Tudor women in general. Dunn’s examination is personal rather than academic. It offers insight to the way in which history and fiction blend in a writer’s mind – I would perhaps use it as a creative writing tutor to help novice writers with an interest in historical fiction to develop their ideas. The writer’s enthusiasm for her subject is evident throughout.

[Heidi Malagisi]

Illegitimate royal children have been known to make an impact on history. Take Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, and Bessie Blount, whom Henry VIII acknowledged as his son. There were discussions about Henry Fitzroy becoming the heir apparent if Henry VIII did not have a legitimate son. But what about the illegitimate children that a king did not acknowledge? What might their lives have been like? The story of Mary Boleyn and her affair with King Henry VIII has been told many times, but the story of her daughter born during that time is lesser known. In her first full-length nonfiction book, “Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life,” Wendy J Dunn has taken on the task of discovering the truth of Catherine Carey’s parentage and how it impacted her life.

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I just finished reading Wendy J. Dunn’s novel, “The Light in the Labyrinth” about Catherine Carey, which is the book that inspired her to research and write this biography. I wanted to see if Dunn could write nonfiction as well as she writes historical fiction novels.

Dunn begins her biography by exploring what life was like in Tudor England before diving into the main point of her book, that Catherine Carey and her brother Henry Carey, were the illegitimate children of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. This was a point that she made in “The Light in the Labyrinth,” but it is in this biography that Dunn is able to expand on her theories even further, including the theory that Catherine was in the Tower and on the scaffold when her aunt, Anne Boleyn, was executed as a young woman. It is a sad theory, but it might explain why she was so close to her potential half-sister, Elizabeth Tudor.

Dunn shows how Catherine Carey grew up in the shadows of Henry VIII’s court. It is there where she met and fell in love with Francis Knollys, whom she married in April of 1540. As an audience, we get to see Catherine become a mother during the last years of the reign of Henry VIII and Edward VI’s tenure as king. It was during Mary I’s reign that life became dangerous for Catherine, Francis, and their family as they were Puritans, so they fled to Germany for three years. It was not until the reign of her potential half-sister Elizabeth that Catherine returned to court to serve her queen until Catherine died in 1569.

I think Dunn does a great job of combining her knowledge of Catherine Carey with her writing style as a historical fiction novelist. It creates a unique reading experience. I think for a first try at a full-length nonfiction book, it is pretty good. If you want a full-length biography of Catherine Carey that is informative with theories that will make you question what you think you know about the Tudors, I would suggest you read “Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life” by Wendy J Dunn.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty]

Catherine Carey Knollys, (c.1524–15 January 1569), was chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I, who was her first cousin.She was the daughter of William Carey of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body to Henry VIII, and his wife Mary Boleyn, who had once been a mistress of the king. Catherine was thus Elizabeth I's maternal first cousin. Some historians believe that Catherine was an illegitimate child of Henry VIII, which would make her also Elizabeth I's paternal half-sister.Catherine had a younger brother,Henry Carey,1st Baron Hunsdon.Catherine was said to be a witness to the execution of her aunt, Anne Boleyn, in 1536.Catherine went on to become Maid of Honour to both Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard, the 4th and 5th wives of Henry VIII. On 26 April 1540,she wed Sir Francis Knollys.Her husband was knighted in 1547. He was also treasurer of the Royal Household. From the time of her marriage, Catherine became known as Mistress Knollys and from 1547 as Lady Knollys. When not in London, the couple lived at Reading in Berkshire and Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire, and because they were staunch Protestants, they went into exile during the reign of Queen Mary I.Catherine was appointed Chief Lady of the Bedchamber after Elizabeth became queen.For the first 10 years of the reign,Lady Catherine combined the most senior post among the ladies-in-waiting with motherhood to more than a dozen children.Elizabeth never recognized Catherine as her half-sister, and it was certainly not a relationship that Catherine or Sir Francis ever openly claimed.At court,Catherine was acknowledged as the queen's favourite among her first cousins, and Elizabeth's lack of other female relatives to whom she felt close may be adequate to explain this favoured position.Sir Francis and Lady Knollys produced a number of offspring who survived to maturity. Of the children listed, only the last, Dudley, is known to have died in infancy.She died at Hampton Court Palace,being outlived by her husband and children.Catherine received a befitting epitaph as she lived an upright,
virtuous,and Godly life, without blemish.

[Annie]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Henry VIII’s True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life is a layman accessible, well annotated and fascinating story of one of Henry VIII's potential illegitimate offspring, who was the niece of Anne Boleyn (his 2nd wife) by Anne's sister, Mary Boleyn. Due out 1st Feb 2024 in the USA from Pen & Sword, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

The author, Dr. Wendy J. Dunn, is also a gifted and prolific writer of fiction, and the prose in this volume is more lyrical and flows better than the average pure (dry) academic history. The subject, Catherine (Katryn) Carey won't be familiar to many readers, but there is credible historical evidence to suggest that she really was Henry VIII's daughter, and spent time at court with her ill-fated aunt. This is where the author's adeptness comes through, instead of just a dry recitation of dates and names, she manages to bring the actors to life for modern readers.

Like fiction, there's pathos, and drama, and danger, documented 500 years ago and rendered into a comprehensible story; but in this case it's true, to the best of the historical records from the time period. One of the strongest features of the book is the story of the daily life and how it was to live at court with the intrigues and dangers that entailed. It's rich in detail, and the author is adept at collating it into a readable whole.

Four and a half stars. Well annotated throughout, the historical notes and references will provide hours of additional reading. Recommended for public and school library acquisition, home reference, gift giving, and for fans of history/historical re-enactors/SCAdians.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[MC]

1.5 / 5.0 DNF at 20%

This is a lot of supposition and self-promotion.

The author continually breaks the narrative to address her reader in a bid to emotionally side on the plight of women living in Tudor England, specifically Mary and Anne Boleyn. She constantly inserts tangents to her own historical fiction works (even in the little bit of this I was able to muddle through) or that some coincidence of date and location would make an intriguing story for a different historical fiction she might have planned.

By the point I stopped reading, she was saying that the way portraits were painted show the clear relationship between Catherine Carey and Henry VIII, without examining any of the reasons why that might be so (namely, that was the trend at the time) Wikipedia is also cited several times, and I don’t consider that a reliable source.

I had hoped this would be along the vein of “A Woman of Influence” by Wilkie, but alas it is more just the notes of a fiction writer organized into a book format so she can easily plot her next historical romance or just advertise the other novels she’s already written.

Until Next Time,
MC

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC for my honest review.*

[Angela DT]

Henry V111 True Daughter by Wendy J Dunn

A fascinating insight and well researched book on a child of Henry Tudor who is relatively unknown. If the child had been male it could very much a different matter and who knows how that could have changed the future.

This book presents an important story of a woman who saw and experienced much tragedy and political turmoil during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I – all of which prepared her to take on the vital role of one of Elizabeth I closest and most trusted women. It also prepared her to become the wife of one of Elizabeth's privy councillors – a man also trusted and relied on by the queen. Catherine served Elizabeth during the uncertain and challenging first years of her reign, a time when there was a question mark over whether she would succeed as queen regnant after the failures of England's first crowned regnant, her sister Mary.

[MsV]

"Henry VIII's True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life" by Wendy J Dunn offers a captivating insight into the lesser-known figure of Catherine Carey, who was believed by some historians to be the illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII. Dunn's meticulous research brings Catherine to life, painting a vivid portrait of her experiences within the Tudor court. The book skillfully navigates through Catherine's relationships, challenges, and contributions, offering a fresh perspective on this fascinating period of history. Dunn's narrative is engaging, offering both historical accuracy and a compelling storytelling style that will appeal to fans of Tudor-era biographies. Overall, "Henry VIII's True Daughter" is a must-read for anyone interested in the Tudor dynasty and the lives of its lesser-known figures.

[Andrea Wenger]

This book explores the intriguing life of Catherine Carey, Anne Boleyn’s niece, believed to be Henry VIII’s daughter. Favored by Elizabeth I, Catherine’s unique view offers insights into the Tudor monarchs. Delving into her life from childhood to serving Elizabeth I, it unravels the mysteries of her parentage and tells the rich story of this fascinating woman.

This book is largely speculative, given the little clear evidence of Catherine’s life. Even so, it offers a fascinating look into the lives of Tudor women.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Tavia]

Author Wendy J. Dunn’s book theorizes that Mary Boleyn’s daughter Catherine is actually the progeny of Henry VIII. Since Mary was the known mistress of Henry, I can see where this book is coming from, but I am not sure that there is a lot of actual evidence. Dunn doesn’t really have any actual evidence, but she discusses it thoroughly and also what court life was like during Tudor times. An interesting read.
Thank you NetGalley, Wendy J. Dunn, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Henry VIII's True Daughter: Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life

[Debra]

A lot of “ probably” “ I believe “, “ maybe “ makes up the facts of this narrative of Catherine Knollys ( nee Carey), the daughter of Mary Boleyn ( Sister of Queen Anne) and perhaps King Henry VIII ( from a well-documented affair.
It is extensive, and “ probably “ correct in her surmise of her closeness with her cousin/ sister Queen Elizabeth I .
I enjoyed the book, and would consider it a good book for Tudor history lovers.

[Sheri]

I truly enjoyed the book and going out to be extremely well researched. I wish we knew more of Catherine Carey. The book is filled with mostly well known facts of members of the Tudor Court but presented in a wonderful way. I suggest this book to new historians of the Tudor.

[book_bear]

While I enjoy the subject matter, I did not care for this book. It has no organization at all and is all over the place. Alot of it is conjecture and supports her fictional books.

[Carol Standish-Leigh]

Whilst the book provides a lot of solid fact about the period of history inhabited by the Tudor, there is also a lot of supposition. I found it difficult to engage with the narrative.

[Sally Archer]

Well researched and very interesting

[Kara]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Dunn puts too much emphasis on speculation for me to categorize this as a pure biography, but it does make for a fascinating look at the process of research to writing historical fiction, as Dunn talks a lot about how she chose to portray Catherine Carey in her own fiction books, and what she thinks was plausible to have happened in Catherine's life.

I also loved how this makes a clearer picture of the many women that would have surrounded both Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. Far from ever being alone, these women would have had servants, courtiers and relatives - some even considered friends - there at all times, offering support, service, guidance and occasionally trouble and scandal.

Catherine Carey could have had a terrifying front row seat to her Aunt Anne Boleyn's fall, and even if not there at the execution, as Dunn postulates, she definitely took notes on how easy it was to put a foot wrong in the Tudor court, which might have been why she made such an excellent lady-in-waiting to her sister/cousin Elizabeth I later on, always in the background but never one of the ones who came to the forefront through scandal and disgrace.

[Stephie]

I think that Wendy Dunn has done as good a job as any to attempt a recreation of Catherine's life. It is unfortunate that we are left with mostly the words people have written in response to her letters. Despite the lack of primary resources a compelling argument is made that Catherine was a daughter of Henry VIII. For me the simple fact that she was held in such high esteem even after the fall of her aunt and cousin signals she was of some important stock. We unfortunately will never know for sure. Maybe if she were born a boy Henry would have claimed her as his blood.

Some interesting parts I highlighted are below.

"There is no more effective camouflage in history than to have been born a woman" Nancy Goldstone

"History has lost all of Catherine’s words– written and spoken. Who knows– it is possible we may find Catherine’s letters in the future. Perhaps, just like her letters of her daughter-in-law, Margaret Cave, they will be found hidden away amongst other papers, archived under other names. 3 I so desire it. But I doubt that too. My research for this work only resulted in deepening my doubt. Fellow historical fiction author Elizabeth St John, one of the many descendants of Catherine Knollys, shared with me her horror in learning about the long-ago action of Vernon Henry St John, 6th Viscount Bolingbroke, 7th Viscount St John, the last Lord of the Manor at Lydiard. He kindly gave to the 1942 War Effort one and half tons of paper from his attics and library. 4 I gather none of this paperwork was ever assessed to determine its importance. Likely, in the 1940s, paperwork penned by women would have been judged of little value and piled onto the assumed rubbish heap of dismissed history. This is the distressing reality of women’s history. I also call it tragic. The little value placed on women in the past has led to history recounting only half its story. Half our story. Half our shared history."

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Interesting argument. Could have done without the pages of print from the authors previous historical fiction books. Felt like an advertising break and a distraction.

[Other Terrain]

With multiple books, movies and television shows, one could be forgiven for thinking they know everything there is to know about the Tudors. However, Wendy J Dunn’s first non-fiction book, Henry VIII’s True Daughter – Catherine Carey, A Tudor Life, will challenge what you think you know about the Boleyn family and Henry VIII.

Wendy J Dunn is a historical fiction writer whose previous works include The Light in the Labyrinth and Dear Heart, How Like You This?, which imagines the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. In Henry VIII’s True Daughter, Dunn shines a light on the lesser-known Catherine Carey (later Knollys), Mary Boleyn’s daughter. Dunn’s extensive research explores the possibility of Catherine Carey being King Henry VIII’s daughter rather than William Carey’s...

https://www.otherterrainjournal.com.a...

[Kelsey]

I have always been fascinated with the extended Tudor aristocracy and royal families. I know I am not alone in thinking that Catherine *MAY* be a child of good old Henry VIII. This book provides a good argument in this favor, and I found them to be quite credible and enjoyable to read. While I enjoyed this book, there were a few nuances that I didn't quite vibe with.

If you are an Anne Boleyn fan, definitely read this. Her legacy lived on not only in her daughter Elizabeth, but also in her niece and nephew.