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Six Tudor Queens #1
Catherine d'Aragon : La Première Reine
The lives of Henry VIII's queens make for dramatic stories and Alison Weir will write a series of novels that offer insights into the real lives of the six wives based on extensive research and new theories.
In all the romancing, has anyone regarded the evidence that Anne Boleyn did not love Henry VIII? Or that Prince Arthur, Katherine of Aragon's first husband, who is said to have loved her in fact cared so little for her that he willed his personal effects to his sister? Or that Henry VIII, an over-protected child and teenager, was prudish when it came to sex? That Jane Seymour, usually portrayed as Henry's one true love, had the makings of a matriarch? There is much to reveal ...
Alison will write about the wives in the context of their own age and of the court intrigues that surrounded these women and - without exception - wrecked their lives. She will transport readers into a lost and vivid world of splendour and brutality: a world in which love, or the game of it, dominates all.
In all the romancing, has anyone regarded the evidence that Anne Boleyn did not love Henry VIII? Or that Prince Arthur, Katherine of Aragon's first husband, who is said to have loved her in fact cared so little for her that he willed his personal effects to his sister? Or that Henry VIII, an over-protected child and teenager, was prudish when it came to sex? That Jane Seymour, usually portrayed as Henry's one true love, had the makings of a matriarch? There is much to reveal ...
Alison will write about the wives in the context of their own age and of the court intrigues that surrounded these women and - without exception - wrecked their lives. She will transport readers into a lost and vivid world of splendour and brutality: a world in which love, or the game of it, dominates all.
888 pages
First published May 5, 2016
2932 people are currently reading
28210 people want to read
About the author
Alison Weir
83 books8,372 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
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August 7, 2017
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
First betrothed at the age of three to Arthur, Prince of Wales, the young princess of Spain, Catalina, sails to England at sixteen years of age to marry. Because she is the daughter of the esteemed monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina’s marriage to Arthur is designed to ensure an Anglo-Spanish alliance against France. In an unforeseen twist of fate, Catalina – anglicized to Princess Katherine – is betrothed to Henry VIII, heir to the English throne. Though her marriage is at first loving, outside forces soon cause a rift between Katherine and Henry VIII - one that threatens their relationship, Katherine’s status as Queen, and the future of the nation.
Katherine of Aragon is the first book of the Six Tudor Queens series (in which each book is dedicated to recounting the life of one of King Henry VIII’s wives). Spanning from 1501 to 1536, Katherine’s life is examined from the time of her crossing the seas at age sixteen to the moment when the last breath leaves her body.
Though Katherine remains a central figure throughout the book, Weir integrates relevant moments of historical import, touching on politics, warring nations, Spanish and English traditions, and religion. While historically informative, it is Katherine’s life as a princess and as a Queen that captivates from start to finish. The glamour of wealth is evident in young Katherine’s collection of “gowns of red and gold damask, woven silk, velvet of the costliest black, [and] cloth of gold,” and the perks of being royalty are obvious when a “heavy gold diadem glittering with sapphires, rubies, and pearls” is placed on Katherine’s head.
Expensive gowns and glittering gemstones are, however, superficial compensation for the oppressed life of a woman living in the sixteenth century. Weir paints a stark portrait of the lack of autonomy Katherine suffers, despite her status as Queen. Her life is never hers to control and she is, therefore, a figure who’s easy to sympathize with.
“The unpalatable truth was that what she wanted was immaterial. She knew she was powerless to affect her future. It would be decided to the advantage of others. That was the way it had always been if you were a princess.”
Whether girl or woman, princess or queen, females are to be chaste and demure. A wife’s duty is to be silent, to put her husband’s image before hers, and to prioritize her husband’s needs before all else. “[T]he voices of women, even queens, counted for very little.” Even education is beyond reach, as teaching women is considered frivolous with emphasis directed, instead, on a woman being moral and pure.
“They encourage light behavior,” Vives explained, “but the Princess will benefit from reading moral tales such as ‘Patient Griselda.’” Katherine had read the story in Boccaccio’s Decameron, and thought that this morality tale of a woman who endured much sorrow and humiliation at the hands of her husband, yet loved him in spite of it, would offer a good example to [the Princess].”
Katherine’s moments of joy and sorrow are captured with nuanced writing. Weir finds a harmonious balance between providing an abundance of historical details and conveying Katherine’s emotional evolution. Though the story is delivered in a third-person narrative, Katherine’s feelings are so resonant that it often seems like a first-person delivery.
At just shy of six hundred pages, Weir’s fictional retelling of Katherine’s life occasionally feels long-winded with slow pacing, but those lulls are few in number.
Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen is a believable, moving portrayal of an admirable woman fighting for love and holding fast to her religious convictions.
First betrothed at the age of three to Arthur, Prince of Wales, the young princess of Spain, Catalina, sails to England at sixteen years of age to marry. Because she is the daughter of the esteemed monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina’s marriage to Arthur is designed to ensure an Anglo-Spanish alliance against France. In an unforeseen twist of fate, Catalina – anglicized to Princess Katherine – is betrothed to Henry VIII, heir to the English throne. Though her marriage is at first loving, outside forces soon cause a rift between Katherine and Henry VIII - one that threatens their relationship, Katherine’s status as Queen, and the future of the nation.
Katherine of Aragon is the first book of the Six Tudor Queens series (in which each book is dedicated to recounting the life of one of King Henry VIII’s wives). Spanning from 1501 to 1536, Katherine’s life is examined from the time of her crossing the seas at age sixteen to the moment when the last breath leaves her body.
Though Katherine remains a central figure throughout the book, Weir integrates relevant moments of historical import, touching on politics, warring nations, Spanish and English traditions, and religion. While historically informative, it is Katherine’s life as a princess and as a Queen that captivates from start to finish. The glamour of wealth is evident in young Katherine’s collection of “gowns of red and gold damask, woven silk, velvet of the costliest black, [and] cloth of gold,” and the perks of being royalty are obvious when a “heavy gold diadem glittering with sapphires, rubies, and pearls” is placed on Katherine’s head.
Expensive gowns and glittering gemstones are, however, superficial compensation for the oppressed life of a woman living in the sixteenth century. Weir paints a stark portrait of the lack of autonomy Katherine suffers, despite her status as Queen. Her life is never hers to control and she is, therefore, a figure who’s easy to sympathize with.
“The unpalatable truth was that what she wanted was immaterial. She knew she was powerless to affect her future. It would be decided to the advantage of others. That was the way it had always been if you were a princess.”
Whether girl or woman, princess or queen, females are to be chaste and demure. A wife’s duty is to be silent, to put her husband’s image before hers, and to prioritize her husband’s needs before all else. “[T]he voices of women, even queens, counted for very little.” Even education is beyond reach, as teaching women is considered frivolous with emphasis directed, instead, on a woman being moral and pure.
“They encourage light behavior,” Vives explained, “but the Princess will benefit from reading moral tales such as ‘Patient Griselda.’” Katherine had read the story in Boccaccio’s Decameron, and thought that this morality tale of a woman who endured much sorrow and humiliation at the hands of her husband, yet loved him in spite of it, would offer a good example to [the Princess].”
Katherine’s moments of joy and sorrow are captured with nuanced writing. Weir finds a harmonious balance between providing an abundance of historical details and conveying Katherine’s emotional evolution. Though the story is delivered in a third-person narrative, Katherine’s feelings are so resonant that it often seems like a first-person delivery.
At just shy of six hundred pages, Weir’s fictional retelling of Katherine’s life occasionally feels long-winded with slow pacing, but those lulls are few in number.
Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen is a believable, moving portrayal of an admirable woman fighting for love and holding fast to her religious convictions.
March 8, 2020
I finished this book a few days ago and I still have this sadness that doesn’t go away. I cried and not a little, especially in the last 100 pages of the book.
It amazes me very much how it is perfectly in line with the true historical facts, let us clarify not only the rise of Henry VIII, the court life, about all the Dukes and Counts that revolve around the figure of the King., but absolutely true are all the epistolary references that we find reported in the book, obviously leaving room for all that romanticized component that keeps the story of Catherine standing up.
We will see her little more than a little girl, arriving from Alcalá de Henares because she was engaged to Arthur, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry VII of England...
The sad ending of this marriage never actually lived or consummated, because of the disease and rapid death of the Prince.
In 1509 Caterina married Arthur’s younger brother, Henry.
I am not giving you any summary's story, the events we all know... it strikes me, however, that the "big question" revolved above all on the terror of Henry, the big fear of not leaving any heir to the Throne, risking therefore to leave England to other houses. His obsession was not born in one day, but grew little by little, Catherine always remained faithful and close to her husband, helping him with his great wisdom and humanity, to understand the madness of the thing.... but nothing to do.
Alison Weir was very good at creating dialogues rich in historical and cultural references, makes Catherine speak as a true Queen, or rather, as a Queen so learned and wise ( so everyone at the time believed her) to encourage the reader to deepen some historical event or philosophical or humanistic works reported in the Queen’s dialogues.
A bit of patriotic pride for me as italian, the great culture of Catherine, so vast to be able to dialogue and discuss with the Supreme Thomas More, was given by Alessandro Geraldini.
Life at court is described very well, but it will never be the intrigues put at the heart of this book. but the harrowing pain of these two spouses, who, while loving each other so much,.... Henry loved Catherine madly, they could never find themselves again because of these impediments, the absence of a male heir to the throne and the terror of disobeying God by marrying his brother’s wife, despite the papal written authorisation .
With the entrance of Anne Boleyn, everything becomes heartbreaking.... with Catherine who will always refuse to divorce and renounce the validity of their marriage, recognizing the dispensation received at the time by Julius II as valid. Catherine remained always firm in her faith, without giving up a step in considering herself the true Queen of England, she would never renounce it, she would renounce the good and the love she always had towards her husband, now married to the Boleyn. She managed to live the last years, now exiled from the court and forced to live in unhealthy and damp castles, with the friendship and fidelity of his ambassador Eustace Chapuys, Cardinal Fischer and shortly before the friendship and fidelity of Thomas More.
I found the last letter Catherine wrote to Henry heartbreaking and moving, but I leave you with the mystery and I invite you to read the book.
Only and only the Faith in Christ and to the Catholic Church has moved this woman in this way, it has not moved her conscience nor yielded to the good of her daughter Mary, the only living daughter of Catherine and Henry...
Holy to me as Thomas More.
Catalina de Aragón
Ho finito questo libro ormai qualche giorno fa e niente da fare, continuo ad avere questo magone che non se ne va. Ho pianto e non poco, soprattutto nelle ultime 100 pagine del libro.
Mi stupisce tantissimo come sia perfettamente in linea con i veri fatti storici, chiariamo non solo l'ascesa di Enrico VIII, la vita di corte, e tutti i duchi e conti che girano intorno alla figura del Re., ma assolutamente vere sono tutti i riferimenti epistolari che troviamo qui riportati, ovviamente lasciando spazio a tutta quella componente romanzata che tiene in piedi qui la storia di Caterina.
La vedremo poco piu' di una bambina, arrivare da Alcalá de Henares perchè promessa in sposa ad Arturo principe di Galles, figlio maggiore di Enrico VII d' Inghilterra ;il triste epilogo di questo matrimonio mai effettivamente vissuto ne consumato, a causa della malattia e rapida morte del Principe.
Ecco che nel 1509 Caterina convolerà a nozze con il fratello minore di Arturo, Enrico.
Non sto farvi nessun riassunto perchè la storia, gli avvenimenti li conosciamo tutti... mi colpisce però, che la "grande questione" girasse soprattutto sul terrore di Enrico di non lasciare nessun erede al trono, rischiando quindi di lasciare l' Inghilterra ad altri casati. La sua ossessione non nacque dall' oggi al domani, ma crebbe pian piano, Caterina rimase sempre fedele e vicino al marito, aiutandolo con la sua grande saggezza e sapienza, a capire la follia della cosa..... ma nulla da fare.
Alison Weir è stata bravissima a creare dei dialoghi ricchi di riferimenti storici e culturali, fa parlare Caterina come una vera Regina, o meglio, come una Regina così dotta e sapiente ( così tutti all' epoca la ritenevano) da spingere il lettore ad approfondire qualche avvenimento storico o opera filosofica o umanistica riportata nei dialoghi della Regina.
Un pò di orgoglio patriottistico, la grandissima cultura di Caterina, così vasta da poter dialogare e discutere con il sommo Tommaso Moro, venne impartita da Alessandro Geraldini,noto umanista del 16 sec.
La vita a corte viene descritta molto bene, ma non saranno mai gli intrighi messi come fulcro di questo libro, .. ma il dolore straziante di questi due sposi, che pur amandosi tantissimo, si proprio così..... Enrico amava alla follia Caterina, non riuscirono mai piu a ritrovarsi a causa di questi impedimenti, l'assenza di un erede maschio al trono e il terrore di aver disobbedito a Dio avendo sposato la moglie di suo fratello.
Con l'entrata in scena di Anna Bolena tutto diventa straziante.... con Caterina che si rifiuterà sempre di divorziare e rinunciare alla validità del loro matrimonio, riconoscendo il pieno potere la dispensa ricevuta al tempo da parte di Giulio II. Caterina rimase sempre ferma nella fede, senza cedere di un passo nel considerarsi la vera Regina d' Inghilterra, non abiurerà mai, ne rinuncerà al bene e all' amore che sempre ripose nei confronti di suo marito, ormai sposato con la Bolena. Riuscì a vivere gli ultimi anni, ormai esiliata dalla corte e costretta a vivere in castelli malsani e umidi, con l'amicizia e la fedeltà del suo ambasciatore Eustace Chapuys, il Cardinale Fischer e poco tempo prima l' amicizia e fedeltà di Tommaso Moro.
Ho trovato straziante e commovente l' ultima lettera che Caterina scriverà ad Enrico., ma vi lascio il mistero invogliandovi a leggere il libro.
Solo ed unicamente la Fede in Cristo e alla Chiesa Cattolica ha mosso così questa donna, non ha smosso ne ha ceduto la sua coscienza neanche sottomettendola al bene di sua figlia Maria, unica figlia vivente di Caterina ed Enrico...
Per me Santa come Tommaso Moro.
It amazes me very much how it is perfectly in line with the true historical facts, let us clarify not only the rise of Henry VIII, the court life, about all the Dukes and Counts that revolve around the figure of the King., but absolutely true are all the epistolary references that we find reported in the book, obviously leaving room for all that romanticized component that keeps the story of Catherine standing up.
We will see her little more than a little girl, arriving from Alcalá de Henares because she was engaged to Arthur, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry VII of England...
The sad ending of this marriage never actually lived or consummated, because of the disease and rapid death of the Prince.
In 1509 Caterina married Arthur’s younger brother, Henry.
I am not giving you any summary's story, the events we all know... it strikes me, however, that the "big question" revolved above all on the terror of Henry, the big fear of not leaving any heir to the Throne, risking therefore to leave England to other houses. His obsession was not born in one day, but grew little by little, Catherine always remained faithful and close to her husband, helping him with his great wisdom and humanity, to understand the madness of the thing.... but nothing to do.
Alison Weir was very good at creating dialogues rich in historical and cultural references, makes Catherine speak as a true Queen, or rather, as a Queen so learned and wise ( so everyone at the time believed her) to encourage the reader to deepen some historical event or philosophical or humanistic works reported in the Queen’s dialogues.
A bit of patriotic pride for me as italian, the great culture of Catherine, so vast to be able to dialogue and discuss with the Supreme Thomas More, was given by Alessandro Geraldini.
Life at court is described very well, but it will never be the intrigues put at the heart of this book. but the harrowing pain of these two spouses, who, while loving each other so much,.... Henry loved Catherine madly, they could never find themselves again because of these impediments, the absence of a male heir to the throne and the terror of disobeying God by marrying his brother’s wife, despite the papal written authorisation .
With the entrance of Anne Boleyn, everything becomes heartbreaking.... with Catherine who will always refuse to divorce and renounce the validity of their marriage, recognizing the dispensation received at the time by Julius II as valid. Catherine remained always firm in her faith, without giving up a step in considering herself the true Queen of England, she would never renounce it, she would renounce the good and the love she always had towards her husband, now married to the Boleyn. She managed to live the last years, now exiled from the court and forced to live in unhealthy and damp castles, with the friendship and fidelity of his ambassador Eustace Chapuys, Cardinal Fischer and shortly before the friendship and fidelity of Thomas More.
I found the last letter Catherine wrote to Henry heartbreaking and moving, but I leave you with the mystery and I invite you to read the book.
Only and only the Faith in Christ and to the Catholic Church has moved this woman in this way, it has not moved her conscience nor yielded to the good of her daughter Mary, the only living daughter of Catherine and Henry...
Holy to me as Thomas More.
Catalina de Aragón
Ho finito questo libro ormai qualche giorno fa e niente da fare, continuo ad avere questo magone che non se ne va. Ho pianto e non poco, soprattutto nelle ultime 100 pagine del libro.
Mi stupisce tantissimo come sia perfettamente in linea con i veri fatti storici, chiariamo non solo l'ascesa di Enrico VIII, la vita di corte, e tutti i duchi e conti che girano intorno alla figura del Re., ma assolutamente vere sono tutti i riferimenti epistolari che troviamo qui riportati, ovviamente lasciando spazio a tutta quella componente romanzata che tiene in piedi qui la storia di Caterina.
La vedremo poco piu' di una bambina, arrivare da Alcalá de Henares perchè promessa in sposa ad Arturo principe di Galles, figlio maggiore di Enrico VII d' Inghilterra ;il triste epilogo di questo matrimonio mai effettivamente vissuto ne consumato, a causa della malattia e rapida morte del Principe.
Ecco che nel 1509 Caterina convolerà a nozze con il fratello minore di Arturo, Enrico.
Non sto farvi nessun riassunto perchè la storia, gli avvenimenti li conosciamo tutti... mi colpisce però, che la "grande questione" girasse soprattutto sul terrore di Enrico di non lasciare nessun erede al trono, rischiando quindi di lasciare l' Inghilterra ad altri casati. La sua ossessione non nacque dall' oggi al domani, ma crebbe pian piano, Caterina rimase sempre fedele e vicino al marito, aiutandolo con la sua grande saggezza e sapienza, a capire la follia della cosa..... ma nulla da fare.
Alison Weir è stata bravissima a creare dei dialoghi ricchi di riferimenti storici e culturali, fa parlare Caterina come una vera Regina, o meglio, come una Regina così dotta e sapiente ( così tutti all' epoca la ritenevano) da spingere il lettore ad approfondire qualche avvenimento storico o opera filosofica o umanistica riportata nei dialoghi della Regina.
Un pò di orgoglio patriottistico, la grandissima cultura di Caterina, così vasta da poter dialogare e discutere con il sommo Tommaso Moro, venne impartita da Alessandro Geraldini,noto umanista del 16 sec.
La vita a corte viene descritta molto bene, ma non saranno mai gli intrighi messi come fulcro di questo libro, .. ma il dolore straziante di questi due sposi, che pur amandosi tantissimo, si proprio così..... Enrico amava alla follia Caterina, non riuscirono mai piu a ritrovarsi a causa di questi impedimenti, l'assenza di un erede maschio al trono e il terrore di aver disobbedito a Dio avendo sposato la moglie di suo fratello.
Con l'entrata in scena di Anna Bolena tutto diventa straziante.... con Caterina che si rifiuterà sempre di divorziare e rinunciare alla validità del loro matrimonio, riconoscendo il pieno potere la dispensa ricevuta al tempo da parte di Giulio II. Caterina rimase sempre ferma nella fede, senza cedere di un passo nel considerarsi la vera Regina d' Inghilterra, non abiurerà mai, ne rinuncerà al bene e all' amore che sempre ripose nei confronti di suo marito, ormai sposato con la Bolena. Riuscì a vivere gli ultimi anni, ormai esiliata dalla corte e costretta a vivere in castelli malsani e umidi, con l'amicizia e la fedeltà del suo ambasciatore Eustace Chapuys, il Cardinale Fischer e poco tempo prima l' amicizia e fedeltà di Tommaso Moro.
Ho trovato straziante e commovente l' ultima lettera che Caterina scriverà ad Enrico., ma vi lascio il mistero invogliandovi a leggere il libro.
Solo ed unicamente la Fede in Cristo e alla Chiesa Cattolica ha mosso così questa donna, non ha smosso ne ha ceduto la sua coscienza neanche sottomettendola al bene di sua figlia Maria, unica figlia vivente di Caterina ed Enrico...
Per me Santa come Tommaso Moro.
January 9, 2019
Book Reviewed by Julie on www.whisperingstories.com
‘Katherine of Aragon’ is the first in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by best-selling British author, Alison Weir. Each chapter covers a year or two in Katherine’s life, charting events from her arrival in England in 1501 to her death in 1536.
As the story is based on fact, there is inevitably a large cast but readers with little knowledge of this period shouldn’t be put off, as there are family trees at the beginning, together with a timeline and list of who’s who at the end.
Katherine is the educated, devout and dutiful daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, joint rulers of Spain. She comes to England under the terms of the contract arranged by their respective parents to marry the Prince of Wales. After Arthur’s untimely death, she becomes betrothed to his younger brother, Henry.
The book is divided into three parts; Katherine’s life as a widowed princess in a foreign land being treated as a pawn in the political machinations between England and Spain, then her life as a much-loved queen and finally, being moved around the country after her husband sets her aside.
Katherine’s happiest moments come during the early years of her marriage when the king treats her kindly. Successfully rebuffing a Scottish invasion, during her time as Regent, was arguably her finest hour. Weir shows us how Henry sought her counsel until the appointment of Wolsey who usurped her influence and then latterly, Cromwell and Cranmer.
Throughout the book, Weir drops people into the story whom we know will feature in the future. She tells us that Thomas Boleyn was a favourite and we discover that Henry had a relationship with his daughter, Mary. We then find that Mary has a younger sister, Anne who ultimately becomes Katherine’s nemesis. Jane Seymour, a gentle lady-in-waiting, has arrived at court and Maud Parr, mother of Kate, plays a pivotal role in Katherine’s household.
As we view everything through Katherine’s eyes, Henry VIII is portrayed in a mainly positive light, no matter how reprehensible his behaviour. It would have been interesting to have witnessed the frustration he must have felt towards her; however Weir resists the temptation to stray from her remit.
Alison Weir’s Katherine has remarkable resilience which comes to the fore at times of sorrow and strife. The pathos surrounding each pregnancy and the subsequent loss of all but one child is palpable. While her life starts to unravel, Katherine still has the courage to fight for her marriage and her daughter, Mary’s right of succession. During her exile, she shows fortitude and determination to preserve her status, although ultimately she is powerless to prevent Henry from divorcing her. Nevertheless, she is shrewd enough never gave him grounds to accuse her of treason. Even in her humiliation, we see a dignified and devoted wife who will not compromise her principles or faith.
I am mindful of spoilers but Katherine’s story has been told many times and I’m not sure it is possible to learn much that is new. However, I had never previously heard of a plan to secure the succession through a marriage which would have further cemented the relationship between the Houses of Tudor and Plantagenet.
In this book, Katherine has been brought to life in a vibrant and empathetic way that captivates the audience. Alison Weir is an accomplished writer and I commend her for many hours of painstaking research. I enjoy her writing style and should I be asked to review further books in this series, it will be a pleasure. I award ‘Katherine of Aragon’ a well-deserved five stars.
‘Katherine of Aragon’ is the first in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by best-selling British author, Alison Weir. Each chapter covers a year or two in Katherine’s life, charting events from her arrival in England in 1501 to her death in 1536.
As the story is based on fact, there is inevitably a large cast but readers with little knowledge of this period shouldn’t be put off, as there are family trees at the beginning, together with a timeline and list of who’s who at the end.
Katherine is the educated, devout and dutiful daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, joint rulers of Spain. She comes to England under the terms of the contract arranged by their respective parents to marry the Prince of Wales. After Arthur’s untimely death, she becomes betrothed to his younger brother, Henry.
The book is divided into three parts; Katherine’s life as a widowed princess in a foreign land being treated as a pawn in the political machinations between England and Spain, then her life as a much-loved queen and finally, being moved around the country after her husband sets her aside.
Katherine’s happiest moments come during the early years of her marriage when the king treats her kindly. Successfully rebuffing a Scottish invasion, during her time as Regent, was arguably her finest hour. Weir shows us how Henry sought her counsel until the appointment of Wolsey who usurped her influence and then latterly, Cromwell and Cranmer.
Throughout the book, Weir drops people into the story whom we know will feature in the future. She tells us that Thomas Boleyn was a favourite and we discover that Henry had a relationship with his daughter, Mary. We then find that Mary has a younger sister, Anne who ultimately becomes Katherine’s nemesis. Jane Seymour, a gentle lady-in-waiting, has arrived at court and Maud Parr, mother of Kate, plays a pivotal role in Katherine’s household.
As we view everything through Katherine’s eyes, Henry VIII is portrayed in a mainly positive light, no matter how reprehensible his behaviour. It would have been interesting to have witnessed the frustration he must have felt towards her; however Weir resists the temptation to stray from her remit.
Alison Weir’s Katherine has remarkable resilience which comes to the fore at times of sorrow and strife. The pathos surrounding each pregnancy and the subsequent loss of all but one child is palpable. While her life starts to unravel, Katherine still has the courage to fight for her marriage and her daughter, Mary’s right of succession. During her exile, she shows fortitude and determination to preserve her status, although ultimately she is powerless to prevent Henry from divorcing her. Nevertheless, she is shrewd enough never gave him grounds to accuse her of treason. Even in her humiliation, we see a dignified and devoted wife who will not compromise her principles or faith.
I am mindful of spoilers but Katherine’s story has been told many times and I’m not sure it is possible to learn much that is new. However, I had never previously heard of a plan to secure the succession through a marriage which would have further cemented the relationship between the Houses of Tudor and Plantagenet.
In this book, Katherine has been brought to life in a vibrant and empathetic way that captivates the audience. Alison Weir is an accomplished writer and I commend her for many hours of painstaking research. I enjoy her writing style and should I be asked to review further books in this series, it will be a pleasure. I award ‘Katherine of Aragon’ a well-deserved five stars.
March 17, 2018
4 stars.
This is a long book, 624p. I think that it does represent a very good representation of Katherine's viewpoint and also what it was like to be a queen 500 years ago. I was raised Roman Catholic and taught that Henry VIII's move to divorce Katherine was based on lust for Anne Boleyn. But the book makes clear Henry's fear that if he did not have a lawful son and heir, his country might descend into civil war when he died. He had an illegitimate son by a mistress, but his sons by Katherine died. He became convinced that he was cursed because he married his brother's widow. The battle of Bosworth, ending the civil war with Henry VII triumphant, took place in 1485, only 6 years before Henry VIII's birth. Henry VII impressed upon his sons the importance of carrying on on the royal lineage to avoid another civil war.
Katherine refused to accept any of the alternatives Henry VIII offered her, annulment, entering a nunnery or divorce. She was defending her daughter Mary's right to royal lineage and her own conscience, which said that she was Henry VIII's lawful wife. She believed that it would be a great sin to give in to Henry VIII.
Henry VIII became mean and vindictive toward Katherine and even had his messengers threaten her with arrest for treason. The author does a very good job of portraying intrigue at the royal court and painting a picture of England 500 years ago. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
Two quotes:
"Heading his chamber was his fair haired Groom of the Stool, William Compton..."
"The melodious sounds of shawms, crumhorns, lutes, sackbuts, regals, pipes and tabors echoed from a leafy bower where musicians played unseen."
This book was a Goodreads giveaway and I thank the publisher, Ballantine books. I apologize for taking so long to read it.
This is a long book, 624p. I think that it does represent a very good representation of Katherine's viewpoint and also what it was like to be a queen 500 years ago. I was raised Roman Catholic and taught that Henry VIII's move to divorce Katherine was based on lust for Anne Boleyn. But the book makes clear Henry's fear that if he did not have a lawful son and heir, his country might descend into civil war when he died. He had an illegitimate son by a mistress, but his sons by Katherine died. He became convinced that he was cursed because he married his brother's widow. The battle of Bosworth, ending the civil war with Henry VII triumphant, took place in 1485, only 6 years before Henry VIII's birth. Henry VII impressed upon his sons the importance of carrying on on the royal lineage to avoid another civil war.
Katherine refused to accept any of the alternatives Henry VIII offered her, annulment, entering a nunnery or divorce. She was defending her daughter Mary's right to royal lineage and her own conscience, which said that she was Henry VIII's lawful wife. She believed that it would be a great sin to give in to Henry VIII.
Henry VIII became mean and vindictive toward Katherine and even had his messengers threaten her with arrest for treason. The author does a very good job of portraying intrigue at the royal court and painting a picture of England 500 years ago. I recommend it to historical fiction fans.
Two quotes:
"Heading his chamber was his fair haired Groom of the Stool, William Compton..."
"The melodious sounds of shawms, crumhorns, lutes, sackbuts, regals, pipes and tabors echoed from a leafy bower where musicians played unseen."
This book was a Goodreads giveaway and I thank the publisher, Ballantine books. I apologize for taking so long to read it.
November 26, 2020
I actually enjoyed this portrait of Katherine from first arrival in England to her death. I'm a fan of the Tudor period. This was well written and easy light enjoyable reading.
***Yet, I'm tired of the misogynistic view of Anne Boleyn as home wrecker and Katherine as the helpless ingenue***: unwilling to speak ill of either her husband the King or her rival Anne Boleyn. Both seem simplistic portraits of such complex women.
***Edited to add: This is the problem I have with this book. I was not expecting Katherine to like Anne but there's no need to perpetuate sexist stereotypes in this storyline. It's tiresome, dated and inaccurate.
If this review bothers you personally or you think is unfair to the author or Katherine. That's great! If we are friends let's engage, otherwise, your opinions belong in your review.
Thanks!***
Weir is one of my favorite somewhat inaccurate/casual historians so I'm disappointed in this showing.
Henry chose to divorce Katherine. He then chose to cut off Anne's head. I find the suggestion that Anne had power over him insulting.
Why set her up as the master villain in this situation when history clearly has Henry repeating this asshole pattern of behavior with multiple people in his life decades after Anne's murder. Not just his wives, he has friends and relatives killed as well. Henry was a tyrant and he, not Anne, is responsible for the fate of Katherine of Aragon. I don't expect Katherine to have that view in this book but I don't expect the author to use outdated sexist stereotyping to make her point either. If she can't do better than that with the skills at hand then she is a poor fiction writer. I've read most of her books and she is indeed a poor fiction writer.
***Yet, I'm tired of the misogynistic view of Anne Boleyn as home wrecker and Katherine as the helpless ingenue***: unwilling to speak ill of either her husband the King or her rival Anne Boleyn. Both seem simplistic portraits of such complex women.
***Edited to add: This is the problem I have with this book. I was not expecting Katherine to like Anne but there's no need to perpetuate sexist stereotypes in this storyline. It's tiresome, dated and inaccurate.
If this review bothers you personally or you think is unfair to the author or Katherine. That's great! If we are friends let's engage, otherwise, your opinions belong in your review.
Thanks!***
Weir is one of my favorite somewhat inaccurate/casual historians so I'm disappointed in this showing.
Henry chose to divorce Katherine. He then chose to cut off Anne's head. I find the suggestion that Anne had power over him insulting.
Why set her up as the master villain in this situation when history clearly has Henry repeating this asshole pattern of behavior with multiple people in his life decades after Anne's murder. Not just his wives, he has friends and relatives killed as well. Henry was a tyrant and he, not Anne, is responsible for the fate of Katherine of Aragon. I don't expect Katherine to have that view in this book but I don't expect the author to use outdated sexist stereotyping to make her point either. If she can't do better than that with the skills at hand then she is a poor fiction writer. I've read most of her books and she is indeed a poor fiction writer.
July 3, 2017
My Review is finally up!
Alison Weir managed to describe the inner world, the emotions and the long-suffering fate of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of the King Henry the eighth. Through her writing and her deep knowledge of history she brings into live the political principles, the values and the games during the Tudor’s domination in England.
To read more click the link below:
Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen | Review
Alison Weir managed to describe the inner world, the emotions and the long-suffering fate of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of the King Henry the eighth. Through her writing and her deep knowledge of history she brings into live the political principles, the values and the games during the Tudor’s domination in England.
To read more click the link below:
Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen | Review
February 5, 2016
They are the family which we never seem to lost interest in – the subjects of endless books, documentaries and television shows. Even now, the Tudors seem larger than life; with Henry VIII the central character, circled by the six women he married. Now, Alison Weir has started a new historical fiction series, putting each wife at the very centre of her own story.
For many of us, the historical facts will be well known. However, whether you are a history fan or not, you will be able to read this book and enjoy it. For Weir is a consummate story teller and she takes us through the life of Katherine of Aragon from the time she first arrives as a young princess from Spain (then the Infanta Catalina) to marry Henry Vll’s heir, Prince Arthur.
Katherine arrives in England homesick and cold; only to find Prince Arthur sickly and faintly disinterested. Of course, much historical research has been spent trying to discover whether this marriage was ever consummated. Alison Weir takes the point of view of Katherine as central in this novel and so she also assumes that what Katherine stated happened was the truth. Therefore, this is very much Katherine’s story as she would have told it and is a very sympathetic portrayal of Henry’s first wife.
If you are familiar with Katherine’s life, there is little point in rehashing it here. If you know little about her, then you will find this an engrossing portrait of a women who believed completely in doing her duty. She would never have questioned her parent’s, or later, her husband’s, wishes. She was sent to England to be Queen and she had every intention of carrying out this role to the best of her ability and creating an alliance between England and Spain. So, it makes it even more moving that when Henry decides he wants a divorce that, for once, she digs in her heels and refuses to move over gracefully.
Although this is very much a straightforward fictional biography, there is a real sense that Alison Weir is a master of her craft, and so knowledgeable of the time period that she easily makes you feel that you there, at Court, with the characters. This could bring new readers to historical fiction, in the way that, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” did when I first discovered the Tudors as a, much younger, reader. Very enjoyable and sure to be a great success. Now, I cannot wait to read the volume about Anne Boleyn…
For many of us, the historical facts will be well known. However, whether you are a history fan or not, you will be able to read this book and enjoy it. For Weir is a consummate story teller and she takes us through the life of Katherine of Aragon from the time she first arrives as a young princess from Spain (then the Infanta Catalina) to marry Henry Vll’s heir, Prince Arthur.
Katherine arrives in England homesick and cold; only to find Prince Arthur sickly and faintly disinterested. Of course, much historical research has been spent trying to discover whether this marriage was ever consummated. Alison Weir takes the point of view of Katherine as central in this novel and so she also assumes that what Katherine stated happened was the truth. Therefore, this is very much Katherine’s story as she would have told it and is a very sympathetic portrayal of Henry’s first wife.
If you are familiar with Katherine’s life, there is little point in rehashing it here. If you know little about her, then you will find this an engrossing portrait of a women who believed completely in doing her duty. She would never have questioned her parent’s, or later, her husband’s, wishes. She was sent to England to be Queen and she had every intention of carrying out this role to the best of her ability and creating an alliance between England and Spain. So, it makes it even more moving that when Henry decides he wants a divorce that, for once, she digs in her heels and refuses to move over gracefully.
Although this is very much a straightforward fictional biography, there is a real sense that Alison Weir is a master of her craft, and so knowledgeable of the time period that she easily makes you feel that you there, at Court, with the characters. This could bring new readers to historical fiction, in the way that, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” did when I first discovered the Tudors as a, much younger, reader. Very enjoyable and sure to be a great success. Now, I cannot wait to read the volume about Anne Boleyn…
May 6, 2016
I must admit a certain empathy for Katherine of Aragon, so I’d been looking forward to this book since I first heard Alison Weir was writing it. Like many, I was failed by my history teachers, who I remember dismissed Katherine’s almost twenty-four year marriage in their haste to get on to the ‘interesting’ bits. That meant it was up to me to learn Katherine’s amazing story of courage, love, loss - and determination.
Alison recently said of Katherine on the Tudor Times website, “As a woman of high principle and integrity, she deserves to be celebrated as one of the greatest and most loved queens of England. In telling her story, I have tried not to make Katherine too much of a saint. She had failings, naturally, and she could take a blinkered approach to crucial issues, but her innate honesty, loyalty, faith and good intentions make her a most sympathetic character.”
This comes through from the start, when we join the young Catalina arriving in England, unable to even speak the language yet full of hope and optimism. I like the skilled development of even the minor characters we’ve come to expect of Alison Weir, particularly her harsh Spanish ‘Duenna’, clinging on the old traditions, and Katherine’s maidservants, driven by their own self-interest.
I was unsurprised although a little disappointed to see Henry VII is yet again portrayed as sinister and insensitive, although I appreciate way all the English lack manners and refinement through Katherine’s eyes. Conversely, it’s fun to see Henry VIII as a cheeky boy who can’t believe his luck, slowly turning into the man we expect him to become.
Although I’ve studied the details of Katherine’s life, it is still harrowing and sometimes shocking to share her seemingly endless, often tragic pregnancies, with their awful consequences. I feel I have a new insight into her character and her faith after reading this book, so for that reason am happy to award it a rare five stars.
Alison recently said of Katherine on the Tudor Times website, “As a woman of high principle and integrity, she deserves to be celebrated as one of the greatest and most loved queens of England. In telling her story, I have tried not to make Katherine too much of a saint. She had failings, naturally, and she could take a blinkered approach to crucial issues, but her innate honesty, loyalty, faith and good intentions make her a most sympathetic character.”
This comes through from the start, when we join the young Catalina arriving in England, unable to even speak the language yet full of hope and optimism. I like the skilled development of even the minor characters we’ve come to expect of Alison Weir, particularly her harsh Spanish ‘Duenna’, clinging on the old traditions, and Katherine’s maidservants, driven by their own self-interest.
I was unsurprised although a little disappointed to see Henry VII is yet again portrayed as sinister and insensitive, although I appreciate way all the English lack manners and refinement through Katherine’s eyes. Conversely, it’s fun to see Henry VIII as a cheeky boy who can’t believe his luck, slowly turning into the man we expect him to become.
Although I’ve studied the details of Katherine’s life, it is still harrowing and sometimes shocking to share her seemingly endless, often tragic pregnancies, with their awful consequences. I feel I have a new insight into her character and her faith after reading this book, so for that reason am happy to award it a rare five stars.
June 21, 2023
Been wanting to read this for a while and bought the first three is what I think is a 6 books series but think there is perhaps one more.
This didn't disappoint one bit, it's a fiction of real people and real events and felt very realistic to what might have been the real deal. Very curious to read about Anne Boleyn next after the drama in this one. I want to hear from her side of the story.
This didn't disappoint one bit, it's a fiction of real people and real events and felt very realistic to what might have been the real deal. Very curious to read about Anne Boleyn next after the drama in this one. I want to hear from her side of the story.
December 4, 2017
4.5★s for me.
I think that Alison Weir best sums up this book herself:
”I have tried in these pages to evoke the sights, textures, sounds and smells of an age, a lost world of splendor and brutality, and a court in which love, or the game of it, held sway, but where dynastic pressures overrode any romantic considerations. It was a world dominated by faith and by momentous religious change – and a world in which there were few saints. This was Katherine’s world, and we can only understand her properly within its context.”
From birth, Katherine (Catalina) of Aragón was destined to be a Queen. Her lineage, her background, her education all set the stage for her to be destined to a life of royalty. Setting sail as a young woman from her beloved home of Spain to England to marry King Henry’s brother Prince Arthur, sets this story in motion.
What I enjoyed is that Alison Weir wrote this from Katherine’s perspective. We get an eagle eye view of events unfolding in “real time”. From being deeply and happily in love with King Henry, to the betrayal that later followed, you can feel every wave of happiness and each stab of hurt and regret.
This story saddened me deeply with the unjust way in which Katherine was treated. Women were very much at the mercy of the men-folk, and were considered chattels with little or no say in how they led their lives, or what opinions they had. In fact, anyone who had an opinion which did not mirror the King’s met untimely and cruel deaths. Those who remained loyal to Katherine were many, and suffered cruelly for it. What made it even more poignant for me, is that she continue to love Henry until she drew her last breath.
This is such superb writing. A definite must read for anyone who is new to the story of King Henry and his wives, or for someone who’d like to dip their toe in the water and read the story from another perspective.
I definitely have the next instalment (Anne Boleyn) waiting in the wings, to continue this amazing series.
I think that Alison Weir best sums up this book herself:
”I have tried in these pages to evoke the sights, textures, sounds and smells of an age, a lost world of splendor and brutality, and a court in which love, or the game of it, held sway, but where dynastic pressures overrode any romantic considerations. It was a world dominated by faith and by momentous religious change – and a world in which there were few saints. This was Katherine’s world, and we can only understand her properly within its context.”
From birth, Katherine (Catalina) of Aragón was destined to be a Queen. Her lineage, her background, her education all set the stage for her to be destined to a life of royalty. Setting sail as a young woman from her beloved home of Spain to England to marry King Henry’s brother Prince Arthur, sets this story in motion.
What I enjoyed is that Alison Weir wrote this from Katherine’s perspective. We get an eagle eye view of events unfolding in “real time”. From being deeply and happily in love with King Henry, to the betrayal that later followed, you can feel every wave of happiness and each stab of hurt and regret.
This story saddened me deeply with the unjust way in which Katherine was treated. Women were very much at the mercy of the men-folk, and were considered chattels with little or no say in how they led their lives, or what opinions they had. In fact, anyone who had an opinion which did not mirror the King’s met untimely and cruel deaths. Those who remained loyal to Katherine were many, and suffered cruelly for it. What made it even more poignant for me, is that she continue to love Henry until she drew her last breath.
This is such superb writing. A definite must read for anyone who is new to the story of King Henry and his wives, or for someone who’d like to dip their toe in the water and read the story from another perspective.
I definitely have the next instalment (Anne Boleyn) waiting in the wings, to continue this amazing series.
May 9, 2017
This was a wonderful telling of the life Katherine of Aragon, the true Queen and wife of Henry the Eighth. Katherine is presented as a woman of high morals and standards who stood by both the love she had for Henry and the life that she ultimately was condemned to lead. Hers was a sad life, deprived of her husband's love and denied the ability to be and see her daughter. Her loss of so many children while being married to Henry, was so tragic and yet her Christian faith allowed her to continue on.
Katherine was ever so courageous and melded always to the fact that she was Henry's true wife and that Anne Boleyn's claim to being the legitimate queen was a travesty. Henry, is presented as the man she truly loved. He was so besotted by Anne and so clamoring for a male heir that he willingly forsook the love that Katherine had for him. He was, and continued to be, a man filled with the overwhelming desire to have to have a son in order to continue the Tudor line. It is what seemed to drive him constantly and truly made him into the unfeeling, unreasonable man we see towards the end of Katherine's life.
It was a different time for sure, where a woman, even if she was queen, had little or no rights and was subjugated to the will of her father, brother, uncle, and husband. Katherine, in the end, was able to go to her god with the knowledge that she lived an exemplary life, one that was dedicated to her belief in the power and the glory of an almighty being. She also died knowing that she alone was the one true queen.
Katherine was ever so courageous and melded always to the fact that she was Henry's true wife and that Anne Boleyn's claim to being the legitimate queen was a travesty. Henry, is presented as the man she truly loved. He was so besotted by Anne and so clamoring for a male heir that he willingly forsook the love that Katherine had for him. He was, and continued to be, a man filled with the overwhelming desire to have to have a son in order to continue the Tudor line. It is what seemed to drive him constantly and truly made him into the unfeeling, unreasonable man we see towards the end of Katherine's life.
It was a different time for sure, where a woman, even if she was queen, had little or no rights and was subjugated to the will of her father, brother, uncle, and husband. Katherine, in the end, was able to go to her god with the knowledge that she lived an exemplary life, one that was dedicated to her belief in the power and the glory of an almighty being. She also died knowing that she alone was the one true queen.
Want to read
July 1, 2016I love British history and I love seeing different interpretations. Whether it be a speculative piece of fiction based on a place name, a tale inspired by vicious court rumour, or a story founded on fact, I love it all.
I'm not kidding when I say that this book is a door stopper. It's over 600 pages and yes, more than a little bit daunting. But the imagery is stunning. Right from the start, the vivid descriptions transported me to Katherine's side.
I'm not kidding when I say that this book is a door stopper. It's over 600 pages and yes, more than a little bit daunting. But the imagery is stunning. Right from the start, the vivid descriptions transported me to Katherine's side.
June 21, 2016
As she embarks on a new series, Weir pulls on much of her past research to create strong novels based on the six queens of Henry VIII. The focus of this first novel is Katherine of Aragon, who was betrothed to England's Prince Arthur at a young age. When she arrived in England, Katherine found herself unsure of the decision negotiated by her parents, though she understood she was a pawn to forge a necessary political alliance. Upon meeting her future husband, Katherine began to sense the awkwardness of the situation, for this was a man who did not show the raw attraction or curiosity she was told to expect. Her marriage to Prince Arthur became one of a friendship rather than an amorous connection, as Weir supports in numerous instances. Additionally, the controversial 'non-consummation' of their wedding is a historical gem Weir explores in the narrative, a key piece of information that plays a central role in the latter portion of the story. When Arthur became ill and did, Katherine renewed her role as pawn, though not in the same fashion. Her hand was potentially pledged to King Henry VII, the French dauphin, and Prince Henry (the heir to the English Throne) at various points, all to secure alliances, but also to keep options open for both Spain and England. Eventually, she married Prince (now King) Henry and their union seemed full of love, especially after receiving a papal dispensation to unite. Here began the next struggle in Katherine's life, trying to give England an heir. A number of pregnancies ended in miscarriage or death days after birth, including a few sons. When one child survived, Katherine was overjoyed with Princess Mary, though the Queen realised that she still bore the yoke of producing a male heir. Could this issue be founded in God's displeasure with their union? When Katherine eventually succumbed to menopause, she knew that she has failed Henry, though held firm that she has done all in her power. Henry refused to show his disappointment outwardly, though plotted with his closest advisor, Cardinal Wolsey, to bring an heir to the throne. Weir does mention an illegitimate heir, from Henry's philandering, but no son around which England could unite. Thus began the delicate shift of dissolving his marriage with Katherine so that he could turn to the young Anne Boleyn, a former lady of Queen Katherine and the new love interest of the King. As the Queen refused to admit her marriage was anything but legal and the King failed to convince her to divorce, Henry turned to Rome for the pope to invalidate it. Katherine held firm to the earlier dispensation, hoping it would save her and ensure that she and Mary would never become black marks in the English history books. Katherine was eventually pushed out of her place as Queen, even as Rome refused to recognize Henry's wedding to Boleyn, which caused the largest of schisms and led Henry to create the Church of England to justify his actions. Vilified by her husband while being supported by the English people, Katherine fought with all she had to keep her name clear and allow Mary her rightful place as heir to the throne. Even in her dwindling years, Katherine found many who spoke in favour of her marriage and against Henry's conniving nature to blot out their marriage, a veritable act of treason to verbalise. A masterful novel that allows English history buffs to bask in Weir's superior writing style that flows so effortlessly, Katherine of Aragon emerges not as a saintly woman, but one of passion who held firm to her personal and religious beliefs during a tumultuous time at the English Court.
While this is considered a piece of fiction, any reader who knows their history or has devoured much of Weir's past work will realise that it is steeped in reality. As I read, I became aware that the 'fiction' moniker was placed there more to validate the detailed dialogue than a shuffling of facts to create a more dramatic story. Weir lays down a powerful narrative that flows effectively throughout Katherine's life and shows that while she was isolated from her Spanish parents, she held firm to protect herself and her daughter from Henry's self-centred approach to life. While long and highly detailed, Weir offers the reader an insightful look into the life of this first of Henry's six wives, perhaps the strongest advocate of them all. Weir brings Katherine of Aragon to life in this opening novel and leaves readers itching for the next instalment, sure to be filled with as much drama, bridging from the narrative peppered throughout this book. There is surely crossover material to be explored more thoroughly within the second novel, though Weir is able to secure focus on events from Katherine's perspective. This novel offers everything the reader could expect from perusing its title, with chapters full of anecdotes woven into powerful dialogue.
Kudos, Madam Weir for this exceptional piece of writing that piques the interest of readers from all walks of life. I look forward to the next book in the collection and how you tackle the Boleyn character.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While this is considered a piece of fiction, any reader who knows their history or has devoured much of Weir's past work will realise that it is steeped in reality. As I read, I became aware that the 'fiction' moniker was placed there more to validate the detailed dialogue than a shuffling of facts to create a more dramatic story. Weir lays down a powerful narrative that flows effectively throughout Katherine's life and shows that while she was isolated from her Spanish parents, she held firm to protect herself and her daughter from Henry's self-centred approach to life. While long and highly detailed, Weir offers the reader an insightful look into the life of this first of Henry's six wives, perhaps the strongest advocate of them all. Weir brings Katherine of Aragon to life in this opening novel and leaves readers itching for the next instalment, sure to be filled with as much drama, bridging from the narrative peppered throughout this book. There is surely crossover material to be explored more thoroughly within the second novel, though Weir is able to secure focus on events from Katherine's perspective. This novel offers everything the reader could expect from perusing its title, with chapters full of anecdotes woven into powerful dialogue.
Kudos, Madam Weir for this exceptional piece of writing that piques the interest of readers from all walks of life. I look forward to the next book in the collection and how you tackle the Boleyn character.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 22, 2016
I enjoyed reading this but Weir is not a natural novelist: where her historical writing is often dense and alive to the complications of the period, this fictional rendering of the life of Katherine is simple, uncomplicated and straightforward. It follows her life from the marriage negotiations with Henry VII through till her death and smooths out all the unknowable and, perhaps, most interesting things about her life: so here we know exactly what happened (or didn't) on her wedding night with Prince Arthur, for example.
The narrative veers dangerously close to Mills & Boon-style romance at some points: 16 years old Katherine is bowled over by the 10 year old Henry Tudor, for example, which is actually a bit icky (!), and her gasps of horror as she realises her husband's infidelities are rather underwhelming. That said, there's a lot of detail here, taken from the sources with which Weir is clearly familiar, so we do get a greater sense of Katherine's political importance than is often the case from Tudor novels, and the political manipulations that surrounded her.
Anyone who is most familiar with Katherine as the old, staid wife who gets elbowed out by Anne Boleyn may well find this an enlightening read. Anyone more au fait with the historical sources will find nothing new here. In literary terms, this is certainly more historically intelligent than Phlippa Gregory and that romantic style of (re)-writing history but it doesn't come near the literary intelligence and flair of Mantel.
The narrative veers dangerously close to Mills & Boon-style romance at some points: 16 years old Katherine is bowled over by the 10 year old Henry Tudor, for example, which is actually a bit icky (!), and her gasps of horror as she realises her husband's infidelities are rather underwhelming. That said, there's a lot of detail here, taken from the sources with which Weir is clearly familiar, so we do get a greater sense of Katherine's political importance than is often the case from Tudor novels, and the political manipulations that surrounded her.
Anyone who is most familiar with Katherine as the old, staid wife who gets elbowed out by Anne Boleyn may well find this an enlightening read. Anyone more au fait with the historical sources will find nothing new here. In literary terms, this is certainly more historically intelligent than Phlippa Gregory and that romantic style of (re)-writing history but it doesn't come near the literary intelligence and flair of Mantel.
January 15, 2019
I love this book. I am a huge fan of Tudor history and Tudor fiction and so have read many books by many authors! I love the fact that this books follows the whole story of Katherine of Aragon. Very well written and it gave me a new found respect for what this exceptional monarch went through as a wife, mother and Queen. Highly recommend. Full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
May 31, 2016
"Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen" is one of pop history writer Alison Weir's foray into novel-writing. The good thing about it is that Weir is undoubtedly very sensitive to the period and she's invested a lot of time in her subject. The downside, though, is that while Weir is good for pop history, she's just not a strong historical fiction writer. Characters' speeches read like copy and paste from actual letters/diaries of the time; details are woven throughout the book seemingly to show off the depth of Weir's knowledge, not for the sake of visualizing the scene or improving our knowledge of the characters. And while I got a sense of Katherine from this (or rather, Alison's take on her), she just barely pushed past one-dimensional for me--far from the characters written by Margaret George or Sandra Gulland, for example. If I were to work with Weir as an editor, I would tell her to stop and ask what are the dominant themes for this character, in what ways should we, the modern reader, identify with Katherine (I do applaud Weir for arguing Katherine should be understood in her own era, not ours), and then what is the plot for this book--because it can't be just a book report version of Katherine of Aragon's life. (FYI, this review is based on an ARC given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
July 18, 2022
4.5 stars
This book was captivating all the way through. It really brought Katherine of Aragon to life. Katherine is a real sixteenth-century woman, not a twenty-first century transplant. The book starts with her arrival in England, ready to marry Prince Arthur, and ends at her death from cancer. There are scenes with Anne Boylen, and I am eager to read the next book to see Anne’s POV.
The book is divided in chapters labeled with the years. The narrative moves from scene to scene, generally brief, with any amount of time passing in between. Sometimes this style is annoying, but it was totally appropriate for this story. I ended up Googling a lot of historical figures and events relating to the book and learned a lot that way, thanks to the book. A lot of research went into this to make it as accurate as possible.
I won a copy in a Goodreads Giveaway. Sorry for the late review.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: Mildly explicit yet described in polite terms
Violence: Mentions of executions
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
This book was captivating all the way through. It really brought Katherine of Aragon to life. Katherine is a real sixteenth-century woman, not a twenty-first century transplant. The book starts with her arrival in England, ready to marry Prince Arthur, and ends at her death from cancer. There are scenes with Anne Boylen, and I am eager to read the next book to see Anne’s POV.
The book is divided in chapters labeled with the years. The narrative moves from scene to scene, generally brief, with any amount of time passing in between. Sometimes this style is annoying, but it was totally appropriate for this story. I ended up Googling a lot of historical figures and events relating to the book and learned a lot that way, thanks to the book. A lot of research went into this to make it as accurate as possible.
I won a copy in a Goodreads Giveaway. Sorry for the late review.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: Mildly explicit yet described in polite terms
Violence: Mentions of executions
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
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September 14, 2017TUDOR ENGLAND, who doesn’t love it. Alison Weir is embarking on an ambitious project here, to write detailed novels about each of Henry VIII’s storied wives (how she’s going to do super-boring Jane Seymour, I do not know). I’ve had a special place in my heart for Katherine of Aragon since The Tudors, and Katherine of Aragon goes it from her excellent point of view. It could be easy to make her seem overly pious and kind of lame, but this is the daughter of ISABELLA OF CASTILE, and she is damn fascinating. Henry and Katherine were married by far the longest out of any of his wives, and this book gives you a blow by blow of their marriage without sinking into tedium. And Anne Boleyn is now out! Get it. Read it. Love it. If you like historical fiction. If not, then maybe do not do that.
— Alice Burton
from The Best Books We Read In May 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/06/02/riot-...
— Alice Burton
from The Best Books We Read In May 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/06/02/riot-...
May 28, 2017
Read out of order, Weir's first book in her Wives of Henry VIII series continues to live up to expectations.
Katherine of Aragon is the paragon of virtue betrothed to Arthur, the Prince of Wales. With his death proceeds the ramifications of the Reformation and the rise and fall of one of the most notorious women in England's history.
What becomes apparent in the reshaping of history here is the reconfiguration of Henry's personality, obsessed with the birth of a legitimate male heir, and the zealousness of Katherine's temper, placing all belief and responsibility of her marriage rights on the Catholic Church and the Pope. It's obvious that the claims of both of these self-possessed adults had negative effects on their only child, Mary, who grew to become an ill, anxious, tormented young woman preoccupied with the health of her soul and conscience.
Weir does an exceptional job compiling contemporary sources into an emotional narrative. No one is the hero; no one is the savior. I felt like all main players were in the wrong here.
Katherine of Aragon is the paragon of virtue betrothed to Arthur, the Prince of Wales. With his death proceeds the ramifications of the Reformation and the rise and fall of one of the most notorious women in England's history.
What becomes apparent in the reshaping of history here is the reconfiguration of Henry's personality, obsessed with the birth of a legitimate male heir, and the zealousness of Katherine's temper, placing all belief and responsibility of her marriage rights on the Catholic Church and the Pope. It's obvious that the claims of both of these self-possessed adults had negative effects on their only child, Mary, who grew to become an ill, anxious, tormented young woman preoccupied with the health of her soul and conscience.
Weir does an exceptional job compiling contemporary sources into an emotional narrative. No one is the hero; no one is the savior. I felt like all main players were in the wrong here.
June 8, 2016
4.5 stars
A novel told from the perspective of Katherine of Aragon, stretching from those first heady days when she arrived in England as the bride-to-be of Arthur, first-born son of King Henry VII, to her last painful and ignominious hours she spent as the discarded, yet defiant, wife of King Henry VIII.
I must say, the book started off rather slow for me: once the drama of Katherine's marriage to Arthur had passed and she and Henry were married, most of the time was spent wrapped up in Katherine's wedded bliss, which seemed a bit too . . . blissful for a woman, especially a high-ranking woman, of this period. For instance, the first time Henry is unfaithful, Katherine is shocked and hurt by his behavior. Really? Should she be? After all, it's not like love or even affection between royal spouses was the norm, despite the appearance Henry gave of being as in love with Katherine as she was with him. Aristocratic and royal marriages were made for alliances, for power, not for love; adultery, on the man's part, was the accepted norm. So it seemed strange for Katherine, the daughter of Isabella of Aragon, to exist in a cloud of naivety and meekness. But then things start to pick up once the King's Secret Matter, which soon becomes the King's Great Matter, gets exposed and the hurly-burly with Anne Boleyn begins. Then we see the fire of Katherine of Aragon spark to life as she fights for her husband, her marriage, her title, her daughter, and her entire life and future.
This is not an unbiased book, nor should it be. This is a highly personal tale, told completely from one woman's perspective. Such a singular perspective doesn't allow for an unbiased telling. We see the events of this well-known historical period through a single set of eyes, augmented by the opinions of those in her household who are loyal to her, those who fight for her rights against those of Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn will get her say in the next book; in this book, she is only the “night crow” or “that woman” or "the Lady." And that's fine. This is not a history book or even a biography. This is historical fiction. Get interested in the history behind the story, but don't get your history from the story, even though this particular story is being told by an historian.
And a good one. Alison Weir thoroughly immerses us in the world of Katherine, her household, her retinues and routines, her high and low fortunes. We are with her every step of the way as she lives through the disappointment of her marriage to Arthur, as she floats through the glorious first years of her marriage to Henry, as she slowly becomes beaten down, small defeat by large, when Henry finds Anne, leaves Katherine, and splits Christendom in two in his quest to satisfy his desire to have a male heir. By the end of the book, it's quite easy for the reader to loathe both Henry and Anne as Katherine suffers repeated bouts of ill health, living in constant fear from the specter of poisoning hanging over both her and her daughter, Mary's, heads. Each illness of Mary's fills the reader with the same pangs of terror as it does Katherine, despite knowing that Mary survives these years of hell, years which imprint on her character indelibly.
However, because we are getting a story from Katherine's perspective, that also means we're getting a Tudor-washed, Ferdinand-washed tale as well, as is to be expected. So, in order for the Tudors to be winners, Richard III has to be the villain. In order for Ferdinand to be ruler of Spain, Juana has to be mad. It's a bit hard to swallow at first, but I had to keep telling myself, history is written by the victors. Henry VII and Ferdinand were the victors; Richard III and Juana were not. Alison Weir does a good job of explaining the choices she made as a writer in her Author's Note, explaining she changed relatively little in attempting to evoke the sights, smells, and textures of a lost age. She also explains how writing the book from Katherine's perspective granted her a different, more intimate psychological perspective on this amazingly scrupulous, lionhearted, and resolute woman, which in turn allows us to better understand why Katherine wouldn't have knuckled under and given in to Henry's demands, for though the idea of Katherine retiring to a convent and becoming his "sister" might seem reasonable to us now, to Katherine, they were utterly repugnant.
Of course, probably the most famous incident in Katherine's life was her first marriage to Arthur and whether or not it was consummated. For what it's worth, I have always been of the opinion that it hadn't been, that Arthur had been too sickly and all his hearty exclamations of “My throat is parched for I have been this night in the midst of Spain!” were just ego-boosting boasts from a young boy who wished to appear masculine in the eyes of his court. While I have no doubt Katherine would've done everything in her power to protect herself and her daughter, her faith was too strong to allow her to lie about something as crucial as consummation.
A novel told from the perspective of Katherine of Aragon, stretching from those first heady days when she arrived in England as the bride-to-be of Arthur, first-born son of King Henry VII, to her last painful and ignominious hours she spent as the discarded, yet defiant, wife of King Henry VIII.
I must say, the book started off rather slow for me: once the drama of Katherine's marriage to Arthur had passed and she and Henry were married, most of the time was spent wrapped up in Katherine's wedded bliss, which seemed a bit too . . . blissful for a woman, especially a high-ranking woman, of this period. For instance, the first time Henry is unfaithful, Katherine is shocked and hurt by his behavior. Really? Should she be? After all, it's not like love or even affection between royal spouses was the norm, despite the appearance Henry gave of being as in love with Katherine as she was with him. Aristocratic and royal marriages were made for alliances, for power, not for love; adultery, on the man's part, was the accepted norm. So it seemed strange for Katherine, the daughter of Isabella of Aragon, to exist in a cloud of naivety and meekness. But then things start to pick up once the King's Secret Matter, which soon becomes the King's Great Matter, gets exposed and the hurly-burly with Anne Boleyn begins. Then we see the fire of Katherine of Aragon spark to life as she fights for her husband, her marriage, her title, her daughter, and her entire life and future.
This is not an unbiased book, nor should it be. This is a highly personal tale, told completely from one woman's perspective. Such a singular perspective doesn't allow for an unbiased telling. We see the events of this well-known historical period through a single set of eyes, augmented by the opinions of those in her household who are loyal to her, those who fight for her rights against those of Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn will get her say in the next book; in this book, she is only the “night crow” or “that woman” or "the Lady." And that's fine. This is not a history book or even a biography. This is historical fiction. Get interested in the history behind the story, but don't get your history from the story, even though this particular story is being told by an historian.
And a good one. Alison Weir thoroughly immerses us in the world of Katherine, her household, her retinues and routines, her high and low fortunes. We are with her every step of the way as she lives through the disappointment of her marriage to Arthur, as she floats through the glorious first years of her marriage to Henry, as she slowly becomes beaten down, small defeat by large, when Henry finds Anne, leaves Katherine, and splits Christendom in two in his quest to satisfy his desire to have a male heir. By the end of the book, it's quite easy for the reader to loathe both Henry and Anne as Katherine suffers repeated bouts of ill health, living in constant fear from the specter of poisoning hanging over both her and her daughter, Mary's, heads. Each illness of Mary's fills the reader with the same pangs of terror as it does Katherine, despite knowing that Mary survives these years of hell, years which imprint on her character indelibly.
However, because we are getting a story from Katherine's perspective, that also means we're getting a Tudor-washed, Ferdinand-washed tale as well, as is to be expected. So, in order for the Tudors to be winners, Richard III has to be the villain. In order for Ferdinand to be ruler of Spain, Juana has to be mad. It's a bit hard to swallow at first, but I had to keep telling myself, history is written by the victors. Henry VII and Ferdinand were the victors; Richard III and Juana were not. Alison Weir does a good job of explaining the choices she made as a writer in her Author's Note, explaining she changed relatively little in attempting to evoke the sights, smells, and textures of a lost age. She also explains how writing the book from Katherine's perspective granted her a different, more intimate psychological perspective on this amazingly scrupulous, lionhearted, and resolute woman, which in turn allows us to better understand why Katherine wouldn't have knuckled under and given in to Henry's demands, for though the idea of Katherine retiring to a convent and becoming his "sister" might seem reasonable to us now, to Katherine, they were utterly repugnant.
Of course, probably the most famous incident in Katherine's life was her first marriage to Arthur and whether or not it was consummated. For what it's worth, I have always been of the opinion that it hadn't been, that Arthur had been too sickly and all his hearty exclamations of “My throat is parched for I have been this night in the midst of Spain!” were just ego-boosting boasts from a young boy who wished to appear masculine in the eyes of his court. While I have no doubt Katherine would've done everything in her power to protect herself and her daughter, her faith was too strong to allow her to lie about something as crucial as consummation.
December 16, 2017
The tragic story of Henry VIII’s first queen, a true royal, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. Alison Weir’s research is always outstanding, and her affection and compassion for this woman caught between her love for Spain and England, between her love and devotion to God and her husband, and between her love for her husband and her one living child, Mary, is a beautifully told story. I found myself once again deeply immersed in the complex and endlessly fascinating world of the Tudors. Masterfully written, very highly recommended.
June 28, 2023
Terrific read! I’ve always been interested in the Tudor’s but I now see Katherine of Aragon in a completely different light. This woman fought hard for her marriage and Henry, the pompous ass, just kept trying to break her. She fought against his demands till her last breath and that’s just admirable of the first queen of Henry VIII. Anne, you hoe biscuit, even though you went out of your way to make sure this woman and her child suffered, this was a bittersweet moment because without you, Elizabeth I would never have been born.
I enjoyed this book so much that I highly recommend it!! I did tear up at the end even though I knew her fate, it still punches you heart.
I enjoyed this book so much that I highly recommend it!! I did tear up at the end even though I knew her fate, it still punches you heart.
February 6, 2017
That was all the phenomenal; and more.
Haunting, moving and fascinating, Alison Weir takes us through the life of Catalina of Aragon, or Katherine as she becomes in England. At age 16 she is betrothed to the young Prince Arthur, who of course tragically dies of illness a short time after they wed.
Eventually, Katherine marries his brother, Henry; and it's here where things take a tragic turn, and this Queen's downfall slowly ends. For Katherine could not bear Henry a live son, which leads him to think their marriage was never blessed by God (seriously dude?!).
Alison Weir has longtime been a favourite of mine; she can do no wrong, I feel. This book is no exception. At 597 pages long (though it passes 600 what with the dramatis personae, how cool! And the bibliography) this book was never not once boring. I devoured it, because even though I'm very familiar with the life of Queen Katherine, I had not read a lot about her in fiction. It was a treasure to read something so extensively researched, and I felt like I was right there with Katherine as she became made her voyage to England and mourned her homesickness to her beloved Spain; to when she became Queen, to when she was exiled. I felt like I went through the same emotions as her, too; sheer joy to utter heartbreak.
Weir captures the characters perfectly. I mean, I know it's fiction but I felt like it was all real life! She did stick exceptionally close to Katherine's life, as the records state it, and she just got the character of Henry VIII down pat. I was shocked and disgraced with his behaviour in the book. He was a pure maniac, a beastly tyrant.
What's more is this is the first book in a series of six! One book a year, for each wife! I cannot wait for the second instalment, about my favourite, Anne Boleyn!
Haunting, moving and fascinating, Alison Weir takes us through the life of Catalina of Aragon, or Katherine as she becomes in England. At age 16 she is betrothed to the young Prince Arthur, who of course tragically dies of illness a short time after they wed.
Eventually, Katherine marries his brother, Henry; and it's here where things take a tragic turn, and this Queen's downfall slowly ends. For Katherine could not bear Henry a live son, which leads him to think their marriage was never blessed by God (seriously dude?!).
Alison Weir has longtime been a favourite of mine; she can do no wrong, I feel. This book is no exception. At 597 pages long (though it passes 600 what with the dramatis personae, how cool! And the bibliography) this book was never not once boring. I devoured it, because even though I'm very familiar with the life of Queen Katherine, I had not read a lot about her in fiction. It was a treasure to read something so extensively researched, and I felt like I was right there with Katherine as she became made her voyage to England and mourned her homesickness to her beloved Spain; to when she became Queen, to when she was exiled. I felt like I went through the same emotions as her, too; sheer joy to utter heartbreak.
Weir captures the characters perfectly. I mean, I know it's fiction but I felt like it was all real life! She did stick exceptionally close to Katherine's life, as the records state it, and she just got the character of Henry VIII down pat. I was shocked and disgraced with his behaviour in the book. He was a pure maniac, a beastly tyrant.
What's more is this is the first book in a series of six! One book a year, for each wife! I cannot wait for the second instalment, about my favourite, Anne Boleyn!
June 10, 2016
I'm just really into historical fiction coupled with Henry VIII right now. Katherine of Aragon was a wonderful read. I've always had a fascination with the British monarchy, so this book only naturally entices me. I first heard of it at the beginning of May - a month before it was released, so I patiently waited for it to come out then immediately when to Barnes & Noble to purchase. I was so happy to find that I enjoyed it as much as I had hoped I would. Totally worth the newly released, hardback price tag.
Though I won't by any means act as an authority on the Tudors or Henry VIII and his wives, I will acknowledge that I've done some basic research, and I have to admit that Alison Weir knows her stuff. She's clearly a qualified historian, and it reflects in this piece of fiction. I personally enjoy when fiction based off history has some level of accuracy. (Though I also like wild fabrications as well. It is fiction after all, and I'm after a good story.)
I've watched many documentaries on this period, and it seems that Katherine of Aragon is always glossed over. It's true that a lot of the juiciness starts when Anne Boleyn comes into the picture, and her wickedness is hard to ignore. But unfortunately, it comes at the expense of Queen Katherine's story. So I was excited to read this account (although it's fiction) of Katherine's life from her perspective. It has made me really love the queen, and I'm eager to read more about Katherine, her reign, and her life having now read this book.
Brava, Alison Weir!
Though I won't by any means act as an authority on the Tudors or Henry VIII and his wives, I will acknowledge that I've done some basic research, and I have to admit that Alison Weir knows her stuff. She's clearly a qualified historian, and it reflects in this piece of fiction. I personally enjoy when fiction based off history has some level of accuracy. (Though I also like wild fabrications as well. It is fiction after all, and I'm after a good story.)
I've watched many documentaries on this period, and it seems that Katherine of Aragon is always glossed over. It's true that a lot of the juiciness starts when Anne Boleyn comes into the picture, and her wickedness is hard to ignore. But unfortunately, it comes at the expense of Queen Katherine's story. So I was excited to read this account (although it's fiction) of Katherine's life from her perspective. It has made me really love the queen, and I'm eager to read more about Katherine, her reign, and her life having now read this book.
Brava, Alison Weir!
May 20, 2016
Rating this book is difficult because it was very much a rollercoaster ride. The highlight of the book was the part where Henry had become infatuated with Anne and wanted to put Katherine aside, only for Katherine to dig her heels in. Yes, this was far from perfect and I did have issues with the characterisation of Katherine the most, but it was the most interesting to read.
Most of the book felt rather dry and lacked the oomph I had seen in the previous fictional books by Weir. I do understand that this is fiction but I was really looking forward to reading this.
Having read The Constant Princess a few years ago, I couldn't help but draw comparisons and although this book was better in some aspects, it lacked that something that made me really like, respect, sympathise and root for Katherine that I did in The Constant Princess.
With the next book being about Anne Boleyn, I'm interested to see how Weir tackles one of the most infamous of Henry's Wives
Most of the book felt rather dry and lacked the oomph I had seen in the previous fictional books by Weir. I do understand that this is fiction but I was really looking forward to reading this.
Having read The Constant Princess a few years ago, I couldn't help but draw comparisons and although this book was better in some aspects, it lacked that something that made me really like, respect, sympathise and root for Katherine that I did in The Constant Princess.
With the next book being about Anne Boleyn, I'm interested to see how Weir tackles one of the most infamous of Henry's Wives
June 10, 2020
2.5 stars.
I love Tudor history. I love Alison Weir, but this one wasn’t for my favorite by her.
I felt it didn’t have any depth. Some of the major parts of Katherine’s life were glossed over. It did pick up when Anne Boleyn entered the picture. I will still read the rest of the series.
I love Tudor history. I love Alison Weir, but this one wasn’t for my favorite by her.
I felt it didn’t have any depth. Some of the major parts of Katherine’s life were glossed over. It did pick up when Anne Boleyn entered the picture. I will still read the rest of the series.
September 6, 2020
„Katherine of Aragon - The True Queen“ ist der erste Band aus Alison Weirs „Six Tudor Queens“-Reihe, in der es um die sechs Ehefrauen Heinrichs VIII geht. Katherine of Aragon erzählt ihre Geschichte von der Ankunft in England 1501 bis zu ihrem Tod 1536. Erschienen ist der Roman im Januar 2017 bei Headline.
England, 1501: Schon mit 4 Jahren wurde sie mit Arthur Tudor verlobt und im September 1501 reist Katherine von Aragon nun von Spanien zu ihrer Hochzeit nach England. Ihre erste Ehe soll nur von kurzer Dauer sein und einige Jahre später wird sie dann die erste Ehefrau Heinrich VIII. Jener Monarch, der für seine sechs Ehefrauen und den Merkspruch „Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived“ berühmt ist. Wie war Heinrich VIII in seinen jungen Jahren? Wie war es seine Ehefrau zu sein? Und was hat die ausbleibende Geburt eines Thronfolgers mit dem Ehepaar gemacht? Das alles erfährt man in diesem ersten Band der „Six Tudor Queens“-Reihe.
Heinrich VIII und seine sechs Ehefrauen sind immer ein interessantes Thema für einen historischen Roman. Alison Weir hat hieraus eine sechsteilige Reihe gemacht, in der die Ehefrauen von ihrem Leben an der Seite dieses berühmten Monarchen erzählen. Den Anfang macht Katherine von Aragon und ich habe ihre Sicht der Dinge äußerst gerne gelesen.
Der Schreibstil Alison Weirs ist angenehm zu lesen und ich war schnell in der Geschichte drin. Ich habe diesen Roman im englischen Original gelesen. Den verwendeten Wortschatz empfand ich als gut verständlich, wenn auch schwieriger als bei Ken Follett. Es wurden hier mehr altmodische Begriffe verwendet und ich konnte mit Hilfe der Wörterbuchfunktion meinen Wortschatz erweitern.
Das Buch ist komplett aus Katherine von Aragons Sicht geschrieben. Dies gewährt uns einen tiefen Einblick in ihrer Gedankenwelt, gleichzeitig erfährt man von wichtigen historischen Ereignissen manchmal erst im Nachhinein. Mir hat es gut gefallen, so tief in diese Person einzutauchen und ich bin sehr beeindruckt von ihrem Leben und was sie alles ertragen musste. Ich war erstaunt wie lange sich manche Vorgänge hingezogen haben und wie standhaft sie zu ihren Überzeugungen stand. Dies führte allerdings zu einigen Wiederholungen, die manchmal auch ein bisschen ermüdend wirkten.
Der Blick auf Heinrich VIII ist geprägt von ihrer Liebe zu ihm. Ich fand es spannend sein Leben aus ihrer Sicht mitzuverfolgen. Heinrich VIII hat als vielversprechender König angefangen und ich kann verstehen, dass sie sich in ihn verliebt hat. Als er den Thron besteigt ist er jung, stattlich, charismatisch und gebildet und man kann fast nichts anderes glauben, als das diesem jungen Mann eine glorreiche Zukunft bevorsteht. Als sich kein männlicher Thronfolger einstellt und Heinrich sich langsam verändert, habe ich mit Katherine mitgelitten und ich habe sie bewundert für das was sie alles bereit war zu ertragen, sei es für sich oder um die Zukunft ihrer Tochter Mary zu sichern.
Alison Weir ist ein sehr guter historischer Roman gelungen, der dabei auch noch ohne fiktiven Rahmenplot auskommt und fast ausschließlich historisch verbürgte Person als handelnde Personen hat. Das ist etwas was mich wohl immer wieder sehr beeindrucken wird, spricht es für mich für eine äußerst gute und genaue Recherche. Wir wissen heutzutage natürlich nicht genau wie eine Person mit all ihren Charakterzügen war, ich finde dennoch der Autorin ist hier ein authentisches Bild von Katherine von Aragon gelungen und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass sie so ähnlich war.
Als Zusatzmaterial gibt es einen Stammbaum, eine Zeittafel, ein Personenverzeichnis, ein kurzes Nachwort, das Fiktion von Wahrheit trennt und Reading Group Questions. Letzteres habe ich bisher, glaube ich, nur in englischen Büchern gesehen und ich muss sagen, dass mir das sehr gut gefällt. Man kann das Buch nochmal Revue passieren lassen und reflektieren und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass es in einem Lesezirkel für lebhafte Diskussionen sorgt. Sowas würde ich mir tatsächlich auch in deutschen Ausgaben wünschen.
Fazit: Ein sehr gelungener erster Teil einer historischen Reihe über die sechs Ehefrauen Heinrichs VIII. Mir hat die Sichtweise Katherine of Aragons sehr gut gefallen und ich bin gerne in ihrem Leben abgetaucht. Ein historischer Roman, der sehr gut recherchiert ist und ohne fiktiven Plot auskommt. Von mir gibt es eine große Leseempfehlung an alle Liebhaber historischer Romane und ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf die weiteren Teile dieser Reihe.
England, 1501: Schon mit 4 Jahren wurde sie mit Arthur Tudor verlobt und im September 1501 reist Katherine von Aragon nun von Spanien zu ihrer Hochzeit nach England. Ihre erste Ehe soll nur von kurzer Dauer sein und einige Jahre später wird sie dann die erste Ehefrau Heinrich VIII. Jener Monarch, der für seine sechs Ehefrauen und den Merkspruch „Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived“ berühmt ist. Wie war Heinrich VIII in seinen jungen Jahren? Wie war es seine Ehefrau zu sein? Und was hat die ausbleibende Geburt eines Thronfolgers mit dem Ehepaar gemacht? Das alles erfährt man in diesem ersten Band der „Six Tudor Queens“-Reihe.
Heinrich VIII und seine sechs Ehefrauen sind immer ein interessantes Thema für einen historischen Roman. Alison Weir hat hieraus eine sechsteilige Reihe gemacht, in der die Ehefrauen von ihrem Leben an der Seite dieses berühmten Monarchen erzählen. Den Anfang macht Katherine von Aragon und ich habe ihre Sicht der Dinge äußerst gerne gelesen.
Der Schreibstil Alison Weirs ist angenehm zu lesen und ich war schnell in der Geschichte drin. Ich habe diesen Roman im englischen Original gelesen. Den verwendeten Wortschatz empfand ich als gut verständlich, wenn auch schwieriger als bei Ken Follett. Es wurden hier mehr altmodische Begriffe verwendet und ich konnte mit Hilfe der Wörterbuchfunktion meinen Wortschatz erweitern.
Das Buch ist komplett aus Katherine von Aragons Sicht geschrieben. Dies gewährt uns einen tiefen Einblick in ihrer Gedankenwelt, gleichzeitig erfährt man von wichtigen historischen Ereignissen manchmal erst im Nachhinein. Mir hat es gut gefallen, so tief in diese Person einzutauchen und ich bin sehr beeindruckt von ihrem Leben und was sie alles ertragen musste. Ich war erstaunt wie lange sich manche Vorgänge hingezogen haben und wie standhaft sie zu ihren Überzeugungen stand. Dies führte allerdings zu einigen Wiederholungen, die manchmal auch ein bisschen ermüdend wirkten.
Der Blick auf Heinrich VIII ist geprägt von ihrer Liebe zu ihm. Ich fand es spannend sein Leben aus ihrer Sicht mitzuverfolgen. Heinrich VIII hat als vielversprechender König angefangen und ich kann verstehen, dass sie sich in ihn verliebt hat. Als er den Thron besteigt ist er jung, stattlich, charismatisch und gebildet und man kann fast nichts anderes glauben, als das diesem jungen Mann eine glorreiche Zukunft bevorsteht. Als sich kein männlicher Thronfolger einstellt und Heinrich sich langsam verändert, habe ich mit Katherine mitgelitten und ich habe sie bewundert für das was sie alles bereit war zu ertragen, sei es für sich oder um die Zukunft ihrer Tochter Mary zu sichern.
Alison Weir ist ein sehr guter historischer Roman gelungen, der dabei auch noch ohne fiktiven Rahmenplot auskommt und fast ausschließlich historisch verbürgte Person als handelnde Personen hat. Das ist etwas was mich wohl immer wieder sehr beeindrucken wird, spricht es für mich für eine äußerst gute und genaue Recherche. Wir wissen heutzutage natürlich nicht genau wie eine Person mit all ihren Charakterzügen war, ich finde dennoch der Autorin ist hier ein authentisches Bild von Katherine von Aragon gelungen und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass sie so ähnlich war.
Als Zusatzmaterial gibt es einen Stammbaum, eine Zeittafel, ein Personenverzeichnis, ein kurzes Nachwort, das Fiktion von Wahrheit trennt und Reading Group Questions. Letzteres habe ich bisher, glaube ich, nur in englischen Büchern gesehen und ich muss sagen, dass mir das sehr gut gefällt. Man kann das Buch nochmal Revue passieren lassen und reflektieren und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass es in einem Lesezirkel für lebhafte Diskussionen sorgt. Sowas würde ich mir tatsächlich auch in deutschen Ausgaben wünschen.
Fazit: Ein sehr gelungener erster Teil einer historischen Reihe über die sechs Ehefrauen Heinrichs VIII. Mir hat die Sichtweise Katherine of Aragons sehr gut gefallen und ich bin gerne in ihrem Leben abgetaucht. Ein historischer Roman, der sehr gut recherchiert ist und ohne fiktiven Plot auskommt. Von mir gibt es eine große Leseempfehlung an alle Liebhaber historischer Romane und ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf die weiteren Teile dieser Reihe.
February 24, 2017
Αυτό το βιβλίο κανονικά ήταν να το πιάσω λίγο αργότερα, το έπιασα, όμως, τώρα καθώς διαβάζοντας το αντίστοιχο βιβλίο της Philippa Gregory για την Αικατερίνη της Αραγωνίας, το The Constant Princess, δεν έμεινα εντελώς ικανοποιημένος οπότε ήθελα να διαβάσω κάτι καλύτερο για το θέμα. Τελικά αυτό το βιβλίο μου προσέφερε αυτό ακριβώς.
Τι ακριβώς έχει παραπάνω; Κατ' αρχάς μένει περισσότερο προσκολλημένο στην ιστορία, μεταφέροντας μας την με κάθε λεπτομέρεια. Κάθε τι που μεταφέρεται μέσα στις σελίδες του είναι βασισμένο στην πραγματική ιστορία, χωρίς η συγγραφέας να αλλάζει τίποτα ουσιαστικό χωρίς να υπάρχουν ιστορικές ανακρίβειες (τουλάχιστον όχι κάποιες που μπόρεσα να εντοπίσω). Από την άλλη, βέβαια, μπορώ να πω ότι είναι λίγο υπερβολική σε αυτό το πράγμα. Διαβάζω παράλληλα το μη-μυθιστορηματικό της βιβλίο για τις γυναίκες του Ερρίκου του 8ου, το The Six Wives of Henry VIII, και το μέρος που αναφέρει την Αικατερίνη είναι τρομερά όμοιο με αυτό εδώ το βιβλίο. Δηλαδή αυτό που κάνει η συγγραφέας ουσιαστικά είναι να παίρνει την πραγματική ιστορία όπως η ίδια την έχει αφηγηθεί και να προσθέτει κάποια πράγματα για να τη μετατρέψει σε μυθιστόρημα. Φυσικά αυτό δεν με χαλάει και ιδιαίτερα καθώς σε αυτό το είδος αναζητώ πάνω από όλα την ιστορία, το πρόβλημά μου είναι ότι γίνεται σε κάποια σημεία κουραστικό και προσδίδει μία ψυχρότητα. Αυτή η προσοχή στη λεπτομέρεια και η επιμονή της πάντως μας προσφέρει και κάτι ακόμα θετικό. Μας κάνει να αντιληφθούμε όλο το μέγεθος αυτής της ιστορίας, καθώς φυσικά δεν μιλάμε απλά για την ιστορία ενός γάμου και του χωρισμού που ακολούθησε αλλά για κάτι που ήταν άμεση απόρροια των πολιτικών συσχετισμών στην Ευρώπη της εποχής και κάτι που επηρέασε σε μεγάλο βαθμό τη μετέπειτα εξέλιξη της ιστορίας. Όλο αυτό μας μεταφέρει η συγγραφέας με τον καλύτερο δυνατό τρόπο.
Πέρα από το ιστορικό της υπόθεσης όμως συγγραφέας τα καταφέρνει καλά και στο επόμενο σκέλος της δημιουργίας ενός ποιοτικού ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος: καταφέρνει να μας κάνει να εμπλακούμε συναισθηματικά με τους ήρωες της ιστορίας. Αν και δεν είναι αυτός ο τομέας της ο τρόπος που γράφει καταφέρνει να μεταφέρει σκέψεις και συναισθήματα χωρίς να φτάνει στην υπερβολή. Μέσα από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου ο αναγνώστης φτάνει σε σημείο να συμπάσχει με την Αικατερίνη και να θυμώνει με την αδικία που υφίσταται από το σύζυγό της, ο οποίος για να πετύχει τους σκοπούς του δεν διστάζει να γίνει απλά ένας τύραννος. Παράλληλα γινόμαστε μάρτυρες των ηθών και των πεποιθήσεων της εποχής και της επιρροής που είχαν στους ανθρώπους κάθε κοινωνικής θέσης. Το ωραίο, μάλιστα, είναι ότι δεν προσπαθεί να ωραιοποιήσει τις καταστάσεις και μεταφέρει την πραγματικότητα, ειδικά αυτή που ζούσαν οι γυναίκες.
Οπότε το συμπέρασμα που βγάζω είναι αν και σε κάποιες στιγμές το βιβλίο μοιάζει κάπως υπερφορτωμένο και ο τρόπος γραφής κάπως ξερός, η προσήλωση στην ιστορική ακρίβεια και ο μετριμένος συναισθηματισμός εκεί που πρέπει το κάνει να είναι κάτι σημαντικό που αξίζει να διαβαστεί.
Τι ακριβώς έχει παραπάνω; Κατ' αρχάς μένει περισσότερο προσκολλημένο στην ιστορία, μεταφέροντας μας την με κάθε λεπτομέρεια. Κάθε τι που μεταφέρεται μέσα στις σελίδες του είναι βασισμένο στην πραγματική ιστορία, χωρίς η συγγραφέας να αλλάζει τίποτα ουσιαστικό χωρίς να υπάρχουν ιστορικές ανακρίβειες (τουλάχιστον όχι κάποιες που μπόρεσα να εντοπίσω). Από την άλλη, βέβαια, μπορώ να πω ότι είναι λίγο υπερβολική σε αυτό το πράγμα. Διαβάζω παράλληλα το μη-μυθιστορηματικό της βιβλίο για τις γυναίκες του Ερρίκου του 8ου, το The Six Wives of Henry VIII, και το μέρος που αναφέρει την Αικατερίνη είναι τρομερά όμοιο με αυτό εδώ το βιβλίο. Δηλαδή αυτό που κάνει η συγγραφέας ουσιαστικά είναι να παίρνει την πραγματική ιστορία όπως η ίδια την έχει αφηγηθεί και να προσθέτει κάποια πράγματα για να τη μετατρέψει σε μυθιστόρημα. Φυσικά αυτό δεν με χαλάει και ιδιαίτερα καθώς σε αυτό το είδος αναζητώ πάνω από όλα την ιστορία, το πρόβλημά μου είναι ότι γίνεται σε κάποια σημεία κουραστικό και προσδίδει μία ψυχρότητα. Αυτή η προσοχή στη λεπτομέρεια και η επιμονή της πάντως μας προσφέρει και κάτι ακόμα θετικό. Μας κάνει να αντιληφθούμε όλο το μέγεθος αυτής της ιστορίας, καθώς φυσικά δεν μιλάμε απλά για την ιστορία ενός γάμου και του χωρισμού που ακολούθησε αλλά για κάτι που ήταν άμεση απόρροια των πολιτικών συσχετισμών στην Ευρώπη της εποχής και κάτι που επηρέασε σε μεγάλο βαθμό τη μετέπειτα εξέλιξη της ιστορίας. Όλο αυτό μας μεταφέρει η συγγραφέας με τον καλύτερο δυνατό τρόπο.
Πέρα από το ιστορικό της υπόθεσης όμως συγγραφέας τα καταφέρνει καλά και στο επόμενο σκέλος της δημιουργίας ενός ποιοτικού ιστορικού μυθιστορήματος: καταφέρνει να μας κάνει να εμπλακούμε συναισθηματικά με τους ήρωες της ιστορίας. Αν και δεν είναι αυτός ο τομέας της ο τρόπος που γράφει καταφέρνει να μεταφέρει σκέψεις και συναισθήματα χωρίς να φτάνει στην υπερβολή. Μέσα από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου ο αναγνώστης φτάνει σε σημείο να συμπάσχει με την Αικατερίνη και να θυμώνει με την αδικία που υφίσταται από το σύζυγό της, ο οποίος για να πετύχει τους σκοπούς του δεν διστάζει να γίνει απλά ένας τύραννος. Παράλληλα γινόμαστε μάρτυρες των ηθών και των πεποιθήσεων της εποχής και της επιρροής που είχαν στους ανθρώπους κάθε κοινωνικής θέσης. Το ωραίο, μάλιστα, είναι ότι δεν προσπαθεί να ωραιοποιήσει τις καταστάσεις και μεταφέρει την πραγματικότητα, ειδικά αυτή που ζούσαν οι γυναίκες.
Οπότε το συμπέρασμα που βγάζω είναι αν και σε κάποιες στιγμές το βιβλίο μοιάζει κάπως υπερφορτωμένο και ο τρόπος γραφής κάπως ξερός, η προσήλωση στην ιστορική ακρίβεια και ο μετριμένος συναισθηματισμός εκεί που πρέπει το κάνει να είναι κάτι σημαντικό που αξίζει να διαβαστεί.
February 6, 2016
Weir again goes from traditionalist historian to historical novelist, but she can't seem to leave the historian bit behind. Much as I dislike wholesale abandonment of historical accuracy and the flagrant sensationalism of Phillipa Gregory and her Ilk, I really found this book over long and tedious - I could quite cheerfully have done some poisoning myself just to get the book over and done with! It feels like Weir has looked up every single historical quote she could find from people in the period and tried to squeeze them into the book. I had read biographies of the period that are more enlightening that this and do more to bring the people and period to life.
During the third quarter of the book, we get a lot of Henry coming in to visit Katherine, giving us a bit of plot exposition and then having a strop and stomping out like a child having a tantrum. After about the tenth occurrence this gets rather tedious and doesn't feel altogether likely.
I was slightly weirded by the implication that Katherine on arrival quite fancied the ten year old Henry and the bit in the Tower with the 'ghost lady' and the shivers down the spine in Peterborough cathedral seemed out of place and both only really play off if you have a knowledge of the period already, in which case you really don't need to be reading this.
Finally, for all the historical stuff Weir has stuffed in there, she really does need to pay better attention to her geography. I know Ampthill isn't that far from Dunstable, but I think I little effort would inform her that it's more like 14 miles and not the 4 she has in the book!
While the writing isn't awful, it's just not engaging and the book is far too long and becomes tedious. Does Weir really believe that Katherine believed that, after everything that he had done, Henry would meekly accept the Pope's vastly overdue ruling, put Anne and Elizabeth and the change of a male heir aside along with his leadership of the Church of England? hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I find it hard to beleive that Katherine was as stupid and naive as she comes across here. She says she still loves Henry and wouldn't do anything against him, yet writes to the Pope and the Emperor with a clear intention of inciting war! I think Weir means to make her sympathetic, but I just found her exasperating. I would recommend some good non-fiction book on the period ahead of this.
During the third quarter of the book, we get a lot of Henry coming in to visit Katherine, giving us a bit of plot exposition and then having a strop and stomping out like a child having a tantrum. After about the tenth occurrence this gets rather tedious and doesn't feel altogether likely.
I was slightly weirded by the implication that Katherine on arrival quite fancied the ten year old Henry and the bit in the Tower with the 'ghost lady' and the shivers down the spine in Peterborough cathedral seemed out of place and both only really play off if you have a knowledge of the period already, in which case you really don't need to be reading this.
Finally, for all the historical stuff Weir has stuffed in there, she really does need to pay better attention to her geography. I know Ampthill isn't that far from Dunstable, but I think I little effort would inform her that it's more like 14 miles and not the 4 she has in the book!
While the writing isn't awful, it's just not engaging and the book is far too long and becomes tedious. Does Weir really believe that Katherine believed that, after everything that he had done, Henry would meekly accept the Pope's vastly overdue ruling, put Anne and Elizabeth and the change of a male heir aside along with his leadership of the Church of England? hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I find it hard to beleive that Katherine was as stupid and naive as she comes across here. She says she still loves Henry and wouldn't do anything against him, yet writes to the Pope and the Emperor with a clear intention of inciting war! I think Weir means to make her sympathetic, but I just found her exasperating. I would recommend some good non-fiction book on the period ahead of this.
July 19, 2021
Nel 1501, Caterina, figlia di Ferdinando e Isabella di Castiglia, arriva in Inghilterra come promessa sposa di Arturo, principe erede al trono. Quando lo vede si accorge di chi sia il suo promesso sposo: gracile, smunto e bianchissimo. Arturo e fratello minore del principe Enrico, robusto e affascinante. Otto anni dopo, quando Enrico sarà incoronato re come Enrico VIII, Caterina lo sposerà e regnerà con lui per sedici anni, fino all'arrivo della intrigante e ammaliante Anna Bolena. Per sposare Anna, il re imprigionerà Caterina nel castello di Kimbolton, togliendole ogni privilegio, anche se lei non rinuncerà mai a farsi chiamare Regina.
In ogni libro letto per questo gdl l'autrice sembra superare se stessa ogni volta. Non è facile parlare dei Tudor suscitando l'attenzione del lettore: in un modo o nell'altro si sanno già tante cose e si rischia di annoiare il lettore. Non è il caso della Weir. Con una scrittura piena di dialoghi e molte descrizioni, l'autrice ci porta alla corte d'Inghilterra, descrivendo arazzi, tappeti, vestiti e pietanze in modo encomiabile. Da queste pagine Caterina risulta una donna presa in giro, amata e poi ripudiata, a pezzi perché vede morire ognuno dei figli che da alla luce, ma che continuerà ad amare Enrico fino alla fine. Oltre 600 pagine che si leggono in un soffio, senza mai sentire la noia o la voglia di chiudere e passare a qualcos'altro. Con uno stile che affascina il lettore, questo romanzo storico vi porterà a conoscere nuovi aspetti della dinastia Tudor ed altri conosciuti ma descritti magistralmente.
Non smetterò mai di dirlo ma leggete i libri della Weir e non ve ne pentirete!
In ogni libro letto per questo gdl l'autrice sembra superare se stessa ogni volta. Non è facile parlare dei Tudor suscitando l'attenzione del lettore: in un modo o nell'altro si sanno già tante cose e si rischia di annoiare il lettore. Non è il caso della Weir. Con una scrittura piena di dialoghi e molte descrizioni, l'autrice ci porta alla corte d'Inghilterra, descrivendo arazzi, tappeti, vestiti e pietanze in modo encomiabile. Da queste pagine Caterina risulta una donna presa in giro, amata e poi ripudiata, a pezzi perché vede morire ognuno dei figli che da alla luce, ma che continuerà ad amare Enrico fino alla fine. Oltre 600 pagine che si leggono in un soffio, senza mai sentire la noia o la voglia di chiudere e passare a qualcos'altro. Con uno stile che affascina il lettore, questo romanzo storico vi porterà a conoscere nuovi aspetti della dinastia Tudor ed altri conosciuti ma descritti magistralmente.
Non smetterò mai di dirlo ma leggete i libri della Weir e non ve ne pentirete!
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