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Maid of the King’s Court
In the vibrant, volatile court of Henry VIII, can even the most willful young woman direct her own fate and follow her heart in a world ruled by powerful men?
Clever, headstrong Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne knows her duty. As the sole heiress to an old but impoverished noble family, Eliza must marry a man of wealth and title — it’s the only fate for a girl of her standing. But when a surprising turn of events lands her in the royal court as a maid of honor to Anne of Cleves, Eliza is drawn into the dizzying, dangerous orbit of Henry the Eighth and struggles to distinguish friend from foe. Is her glamorous flirt of a cousin, Katherine Howard, an ally in this deceptive place, or is she Eliza’s worst enemy? And then there’s Ned Barsby, the king’s handsome page, who is entirely unsuitable for Eliza but impossible to ignore. British historian Lucy Worsley provides a vivid, romantic glimpse of the treachery, tragedy, and thrills of life in the Tudor court.
Clever, headstrong Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne knows her duty. As the sole heiress to an old but impoverished noble family, Eliza must marry a man of wealth and title — it’s the only fate for a girl of her standing. But when a surprising turn of events lands her in the royal court as a maid of honor to Anne of Cleves, Eliza is drawn into the dizzying, dangerous orbit of Henry the Eighth and struggles to distinguish friend from foe. Is her glamorous flirt of a cousin, Katherine Howard, an ally in this deceptive place, or is she Eliza’s worst enemy? And then there’s Ned Barsby, the king’s handsome page, who is entirely unsuitable for Eliza but impossible to ignore. British historian Lucy Worsley provides a vivid, romantic glimpse of the treachery, tragedy, and thrills of life in the Tudor court.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2016
114 people are currently reading
3184 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Worsley
33 books2,973 followersI was born in Reading (not great, but it could have been Slough), studied Ancient and Modern History at New College, Oxford, and I've got a PhD in art history from the University of Sussex.
My first job after leaving college was at a crazy but wonderful historic house called Milton Manor in Oxfordshire. Here I would give guided tours, occasionally feed the llamas, and look for important pieces of paper that my boss Anthony had lost. Soon after that I moved to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, in the lovely job for administrator of the Wind and Watermills Section. Here I helped to organise that celebrated media extravaganza, National Mills Day. I departed for English Heritage in 1997, first as an Assistant Inspector and then as an Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings; Bolsover Castle, Hardwick Old Hall, and Kirby Hall were my favourite properties there. In 2002 I made a brief excursion to Glasgow Museums before coming down to London as Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces in 2003. Yes, this is a brilliant job, but no, you can’t have it. (Bribes have been offered, and refused.)
You might also catch me presenting history films on the old goggle box, giving the talks on the cruise ship Queen Mary 2, or slurping cocktails.
***
Lucy Worsley, OBE (born 18 December 1973) is an English historian, author, curator, and television presenter.
Worsley is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces but is best known as a presenter of BBC Television series on historical topics, including Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency (2011), Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls (2012), The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (2014), A Very British Romance (2015), Lucy Worsley: Mozart’s London Odyssey (2016), and Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016).
-From Wikipedia
My first job after leaving college was at a crazy but wonderful historic house called Milton Manor in Oxfordshire. Here I would give guided tours, occasionally feed the llamas, and look for important pieces of paper that my boss Anthony had lost. Soon after that I moved to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, in the lovely job for administrator of the Wind and Watermills Section. Here I helped to organise that celebrated media extravaganza, National Mills Day. I departed for English Heritage in 1997, first as an Assistant Inspector and then as an Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings; Bolsover Castle, Hardwick Old Hall, and Kirby Hall were my favourite properties there. In 2002 I made a brief excursion to Glasgow Museums before coming down to London as Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces in 2003. Yes, this is a brilliant job, but no, you can’t have it. (Bribes have been offered, and refused.)
You might also catch me presenting history films on the old goggle box, giving the talks on the cruise ship Queen Mary 2, or slurping cocktails.
***
Lucy Worsley, OBE (born 18 December 1973) is an English historian, author, curator, and television presenter.
Worsley is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces but is best known as a presenter of BBC Television series on historical topics, including Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency (2011), Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls (2012), The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (2014), A Very British Romance (2015), Lucy Worsley: Mozart’s London Odyssey (2016), and Six Wives with Lucy Worsley (2016).
-From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
May 7, 2016
This is a historical novel written by the historian Lucy Worsley which charts the growing years of the young Eliza, and her cousin, Katherine Howard. Both arrive as ladies in waiting of Anne of Cleves in the court of Henry VIII. Eliza has a difficult relationship with Katherine and has to grow up quickly. There is plenty of scandal and intrigue with great descriptions of life in the Royal court. We all know what happened with Henry and Katherine! Lucy Worsley gives us knowledgeable insights and details of this historical period. An absorbing and entertaining read. Thanks to Bloomsbury for a copy of the book.
June 11, 2017
If you haven't watched a Lucy Worsley documentary you should. Lucy is a great storyteller both in writing and in her great documentaries. The Tudors are such a fascinating Royal bloodline, with Henry The Eighth being the most talked about. I feel like Henry's first 3 wives Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour get most of the attention with good reason those marriages had the most influence on World History but all of his wives were fascinating women.
Maid of the Kings Court focuses on wife #5 Katherine Howard the teenage Queen. She was only 20 or 21 when like Anne Boleyn she was executed for treason(adultery). Katherine Howard has been one of the most maligned of Henry The Eighth's wives, she's been painted as an evil slut who got what she deserved. I think that's sexist bullshit. Why has history decided that Henry's wife's were the problem when Henry either had his wives killed or sent away when he tired of them. He disowned his daughters for simply being born girls.
Rant over. Now back to my review.
Maid of the Kings Court, tells the story of Katherine Howard through the eyes her fictional cousin. I would have given this 5 stars if it had been told through the eyes of Queen Katherine. I didn't feel as connected to her as I would have liked. I still really liked this book and hope more people read it.
Maid of the Kings Court focuses on wife #5 Katherine Howard the teenage Queen. She was only 20 or 21 when like Anne Boleyn she was executed for treason(adultery). Katherine Howard has been one of the most maligned of Henry The Eighth's wives, she's been painted as an evil slut who got what she deserved. I think that's sexist bullshit. Why has history decided that Henry's wife's were the problem when Henry either had his wives killed or sent away when he tired of them. He disowned his daughters for simply being born girls.
Rant over. Now back to my review.
Maid of the Kings Court, tells the story of Katherine Howard through the eyes her fictional cousin. I would have given this 5 stars if it had been told through the eyes of Queen Katherine. I didn't feel as connected to her as I would have liked. I still really liked this book and hope more people read it.
February 29, 2016
This is the first children’s novel by historian, Lucy Worsley. I have enjoyed her adult, factual books, and was keen to try her first novel. Although this is described as for children, I personally enjoyed it very much but would suggest it is more YA than a children’s book. Some of the themes, although sympathetically written about, and not in any way graphic, are more suitable for approx 11+ in my opinion.
Our heroine is young Elizabeth Camperdowne, who we first meet when she is twelve and living at Stoneton Castle with her father, Lord Anthony Camperdowne, Baron of Stone and her Aunt Margaret. Elizabeth (or Eliza as she is called) is brought up to do her duty and, as her father has no sons, and much of the family wealth has gone to the Crown due to an uncle who was a traitor, that duty involves making a good marriage.
This novel takes us from Stoneton Castle to Trumpton Hall, where Eliza is sent to be educated with other girls, including her cousin, Katherine Howard, and then on to Court. Eliza is very much a real person in this book – she is not perfect, but sometimes boastful or snobbish. However, she tries to be good and dutiful, even if the other girls laugh at her rather run down family home and country ways.
At Court, Henry is about to marry Anne of Cleves and both Katherine Howard and Eliza are sent to be her ladies in waiting. We see the Court with all its splendour and also with its intrigues, ambitions, secrets and gossip. Also, over everything is Henry; a malevolent presence, with his desire for another wife and his hopes for another son.
As the novel progresses, we see Eliza grow from a child to a young woman, with all the pressures that age and life choices bring to her and the decisions that she needs to make. As a historical novel I think this can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It tells the story of Eliza, and of her cousin Katherine Howard, and recreates that time very well. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Our heroine is young Elizabeth Camperdowne, who we first meet when she is twelve and living at Stoneton Castle with her father, Lord Anthony Camperdowne, Baron of Stone and her Aunt Margaret. Elizabeth (or Eliza as she is called) is brought up to do her duty and, as her father has no sons, and much of the family wealth has gone to the Crown due to an uncle who was a traitor, that duty involves making a good marriage.
This novel takes us from Stoneton Castle to Trumpton Hall, where Eliza is sent to be educated with other girls, including her cousin, Katherine Howard, and then on to Court. Eliza is very much a real person in this book – she is not perfect, but sometimes boastful or snobbish. However, she tries to be good and dutiful, even if the other girls laugh at her rather run down family home and country ways.
At Court, Henry is about to marry Anne of Cleves and both Katherine Howard and Eliza are sent to be her ladies in waiting. We see the Court with all its splendour and also with its intrigues, ambitions, secrets and gossip. Also, over everything is Henry; a malevolent presence, with his desire for another wife and his hopes for another son.
As the novel progresses, we see Eliza grow from a child to a young woman, with all the pressures that age and life choices bring to her and the decisions that she needs to make. As a historical novel I think this can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It tells the story of Eliza, and of her cousin Katherine Howard, and recreates that time very well. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
August 7, 2017
Well, this was a huge no.
I'd expected a nice, neat little package of sweet historical fiction with a dash of innocent romance. What I got was... well, not that.
There was a fair bit of content, and though it didn't happen onscreen, exactly (and it did come on towards the end), it was definitely present. I would've marked this as DNF, but since it was almost over, I went ahead and finished it anyway. (I suppose the blame is partially on my part for expecting a decent story when King Henry VIII was listed as one of the primary characters.)
I'd expected a nice, neat little package of sweet historical fiction with a dash of innocent romance. What I got was... well, not that.
There was a fair bit of content, and though it didn't happen onscreen, exactly (and it did come on towards the end), it was definitely present. I would've marked this as DNF, but since it was almost over, I went ahead and finished it anyway. (I suppose the blame is partially on my part for expecting a decent story when King Henry VIII was listed as one of the primary characters.)
August 19, 2017
Wouldn't recommend this book :/ I really hated the characters and the content in it...I should have looked at some reviews before reading it 
May 17, 2016
This was... well, disappointing.
And more so when the author's final note on "Why I Wrote This Book" the goes and makes it all even worse.
Allow me to go from the start: this story follows an invented girl, Elizabeth, whose wealthy noble family had fallen on hard times. She manages to somehow end up at court as a maiden with her cousin Katherine (#SpoilerNotReallySpoiler, the one who marries King "Gotta Catch 'em All" Henry). And then what happens? Well, obviously what everyone expects: Katherine lands herself a king, Elizabeth doesn't, and eventually the queen loses her head over cheating on him. And then we get a silly, stupid happy ever after for Eliza....
Now, don't get me wrong. I can understand a king x eliza would never happen because she's not a historical character, and I can appreciate wanting to marry for love and not duty.
But the romance between Eliza and her Beau is so... unconvincing. And so incredibly one-sided. Yes, he loves her but her affections for him (even if we're in her head) feel so forced. It's as if she's trying to convince herself she's totes in love with him.
Other issues I have with Eliza is she is not only unlikeable, but she's passive and boring. Katherine might be a little beast, but at least she's entertaining. I was amused by how the book seemed to be almost self-aware because the other girls' wicked opinions of Eliza (which the book kinda tried us to paint as mean and unfair) were actually very accurate and right on the nose: she's dull-witted, boring, uncouth, not very smart and only focused on how important her family was and how she got betrothed.
Except then other characters try to convince us that Eliza is in fact talented and smart and witty -- by SAYING SO. Even if us, as the readers, don't see any proof of that supposed wit. All we have are support characters fawning over her and other characters telling us things like how she is as talented as a girl two years older than her, or how men in court are afraid of her because she's so witty and that's why none of them talks to her. The author desperately tries to get us to believe she's OMG SO SMART AND SHARP, and yet, by her own actions and words, she is all but: she is boring, unsympathetic, and falls for all the traps laid in front of her -- worse, Eliza is a completely REACTIVE character. She doesn't move the plot, she is dragged by it and forced to react. She has no agency whatsoever, nor goals, purposes or motivation.
I can't help comparing this to the amazing Lady Grace series, which while lacks the glamour of the "Grown Up Maidens In Court" is much more effective in giving us a smart, witty, clever, and likeable heroine, with strong motivations and purpose.
Then again, it might be because this book doesn't really have a plot - the book can be summed up as . Half the time, Eliza doesn't know what she wants, she just flitters from scene to scene, being incredibly boring.
And then, what makes me want to scream in frustration: the End Note of the author. According to her, she felt Katherine suffered a great injustice. That because she was not "faithful" to the King (even if he slept with anything that moved and had a TON of mistresses and wives) she got painted with a tarred brush. And that she wanted to write a story that showed people how maybe Katherine DID love the king, but was tarnished because in those days, everything was the woman's fault, a story that redeemed her somewhat (also, she clearly had some issues with a fellow historian who refused a pet theory from one of her friends).
See, the problem was that Eliza was chosen as a narrator. From her point of view, Katherine is more interesting than her, but a lot more beastly, and with few redeeming qualities. As Eliza isn't close to her cousin, the reader doesn't see the clever manoeuvring that would go into seducing a King (maybe because the writer didn't know how to, or wanted to write about it). Instead, we're saddled with a boring pointless character whose happy ending is an insult and I couldn't care less about.
And yet, Katherine is still shown to be superior to Eliza in all ways, especially cleverness as she's shown in her redeeming moment that she did love her King but she was also a practical woman
So I was left with the question: why wasn't this book about Katherine? Why was it about a boring, milquetoast, dullwitted girl? Why couldn't Eliza be Katherine's closest confidant\tiring woman, or just a 3rd person narrator to justify having knowledge of intimate stuff or scenes where only Katherine would be?
And in the end, I can't help feeling that Katherine's redemption was too little too late, and seemed to have been made so the scene where she runs across a corridor can be put in, and used as a slap to the historian who dissed her friend's theory.
I really wanted to love this book. I was spoiling for something like this after I read through all of Lady Grace... but this book was just a waste of time.
And more so when the author's final note on "Why I Wrote This Book" the goes and makes it all even worse.
Allow me to go from the start: this story follows an invented girl, Elizabeth, whose wealthy noble family had fallen on hard times. She manages to somehow end up at court as a maiden with her cousin Katherine (#SpoilerNotReallySpoiler, the one who marries King "Gotta Catch 'em All" Henry). And then what happens? Well, obviously what everyone expects: Katherine lands herself a king, Elizabeth doesn't, and eventually the queen loses her head over cheating on him. And then we get a silly, stupid happy ever after for Eliza....
Now, don't get me wrong. I can understand a king x eliza would never happen because she's not a historical character, and I can appreciate wanting to marry for love and not duty.
But the romance between Eliza and her Beau is so... unconvincing. And so incredibly one-sided. Yes, he loves her but her affections for him (even if we're in her head) feel so forced. It's as if she's trying to convince herself she's totes in love with him.
Other issues I have with Eliza is she is not only unlikeable, but she's passive and boring. Katherine might be a little beast, but at least she's entertaining. I was amused by how the book seemed to be almost self-aware because the other girls' wicked opinions of Eliza (which the book kinda tried us to paint as mean and unfair) were actually very accurate and right on the nose: she's dull-witted, boring, uncouth, not very smart and only focused on how important her family was and how she got betrothed.
Except then other characters try to convince us that Eliza is in fact talented and smart and witty -- by SAYING SO. Even if us, as the readers, don't see any proof of that supposed wit. All we have are support characters fawning over her and other characters telling us things like how she is as talented as a girl two years older than her, or how men in court are afraid of her because she's so witty and that's why none of them talks to her. The author desperately tries to get us to believe she's OMG SO SMART AND SHARP, and yet, by her own actions and words, she is all but: she is boring, unsympathetic, and falls for all the traps laid in front of her -- worse, Eliza is a completely REACTIVE character. She doesn't move the plot, she is dragged by it and forced to react. She has no agency whatsoever, nor goals, purposes or motivation.
I can't help comparing this to the amazing Lady Grace series, which while lacks the glamour of the "Grown Up Maidens In Court" is much more effective in giving us a smart, witty, clever, and likeable heroine, with strong motivations and purpose.
Then again, it might be because this book doesn't really have a plot - the book can be summed up as . Half the time, Eliza doesn't know what she wants, she just flitters from scene to scene, being incredibly boring.
And then, what makes me want to scream in frustration: the End Note of the author. According to her, she felt Katherine suffered a great injustice. That because she was not "faithful" to the King (even if he slept with anything that moved and had a TON of mistresses and wives) she got painted with a tarred brush. And that she wanted to write a story that showed people how maybe Katherine DID love the king, but was tarnished because in those days, everything was the woman's fault, a story that redeemed her somewhat (also, she clearly had some issues with a fellow historian who refused a pet theory from one of her friends).
See, the problem was that Eliza was chosen as a narrator. From her point of view, Katherine is more interesting than her, but a lot more beastly, and with few redeeming qualities. As Eliza isn't close to her cousin, the reader doesn't see the clever manoeuvring that would go into seducing a King (maybe because the writer didn't know how to, or wanted to write about it). Instead, we're saddled with a boring pointless character whose happy ending is an insult and I couldn't care less about.
And yet, Katherine is still shown to be superior to Eliza in all ways, especially cleverness as she's shown in her redeeming moment that she did love her King but she was also a practical woman
So I was left with the question: why wasn't this book about Katherine? Why was it about a boring, milquetoast, dullwitted girl? Why couldn't Eliza be Katherine's closest confidant\tiring woman, or just a 3rd person narrator to justify having knowledge of intimate stuff or scenes where only Katherine would be?
And in the end, I can't help feeling that Katherine's redemption was too little too late, and seemed to have been made so the scene where she runs across a corridor can be put in, and used as a slap to the historian who dissed her friend's theory.
I really wanted to love this book. I was spoiling for something like this after I read through all of Lady Grace... but this book was just a waste of time.
June 7, 2017
“Maid of the King’s Court” is an excellent historical fiction novel about life in the court of King Henry VIII.
While the story of Elizabeth is fictionalized, most of the facts of life at the time are as historically accurate as possible, owing to the fact that the author (Lucy Worsley) is a British historian who actually works at the castle featured in the book. I have always enjoyed reading about life in Tudor England, and this novel did not disappoint. It’s also surprisingly clean considering it’s about life with King Henry VIII. It does have talk about sexual situations but none involving the main character.
I highly recommend “Maid of the King’s Court” to those who like historical fiction with a dash of romance.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
While the story of Elizabeth is fictionalized, most of the facts of life at the time are as historically accurate as possible, owing to the fact that the author (Lucy Worsley) is a British historian who actually works at the castle featured in the book. I have always enjoyed reading about life in Tudor England, and this novel did not disappoint. It’s also surprisingly clean considering it’s about life with King Henry VIII. It does have talk about sexual situations but none involving the main character.
I highly recommend “Maid of the King’s Court” to those who like historical fiction with a dash of romance.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
January 2, 2023
I really enjoyed Lucy Worsley's take on Katherine Howard in this fictionalized account.I thought the story was well thought out, written, compelling and I loved the character of Eliza she introduces into it.It was slightly different than anything I've read before in the grand scheme of Tudor fiction. Well worth your time if your fascinated by the Tudors.
February 28, 2017
Novels set in Henry VIII's court are like catnip to me. So as soon as I saw Maid of the King's Court took place during the rise and fall of Catherine Howard, I knew I had to read it.
Did it live up to my expectations? Well, yes and no. It's a very readable book (I basically devoured it in one go) but it lacked the depth I would have hoped for.
Lucy Worsley is a curator at Hampton Court Palace, so she knows this historical setting inside out. But while her details are spot on, Worsley takes a lot of creative license with the history itself. As an example, two men who are key to Catherine Howard's downfall, Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpepper, are combined into one character. This is practical from a storytelling point of view, but it also meant the story felt like it lacked some historical weight. Other key figures, like Jane Boleyn, are missing entirely.
And these choices feel particularly strange when you get to the author's note at the end, which explains that the novel was an attempt to show Catherine Howard in a more positive light. I love this in theory, because historians are always so keen to villainize her, as though a 16 year old married to an old despotic king is 100% to blame when she gets beheaded a year later. But I'm not sure that the novel does subvert this usual narrative. This Catherine is as vain, ambitious and cruel as any other portrayal of her, and as we see her through the eyes of an invented character, Eliza, these traits aren't really shown in a sympathetic light. She does have one moment, near the end, where she explains her actions to Eliza, but that isn't enough to shift the tone of the book. In fact, I read this book thinking bitterly how authors always malign Catherine Howard, before getting to the end and finding out this was supposed to be a defense of her.
The big problem is that all the significant events happen off-screen. Eliza isn't really there for anything important. Big things are happening in the court, but we're just told about them, because Eliza doesn't have any role in them. This distance also means that the book is lacking any real sense of terror that you'd expect the court of Henry VIII to inspire during this period. We don't get the sense that Anne of Cleves is in danger, and even Catherine's imprisonment lacks the grim terror that you might expect. It's a very light book for such a dangerous time period, especially as Eliza is theoretically in the thick of it all.
That said, Eliza is a fun protagonist with a lot of spirit, and it isn't hard to get invested in her and her struggle to save her disgraced family as their only child. Her ending is a bit abrupt and unrealistic, and I almost feel like the book would have been stronger if it was more detached from real historical events, with the rise and fall of queens truly happening in the background to Eliza's own story. As it is, I'm not sure a reader will get much out of that element unless they already know about Catherine Howard, and if they do know about her, then the creative license that Worsley takes may just be distracting.
So, overall, it's a fun historical novel, and a quick, enjoyable read, but not really a story of Henry VIII's court during the time of Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. Read it for the historical flavour, not for the events themselves.
Did it live up to my expectations? Well, yes and no. It's a very readable book (I basically devoured it in one go) but it lacked the depth I would have hoped for.
Lucy Worsley is a curator at Hampton Court Palace, so she knows this historical setting inside out. But while her details are spot on, Worsley takes a lot of creative license with the history itself. As an example, two men who are key to Catherine Howard's downfall, Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpepper, are combined into one character. This is practical from a storytelling point of view, but it also meant the story felt like it lacked some historical weight. Other key figures, like Jane Boleyn, are missing entirely.
And these choices feel particularly strange when you get to the author's note at the end, which explains that the novel was an attempt to show Catherine Howard in a more positive light. I love this in theory, because historians are always so keen to villainize her, as though a 16 year old married to an old despotic king is 100% to blame when she gets beheaded a year later. But I'm not sure that the novel does subvert this usual narrative. This Catherine is as vain, ambitious and cruel as any other portrayal of her, and as we see her through the eyes of an invented character, Eliza, these traits aren't really shown in a sympathetic light. She does have one moment, near the end, where she explains her actions to Eliza, but that isn't enough to shift the tone of the book. In fact, I read this book thinking bitterly how authors always malign Catherine Howard, before getting to the end and finding out this was supposed to be a defense of her.
The big problem is that all the significant events happen off-screen. Eliza isn't really there for anything important. Big things are happening in the court, but we're just told about them, because Eliza doesn't have any role in them. This distance also means that the book is lacking any real sense of terror that you'd expect the court of Henry VIII to inspire during this period. We don't get the sense that Anne of Cleves is in danger, and even Catherine's imprisonment lacks the grim terror that you might expect. It's a very light book for such a dangerous time period, especially as Eliza is theoretically in the thick of it all.
That said, Eliza is a fun protagonist with a lot of spirit, and it isn't hard to get invested in her and her struggle to save her disgraced family as their only child. Her ending is a bit abrupt and unrealistic, and I almost feel like the book would have been stronger if it was more detached from real historical events, with the rise and fall of queens truly happening in the background to Eliza's own story. As it is, I'm not sure a reader will get much out of that element unless they already know about Catherine Howard, and if they do know about her, then the creative license that Worsley takes may just be distracting.
So, overall, it's a fun historical novel, and a quick, enjoyable read, but not really a story of Henry VIII's court during the time of Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. Read it for the historical flavour, not for the events themselves.
February 6, 2017
Maid of the King's Court is a very well written book.
It is the story of Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne (fictional character) during the time of King Henry the VIII. While this is a fictional story, many of the events happened in real life and the author, who is a historian, did an amazing job mixing fantasy with history.
As a child who grew up in Europe, I've heard stories about the mad king who could not bear children and beheaded his wives (don't ask me why they tell children this story). What I didn't know, was the story of the wives that he had.
We live in such an empowering world right now for women, it is easy to forget that before women were treated like little dolls, that were only worth something if they were nice to look at. What the author did in this book was show us the intelligent and cunning side to King Henry the VIII's fifth wife Catherine (Katherine in the book) Howard. Katherine found out that the King is incapable of having any more children, and uses a man with the same genetic background as the King in order to fool him into believing the child is his. Unfortunately Katherine is caught before a chid could be born. I really loved that while playing dumb and slutty, Katherine had an intelligent side to her that she would hide, if she was born during a different time period, she could have been very brilliant.
While this book had an amazing plot and lots of historical details that made the story interesting, I found the beginning of the book to be quite boring. It doesn't pick up until about 40% into the book, which is when Eliza finally reaches the castle of King Henry the VIII, but after she arrives the book is absolutely fantastic, and I could not put it down.
Overall, if you love history and aren't afraid of a slow beginning, definitely give this book a try. It is an informational and fast read, I'm sure you will love it.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
It is the story of Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne (fictional character) during the time of King Henry the VIII. While this is a fictional story, many of the events happened in real life and the author, who is a historian, did an amazing job mixing fantasy with history.
As a child who grew up in Europe, I've heard stories about the mad king who could not bear children and beheaded his wives (don't ask me why they tell children this story). What I didn't know, was the story of the wives that he had.
We live in such an empowering world right now for women, it is easy to forget that before women were treated like little dolls, that were only worth something if they were nice to look at. What the author did in this book was show us the intelligent and cunning side to King Henry the VIII's fifth wife Catherine (Katherine in the book) Howard. Katherine found out that the King is incapable of having any more children, and uses a man with the same genetic background as the King in order to fool him into believing the child is his. Unfortunately Katherine is caught before a chid could be born. I really loved that while playing dumb and slutty, Katherine had an intelligent side to her that she would hide, if she was born during a different time period, she could have been very brilliant.
While this book had an amazing plot and lots of historical details that made the story interesting, I found the beginning of the book to be quite boring. It doesn't pick up until about 40% into the book, which is when Eliza finally reaches the castle of King Henry the VIII, but after she arrives the book is absolutely fantastic, and I could not put it down.
Overall, if you love history and aren't afraid of a slow beginning, definitely give this book a try. It is an informational and fast read, I'm sure you will love it.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
July 15, 2017
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-
You know which reviews I hate writing the most? They're not positive reviews, nor negative reviews. They're not reviews for a super hyped-up book. No, those are often the most fun for me to write. The reviews that are the hardest for me to write are for books that I liked or disliked, yet can't expand on WHY I feel that way. Hence why I wrote so little reviews when I first joined this site, because many books I read made me feel that way. And I can't really talk about a book that had a good impact on me, but not a good, STRONG impact.
But you all want to read a review from me, and my goal is to become a top reviewer on this site, and I can't very well do that if I don't write reviews, right? So bare with me as I try to think of the best way to go about this.
I find it interesting that this author wrote this book mainly because they thought Katherine Howard has been portrayed unfairly throughout history. While I'm not going to disagree with this-I actually agree-you wouldn't know she felt this way from reading this book. In this, Katherine is pretty much portrayed as a promiscuous, catty mean girl. Granted, she's got intelligence to her, like when she realizes the king won't be able to produce his own heir, so she sleeps with a red-haired man so nobody will be able to tell the difference-but ultimately, she's still being portrayed the same way many other people have portrayed her.
The main character was fine. There was nothing really wrong with her, but at the same time, she didn't stick out to me.
The history didn't really teach me anything new, and I didn't really get immersed into this time period or nation. Maybe I really am getting burned-out on Tudor novels-this year alone I've read like four.
Overall, this was just kinda bland and forgettable. Am I disappointed I read it? Not really, but I'm also not going to remember what I even read in like a week or so.
You know which reviews I hate writing the most? They're not positive reviews, nor negative reviews. They're not reviews for a super hyped-up book. No, those are often the most fun for me to write. The reviews that are the hardest for me to write are for books that I liked or disliked, yet can't expand on WHY I feel that way. Hence why I wrote so little reviews when I first joined this site, because many books I read made me feel that way. And I can't really talk about a book that had a good impact on me, but not a good, STRONG impact.
But you all want to read a review from me, and my goal is to become a top reviewer on this site, and I can't very well do that if I don't write reviews, right? So bare with me as I try to think of the best way to go about this.
I find it interesting that this author wrote this book mainly because they thought Katherine Howard has been portrayed unfairly throughout history. While I'm not going to disagree with this-I actually agree-you wouldn't know she felt this way from reading this book. In this, Katherine is pretty much portrayed as a promiscuous, catty mean girl. Granted, she's got intelligence to her, like when she realizes the king won't be able to produce his own heir, so she sleeps with a red-haired man so nobody will be able to tell the difference-but ultimately, she's still being portrayed the same way many other people have portrayed her.
The main character was fine. There was nothing really wrong with her, but at the same time, she didn't stick out to me.
The history didn't really teach me anything new, and I didn't really get immersed into this time period or nation. Maybe I really am getting burned-out on Tudor novels-this year alone I've read like four.
Overall, this was just kinda bland and forgettable. Am I disappointed I read it? Not really, but I'm also not going to remember what I even read in like a week or so.
May 2, 2017
According to the Epilogue this books was partly written because a mean historian discounted a theory a friend of the author had about the layout of Hampton Court in the Tudor period and called Katherine Howard a silly girl. Apparently this book was supposed to be some kind of vindication for the teenage queen and show a different side to her, and show the legendary scene of Katherine running across Hampton Court begging Henry to forgive her that the mean historian said didn't happen.
I'm not really sure how changing all the names of the characters not called Katherine or Henry, their titles or half the story itself was supposed to make the friend's theory more historically compelling but okay, whatever. I didn't get how portraying Katherine as a Tudor Regina George was supposed to make me like her more either. The Gallery bit didn't exactly make an impact anyway so why mention it as a motivation at the end of the book? The choice for this being a children's book considering it's subject matter is kinda weird too, especially as half the book is about various sex scandals.
That being said, I did like the author's reasoning for Katherine taking such a big risk. That made sense at least.
I'm not really sure how changing all the names of the characters not called Katherine or Henry, their titles or half the story itself was supposed to make the friend's theory more historically compelling but okay, whatever. I didn't get how portraying Katherine as a Tudor Regina George was supposed to make me like her more either. The Gallery bit didn't exactly make an impact anyway so why mention it as a motivation at the end of the book? The choice for this being a children's book considering it's subject matter is kinda weird too, especially as half the book is about various sex scandals.
That being said, I did like the author's reasoning for Katherine taking such a big risk. That made sense at least.
June 16, 2024
YIKES
April 6, 2016
I was thrilled to get a copy of this - I love Lucy Worsley's historical TV programmes, and I could imagine that her storytelling ability and enthusiasm would transfer well to the written word.
I would say though, that this is NOT for particularly young or immature readers - it does encompass storylines familiar to adults of Henry VIII's court and marriages - mistresses, beheading, court politics. The cover may look like Jacqueline Wilson, but I would say it's aimed at a Secondary School (age 12+) reader, based on its themes.
You might also need to know a little history before reading it (and if not, the reader is sure to ask afterwards!). Eliza Rose, our protagonist, is daughter of an old Derbyshire family, living in a rundown manorial home, the only child and hope for the future fortunes of the Camperdownes after a scandalous yet secret act of treason by her uncle.
Send away as a teenager to become a maid of honour to the King's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, Eliza has a chance to not only observe history for us, but to raise her family's fortunes by marrying well, by scheming her way to a rich husband. But does she have it in her? Her cousin Katherine also goes with her to Queen Anne, Katherine Howard, a girl whose story the author tries to give a new perspective on for contemporary readers.
I thought Worsley's view of the Tudor court was excellent, it didn't shy away from the less pleasant aspects of life there (the constant threat from the King's temper and whims, the smell of his ulcer, the scheming and backbiting, the sexual undertones and low treatment of women). Eliza starts as a naive girl thrust into a grown-up world, and gradually matures into a capable and sure young woman, one who knows what she wants but feels the pull of family duty.
Katherine Howard is well drawn - similar to other interpretations I've seen on television and in books but she does get a chance to defend herself and explain what her situation might really have been like. Anne of Cleves, Eliza and Katherine together give young readers a picture of how differently womens' lives were 500 years ago, what has changed.
I was sad to find that Eliza wasn't a real person, but love her story and how it is interwoven with the true accounts of Henry VIII's wives and life.
This isn't a tricky read, but thematically it will suit KS3 readers better than primary-aged ones. As an adult, I loved it too, especially knowing the real history of the period.
I hope Worsley can find the time to continue her historical theme and continue to inspire teenagers to explore our history through further tales set in Tudor times (or indeed other periods). A prime spot in the book market that she slots into with ease and talent. I could hear her distinctive voice in Eliza and her writing.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
I would say though, that this is NOT for particularly young or immature readers - it does encompass storylines familiar to adults of Henry VIII's court and marriages - mistresses, beheading, court politics. The cover may look like Jacqueline Wilson, but I would say it's aimed at a Secondary School (age 12+) reader, based on its themes.
You might also need to know a little history before reading it (and if not, the reader is sure to ask afterwards!). Eliza Rose, our protagonist, is daughter of an old Derbyshire family, living in a rundown manorial home, the only child and hope for the future fortunes of the Camperdownes after a scandalous yet secret act of treason by her uncle.
Send away as a teenager to become a maid of honour to the King's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, Eliza has a chance to not only observe history for us, but to raise her family's fortunes by marrying well, by scheming her way to a rich husband. But does she have it in her? Her cousin Katherine also goes with her to Queen Anne, Katherine Howard, a girl whose story the author tries to give a new perspective on for contemporary readers.
I thought Worsley's view of the Tudor court was excellent, it didn't shy away from the less pleasant aspects of life there (the constant threat from the King's temper and whims, the smell of his ulcer, the scheming and backbiting, the sexual undertones and low treatment of women). Eliza starts as a naive girl thrust into a grown-up world, and gradually matures into a capable and sure young woman, one who knows what she wants but feels the pull of family duty.
Katherine Howard is well drawn - similar to other interpretations I've seen on television and in books but she does get a chance to defend herself and explain what her situation might really have been like. Anne of Cleves, Eliza and Katherine together give young readers a picture of how differently womens' lives were 500 years ago, what has changed.
I was sad to find that Eliza wasn't a real person, but love her story and how it is interwoven with the true accounts of Henry VIII's wives and life.
This isn't a tricky read, but thematically it will suit KS3 readers better than primary-aged ones. As an adult, I loved it too, especially knowing the real history of the period.
I hope Worsley can find the time to continue her historical theme and continue to inspire teenagers to explore our history through further tales set in Tudor times (or indeed other periods). A prime spot in the book market that she slots into with ease and talent. I could hear her distinctive voice in Eliza and her writing.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
May 29, 2019
Picked this up while browsing in my local library and I'm so glad that I did - the story of Katherine Howard is told through the eyes of her (sadly fictional!) cousin Eliza Camperdowne as they are trained for the royal court and learn to navigate the intricacies of courtly manners and intrigue.
We follow Eliza from the age of 11 to 20 and her growth during that time is both realistic and manages to create a sympathetic character who raises questions about the constrictions placed on her and other women in court. I liked all the accurate historical details (as you would expect from the curator who wrote this!) and Eliza's relationship with Ned. I also liked how Katherine is portrayed as a real person, with flaws and foibles, but as a well-rounded person rather than simply a girl who 'got what was coming to her' for daring to cheat on the King. The subtleties of family pressure and gossip were also realistically and sometimes upsettingly shown.
Based on the cover I would have said that this was a middle-grade book, but death and sex are frankly discussed, which may make it the upper end of middle-grade or young adult if you are shelving it in your library.
We follow Eliza from the age of 11 to 20 and her growth during that time is both realistic and manages to create a sympathetic character who raises questions about the constrictions placed on her and other women in court. I liked all the accurate historical details (as you would expect from the curator who wrote this!) and Eliza's relationship with Ned. I also liked how Katherine is portrayed as a real person, with flaws and foibles, but as a well-rounded person rather than simply a girl who 'got what was coming to her' for daring to cheat on the King. The subtleties of family pressure and gossip were also realistically and sometimes upsettingly shown.
Based on the cover I would have said that this was a middle-grade book, but death and sex are frankly discussed, which may make it the upper end of middle-grade or young adult if you are shelving it in your library.
April 6, 2016
I absolutely devoured this book, a delicious historical novel set in Tudor England, with a fabulously sharp and spiky narrator who is the cousin (and rival) of Henry VIII's ill-fated wife Katherine Howard. I'm not sure exactly which genre to class it in, as it breaks some of the "rules" of children's literature - it looks from the cover like an MG novel, and starts with Eliza at 12, but by the end of the book she's 20 and has been dealing for years with the questions of how to operate in a licentious and brutal court. There aren't any explicit sex scenes, but the issues discussed are certainly adult...as, of course, teenage girls were expected to be in that era.
It's all incredibly addictive, smart and entertaining and perfectly handled. I loved that Worsley let her heroine be sharp and unlikeable at various points, with her pride getting in the way of her own good. I loved Eliza's voice - and oh, I swooned over her romance! And the historical era is conveyed beautifully throughout. I was already a huge fan of Worsley's historical nonfiction, and this was the most purely fun novel I've read in a while. I can't wait to read her next one!
It's all incredibly addictive, smart and entertaining and perfectly handled. I loved that Worsley let her heroine be sharp and unlikeable at various points, with her pride getting in the way of her own good. I loved Eliza's voice - and oh, I swooned over her romance! And the historical era is conveyed beautifully throughout. I was already a huge fan of Worsley's historical nonfiction, and this was the most purely fun novel I've read in a while. I can't wait to read her next one!
February 26, 2017
This was oddly refreshing. It is presented as a children's or Young adult historical fiction novel and told from the perspective of a 12 year old girl, who dreams of the finery that Court has to offer.
Eliza Rose goes to live with her cousin after a family disgrace, and who is the cousin but Katherine Howard? I found this such a surprise, but a good one of course! And I was definitely caught off guard by how sly young Katherine is. Eliza was such a cute character, I sympathised with her all the way through and there was definitely a lot of character development. She is into her 20's by the time the novel concludes, she seen through betrayal, lies, heartbreak, divorce and more. And death, but not hers.
I praise Lucy Worsley for her brutal honesty throughout the book, not once have I read a historical fiction novel that paints the Tudor Court honestly. And of course Henry the Eighth was ailing after his fifth marriage ends, I really love the "realness" that Worsley wrote with.
Eliza Rose goes to live with her cousin after a family disgrace, and who is the cousin but Katherine Howard? I found this such a surprise, but a good one of course! And I was definitely caught off guard by how sly young Katherine is. Eliza was such a cute character, I sympathised with her all the way through and there was definitely a lot of character development. She is into her 20's by the time the novel concludes, she seen through betrayal, lies, heartbreak, divorce and more. And death, but not hers.
I praise Lucy Worsley for her brutal honesty throughout the book, not once have I read a historical fiction novel that paints the Tudor Court honestly. And of course Henry the Eighth was ailing after his fifth marriage ends, I really love the "realness" that Worsley wrote with.
February 24, 2017
In this novel Katherine Howard's story is re-spun. I no longer see her as a silly little girl that she has been portrayed as for hundreds of years. I see her as a girl who was possibly a victim of her time. History is a series of stories that always have another side to them.
I loved the concept of the novel and the insight it brings into the Tudor court. Eliza Rose is a novel for younger people and helps them to access the history in a more understandable and interesting way. I also loved the illustrations all the way through this version, they really add to the story. I can't wait to read Jane Austen At Home and My Name Is Victoria.
The author wrote an article on her view of Kathherine Howard that is available here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life...
I loved the concept of the novel and the insight it brings into the Tudor court. Eliza Rose is a novel for younger people and helps them to access the history in a more understandable and interesting way. I also loved the illustrations all the way through this version, they really add to the story. I can't wait to read Jane Austen At Home and My Name Is Victoria.
The author wrote an article on her view of Kathherine Howard that is available here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life...
April 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how well it did the history and how it makes it a read I can give to my students without being worried they'll come away with loads of ridiculous misconceptions about the time period.
I really enjoyed the take the story had on a young Katherine Howard and her motivations that led her to become the person we remember from History. Much like Harriet Castor's VIII I love that this book makes her real.
I also really enjoyed the story. It was fast paced and interesting all the way through and covered the history in an entertaining way rather than becoming bogged down in dry detail.
I, for one, am very much hoping this is the first of many fiction books by Lucy Worsley.
I loved how well it did the history and how it makes it a read I can give to my students without being worried they'll come away with loads of ridiculous misconceptions about the time period.
I really enjoyed the take the story had on a young Katherine Howard and her motivations that led her to become the person we remember from History. Much like Harriet Castor's VIII I love that this book makes her real.
I also really enjoyed the story. It was fast paced and interesting all the way through and covered the history in an entertaining way rather than becoming bogged down in dry detail.
I, for one, am very much hoping this is the first of many fiction books by Lucy Worsley.
June 12, 2016
I enjoyed this book, Eliza is an engaging narrator and I was halfway through the book before I even realised. The chapters are quite short and story follows Eliza from when she is twelve to when she is eighteen.
Much Eliza Rose is about Eliza’s life when she meets Katherine and what happens at the King’s Court; personally I found the beginning of the book more interesting. At twelve Eliza is an adult, ready to be engaged and aware of her responsibility, yet she also clings to her doll and has no idea of what wifely duties entail.
The ending of the book left me with mixed feelings. While part of me appreciates happy endings I felt that Eliza’s choice was at odds with what she had maintained was her duty throughout the entire book.
Much Eliza Rose is about Eliza’s life when she meets Katherine and what happens at the King’s Court; personally I found the beginning of the book more interesting. At twelve Eliza is an adult, ready to be engaged and aware of her responsibility, yet she also clings to her doll and has no idea of what wifely duties entail.
The ending of the book left me with mixed feelings. While part of me appreciates happy endings I felt that Eliza’s choice was at odds with what she had maintained was her duty throughout the entire book.
July 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. This book follows Eliza who is Katherine Howard's cousin. We get to see Eliza's journey through the Tudor court. Eliza is brought up to do her duty she needs to find a husband in order to support her family. She is sent to spend time with her cousin so that she can be educated in how to behave at court.
We get to see Eliza be a maid to Anne of Cleves and has that marriage breaks down we see the rise of Katherine Howard. I think this book created a really realistic image of the Tudor court. The author clearly knew the topic well and I hope in the future that the author writes more books. Although this is a YA novel I feel that it could be enjoyed by all ages.
We get to see Eliza be a maid to Anne of Cleves and has that marriage breaks down we see the rise of Katherine Howard. I think this book created a really realistic image of the Tudor court. The author clearly knew the topic well and I hope in the future that the author writes more books. Although this is a YA novel I feel that it could be enjoyed by all ages.
April 18, 2017
This book is so well-written. I was irked everytime the narration showed any mysogynistic treatments towards women in 1600s. But this proved how accurate the historical events were written. How to portrayed the old king of England and his jolly companions. I recommend this book to be read by all feminist, to see how far we've come. Yeah it's still a long journey for women to be empowered as we all imagine, but we should be glad by living in this time and era.
June 20, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I've always been interested in the Tudor time period with King Henry VIII and I really enjoyed how this novel played off the time period. It was very interesting and I couldn't put it down!
June 27, 2016
Een luchtig, grappig boek met een paar Tudortijdse wreedheden
June 20, 2021
The very next day, Katherine's supposed cleverness caught up with her, and all of our lives were placed in danger.
Y'know, I was over the moon to learn that Lucy Worsley was a children's book author in addition to being a marvellous presenter and my favourite historian. And then I read this.
The story follows the made-up Eliza Camperdowne, a shy young girl whose noble family is on the brink of bankruptcy. She's sent to live with her relatives after her bethrothal falls through, is raised to be a maid of honour with her saucy cousin Katherine Howard... and y'know what happens after that.
I can't begin to explain how surprisingly disappointing this is. Not only so many were notable names and characters changed and/or omitted altogether to an off-putting effect (Chesworth House is Trumpton Hall, Agnes Howard is suddenly Dowager Duchess of Northumberland instead of Norfolk, Lady Rochford and Thomas Culpeper don't exist and Katherine's lovers Henry Mannox and Francis Dereham have been fused into one Francis Manham), the story is just extremely weakened by the dull little twig that is Eliza. She's cowardly, completely passive, and yet somehow she's painted as some underdog who never succeeds at being one. At the end of the book she's given the opportunity to . Oh, okay. Fine. But that's not why I'm truly miffed.
At the end of the book, Worsley includes an author's note detailing her reasons for writing this book. Of course it turns out the sole reason Eliza Rose's story was made was in order to tell Katherine Howard's.... but specifically because Worsley wanted to write a scene of Katherine running screaming down a Hampton Court Gallery while trying to evade her arrest. Further, she explains how she felt that Katherine was a victim who was unjustly killed and given a terrible rep or no rep at all by history books. So I must ask: why was Katherine not the main character???
Or, even worse: if Worsley truly felt that way about Katherine, why the hell was she still portrayed as @Midgetbee here describes, a Tudor Regina George? It's made so much worse by the fact that Eliza is someone who barely knows Katherine, so we don't even get to see any of the truly interesting bits that make up the real history of the Tudors. What stings about this is that this could've been truly awesome if Eliza grew something called a personality.
To conclude: I can't believe such an insipid little tale came out of someone like Lucy Worsley. But I suppose it's not entirely fair of me to say such a thing, as this is the first book I've ever read from her. But then again... really, Lucy? Incorporating that 'rose without a thorn' myth too? Bruh.
Y'know, I was over the moon to learn that Lucy Worsley was a children's book author in addition to being a marvellous presenter and my favourite historian. And then I read this.
The story follows the made-up Eliza Camperdowne, a shy young girl whose noble family is on the brink of bankruptcy. She's sent to live with her relatives after her bethrothal falls through, is raised to be a maid of honour with her saucy cousin Katherine Howard... and y'know what happens after that.
I can't begin to explain how surprisingly disappointing this is. Not only so many were notable names and characters changed and/or omitted altogether to an off-putting effect (Chesworth House is Trumpton Hall, Agnes Howard is suddenly Dowager Duchess of Northumberland instead of Norfolk, Lady Rochford and Thomas Culpeper don't exist and Katherine's lovers Henry Mannox and Francis Dereham have been fused into one Francis Manham), the story is just extremely weakened by the dull little twig that is Eliza. She's cowardly, completely passive, and yet somehow she's painted as some underdog who never succeeds at being one. At the end of the book she's given the opportunity to . Oh, okay. Fine. But that's not why I'm truly miffed.
At the end of the book, Worsley includes an author's note detailing her reasons for writing this book. Of course it turns out the sole reason Eliza Rose's story was made was in order to tell Katherine Howard's.... but specifically because Worsley wanted to write a scene of Katherine running screaming down a Hampton Court Gallery while trying to evade her arrest. Further, she explains how she felt that Katherine was a victim who was unjustly killed and given a terrible rep or no rep at all by history books. So I must ask: why was Katherine not the main character???
Or, even worse: if Worsley truly felt that way about Katherine, why the hell was she still portrayed as @Midgetbee here describes, a Tudor Regina George? It's made so much worse by the fact that Eliza is someone who barely knows Katherine, so we don't even get to see any of the truly interesting bits that make up the real history of the Tudors. What stings about this is that this could've been truly awesome if Eliza grew something called a personality.
To conclude: I can't believe such an insipid little tale came out of someone like Lucy Worsley. But I suppose it's not entirely fair of me to say such a thing, as this is the first book I've ever read from her. But then again... really, Lucy? Incorporating that 'rose without a thorn' myth too? Bruh.
February 25, 2019
Eliza Rose tells the story of Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Katherine Howard, from the perspective of her fictional cousin, Eliza. Written by historian Lucy Worsley, this novel presents Katherine Howard from a completely different angle compared to regular accounts. Worsley herself states in the end of the book that she wished to provide more understanding of Howard’s actions, and perhaps suggest a reasoning for the reputation that she ended up with.
This novel is simplistic and easy to read, and I enjoyed the world that Worsley brought to life based on her research and cast of characters. Yet as much as I enjoyed reading it, Eliza Rose lacked any real depth that would make me wish to read it again.
Eliza is a fun narrator at times, although she can also be quite insufferable. Unfortunately, although Worsley professes to present a more sympathetic view towards Katherine Howard, this is only barely achieved towards the end of the novel. Through Eliza’s eyes, Katherine is scheming, vain and cruel, and this is hardly a sympathetic portrayal of her. She is clearly a one dimensional character, until the ‘reveal’ that all along she was unfaithful to her husband because she was so desperate to beget an heir.
As Eliza states, ‘I saw that she had been caught in a trap not entirely of her own devising’. But this hardly makes up for Katherine’s poor treatment of practically every other character throughout the novel. Worsley merely attempts to present an alternative theory for Katherine’s historical actions, and although it seems possible, she fails to convince the reader to see her in a more sympathetic light.
This novel is simplistic and easy to read, and I enjoyed the world that Worsley brought to life based on her research and cast of characters. Yet as much as I enjoyed reading it, Eliza Rose lacked any real depth that would make me wish to read it again.
Eliza is a fun narrator at times, although she can also be quite insufferable. Unfortunately, although Worsley professes to present a more sympathetic view towards Katherine Howard, this is only barely achieved towards the end of the novel. Through Eliza’s eyes, Katherine is scheming, vain and cruel, and this is hardly a sympathetic portrayal of her. She is clearly a one dimensional character, until the ‘reveal’ that all along she was unfaithful to her husband because she was so desperate to beget an heir.
As Eliza states, ‘I saw that she had been caught in a trap not entirely of her own devising’. But this hardly makes up for Katherine’s poor treatment of practically every other character throughout the novel. Worsley merely attempts to present an alternative theory for Katherine’s historical actions, and although it seems possible, she fails to convince the reader to see her in a more sympathetic light.
July 20, 2019
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. At times it was a bit dull and felt a bit dragged out. However, I love the Tudor era so that aspect of the novel was brilliant.
The book tells the tale of a fictional girl who was present within the court of Henry VIII as a maid of honour for both Anne of Cleeves and Katherine Howard. I thought the ending was a bit silly, and I kind of disagree that Eliza would have chosen that path after previous decisions she had made previously.
However, it was refreshing to read a YA historical fiction book, and especially one set in Tudor times.
The book tells the tale of a fictional girl who was present within the court of Henry VIII as a maid of honour for both Anne of Cleeves and Katherine Howard. I thought the ending was a bit silly, and I kind of disagree that Eliza would have chosen that path after previous decisions she had made previously.
However, it was refreshing to read a YA historical fiction book, and especially one set in Tudor times.
November 6, 2017
I so wanted this book to be better than it was! Lucy Worsley’s non-fiction is excellent and I wanted her YA foray to be just as good. I found the main character, Eliza, quite annoying as she swung back and forth between condemning the corruption in King Henry’s court and choosing to join in revelry.
February 27, 2016
I know of Lucy Worsley from the BBC documentaries. Her speech is lovely, and I especially love the work she does with Mark Hill – they’re like a zany version of the Lutece from BioShock in a way.
But onto the book. Set in Tudor court (Henry VIII’s time), we meet Eliza Rose (fictional, not from history) when she is quite young. Quite spoiled and selfish, she thinks mostly of herself as she’s part of a noble family, so has always had an easy life and never had to lift a finger for it. However, her family aren’t as rich as they once were and this becomes more apparent as she gets older and travels a little, and sees what others call home.
Although she is always told that her duty in life is to marry well and save the family estate, when it actually happens it’s a bit of a surprise to her, especially that her father has managed one that would certainly elevate her status, and restore wealth to her family. It doesn’t entirely go to plan (and poor Eliza is still quite young at this stage, twelve or under I think?), and only seems to make her more demanding. In the end she’s sent away to a distant part of her family, to an elderly relative who spends her time and money on housing her young relatives and instructing them on the arts that are required by women of status.
Here is where the novel takes off, and it becomes impossible to put down (not that the first part wasn’t gripping, just that from here on in I stayed up far too late to finish it!) We meet other characters from history and see Worsley’s interpretation of them, showing a great deal of love and care for these characters despite how history tends to portray them. We see how court works and what was expected of those within it, despite their age or the double-expectations nature of it.
The characters are painted quite carefully, so you see how they are coming across to others but also what drives them, and how in some cases they’ve been backed into a corner, and are only doing what they can to try to stay alive – treason is of course on the cards, however what other choice did they have, in some cases?
All up I really quite enjoyed this quick and lovely read. It’s quite delicate with as happy ending as can be achieved in such a time, and the pages just fly by. I really hope Worsley chooses to write more historical fiction very soon as no matter what age they’re aimed at, they’re very, very readable.
But onto the book. Set in Tudor court (Henry VIII’s time), we meet Eliza Rose (fictional, not from history) when she is quite young. Quite spoiled and selfish, she thinks mostly of herself as she’s part of a noble family, so has always had an easy life and never had to lift a finger for it. However, her family aren’t as rich as they once were and this becomes more apparent as she gets older and travels a little, and sees what others call home.
Although she is always told that her duty in life is to marry well and save the family estate, when it actually happens it’s a bit of a surprise to her, especially that her father has managed one that would certainly elevate her status, and restore wealth to her family. It doesn’t entirely go to plan (and poor Eliza is still quite young at this stage, twelve or under I think?), and only seems to make her more demanding. In the end she’s sent away to a distant part of her family, to an elderly relative who spends her time and money on housing her young relatives and instructing them on the arts that are required by women of status.
Here is where the novel takes off, and it becomes impossible to put down (not that the first part wasn’t gripping, just that from here on in I stayed up far too late to finish it!) We meet other characters from history and see Worsley’s interpretation of them, showing a great deal of love and care for these characters despite how history tends to portray them. We see how court works and what was expected of those within it, despite their age or the double-expectations nature of it.
The characters are painted quite carefully, so you see how they are coming across to others but also what drives them, and how in some cases they’ve been backed into a corner, and are only doing what they can to try to stay alive – treason is of course on the cards, however what other choice did they have, in some cases?
All up I really quite enjoyed this quick and lovely read. It’s quite delicate with as happy ending as can be achieved in such a time, and the pages just fly by. I really hope Worsley chooses to write more historical fiction very soon as no matter what age they’re aimed at, they’re very, very readable.
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