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Katharina #2
Katharina Fortitude
Eagerly-awaited conclusion to Katharina Deliverance Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018.
'Behind even a great (sometimes, noisy, fractious) man, there is often a quietly strong, more amenable woman.
Margaret Skea's deep research and empathy brings alive one of those. If you like your historical fiction truthful and complex, then this novel about Katharina Luther is for you.' Sarah Dunant
'Beautifully written and meticulously researched - historical fiction at its best.' BooksPlease
Fans of Sarah Dunant, Hilary Mantel, C J Sansom and Winston Graham will love this book.
‘We are none of us perfect, and a streak of stubbornness is what is needed in dealing with a household such as yours, Kat… and with Martin.’
Wittenberg 1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora has no fairytale ending.
A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe.
Yet, as they face persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through.
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also the powerful conclusion to her story, begun in Katharina: Deliverance.
Authentic, immersive and packed with drama.
Grab a copy today.
'Behind even a great (sometimes, noisy, fractious) man, there is often a quietly strong, more amenable woman.
Margaret Skea's deep research and empathy brings alive one of those. If you like your historical fiction truthful and complex, then this novel about Katharina Luther is for you.' Sarah Dunant
'Beautifully written and meticulously researched - historical fiction at its best.' BooksPlease
Fans of Sarah Dunant, Hilary Mantel, C J Sansom and Winston Graham will love this book.
‘We are none of us perfect, and a streak of stubbornness is what is needed in dealing with a household such as yours, Kat… and with Martin.’
Wittenberg 1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora has no fairytale ending.
A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe.
Yet, as they face persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through.
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also the powerful conclusion to her story, begun in Katharina: Deliverance.
Authentic, immersive and packed with drama.
Grab a copy today.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2019
45 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 1, 2019
Historical fiction at its best.
I loved this book; beautifully written and meticulously researched Katharina: Fortitude by Margaret Skea it presents a vivid portrait of Katharina von Bora from the beginning of her married life with Martin Luther in 1525 to her death in 1552. It is the conclusion to Katharina: Deliverance, which covered the early years of her life from 1505 up to her wedding to Luther.
They both work well as standalone novels but I think reading both gives a fully rounded picture of her life. Margaret Skea is a skilful storyteller and seamlessly blends historical fact into her fiction. She is an award winning author both for her short stories and her historical novels – and Katharina: Deliverance was Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society Novel Award 2018.
Just as in Katharina: Deliverance, I was transported back in time and place to Reformation Germany, and in particular to Wittenberg in Saxony, experiencing the social, cultural and political situation. It’s also an intensely personal novel and I feel I really came to know Katharina and Martin very well. They lived through turbulent times, suffering outbreaks of plague, political and religious conflict as well as coping with the death of two of their children. Their marriage, initially one of convenience, opposed by some of his friends and fellow reformers, eventually became full of their love for each other and Martin came to value Katharina’s candid opinions and the support she gave him.
I felt immense admiration for Katharina, for her strength of character, resilience and courageous spirit. She gave birth to six children, whilst looking after Martin, who was often ill and suffered from depression. And in addition she also managed the daily life of the Lutherhaus in Wittenberg, often under financial difficulties because of Martin’s generosity towards others. She catered for the students and all the visitors and boarders, as well as working in the garden, with its vegetable beds and herb garden, the brewhouse, stable and piggery. Luther continued to be involved in religious controversy, whilst lecturing students, and holding his Table Talk sessions discussing a variety of topics ranging from theology and politics to diseases and their remedies. He also translated the Bible into German, composed hymns, catechisms and treatises.
I have often written in my reviews that I am not a fan of novels written in the present tense, but I had no issues with it in either of these books about Katharina and I think it fits the story perfectly. I was totally immersed in the story, enhanced by the richly descriptive writing, which made it compulsively readable for me.
In her Author’s Note Margaret Skea states that her book, based on a research trip in Saxony, ‘is a work of fiction, and though based on extensive research, the Katharina depicted here is my own interpretation’. There is a list of the main characters, a glossary of German terms and a map showing Saxony and Surroundings to help with the locations. It is a remarkable story, full of drama, centred on Katharina, a strong and courageous woman who never gave up no matter the difficulties that life with Luther brought her. I loved it.
With many thanks to Margaret Skea for sending me an advance review copy.
I loved this book; beautifully written and meticulously researched Katharina: Fortitude by Margaret Skea it presents a vivid portrait of Katharina von Bora from the beginning of her married life with Martin Luther in 1525 to her death in 1552. It is the conclusion to Katharina: Deliverance, which covered the early years of her life from 1505 up to her wedding to Luther.
They both work well as standalone novels but I think reading both gives a fully rounded picture of her life. Margaret Skea is a skilful storyteller and seamlessly blends historical fact into her fiction. She is an award winning author both for her short stories and her historical novels – and Katharina: Deliverance was Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society Novel Award 2018.
Just as in Katharina: Deliverance, I was transported back in time and place to Reformation Germany, and in particular to Wittenberg in Saxony, experiencing the social, cultural and political situation. It’s also an intensely personal novel and I feel I really came to know Katharina and Martin very well. They lived through turbulent times, suffering outbreaks of plague, political and religious conflict as well as coping with the death of two of their children. Their marriage, initially one of convenience, opposed by some of his friends and fellow reformers, eventually became full of their love for each other and Martin came to value Katharina’s candid opinions and the support she gave him.
I felt immense admiration for Katharina, for her strength of character, resilience and courageous spirit. She gave birth to six children, whilst looking after Martin, who was often ill and suffered from depression. And in addition she also managed the daily life of the Lutherhaus in Wittenberg, often under financial difficulties because of Martin’s generosity towards others. She catered for the students and all the visitors and boarders, as well as working in the garden, with its vegetable beds and herb garden, the brewhouse, stable and piggery. Luther continued to be involved in religious controversy, whilst lecturing students, and holding his Table Talk sessions discussing a variety of topics ranging from theology and politics to diseases and their remedies. He also translated the Bible into German, composed hymns, catechisms and treatises.
I have often written in my reviews that I am not a fan of novels written in the present tense, but I had no issues with it in either of these books about Katharina and I think it fits the story perfectly. I was totally immersed in the story, enhanced by the richly descriptive writing, which made it compulsively readable for me.
In her Author’s Note Margaret Skea states that her book, based on a research trip in Saxony, ‘is a work of fiction, and though based on extensive research, the Katharina depicted here is my own interpretation’. There is a list of the main characters, a glossary of German terms and a map showing Saxony and Surroundings to help with the locations. It is a remarkable story, full of drama, centred on Katharina, a strong and courageous woman who never gave up no matter the difficulties that life with Luther brought her. I loved it.
With many thanks to Margaret Skea for sending me an advance review copy.
July 31, 2019
Fascinating sequel
Katharina Fortitude is a fascinating sequel to ‘Deliverance’ and covers Katharina Luther’s adult life from early marriage through to her death. I knew very little about this period of history, but found it really interesting. There’s lots of reference to both theological points of contention and historical events, but neither obscure what is at its heart a very personal story of one woman’s life, struggles and triumphs in the midst of world changing events.
Katharina Fortitude is a fascinating sequel to ‘Deliverance’ and covers Katharina Luther’s adult life from early marriage through to her death. I knew very little about this period of history, but found it really interesting. There’s lots of reference to both theological points of contention and historical events, but neither obscure what is at its heart a very personal story of one woman’s life, struggles and triumphs in the midst of world changing events.
June 10, 2020
More so than some other sequels, this one is tightly knitted into its predecessor,
Katharina
. Reading that one first would be key to understanding the characters and their relationships.
On the other hand, the narration includes a multitude of subtle, intimate details—a character's thoughts and impressions, fears and doubts—that ring true and will be familiar to anyone. As this is the third Margaret Skea title to come my way, I've learned her strengths include the ability to craft entirely understandable three-dimensional characters. Also, her writing shows a very conscientious effort to understand and illuminate the subject matter, which in this case is the wife and household of Martin Luther.
I should mention that I met Ms Skea online more than ten years ago when we were sharing bits of our manuscripts via a now-defunct website for authors. Since then I've read many fine books by the participants. (The fate of the website itself is engagingly and accurately reported on another writer's blog.)
This one picks up Katharina's story immediately after her wedding to Martin Luther, when she convinces him first to accept student boarders, then to formalize the time he spends discussing theological matters with them, and then to expand the circle of participants until their home begins to resemble a seminary. Clearly, she influences him to do more than he would have on his own.
As in the first installment, human nature does not appear to have changed over the centuries. There are others in the community (today we'd call them karens) who cannot abide the fact that these two people, a former priest and a former nun, are now married. Such abominations must not be tolerated! Fortunately, that is not quite the majority view.
The narrative continues, largely consisting of a parade of events that do call for fortitude: children are born (and some die), a plague besets the land (another similarity with current times), and Luther (never a paragon of self-restraint or diplomacy) writes fiery missives to dispute points of doctrine with clergymen representing the corrupt medieval Church. The substance of those disputes (e.g., a disagreement over "the Lord's Supper" (communion)) was never clear to me, but Luther says views contrary to his are "false and malicious" and he is determined to "drain the swamps."
Katharina is often dismayed by his readiness to fly off the handle. A friend reminds her to maintain perspective: "You know how Martin is. A person is either for him or against him. There is no middle ground."
So as in the first book I found myself comparing Luther's style with that of a well-known public figure of today. (But I rather doubt that was the author's intention.)
Again, I'm sure all of this is built from the historical record. Accuracy is a virtue, of course, but after all these years that record is limited. There is need for some invention. I would have liked more dialog in the discussions of theological matters, for example. Specifically, I wanted more insight into the positions held by various characters. Katharina, of course, is a wife and a mother, with concerns distinct from Martin's, but she is also very much engaged in his concerns (more so than many people think is seemly). Meanwhile, there is dialog between her and other women, but it feels artificially sensible and considered, as if lifted from surviving correspondence. I presume that's the case. And while I agree with the idea of preserving that kind of material and making it available, at times there's a certain cost to readability in treating it this way.
But there are also moments, especially toward the end, in which the interactions feel more genuine—the time Katharina and Martin are caught out in the rain, for example, and their conversation when he finds her working in the garden. They contribute to a subtext showing that, although these two people probably did not love each other at the beginning, over time they truly became one.
On the other hand, the narration includes a multitude of subtle, intimate details—a character's thoughts and impressions, fears and doubts—that ring true and will be familiar to anyone. As this is the third Margaret Skea title to come my way, I've learned her strengths include the ability to craft entirely understandable three-dimensional characters. Also, her writing shows a very conscientious effort to understand and illuminate the subject matter, which in this case is the wife and household of Martin Luther.
I should mention that I met Ms Skea online more than ten years ago when we were sharing bits of our manuscripts via a now-defunct website for authors. Since then I've read many fine books by the participants. (The fate of the website itself is engagingly and accurately reported on another writer's blog.)
This one picks up Katharina's story immediately after her wedding to Martin Luther, when she convinces him first to accept student boarders, then to formalize the time he spends discussing theological matters with them, and then to expand the circle of participants until their home begins to resemble a seminary. Clearly, she influences him to do more than he would have on his own.
As in the first installment, human nature does not appear to have changed over the centuries. There are others in the community (today we'd call them karens) who cannot abide the fact that these two people, a former priest and a former nun, are now married. Such abominations must not be tolerated! Fortunately, that is not quite the majority view.
The narrative continues, largely consisting of a parade of events that do call for fortitude: children are born (and some die), a plague besets the land (another similarity with current times), and Luther (never a paragon of self-restraint or diplomacy) writes fiery missives to dispute points of doctrine with clergymen representing the corrupt medieval Church. The substance of those disputes (e.g., a disagreement over "the Lord's Supper" (communion)) was never clear to me, but Luther says views contrary to his are "false and malicious" and he is determined to "drain the swamps."
Katharina is often dismayed by his readiness to fly off the handle. A friend reminds her to maintain perspective: "You know how Martin is. A person is either for him or against him. There is no middle ground."
So as in the first book I found myself comparing Luther's style with that of a well-known public figure of today. (But I rather doubt that was the author's intention.)
Again, I'm sure all of this is built from the historical record. Accuracy is a virtue, of course, but after all these years that record is limited. There is need for some invention. I would have liked more dialog in the discussions of theological matters, for example. Specifically, I wanted more insight into the positions held by various characters. Katharina, of course, is a wife and a mother, with concerns distinct from Martin's, but she is also very much engaged in his concerns (more so than many people think is seemly). Meanwhile, there is dialog between her and other women, but it feels artificially sensible and considered, as if lifted from surviving correspondence. I presume that's the case. And while I agree with the idea of preserving that kind of material and making it available, at times there's a certain cost to readability in treating it this way.
But there are also moments, especially toward the end, in which the interactions feel more genuine—the time Katharina and Martin are caught out in the rain, for example, and their conversation when he finds her working in the garden. They contribute to a subtext showing that, although these two people probably did not love each other at the beginning, over time they truly became one.
August 28, 2019
BLURB
Eagerly-awaited conclusion to Katharina Deliverance - Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018.
'Beautifully written and meticulously researched - historical fiction at its best.' BooksPlease
Fans of Hilary Mantel, C J Sansom and Winston Graham will love this book.
‘We are none of us perfect, and a streak of stubbornness is what is needed in dealing with a household such as yours, Kat… and with Martin.’
Wittenberg 1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora has no fairytale ending.
A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe.
Yet, as they face persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through.
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also the powerful conclusion to her story, begun in Katharina: Deliverance.
If you like your historical Fiction to be authentic, immersive and packed with drama, this book is for you.
REVIEW
One of the aspects of historical fiction that I look for in my reading is authenticity where the history is concerned coupled with fiction that could very well be part of the actual history being told. In Katharina Fortitude, the author has created just such a narrative. The struggles to keep hearth and home together are daunting enough given the obstacles and the emotional toil that Kat faces, and on top of all of that she is married to an unrelenting, firebrand reformation theologian who is prone to irascible outbursts at any perceived deviation to his reformed beliefs. That is the Martin Luther she married, but what I really love about this story is the way Martin is portrayed when not dealing with his 'calling'. His tenderness, the joy he exhibits with his children, the way he gradually succumbs to Kat's industriousness, and sharpness of mind. It is a captivating tale that reaches into your heart; an emotional journey of love and loss. 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eagerly-awaited conclusion to Katharina Deliverance - Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018.
'Beautifully written and meticulously researched - historical fiction at its best.' BooksPlease
Fans of Hilary Mantel, C J Sansom and Winston Graham will love this book.
‘We are none of us perfect, and a streak of stubbornness is what is needed in dealing with a household such as yours, Kat… and with Martin.’
Wittenberg 1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora has no fairytale ending.
A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe.
Yet, as they face persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through.
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also the powerful conclusion to her story, begun in Katharina: Deliverance.
If you like your historical Fiction to be authentic, immersive and packed with drama, this book is for you.
REVIEW
One of the aspects of historical fiction that I look for in my reading is authenticity where the history is concerned coupled with fiction that could very well be part of the actual history being told. In Katharina Fortitude, the author has created just such a narrative. The struggles to keep hearth and home together are daunting enough given the obstacles and the emotional toil that Kat faces, and on top of all of that she is married to an unrelenting, firebrand reformation theologian who is prone to irascible outbursts at any perceived deviation to his reformed beliefs. That is the Martin Luther she married, but what I really love about this story is the way Martin is portrayed when not dealing with his 'calling'. His tenderness, the joy he exhibits with his children, the way he gradually succumbs to Kat's industriousness, and sharpness of mind. It is a captivating tale that reaches into your heart; an emotional journey of love and loss. 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 21, 2019
The second book in the story of Luther, his wife and family as more children are conceived, political change and continued Reformation challenges impact the family and citizens of Wittenburg. War and plague make their visits on widowed Katharina as she struggles to maintain their property and welfare of her family. The portrayal is finely tuned with solid historical research and a compassionate voice.
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Kindle Unlimited
January 27, 2021
This is a historical fiction and contains religion mentions. I actually enjoy it’s reference because it makes sense because who she marries. You follow her life and as in any marriage there are ups and downs. Since it’s a historical fiction you get the time line as references and you follow her experiences. I think the writing was easy to understand and very informative m. I enjoyed it a lot.
January 3, 2020
Two things make good historical fiction; sound research and excellent storytelling. Katharina: Fortitude has both and, I am delighted to say, the degree of 'excellent storytelling' promote this book from 'good' to 'great'.
We begin where Katharina: Deliverance left off with the wedding of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. It is a wedding that is not fully approved of either by some of the townsfolk of Wittenberg or the various different Christian religions, most notably the Pope and the Catholics. Yet, perhaps strangely, their marriage proves to be a perfect match, Katharina's calming influence of great benefit to her sometimes volatile husband. She establishes herself as the domestic head of the household whilst bowing to Martin's fervent religious convictions. As Martin is several years older than Katharina, she manages to organise him and he loses many of the bad habits of a middle-aged bachelor.
Their ups and downs are chronicled faithfully – the births (and loss) of children, visitations of the plague and, latterly, the threat of war - and are well spaced out so as not to make it a chronicle of events. As Martin ages and ill health strikes, Katharina worries about him all the more until the inevitable happens.
The strength in this book is Ms Skea's ability to make her characters – major and minor – so very real. The Martin Luther I had always envisaged was a dull man; not so here. He proves to be a loving husband and devoted father. He listens to Katharina and defends when others disapprove, he plays the lute well and writes hymns as well as pamphlets. And, above all, he has a sense of humour, often poking fun at himself – his looks, his weight and even his illnesses. Katharina is organised, forward thinking, and forthright in her domain. Yet she retains her shyness and lack of confidence. Her friends are human too – most especially Barbara – and Katharina lives through their tragedies with them. 'Fortitude' is a good subtitle for this book.
In addition to this, the narrative is broken up by the thoughts of the sick and dying Katharina. She is often delirious, but her fancies whilst in this state link the previous and following sections very neatly indeed. There are not too many of them so they are never intrusive.
There are only two points I should make and they are not criticisms in any way. The main narrative and the 'interruptions' are both written in the First Person and the Present Tense – some readers may find it off putting, though I did not. And the second is to urge the reader to read the previous volume first as some of the characters may need clarification as to their relationships with both Katharina and Martin, this was not always made clear as 'back story' in this second part of the series. Aside from that, when something is good it is always worth starting at the beginning!
(Reviewed on behalf of Discovering Diamonds Blog Spot)
We begin where Katharina: Deliverance left off with the wedding of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. It is a wedding that is not fully approved of either by some of the townsfolk of Wittenberg or the various different Christian religions, most notably the Pope and the Catholics. Yet, perhaps strangely, their marriage proves to be a perfect match, Katharina's calming influence of great benefit to her sometimes volatile husband. She establishes herself as the domestic head of the household whilst bowing to Martin's fervent religious convictions. As Martin is several years older than Katharina, she manages to organise him and he loses many of the bad habits of a middle-aged bachelor.
Their ups and downs are chronicled faithfully – the births (and loss) of children, visitations of the plague and, latterly, the threat of war - and are well spaced out so as not to make it a chronicle of events. As Martin ages and ill health strikes, Katharina worries about him all the more until the inevitable happens.
The strength in this book is Ms Skea's ability to make her characters – major and minor – so very real. The Martin Luther I had always envisaged was a dull man; not so here. He proves to be a loving husband and devoted father. He listens to Katharina and defends when others disapprove, he plays the lute well and writes hymns as well as pamphlets. And, above all, he has a sense of humour, often poking fun at himself – his looks, his weight and even his illnesses. Katharina is organised, forward thinking, and forthright in her domain. Yet she retains her shyness and lack of confidence. Her friends are human too – most especially Barbara – and Katharina lives through their tragedies with them. 'Fortitude' is a good subtitle for this book.
In addition to this, the narrative is broken up by the thoughts of the sick and dying Katharina. She is often delirious, but her fancies whilst in this state link the previous and following sections very neatly indeed. There are not too many of them so they are never intrusive.
There are only two points I should make and they are not criticisms in any way. The main narrative and the 'interruptions' are both written in the First Person and the Present Tense – some readers may find it off putting, though I did not. And the second is to urge the reader to read the previous volume first as some of the characters may need clarification as to their relationships with both Katharina and Martin, this was not always made clear as 'back story' in this second part of the series. Aside from that, when something is good it is always worth starting at the beginning!
(Reviewed on behalf of Discovering Diamonds Blog Spot)
August 10, 2019
First, let me say that I read this book immediately after I read its predecessor (Katharina: Deliverance), and while I enjoyed the continuity, I believe that either book could easily stand on its own. Not having read the first one (though I also recommend that book) would not make this one hard to follow.
Skea is that rare author who can be eloquent with what is not said. She can lead us quietly into a room, let us see and hear all that goes on, and make our own observations and draw our own conclusions. She respects her readers’ intelligence and never tells us what to think. The book is written in the present tense, which is not normally my favorite, but in this case it did what it is supposed to do and provided a sense of immediacy to all that was happening.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its sensitive detailing of longstanding friendships among women, deepening over the years. Katharina’s marriage, too, takes on unexpected depths and nuances as we watch the subtle changes in the way she and Martin relate to each other. The reader is taken into that most private of relationships with great emotional honesty.
Over and over, as is natural over the course of a life, we watch Katharina deal with loss, and it is in these moments that we most clearly see her faith tested and, ultimately, triumphant. As much as this is Katharina’s story, it is also a deft character study and history of Martin Luther, always central, always pivotal, but never stealing the story from Katharina. Highly recommended.
Skea is that rare author who can be eloquent with what is not said. She can lead us quietly into a room, let us see and hear all that goes on, and make our own observations and draw our own conclusions. She respects her readers’ intelligence and never tells us what to think. The book is written in the present tense, which is not normally my favorite, but in this case it did what it is supposed to do and provided a sense of immediacy to all that was happening.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its sensitive detailing of longstanding friendships among women, deepening over the years. Katharina’s marriage, too, takes on unexpected depths and nuances as we watch the subtle changes in the way she and Martin relate to each other. The reader is taken into that most private of relationships with great emotional honesty.
Over and over, as is natural over the course of a life, we watch Katharina deal with loss, and it is in these moments that we most clearly see her faith tested and, ultimately, triumphant. As much as this is Katharina’s story, it is also a deft character study and history of Martin Luther, always central, always pivotal, but never stealing the story from Katharina. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2019
A satisfying sequel to Katharina: Deliverance (runner-up for the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018). That book ended with the marriage of Martin Luther (former monk) and Katharina (former nun; he helped her (and other nuns) escape from a convent). I knew a little bit about Martin Luther before but otherwise this is not a period of history I was familiar with (early 16th century Germany) – and Margaret Skea certainly puts flesh on the bones and makes the characters and the times come alive.
From the little that is known about her she has built up a picture of a very believable Katharina. It is on record that Frau Luther was outspoken (even, shock, horror, when she was the only woman in male company), something that was disapproved of by many – but not her husband. Their highly controversial marriage would appear to have beeen a very happy one.
I was thinking what a modern woman she was for her day but then I realised, no, she was doing what women have done down the centuries and still do – make a comfortable home out of a house (albeit in her case a massive one, with cloisters … ), balance the family budget and find ways to supplement it, and of course be a ‘helpmeet’ to her husband – even more necessary when that husband is about to change the course of Western history.
Well-researched and extremely readable, a light shining down the ages.
From the little that is known about her she has built up a picture of a very believable Katharina. It is on record that Frau Luther was outspoken (even, shock, horror, when she was the only woman in male company), something that was disapproved of by many – but not her husband. Their highly controversial marriage would appear to have beeen a very happy one.
I was thinking what a modern woman she was for her day but then I realised, no, she was doing what women have done down the centuries and still do – make a comfortable home out of a house (albeit in her case a massive one, with cloisters … ), balance the family budget and find ways to supplement it, and of course be a ‘helpmeet’ to her husband – even more necessary when that husband is about to change the course of Western history.
Well-researched and extremely readable, a light shining down the ages.
August 20, 2019
The responsibilities of creating fictional versions of real-life characters are well-documented but they are nevertheless a challenge and one which Margaret Skea seems to relish. On first acquaintance, two things strike me about the eponymous wife of Martin Luther in 'Katharina Fortitude'. One is her courage. It must have been courageous to set oneself against the forces of Christendom at the time when she did so, even to the extent of being haunted through pregnancy with the menace of her unborn child being Devil's spawn. Even the tradesmen are cautious in their dealings with her although they are set to profit hugely from the Luthers' growing list of dinner guests. The other feature of Katharina that strikes me is her modernity. She deals with things which we do not - plague, damnation, the opinions of a world-changing husband etc - but she maintains her capacity for independent thought and action throughout. Her way of handling challenges may be of her times but her intention is timeless and universal. And all this in a world created so skillfully by Margaret Skea – with such lightness of touch. The life and times of Katharina are vivid and the occasional detail or contemporaneous word - such as 'tailclout' or 'stube' - keeps the reader safely anchored there. I read this as a standalone, but am very much drawn now to seek out the first in the series.
March 26, 2020
A fictionalized account of Katharina Luther’s married years with and after Martin, Katharina Fortitude reveals the many areas in which the deck of life was stacked against her—religious, political, personal, illness, and the forces of nature. The title is apt—Katharina Luther certainly needed fortitude to survive and flourish as Martin Luther’s wife!
Skea portrays Katharina’s life story vividly. Katharina, as well as the famous and obscure characters who surrounded her, come to life in the backdrop of sixteenth-century Wittenberg (so well-drawn that it’s a character in itself). The heroes of early Reformation history emerge as complex people, sympathetically drawn, but without haloes.
This novel was no dreamy romance I could breeze through while eating chocolates (thank goodness!). Katharina: Fortitude kept me reading to learn what would be her next challenge, how or if she would overcome it, and who would help or oppose her. I came away with a new appreciation and admiration for this strong woman of the sixteenth century.
Skea portrays Katharina’s life story vividly. Katharina, as well as the famous and obscure characters who surrounded her, come to life in the backdrop of sixteenth-century Wittenberg (so well-drawn that it’s a character in itself). The heroes of early Reformation history emerge as complex people, sympathetically drawn, but without haloes.
This novel was no dreamy romance I could breeze through while eating chocolates (thank goodness!). Katharina: Fortitude kept me reading to learn what would be her next challenge, how or if she would overcome it, and who would help or oppose her. I came away with a new appreciation and admiration for this strong woman of the sixteenth century.
August 15, 2019
The sequel to the book Katharina Deliverance, this book Katharina Fortitude picks up the history of Martin Luther and more importantly his wife Katharina. Fortitude continues to tell Katharina's story in a way that gives me an insight into her life and the life she had with Martin Luther. She is definitely a very strong woman, in a time when that wasn't really the role of women, though she had to persevere to become her own person. She could definitely be a role model to everyone now.
Margaret Skea gives life to a story that I had very little knowledge of and writes it in a way that makes me want to keep reading this book as well as looking up more about Martin Luther.
I highly recommend Margaret Skea as a writer, I look forward to wherever her writing takes her next.
Books I have read by Margaret Skea that I would highly recommend.
Katharina Deliverance
Katharina Fortitude
Turn of the Tide
A House Divided
By Sword and Storm
Margaret Skea gives life to a story that I had very little knowledge of and writes it in a way that makes me want to keep reading this book as well as looking up more about Martin Luther.
I highly recommend Margaret Skea as a writer, I look forward to wherever her writing takes her next.
Books I have read by Margaret Skea that I would highly recommend.
Katharina Deliverance
Katharina Fortitude
Turn of the Tide
A House Divided
By Sword and Storm
August 16, 2019
A worthy follow-up to Katharina Deliverance. Life in the states and towns of Germany in the late 15th and early 16th century was circumscribed by convention, so the marriage of an ex-nun and an ex-monk was bound to arouse the interest, if not the outright hostility, of neighbours from near and far. All the more so when the ex-monk in question was Martin Luther.
Margaret Skea adroitly combines Katharina's experiences with her perspective from a later time when her memories are confused, if one might employ a kindly-meant modern euphemism. This device works well in the construction of a narrative which must be composed on the basis of what was likely rather than recorded.
An excellent read, which I would earnestly recommend to general readers as well as to those who have studied either the period and/or topic of the early Protestant reformation..
Margaret Skea adroitly combines Katharina's experiences with her perspective from a later time when her memories are confused, if one might employ a kindly-meant modern euphemism. This device works well in the construction of a narrative which must be composed on the basis of what was likely rather than recorded.
An excellent read, which I would earnestly recommend to general readers as well as to those who have studied either the period and/or topic of the early Protestant reformation..
August 31, 2019
I was excited to read this conclusion to Margaret Skea’s First book, Katharina Deliverance, about Katharina von Bora, and was not disappointed. This book, Fortitude, continues Katharina’s story, from 1525, in Wittenberg when she unexpectedly marries Martin Luther. However their life together was full of, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, as well as the couple facing persecution. As the blurb says, “Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through”.
This is a well written and extremely well researched book. The sights and smells of the period are really well described and make it feel as though your with Katharina in the story. It can be read as a standalone story or as I did, as the follow on to Deliverance.
Katharina Deliverance, was runner-up in the Historical Novel Society, New Novel Award in 2018 and this book is just as good. I definitely recommend it.
This is a well written and extremely well researched book. The sights and smells of the period are really well described and make it feel as though your with Katharina in the story. It can be read as a standalone story or as I did, as the follow on to Deliverance.
Katharina Deliverance, was runner-up in the Historical Novel Society, New Novel Award in 2018 and this book is just as good. I definitely recommend it.
August 26, 2019
Katharina: Fortitude is an historical novel about real people, a love story, and a spiritual treatise all rolled into one. It begins with the wedding of Katharina von Bora to Martin Luther and chronicles their life together. It is beautifully written and told me a lot about a period in history I was unaware of, without being in the least bit boring. I was only sorry I hadn't read the first part of the series beforehand, but will now go back and read about their early lives. A wonderful read, thoroughly recommended.
September 4, 2019
Margaret Skea does a fantastic job of humanizing both Luther and his wife Katerina. The history is spot on, and I suspect the characterization of Katerina is close to real life. Luther cannot have been an easy husband to manage. Skea shows him human, with clay feet, without diminishing the man that he was. Her depiction of the struggles, trials, and griefs of that time ring true - when it was so common to lose children, friends, husbands. For a "you are there" experience at Table Talk and Lutherhouse, you have to get this book.
August 10, 2019
Margaret Skea never disappoints. Her stories are always based on historical fact, weaving her own skillful interpretive writing into realistic settings and profound dialogue. Katharina's story, begun in the first book, Katharina: Deliverance, evolves into one of the challenges of her time, and her resilience and courage has found recognition and publication in Margaret Skea's sequel,. Katharina: Fortitude. I continue to enjoy her writings and look forward to more ahead.
September 6, 2019
I,loved this book. Margaret has bought the past to life and made Martin Luther a fully rouded person.,through Katherina. I think she has done a lot of research for this book and it shows. A truly wonderful read
January 3, 2020
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"Two things make good historical fiction; sound research and excellent storytelling. Katharina: Fortitude has both"
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"Two things make good historical fiction; sound research and excellent storytelling. Katharina: Fortitude has both"
February 14, 2020
Great read for the second book in the series
It was wonderful to read the sequel to this short series. I was afraid it would not be as good as the first one. I learned still more about the Reformation and of the kind of life that was lived in the 16th Century.
It was wonderful to read the sequel to this short series. I was afraid it would not be as good as the first one. I learned still more about the Reformation and of the kind of life that was lived in the 16th Century.
April 15, 2020
A substantive read
There are many reasons for recommending this book. First, it is a compelling work of fiction. Secondly, it is well researched. Lastly, it brings a historical figure into a relatable light.
There are many reasons for recommending this book. First, it is a compelling work of fiction. Secondly, it is well researched. Lastly, it brings a historical figure into a relatable light.
January 11, 2024
In the second half of this duology, we follow Katharina from her wedding to Martin Luther to her death bed - and see just how much can happen in one lifetime.
What's surprising and also highly relatable is just how normal and ordinary the marriage of Martin and Katharina is. It is exactly like any other marriage with one partner an idealist focused on building something brand new in a brand new sector, while the other is a realist who keeps a sharp eye on the money.
This, we see, was partly the point of their marriage - they wanted to show that something New and Radical could also be Ordinary and Everyday. Don't be sacred - it's not the foretold parents of the antichrist (an actual insult thrown in Katharina's face!), it just an ordinary couple bouncing and soothing a teething baby.
Like almost any life, it's a mix of listening to the latest news of very high-level politics as leaders get into fights over policy - and then going about the daily chores of making dinner and making sure the kids are doing their homework.
I'll admit, some of the politics lost me, but I LOVED seeing these two as parents, how much the love for their children glows off the page, and the heartbreak of burying children because its centuries until vaccines and antibiotics.
My favorite scene was Katharine coming across her two youngest children playing pretend with some spoons and her knitting, telling her they made vegetable soup. Instead of scolding them, she kneels down and pretends to eat the soup and tells them it's delicious. It was a moment that could have played out in almost time and place, and it was absolutely heartwarming.
As the story goes on, Katharina has to say goodbye to a lot of people as death visits all too often, until we get to that final, heartbreaking scene when death comes for her.
What's surprising and also highly relatable is just how normal and ordinary the marriage of Martin and Katharina is. It is exactly like any other marriage with one partner an idealist focused on building something brand new in a brand new sector, while the other is a realist who keeps a sharp eye on the money.
This, we see, was partly the point of their marriage - they wanted to show that something New and Radical could also be Ordinary and Everyday. Don't be sacred - it's not the foretold parents of the antichrist (an actual insult thrown in Katharina's face!), it just an ordinary couple bouncing and soothing a teething baby.
Like almost any life, it's a mix of listening to the latest news of very high-level politics as leaders get into fights over policy - and then going about the daily chores of making dinner and making sure the kids are doing their homework.
I'll admit, some of the politics lost me, but I LOVED seeing these two as parents, how much the love for their children glows off the page, and the heartbreak of burying children because its centuries until vaccines and antibiotics.
My favorite scene was Katharine coming across her two youngest children playing pretend with some spoons and her knitting, telling her they made vegetable soup. Instead of scolding them, she kneels down and pretends to eat the soup and tells them it's delicious. It was a moment that could have played out in almost time and place, and it was absolutely heartwarming.
As the story goes on, Katharina has to say goodbye to a lot of people as death visits all too often, until we get to that final, heartbreaking scene when death comes for her.
January 29, 2021
Although I grew up a Protestant, I didn’t learn anything about Martin Luther until I went to college. Even then, I only learned of his theological writings and never heard much about his wife. This book has certainly changed that.
Katharina Fortitude is an amazing historical fiction book. I read it over a few days time, as I found time to get to it. Every time I saw my kindle waiting for me, I couldn’t wait to get back to the book. I really wanted to find out what was going to happen next.
The author did so much research to give us an authentic look into the lives and marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. You may know about the temperament of Martin Luther, but with this book you’ll learn about how his wife lived with him and how she became one of the most important people of the Reformation.
The marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora was scandalous at the time, because she escaped being a nun. She faced gossip and outright hostility to her marriage. People in the town were even afraid that their first child would be the antichrist. But, Katharina also had many loyal friends.
She had six children, but lost children too. She was a real Proverbs 31 woman. She enabled her husband to do the writing and speaking that he was called to do as she managed home and expanded their holdings. She ran gardens, farms with animals, birthed six children, cared for orphans, and oversaw a huge home with boarders.
This book is such a wonderful read and Christian readers will love learning about the marriage. This is an inspirational book. You’ll laugh and cry all while being challenged to live out your faith as Katharina did. I would recommend it to everyone.
Katharina Fortitude is an amazing historical fiction book. I read it over a few days time, as I found time to get to it. Every time I saw my kindle waiting for me, I couldn’t wait to get back to the book. I really wanted to find out what was going to happen next.
The author did so much research to give us an authentic look into the lives and marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. You may know about the temperament of Martin Luther, but with this book you’ll learn about how his wife lived with him and how she became one of the most important people of the Reformation.
The marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora was scandalous at the time, because she escaped being a nun. She faced gossip and outright hostility to her marriage. People in the town were even afraid that their first child would be the antichrist. But, Katharina also had many loyal friends.
She had six children, but lost children too. She was a real Proverbs 31 woman. She enabled her husband to do the writing and speaking that he was called to do as she managed home and expanded their holdings. She ran gardens, farms with animals, birthed six children, cared for orphans, and oversaw a huge home with boarders.
This book is such a wonderful read and Christian readers will love learning about the marriage. This is an inspirational book. You’ll laugh and cry all while being challenged to live out your faith as Katharina did. I would recommend it to everyone.
February 2, 2021
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I love this period of history and I was really excited when I read the blurb for this book especially seeing how much I enjoyed the first book – that one gave me genuinely high expectations for this one as a sequel and I was delighted that this book met them all!
This was a superb sequel and as I said on my review for the previous book Katharina is a simply wonderful character, well developed, showing strength and determination – this book again showcases her life and her story.
It is not that often I say this with a follow on book but I have to say that I think this book was even better than the first and a complete delight for someone who loves historical fiction as much as I do, to read – so if you are interested in this period I would certainly recommend that you give these two books a go!
The book was very well written, the characters were superb and the author really transported me back in time again to a period I love and it was wonderful to be back.
It was a wholly addictive read and I loved each chapter, there was plenty of content, a wonderful descriptive nature to the writing and superb attention to detail. I finished it the same weekend I started it and treated myself to come much needed “me” time – it was the perfect escape!
It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended and a book I have treasured reading.
I love this period of history and I was really excited when I read the blurb for this book especially seeing how much I enjoyed the first book – that one gave me genuinely high expectations for this one as a sequel and I was delighted that this book met them all!
This was a superb sequel and as I said on my review for the previous book Katharina is a simply wonderful character, well developed, showing strength and determination – this book again showcases her life and her story.
It is not that often I say this with a follow on book but I have to say that I think this book was even better than the first and a complete delight for someone who loves historical fiction as much as I do, to read – so if you are interested in this period I would certainly recommend that you give these two books a go!
The book was very well written, the characters were superb and the author really transported me back in time again to a period I love and it was wonderful to be back.
It was a wholly addictive read and I loved each chapter, there was plenty of content, a wonderful descriptive nature to the writing and superb attention to detail. I finished it the same weekend I started it and treated myself to come much needed “me” time – it was the perfect escape!
It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended and a book I have treasured reading.
October 10, 2021
Fascinating and Forceful
Skea beautifully fills out the facts with well-researched fiction. In this portrait of Katharina Luther, I learned of her fears and her strengths, as well as her deep faith in God and her relationships to Luther, their children and friends. I was continually amazed by Katharina's resourcefulness and drive. Skea shines a spotlight on the personalities of the people in the context of the times. I am grateful for her diligence in research and creativity in weaving details to make a comprehensive story come to life.
Skea beautifully fills out the facts with well-researched fiction. In this portrait of Katharina Luther, I learned of her fears and her strengths, as well as her deep faith in God and her relationships to Luther, their children and friends. I was continually amazed by Katharina's resourcefulness and drive. Skea shines a spotlight on the personalities of the people in the context of the times. I am grateful for her diligence in research and creativity in weaving details to make a comprehensive story come to life.
January 11, 2025
3.5 stars
I still enjoyed reading the rest of Katharina's story but felt a lot more lost in the historical events than I did in the first book. There didn't seem to be quite enough explanatory buildup for someone not as familiar with the time period. The positive flip side is that I'm inspired to read more about the Luthers. 🙂
I still enjoyed reading the rest of Katharina's story but felt a lot more lost in the historical events than I did in the first book. There didn't seem to be quite enough explanatory buildup for someone not as familiar with the time period. The positive flip side is that I'm inspired to read more about the Luthers. 🙂
March 9, 2020
Katharina Fortitude by Margaret Skea has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Premier Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
www.chillwithabook.com
January 25, 2021
This is the second and final book in the series and we follow Katharina from her marriage to Martin Luther through to her death. After a marriage of convenience you see their love and respect for each other grow and follow the ups and downs of what could have been considered, at the time, a celebrity marriage, where everything they did was constantly under scrutiny and judged by others. We see them live through good and bad times including friendships, births, deaths, plagues and war. I enjoyed this one more than the first but still found the religious aspects confusing and difficult to understand, but anyone interested in or with an understanding of religious history would really enjoy all aspects of this book. It is really well written and some parts brought a tear to my eye and I find Katharina a very strong and interesting lead character.
August 16, 2019
I had not read the first Margaret Skea wrote about Katharina von Bora’s early life before starting this book, and although I had to concentrate at the beginning to absorb the atmosphere of the characters, the time and place, this certainly did not interfere with my enjoyment of the story.
The author’s beautiful writing style captured me from the start as Katharina describes her life with the formidable and controversial Martin Luther in Wittenberg during the sixteenth century reformation; a challenging time to live with all its political and religious upheavals, and where the philosophy, ‘live and let live’ had no place.
Katharina and Martin’s union survives through plague, political adversity and the loss of two of their six children. Katharina also nursed Martin through frequent illness and what modern medics would diagnose as depression. I felt for her at times when Martin’s generosity meant she and her children lost out, but she carried on feeding students, visitors and boarders at the Lutherhaus, as well as toiling like a labourer on the estate which provided for them all.
A mental giant, ahead of his time, Martin Luther defied the powers that be and dealt with controversial subjects from theology to medicine with his students and at his famous meetings.
The details of Katherina’s life have not been recorded, but the author successfully drew a credible picture of the trials Katharina would have faced, illustrating that all through history, the expectations society and the church put on women were never simple or easy. Margaret Skea’s book is a fascinating treatise on the era, and the character of Martin Luther which makes me wonder if he would have achieved as much without her support.
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