Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII's True Wife

by Amy Licence

Catherine of Aragon continues to fascinate readers 500 years after she became Henry VIII's first queen. Her life was one of passion and determination, of suffering and hope, but ultimately it is a tragic love story, as circumstances conspired against her. Having lost her first husband, Henry's elder brother Prince Arthur, she endured years of ill health and penury, to make a dazzling second match in Henry VIII. There is no doubt that she was Henry's true love, compatible with him in every respect and, for years, she presided over a majestic court as the personification of his ideal woman.However, Catherine’s body failed her in an age when fertility was a prerequisite of political stability. When it became clear that she could no longer bear children, the king’s attention turned elsewhere, and his once chivalric devotion became resentment. Catherine’s final years were spent in lonely isolation but she never gave up her vision: she was devoted to her faith, her husband and to England, to the extent that she was prepared to be martyred for them. Banished and close to death, she wrote a final letter to her ‘most dear lord and husband’. ‘I pardon you everything... mine eyes desire you above all things.’ The fidelity of this remarkable woman never wavered.

Genres: History, Biography, Tudor Period, Nonfiction, Royalty, Biography Memoir, Historical

534 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2017

About the author

Medieval and Tudor historian, with a particular interest in women's lives and experiences, also dabble in Modernism. I write fiction and non-fiction, also journalism for The Guardian, BBC History website, The New Statesman, The Huffington Post, The English Review and The London Magazine. I appeared in TV documentaries "The Real White Queen and her Rivals" and "The Private Lives of the Tudors." Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[Orsolya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the fate of Catherine of Aragon: the first wife of King Henry VIII whom was put aside for his ‘concubine’, Anne Boleyn. But there is so much more to Catherine than simply being a victim. Catherine embodied the virtues of her great parents Isobel and Ferdinand and held her convictions until the end of her days. Amy Licence highlights this fighting-distinguished queen in, “Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife”.

Licence begins “Catherine of Aragon” with an attempt to solidify the foundation of Catherine’s entire being; showcasing her genealogical roots and family environment; but sadly, this is taken a bit too far. Meaning, the early chapters of “Catherine of Aragon” are a slow while telling the lives of Catherine’s grandparents and parents without the connections to Catherine and her psyche being clear. Some readers may even choose to skip ahead to more Catherine-focused passages.

This can be applied to the entirety of “Catherine of Aragon” as Licence tends to elaborate too much with an overabundance of detail about other figures and events in Catherine’s life. Credit is given to Licence for her aim to truly provide an all-inclusive and comprehensive look at Catherine and everything around her but this becomes tedious and slows the conveyance.

All that said, “Catherine of Aragon” is highly impressive with its informational spread, scholarly approach, and credible facts married with a readable tone. Licence is simply the ‘real deal’. Basically, “Catherine of Aragon” is not a ‘light’ piece so not suggested as an introduction for novice readers.

A strong feature of “Catherine of Aragon” is Licence’s occasional dapples in philosophy and debunking myths, truly attempting to explain Catherine’s actions and ways but without any biases. The pages are strewn with some speculative statements and assumptions which do induce eye rolls; but overall Licence keeps personal emotions privy and away from the text.

Although “Catherine of Aragon” is a lengthy volume, the timing is spot-on with Licence knowing the apt amount of time to spend on each topic before moving on, making for a smooth and cohesive piece.

Naturally, a large chunk of “Catherine of Aragon” is focused on Henry’s machinations to depose her in favor of Anne Boleyn. Wonderfully, Licence includes full documents and lesser-known information/facts opening up the subject in new ways and giving it a fresh perspective.

The final chapters toggle between the reformation/closing of holy houses with that of Catherine’s death. This lightens the focus on Catherine and her impact but Licence still provides valuable and insightful information. The conclusion is noticeably abrupt especially for a piece so thick in pages. Catherine isn’t necessarily memorialized as strongly as readers would hope and/or expect, resulting in a disappointing ending.

Licence includes a notes section (not annotated) and bibliography alone with a section of photo color plates.

“Catherine of Aragon” is heady, academic piece of writing that has some faults, tangents, and errors (copy/grammar errors); but is still quite a valuable source of information regarding Catherine. Those familiar to the topic will find some new information/angles making “Catherine of Aragon” a respectable recap piece but it may be a bit overwhelming for new readers on the subject. “Catherine of Aragon” is recommended for Tudor England and Catherine fans seeking a strong author.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife
By Amy Licence
Amy Licence has presented readers with a fresh perspective on the life of Catherine of Aragon, not just as the first wife of Henry VIII, but that of Europe’s first humanist Queen. This is the life of Catherine, daughter of Spain.
“They named her Catalina” Catherine was the child of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon; her childhood was like no other Princess England had ever seen. Her mother’s role in her life was paramount. Isabella established a school of classics for young nobles to educate them including; Spanish and Italian humanists, mathematicians, linguists, historians. This education included; grammar, logic, natural and moral philosophy, metaphysis, both canon and civil law. In addition to all the normal graces and charms a lady of noble birth is expected to learn, her mother made sure Catalina had the education of the finest scholars as befitting her daughter.
Amy Licence presents a gateway few authors have done, with extraordinary depth and research, in her eloquent style; she gives her readers the world of Catherine’s earlier years. She pulls back the curtain on the 20-year marriage of Catherine and Henry from the start. The true love they appeared to have truly shared. Henry’s trust in Catherine’s council. The sorrow of the loss of the first child and grief at the others that followed. She tells the story of Catherine that is so often forgotten. This book is a brilliant addition for anyone that is interested in the real story of a Queen that history has so easily glossed over.

Of all of Henry’s wives it is Katherine that won the heart of the people of England. From the day of her Coronation; were a ring was placed on her right hand to mirror her wedding ring on her left, she married England. She was their true Queen, Anne stood no chance of replacing her in their eyes. Her grace and bearing, her intellect, her education growing up at her mother’s side prepared her for the life she was destined to live.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine of Aragon has been brought to the spotlight thanks to historians and biographers like any Licence who shine a light on thos (once) celebrated figure.
She exposes a woman of much intelligence and spiritual fortitude who was motivated by a strong sense of destiny and moral rectitude. As a result, it is unsurprising that she became a caricature: the old, plump, fanatic wife who didn't want to let Henry go to marry his "true love", Anne Boleyn. But as this biography reminds us, the past is an alien world with a similar yet different morality and societal views than the ones we currently hold.
Dissecting the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century and dispelling common myths about Henry VIII's first wife and the youngest daughter of the legendary Catholic Kings, this biography succeeds in fleshing out Catherine's story.
A flawed woman yet valiant in the face of adversity, Catherine was a queen like no other. The first female royal ambassador who laid the foundations for the first Queen Regnants of England (of which her daughter became the first) through her Regency. Though she didn't participate in the fight, she was ready to intervene with an army should Surrey and the others leading their forces against King James IV of Scots fail. This was a woman who was aware of her status and the different standards England had towards women than in her native Castile and Aragon. Yet, she she broke those gender barriers by putting on a veil of humility and devotion evoked by her motto: Humble & Loyal.
As a Queen, even when she started to lose influence, she pushed for more female education and encouraged the new intellectual wave of Humanism in and outside of her circle.
The question regarding the possible or improbable consummation with her first husband (Prince Arthur of Wales) is also addressed. But it is done in the proper context by informing us what consummation meant and how (even if the act took place) it could be argued that it didn't through simple technicalities or individuals views on the matter.

With Catherine finally taking the much deserved spotlight, it is important that history buffs and newcomers inform themselves before casting any judgment or reaching any conclusions.

This meticulous and well researched biography isn't just an important piece for the academic record, it is also an invaluable addition to women's studies and women's history.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Catherine of Aragon was a complex, passionate, unbreakable woman whose life spanned the key years of the late Renaissance
and the Protestant Reformation." - Amy Licence, Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII's True Wife, p.3.

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Catherine of Aragon is a well-known historical character. There is a huge amount of documents chronicling her life, and a lot of biographies trying to shed more light on her personality, queenship and relationships. Amy Licence is a skilled writer with a keen eye on seemingly unimportant little details. She has a unique ability to ferret out what's important and what 's not. Catherine of Aragon leaps from the pages with a voice of her own - you can 'see' her as queen, wife and mother. Licence takes us on a journey through Catherine's private and public life, showing us the woman who was passionate, courageous and determined.

I highly recommend this book if you're interested in the Tudor period.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative and enjoyable read!
Having read this fab biography of Catherine of Aragon by Amy Licence, I discovered that Catherine of Aragon not only passed through my home town of Andover on her way to London to meet Prince Arthur for the first time, but she also spent the night of the 3rd November 1501 at the Angel Inn in Andover High Street, and the Angel Inn Pub still exists today!!! I never knew that!

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. So, so good. I don't even now if I can write a proper review, because I took almost no notes while reading, because I COULD NOT BE BOTHERED TO PUT IT DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE NOTES. So, so good. Full review to come. I hope.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb and sympathetic look at the life of this great Queen. Highly recommended

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Licence has made Catherine accessible in this thoroughly researched tome by making the Queen the center for the entire text rather than Henry VIII or Anne Boleyn at the time of the King’s “Great Matter.” Obviously, Catherine’s life-story is accompanied by the many figures who traverse her life as her fortunes rise and fall.

One of the best features of this work, is the extensive coverage of Catherine’s childhood and her time with Prince Arthur. Of course, the political maneuverings of Ferdinand and Isabella with Henry VII cannot be ignored, but it was refreshing to have a biography of Catherine without those personages dominating the text. Of the seven parts the book is divided into, this second section and the first and third, interested this reviewer the most. Licence generated excellent detail of Catherine’s management of the war with Scotland and her summary of the shift in domestic and foreign policy was spot on. One concern covers the discussion of one of Catherine’s sisters. Juana’s general history is now viewed somewhat differently and a more in-depth biography would be a great addition to the parallel lives of the two sisters.

Of course, the great mystery surrounding Catherine is whether or not she and Arthur consummated their marriage. Licence provides a plausible option, combining a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ in writing for the first time which many students of the era may have suspected but have not put to voice: it could have been a first attempt by adolescents quite frankly unsure of what actually happened or what was expected to happen. That five hundred years later historians would still be debating this issue underlies its historic importance.

Licence’s chapter, “A Queen’s Identify 1521-1525” was refreshing. Usually biographies at this point in her life shift focus to Mary and Anne Boleyn (actually the diminished focus on Anne throughout the entire text is commendable) and their relationships with Henry. Later in the next section, in its first chapter, the comparison between Catherine and Henry is thought-provoking especially the similarities shown in their childhoods being the second generation of monarchs who reached their thrones a bit dubiously with all the uncertainties that entails.

As for the “Great Matter,” can anyone imagine the reaction a pious, let alone a very devout Catholic of the early 1500s, felt when her husband, the man she held in great affection, who was also her king, denounced the Pope and declared himself the head of the Church. Catherine’s genuine fear of Henry’s mortal soul has been well proven. The King’s salvation was more important to her than her status as Queen. Of course, she would fight to prevent losing both --at great peril to herself. It is always difficult to read of the changes in Catherine’s household and dignity of status, let alone her safety and health, as her circumstances diminished, all because of Henry’s vindictive (and perhaps his wish to please Anne) frustration that he could not get his own way.

Part Six, “Things Fall Apart” demonstrates how Catherine truly held things together as she began her campaign, if you will, to secure her position and save her husband from what she felt were non-Christian influences. Politicking at its finest. Henry did not possess the finesse that Catherine did (skills honed in the days when women were not to be outward leaders but took to, decidedly, more subtle methods) nor her courage. Licence explains the many facets of the negotiations for the King’s Great Matter well without over dramatization nor dry as dust delivery (a tough balance for this long and complicated process).

Licence does clarify a point, which is not necessarily needed but that Henry VIII never divorced Catherine as the popular children’s ditty exclaims, as he professed their marriage invalid from the start. A man in a position capable of altering history based on what he convinced himself to be the truth, Henry implemented an astounding solution because, as it has been thoroughly researched, nowhere did he ever dispute Catherine’s challenge to him that he knew the truth … “when ye had me at the first, I take God to be my judge, I was a true maid without touch of man.” She left the legal and moral obligation on him, “…whether it be true or no, I put it to your conscience.”

This reviewer does not appreciate a historic text relaying a subject’s feelings and thoughts unless they have been documented. Licence avoids this on the whole, but does indulge herself in a bit of romanticizing of Catherine such as on page 94 when she was described as entering into her marriage “willingly, bravely, perhaps even excitedly and proudly, thinking of this as the culmination of her parents’ wishes, and of herself as their ambassador”. Or that her wedding pageants “are likely to have made a powerful impact on the intelligent ten-year-old Henry…” (page 98). How do we know that the ageing King Henry VII “paid little attention to the marble-lined courtyard or the heraldic beasts in the garden…” (page 185)? A step further is, one hopes, the unwitting interpretation of historical events with attempts at glamorizing the narrative. Diego de Fernandez was a trusted member of Catherine’s household. There is evidence of that but for Licence to take it a further step and say, “Perhaps he was something more” (page 177) is irresponsible. And proclaiming that Catherine, like her mother before her, “understood that when under attack, the first recourse was to dress in gold” (page 240) was just plain silly. Although it is understandable that modern biographers try to appeal to larger audiences, these types of projection are difficult to applaud.

Perhaps not to everyone’s taste (and to be honest at first it was irritating to be interrupted from the focus on Catherine for what could be described as filler) would be the descriptions of the time period, but this reviewer felt it ended up being one of the greatest strengths of the book. Everything from the ethnic composition of London, the simultaneous events of Renaissance figures in different countries such as the arts, architecture and new religious thinking and foreign powers’ political intrigues. The true flavor of the entire era in world history provided excellent context.

For further book reviews visit https://elizregina.com/

[Inês · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely thorough book about Catherine, so far as to explain who her parents were and how they came to be one of the most powerful people in Europe, and how Catherine is the product of such a couple.
It was enjoyable in getting to know Catherine, whom I essentially only knew much after Henry rejected her (after 20 years of a seemingly loving marriage), but there was also things that really bothered me:
1. The almost fear of criticising the Catholic Kings for the awful views they held. Just because it was deemed normal in their contemporary age, does not mean it should not be looked back on and criticised.
2. The lack of Catherine's voice throughout most of the book. It's always quotes from others. Only when it gets to her downfall, really, do we hear her properly.
3. And this is more of a pet peeve, but the reliance on Chapuys testemony, when it's been very clear that he dramaticized everything and wasn't that much of a reliable source, especially when it came to everything that was not in Spain's interest.

If anything this reinforced the view of Henry as a spineless little man. Before he became a wife-killer he was clearly abusive towards Catherine and Mary by isolating them and taking everything they knew from them. So much for a humanist King.

[ಥ_ಥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to a 2.5

This is a very informative book, but the writing style makes it tough to get through. There's so much information packed in, but it's presented in such a dry way that it's hard to absorb everything, especially on a library deadline. I think I'd get more out of it if I owned a copy and could read it at my own pace. Despite the dense writing, the content actually made me want to learn more about her parents.

[Gareth Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sent to me by the publisher for review.

A thorough, thought-provoking, and compulsively readable biography of Henry VIII's first queen. Fans of the Tudor era will love it. Amy Licence offers a convincing hypothesis on the contentious mystery of Catherine's first wedding night and a beautiful portrait of a tenacious, courageous, intelligent but often misguided woman. This is a gem of a royal biography from an expert in the field.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of Catalina of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, really getting into the nitty gritty details of her life, and how they were intertwined with larger political and religious issues of the day.

The opening digs into Catalina’s family tree, showing, for starters, how she was just as much an English and Portuguese princess as she was Spanish in her royal descent.

And OH the DRAMA of the family tree! Catalina’s mother, the iconic Isabella, had a life full of high drama well before Catalina was born. What’s impressive is how many smart political plays Isabella made at a young age. I also loved how License points out that a lot of the politics were based on “useful rumors,” rightly pointing out there’s no way to perform a DNA test on the woman who may or may not have been Isabella’s niece. But it sure was handy for Isabella that the one person between her and the throne was swept aside by sexual innuendo. And before that, her younger brother died of “the plague,” with reported symptoms that look remarkably like certain poisons…

Once Isabella is married and on the throne we see her ruling in her own right, independent and proud, and utterly implacable in her idea of faith, duty and rights. This would have been a powerful education for little Catalina, even before the magnificent education Isabella arranged for all her children.

Catalina and her siblings grew up surrounded by highly educated people and were given a thoroughly Renaissance education. And yet, License admits, amidst all the learning and new ideas and lively debate, Isabella was pursuing a policy of hate via the Inquisition, determined to make Spain entirely Catholic, burning down a previous Golden Age of multiculturism in the process.

Isabella also pursues politics via her children’s marriages, one by one sending them off to secure alliances via wedding rings. Catalina’s marriage to England is an intense negotiation from the very beginning, perhaps a warning bell someone should have listened to, but, once the haggling is done and the paperwork signed, Catalina is shipped off to England, and the real story begins.

There is a huge spectacle of pageants, parades, feasts, jousts and other public celebrations before and after the wedding vows are spoken, and in the middle of it all, the very public/private event of the first time Arthur and Catalina shared a bed. License has some thoughtful analysis of what might have happened, suggesting there is some grey area between did they or didn’t they, and, as always, pointing out the different political lenses the known “facts” were presented under at different points in time.

The money Catalina owes / is owed to-from Henry VII is already an issue as her wedded life starts, and then BANG Arthur has shuffled off this mortal coil, and a truly epic diplomatic standoff begins, with Catalina caught square in the middle.

Catalina is dragged through seven years of political turmoil, forced to sit and wait and wait <>and wait, with squabbling amongst family and staff both home and abroad only making things worse.

Then, Henry VII dies, his son becomes Henry VIII, and, like magic, like a true Cinderella story, everything turns around for her and she is suddenly married, queen of England, feted, celebrated, cherished and loved. In the span of weeks she goes from rags and crusts to silks and banquets.

The next few years are the pinnacle of her life – the point when she had Henry’s love and respect, when she had real government power and the love of the court, when she wins the Battle of Flodden, and, the absolute height, those 22 days when she was mother of the Prince of Wales.

Alas, it is all downhill from there.

A combination of miscarriages and Cardinal Wolsey ousts Catalina from the center of power, becoming more marginalized in her own court, and made more and more aware of her husband’s infidelity, rudely thrust in her face when he makes his illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy a duke.

Lines are already being drawn in the sand of Catalina seeing no issue with her daughter Mary becoming the queen regnant of England and Henry despite for a male heir, but then, both around the time of Catalina’s menopause and Anne Boleyn telling Henry she won’t be his mistress, Henry decides he wants to try for a son with a new wife, and the gloves come off.

This might be one of the first times we’ve really seen a historian – or historical fiction writer, for that matter – look at the Great Divorce from Catalina’s point-of-view. Most people writing about that time period tend to focus on Henry or Anne or Rome or Spain or Mary’s point of view. Here, we actually keep the lime light on Catalina the entire time, and see what she was doing – and how she was a lot less passive then most tend to think. She saw herself fighting nothing less than a crusade for all the souls of Christendom, and she wasn’t going to give an inch.

No matter the bullying, cruelty, deprivations, humiliations, and, more than anything, being placed in a limbo where she was never sure how she would be treated from day to day and the case being dragged on and on and on, with soon all of Europe hearing all the juicy details, she stood firm that she was Queen of England and Henry VIII’s wife.

There is the often reported quote that a visit from the Angel Gabriel himself would not convince Henry that he was wrong – but License shows the flipside is just as true – the Archangel Michael could have shown up to serve the divorce papers and she would have stood firm that she was in the right.

License is quick to point out that there was no way for Catalina to know the future and didn’t realize that her very obstinacy would contribute to creating the Protestant England that she feared, not to mention the number the dragged out divorce would do to Mary’s head.

Still, Catalina did what she thought was right in every sense – morally, ethically, legally – and would not back down even in the face of some truly nasty treatment at the hands of Henry and his henchmen.

Right or wrong, Catalina of Aragon truly died Catherine, Queen of England.

[Poppy Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was also forced to read this ENTIRE BOOK for my history coursework. It has taken me months but now York library can finally have it back thankfully

[Lauralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine of Aragon’s marriage to Henry VIII forever changed the course of England. She is most popularly known as King Henry’s discarded bride. Yet, this biography by Amy License shows that Catherine was much more than that. The author portrays Catherine as a Crusader queen and that she was willing to become a martyr for her faith. Thus, Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII's True Wife portrays Catherine as a woman of steadfast courage and resilient strength. She was in every sense Henry VIII’s equal.

I have read many books on Tudors, primarily of Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. In fact, it was my interest in the Tudors era that got me interested in high school. The very first book I read that got me interested in the historical fiction genre was The King’s Pleasure by Norah Lofts, a novel centered on Catherine of Aragon. When I first began reading Catherine of Aragon, I was thinking what new information can she present to me because there are many biographies out there about her. After I began reading it, I was astounded. This is the most extensive and detailed biography of Catherine of Aragon that has ever been published so far.

Even though Catherine of Aragon was queen of England, she was always a daughter of Spain. She strived to be an excellent queen like her mother Isabella of Castile. Catherine was in every way a true Renaissance queen. She pratroned humanists. She was a great strategist because not only did she win the battle against Scotland while she was regent, but she was also well-prepared in her fight of continuing to be Henry’s lawful wife.

I also like that the author took great detail in how Catherine was a maiden by the time she married Henry. While Arthur and Catherine are the only people who know if their marriage was consummated, Mrs. License gives us evidence to show that she may have been a virgin because of the eyewitnesses’ testimonies. She also gives us many reasons to show why she was Henry’s true wife. All of Europe, including the Protestant Reformation Leader, believed that she was Henry’s lawful wife and gave their reasoning. Therefore, Henry did not have much of a case when he put aside his wife of 24 years.

Overall, this biography shows why Catherine is still one of England’s most popular queens and why her story continues to fascinate us today. She was in every way Isabella’s daughter. She proved herself a great queen. I think that Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII's True Wife is the closest we can get to truly knowing her. It covers many aspects of her life. This is a must-read for any fans of the Tudors, especially those who have a special place for Catherine of Aragon in their hearts.

[Kate Parr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't come across this author before but I was very impressed with her style. It is a very pleasing combination of facts, with appropriate references, and inferences and supposition, but always giving both sides of the story, or more than one eye-witness account. Catherine's life was nothing if not tempestuous, and throughout her personality is very clear, that of a passionately devout woman who had been raised by monarchs to be a monarch, sensitive of her place in the world and what was due to her as a daughter and wife of kings. She was intelligent and had a knack for oratory in whichever language she was conversing in. The nature and consequences of her short-lived marriage to Arthur was well explored, and there's certainly no lack of detail of the life of a Tudor queen, though I admit to skimming the pages where amounts spent on clothing and furnishings were listed.

It also gave me a much better understanding of the events leading up to the break with Rome, and an appreciation for her patience, as the 'Great Matter' took 6 years to slowly grind to a conclusion, the whole time Catherine being gradually removed further and further from the throne until she died, possibly, but possibly not, by poisoning. I had a great deal of sympathy for her, and felt a small amount of triumph at Anne being arrested and beheaded not three months after Catherine's death.

I'm visiting Catherine's tomb in Peterborough Cathedral in the New Year and I feel I can go with a true understanding of the woman and her life.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading about Henry and his wives for 45 years, I don't know if that makes me better suited to have an opinion on this, or not. I didn't think there was much new here, and it showed signs of having been written and edited in haste. Her idea that maybe Catherine and Arthur thought they had consummated their marriage because they were 15 at the time and didn't know better, was an interesting thought. From other books I have read, I have the idea that the ambassador Chapuys is no longer considered to be a source of reliable truth about what was happening at the court of Henry and Anne, but he is quoted here as if he was always reporting actual events instead of gossip. And I think that is my biggest disappointment with this book. just once I would like to read a biography of Catherine that doesn't demonize Anne, and/or vice versa. Biographers of Anne have achieved this balance, now it is time to have it go the other way. I was hoping this might be it but alas, no. I wonder what her upcoming book about Anne will have to offer.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this biography. At times I'll admit I was daunted by the sheer volume of it and how much of it I already knew about. The six years of divorce proceedings are exhausting to navigate as well as how heartbreaking it is knowing how badly things turn out for her. Some of the details felt unnecessary such as allowances of those involved and some of the quotes seemed long and unwieldy. But it is obvious the great love and respect she had for Catherine which I really appreciated and not demonizing Anne Boleyn which I appreciated even more. Her disdain for Henry and his treatment of Catherine definitely came through and I feel like a more extensive "epilogue" would have been more suited but all in all a very worth while read.

[Wolfgang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle of the book suggests catholic leanings. If Catherine was Henry VIII's True Wife, then Leviticus 20:21 can only be interpreted by the pope in the catholic way, and not by everybody (the protestant way), which would include Henry. He used Leviticus 20:21 to annul his marriage with Catherine.
One could criticise the book for being partial. Of course, protestant voices are rarely to be found in its pages. But I think the voices of catholics on this subject must be heard. Not only because we are talking about a feminine, who had a strong voice and strong conviction in an age where women had to be mostly servile, but also because the birth of English protestantism was not without its faults.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

This was a fantastic study of Catherine, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am continually frustrated by the amount of attention that Anne Boleyn receives for her 3 year marriage when Catherine was married to Henry for almost 2 1/2 decades, and it is wonderful to see her given the focus that she deserves. I was most interested in Catherine's early life, and this book gives a lot of detail and background for that period. The only slight weak spot was the focus on Henry/Anne, and the amount of letters quoted in full (slowed it down a bit). Overall, a must read!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a Tudor fan for 51 years I know the history well, or thought I did. This book introduced a lot of background on Catherine. I did not know much about her parents or siblings. I also liked how the author told about what other things were going on in the world and what other notable people were working on. Well researched, lots of info, well written.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best factual books on Catherine of Aragon I have ever read. Being able to read about her life really gave an insight to the person she was. For anyone interested in Henry VIII first Queen I would highly recommend.

[Dan Para · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and insightful study of a loyal and devoted woman and Queen, Katherine of Aragon. A definitive account that is readable and engaging, encompassing a grand history and pitiable denouement.

[Christine Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable, instructive biography of Henry V111`s first queen. Incredibly thorough research providing thought provoking insights into the life and times of this woman including a convincing take on Catherine`s first wedding night. A lucid style and a book that is easy to read and a pleasure.

[Claire Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read about Catherine of Aragon.

[Bunnyh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside look into a strong and devout woman who lived as her conscience demanded.

[Andrew Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excellent readable biography gives a wonderful insight into Catherine's character especially with regard to her Spanish roots and the traits that she inherited from her mother Isabella.

[Jodie Oddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful biography on CoA. Well researched and was very engaging

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best biography I have ever read to date. It is an epic work of art and scholarship.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review can be found here: https://wheretheresinktherespaper.wor...