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A Woman of Noble Wit
THE COFFEE POT BOOK CLUB, BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 - SILVER MEDALS in each of the following categories - Women’s Historical Fiction, Historical Romance and for books set in The Tudors, The Stuarts, and The Commonwealth of England
Few women of her time lived to see their name in print. But Katherine was no ordinary woman. She was Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother. This is her story.
Set against the turbulent background of a Devon rocked by the religious and social changes that shaped Tudor England; a Devon of privateers and pirates; a Devon riven by rebellions and plots, A Woman of Noble Wit tells how Katherine became the woman who would inspire her famous sons to follow their dreams. It is Tudor history seen though a woman’s eyes.
As the daughter of a gentry family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. She must put aside her dreams and accept the husband chosen for her. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court, overlooking the River Dart, relieved that her husband is not the ageing monster of her nightmares. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..
Years later a courageous act will set Katherine’s name in print and her youngest son will fly high.
Few women of her time lived to see their name in print. But Katherine was no ordinary woman. She was Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother. This is her story.
Set against the turbulent background of a Devon rocked by the religious and social changes that shaped Tudor England; a Devon of privateers and pirates; a Devon riven by rebellions and plots, A Woman of Noble Wit tells how Katherine became the woman who would inspire her famous sons to follow their dreams. It is Tudor history seen though a woman’s eyes.
As the daughter of a gentry family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. She must put aside her dreams and accept the husband chosen for her. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court, overlooking the River Dart, relieved that her husband is not the ageing monster of her nightmares. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..
Years later a courageous act will set Katherine’s name in print and her youngest son will fly high.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2021
124 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Griggs
3 books16 followersAuthor and speaker Rosemary Griggs has been researching Devon's sixteenth-century history for years. She has discovered a cast of fascinating characters and an intriguing network of families whose influence stretched far beyond the West Country. She loves telling the stories of the forgotten women of history — the women beyond the royal court; wives, sisters, daughters and mothers who played their part during those tumultuous Tudor years: the Daughters of Devon.
Her novel A Woman of Noble Wit tells the story of Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother, and features many of the county’s well-loved places. The Dartington Bride, to be published spring 2024, is the extraordinary tale of Lady Gabrielle Roberda Montgomery who travelled from France to Elizabethan England to marry into the prominent and well-connected Champernowne family.
Rosemary creates and wears sixteenth-century clothing, a passion which complements her love for bringing the past to life through a unique blend of theatre, history and re-enactment. Her appearances and talks for museums and community groups all over the West Country draw on her extensive research into sixteenth-century Devon, Tudor life and Tudor dress, particularly Elizabethan.
Out of costume, Rosemary leads heritage tours of the gardens at Dartington Hall, a fourteenth-century manor house and now a visitor destination and charity supporting learning in arts, ecology and social justice.
You can find out more on Rosemary’s website:
Her novel A Woman of Noble Wit tells the story of Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother, and features many of the county’s well-loved places. The Dartington Bride, to be published spring 2024, is the extraordinary tale of Lady Gabrielle Roberda Montgomery who travelled from France to Elizabethan England to marry into the prominent and well-connected Champernowne family.
Rosemary creates and wears sixteenth-century clothing, a passion which complements her love for bringing the past to life through a unique blend of theatre, history and re-enactment. Her appearances and talks for museums and community groups all over the West Country draw on her extensive research into sixteenth-century Devon, Tudor life and Tudor dress, particularly Elizabethan.
Out of costume, Rosemary leads heritage tours of the gardens at Dartington Hall, a fourteenth-century manor house and now a visitor destination and charity supporting learning in arts, ecology and social justice.
You can find out more on Rosemary’s website:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 25, 2024
Historical fiction focusing on the life of Sir Walter Raleigh's mother, Katherine Chaperone. Born to fulfill her duty to marry into a noble family and bear an heir, she finds love in her second marriage and manages to remain a woman of strong opinions in the times when women seldom played any significant roles. Interestingly, the title comes from A book of Martyrs by Foxx, which means Katherine must have been more popular than we realize today.
The book is very well researched and kudos to the Author for all her effort which went into bringing the period so clearly to a modern reader. There was too much of a romance thing for me included as it is not what I seek in HF. The heroine sounds too mature being just a child, but perhaps this is a perspective of a 21st century reader.
*Many thanks to Resemary Griggs, Troubador Publishing, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
The book is very well researched and kudos to the Author for all her effort which went into bringing the period so clearly to a modern reader. There was too much of a romance thing for me included as it is not what I seek in HF. The heroine sounds too mature being just a child, but perhaps this is a perspective of a 21st century reader.
*Many thanks to Resemary Griggs, Troubador Publishing, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
October 2, 2021
The title comes from Foxe's Book of Martyrs. In what is possibly Katherine Raleigh's only published mention, she is described as 'a woman of noble wit and godly ways.'
This slender thread of history flows through the book, which follows the story of Katherine's life. I particularly like the way Rosemary Griggs draws from fascinating details of Elizabethan life, weaving them with vivid descriptions of the Devon countryside to create an evocative narrative.
Although I’ve had a lifelong fascination with Walter Raleigh, I never imagined I’d be present at his birth, and there is enough history here to help me appreciate something of his background and upbringing.
People sometimes say of a book that they couldn't put it down, and that was literally the case with Rosemary Griggs’ first novel, which I'm happy to recommend - and I'm looking forward to see who is chosen for her next book.
This slender thread of history flows through the book, which follows the story of Katherine's life. I particularly like the way Rosemary Griggs draws from fascinating details of Elizabethan life, weaving them with vivid descriptions of the Devon countryside to create an evocative narrative.
Although I’ve had a lifelong fascination with Walter Raleigh, I never imagined I’d be present at his birth, and there is enough history here to help me appreciate something of his background and upbringing.
People sometimes say of a book that they couldn't put it down, and that was literally the case with Rosemary Griggs’ first novel, which I'm happy to recommend - and I'm looking forward to see who is chosen for her next book.
February 6, 2022
A fascinating fictional version of the life of Katherine Gilbert, then Raleigh. Mother to Sir Walter Raleigh.
A grim first marriage to a weedy sounding social climber, Katherine was forced to start a family when very young, against her dear father's wishes and conditions of the pairing. She was a noblewoman however and fulfilled her duty to her horrible husband. A dark haired man on board the Trinity during her first sea voyage caught her eye, and her heart and that yearning lasted for years until one day, the awful husband expired and she was free to marry again. The dark haired man was Walter Raleigh and Katherine bore him children, Walter the youngest being named after her beloved second husband.
The turmoils of the times from Henry VIII's reign, subsequent wives, reformation, Cromwell's rise and fall to the final stages in the book where Elizabeth I finally restores some semblance of order. This book has it all and in no way is it rushed, nor is it spoiled by being written in our modern language i.e. not old English but simple, good English.
I loved this book as it covers areas of Devon I know and love with references to the Cornish uprising, Sampford Courtenay and Dartington's creation.
Thoroughly recommend this; it will make the readers want to explore the area to find traces of this once great family's past.
A grim first marriage to a weedy sounding social climber, Katherine was forced to start a family when very young, against her dear father's wishes and conditions of the pairing. She was a noblewoman however and fulfilled her duty to her horrible husband. A dark haired man on board the Trinity during her first sea voyage caught her eye, and her heart and that yearning lasted for years until one day, the awful husband expired and she was free to marry again. The dark haired man was Walter Raleigh and Katherine bore him children, Walter the youngest being named after her beloved second husband.
The turmoils of the times from Henry VIII's reign, subsequent wives, reformation, Cromwell's rise and fall to the final stages in the book where Elizabeth I finally restores some semblance of order. This book has it all and in no way is it rushed, nor is it spoiled by being written in our modern language i.e. not old English but simple, good English.
I loved this book as it covers areas of Devon I know and love with references to the Cornish uprising, Sampford Courtenay and Dartington's creation.
Thoroughly recommend this; it will make the readers want to explore the area to find traces of this once great family's past.
January 17, 2022
I love historical fiction set in the Tudor era, so when I was asked if I would like to read A Woman of Noble Wit I immediately said yes, and I am so glad I did.
Sir Walter Raleigh - explorer, soldier, spy, statesman, the list goes on and on. But like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun and the rest is, as they say, history. As for those who came before him, little is known. Rosemary Griggs has decided to do something about this and has written a truly mesmerising story about Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter’s mother.
Words cannot possibly express how wonderful this novel is. The depiction of Katherine (called Katherine-Kate so as not to confuse her with her sister Kat) from a young girl playing with carefree abandonment with her brother, to an old and fragile woman, has been portrayed with a wonderful sense of realism. Her life, her loss, her hope, her disappointment and her struggles made her a character that was very easy to like, but also one who really roused my sympathy. She was, after all, a product of her time, and it was her duty, as much as it was the Queen’s, to give her husband an heir.
To be married at such a young age does not even bear thinking about. Before Katherine-Kate has time to grow into her womanly curves she is a mother and she is trying to be the mistress of her household against the hostile opposition of her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law. But as Katherine-Kate begins to bloom, her husband, the for every overlooked Otho, seems to fall deeper into despair and drink. It isn’t until at least three quarters into this novel that we meet Walter Raleigh senior, and that is when Katherine-Kate realises what is missing in her marriage, although she would never do anything about her feelings for she was a godly woman.
Despite the length of this novel, it does not feel that long. Although, saying that, I did start reading this book at ten in the morning, and finished just past one in the morning! It really is the kind of book that you want to read in one sitting, which I did.
I really cannot recommend this novel enough. It would certainly appeal to lovers of Tudor fiction.
I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
Sir Walter Raleigh - explorer, soldier, spy, statesman, the list goes on and on. But like Icarus, he flew too close to the sun and the rest is, as they say, history. As for those who came before him, little is known. Rosemary Griggs has decided to do something about this and has written a truly mesmerising story about Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter’s mother.
Words cannot possibly express how wonderful this novel is. The depiction of Katherine (called Katherine-Kate so as not to confuse her with her sister Kat) from a young girl playing with carefree abandonment with her brother, to an old and fragile woman, has been portrayed with a wonderful sense of realism. Her life, her loss, her hope, her disappointment and her struggles made her a character that was very easy to like, but also one who really roused my sympathy. She was, after all, a product of her time, and it was her duty, as much as it was the Queen’s, to give her husband an heir.
To be married at such a young age does not even bear thinking about. Before Katherine-Kate has time to grow into her womanly curves she is a mother and she is trying to be the mistress of her household against the hostile opposition of her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law. But as Katherine-Kate begins to bloom, her husband, the for every overlooked Otho, seems to fall deeper into despair and drink. It isn’t until at least three quarters into this novel that we meet Walter Raleigh senior, and that is when Katherine-Kate realises what is missing in her marriage, although she would never do anything about her feelings for she was a godly woman.
Despite the length of this novel, it does not feel that long. Although, saying that, I did start reading this book at ten in the morning, and finished just past one in the morning! It really is the kind of book that you want to read in one sitting, which I did.
I really cannot recommend this novel enough. It would certainly appeal to lovers of Tudor fiction.
I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
August 14, 2024
A real treat to listen to the audio version of this historical fiction about the life of Katherine-Kate Champerone, as she strives to make sense of, and survive, a life that has been planned for her by her family. She is married to a man chosen by her father and is a dutiful wife, but falls in love with someone else. She patiently negotiates a path to a place where she is happy again. The author is engaging as a narrator and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
January 20, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Woman of Noble Wit by Rosemary Griggs is an astoundingly successful book. Up until now, Katherine-Kate’s life has, like so many women, been lost to time, which is such a crying shame, as some of these women had more interesting lives than the men whose names are forever documented in history. Rosemary Griggs has given her readers an intimate and plausible story about the life of the mother of one of England’s greatest explorers, Sir Walter Raleigh.
At times this novel was raw, emotional and left me in tears. At other times it is carefree, enjoyable. As the wheel of fortune turns slowly around we witness both Katherine-Kate’s triumph and failures. This is a gripping account of an ordinary woman who is trying to do her duty as a wife and mother while dreaming about adventures that will always be denied to her because of her sex. Katherine-Kate is a very flawed yet likeable character. When her first child was born I wept, for she was so excited and then so thoroughly dejected in thinking she had failed her husband. It was of little wonder she acted as she did, although this does have long-term consequences for her daughter mental health - although such things were not discussed back then. The blinkered thinking of the period which made women little better than breeding machines was very sobering, especially when a woman was as intelligent as Katherine-Kate. She has to play the passive wife around her husband, Otho, and she has to do as she is told. There are some very distressing scenes between Katherine-Kate and Otho, although I thought the author approached these scenes with the utmost care. In fact, the subject of mental health, which affects all of the characters at some point, is approached cautiously, and perhaps if you were not familiar with mental illness you might miss the gentle hints. Otho changes from a good, if not a little insecure and bitter man, into a monster and although his actions are deplorable the author hints that not all is well with his mental health. Likewise, Rosemary Griggs take a great deal of care in depicting postnatal depression, as well as grief.
I really liked the way the author approached the depiction of the court of Henry VIII. And although we only meet King Henry once, in passing, his decisions have consequences that cannot be ignored. After all, if he sentence his own wife to death then no one was safe. The fear of the King’s temper is as threatening as the plague that ravishes the country.
This novel is, without a shadow of the doubt, one of the most compelling books I have read set in Tudor England. I might just have found my new favourite author.
I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
A Woman of Noble Wit by Rosemary Griggs is an astoundingly successful book. Up until now, Katherine-Kate’s life has, like so many women, been lost to time, which is such a crying shame, as some of these women had more interesting lives than the men whose names are forever documented in history. Rosemary Griggs has given her readers an intimate and plausible story about the life of the mother of one of England’s greatest explorers, Sir Walter Raleigh.
At times this novel was raw, emotional and left me in tears. At other times it is carefree, enjoyable. As the wheel of fortune turns slowly around we witness both Katherine-Kate’s triumph and failures. This is a gripping account of an ordinary woman who is trying to do her duty as a wife and mother while dreaming about adventures that will always be denied to her because of her sex. Katherine-Kate is a very flawed yet likeable character. When her first child was born I wept, for she was so excited and then so thoroughly dejected in thinking she had failed her husband. It was of little wonder she acted as she did, although this does have long-term consequences for her daughter mental health - although such things were not discussed back then. The blinkered thinking of the period which made women little better than breeding machines was very sobering, especially when a woman was as intelligent as Katherine-Kate. She has to play the passive wife around her husband, Otho, and she has to do as she is told. There are some very distressing scenes between Katherine-Kate and Otho, although I thought the author approached these scenes with the utmost care. In fact, the subject of mental health, which affects all of the characters at some point, is approached cautiously, and perhaps if you were not familiar with mental illness you might miss the gentle hints. Otho changes from a good, if not a little insecure and bitter man, into a monster and although his actions are deplorable the author hints that not all is well with his mental health. Likewise, Rosemary Griggs take a great deal of care in depicting postnatal depression, as well as grief.
I really liked the way the author approached the depiction of the court of Henry VIII. And although we only meet King Henry once, in passing, his decisions have consequences that cannot be ignored. After all, if he sentence his own wife to death then no one was safe. The fear of the King’s temper is as threatening as the plague that ravishes the country.
This novel is, without a shadow of the doubt, one of the most compelling books I have read set in Tudor England. I might just have found my new favourite author.
I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
February 13, 2022
Katherine-Kate Raleigh née Champernowne was the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh and wife to Walter Raleigh senior. She was also the sister of Elizabeth’s governess Kat Champernowne.
A Woman of Noble Wit is her story, set in Devon. Katherine lived through four monarchs and saw her son rise to be a favourite of Elizabeth although passed before his execution.
This book not only tells her story but life during the Tudor dynasty, war, sickness and religion all played a part in peoples lives.
Katherine was well educated and made it her mission to ensure her children were too.
Her sons including Walter followed their father's footsteps taking to the seas.
Although this is historical fiction it is also the work of meticulous research and for those like myself who have an interest in Walter Raleigh it brings to life his childhood and upbringing including circumstances which may have helped shape the man he became.
For someone who didn't live a life at court, Katherine’s life is fascinating and this was a joy to read. Griggs has a wonderful writing style, capturing details and emotions throughout the whole book. I highly recommend this and I am truly looking forward to seeing what comes next from Rosemary Griggs.
A Woman of Noble Wit is her story, set in Devon. Katherine lived through four monarchs and saw her son rise to be a favourite of Elizabeth although passed before his execution.
This book not only tells her story but life during the Tudor dynasty, war, sickness and religion all played a part in peoples lives.
Katherine was well educated and made it her mission to ensure her children were too.
Her sons including Walter followed their father's footsteps taking to the seas.
Although this is historical fiction it is also the work of meticulous research and for those like myself who have an interest in Walter Raleigh it brings to life his childhood and upbringing including circumstances which may have helped shape the man he became.
For someone who didn't live a life at court, Katherine’s life is fascinating and this was a joy to read. Griggs has a wonderful writing style, capturing details and emotions throughout the whole book. I highly recommend this and I am truly looking forward to seeing what comes next from Rosemary Griggs.
August 11, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up
This is a book about people talking about notable historical events during the Tudor period, with occasional breaks for someone to give birth. If you’re not already familiar with the royal, political and church history of this period, I think a good chunk of it will probably go over your head, and there isn’t a whole lot of other plot to make up for it. The problem was, I was rarely given a reason to care about all these happenings beyond my general interest in history; the impact on the main characters is generally minimal, and there isn’t enough interiority to make up the difference. But if you have at least a vague idea of Henry VIII’s many wives and the various changes in religious policy, you might be interested in observing it from a new, albeit distant, perspective.
I kind of feel bad for giving this book less than three stars because it’s meticulously researched and the prose is solid and overall it wasn’t BAD. But it did get repetitive, and it didn’t suit my particular preferences for historical fiction so I can’t really say I enjoyed it.
Gold star for research. Absolutely love that the female characters aren’t spunky modern feminists transported back five hundred years. The protagonist Katherine chafes against some of the restrictions placed on women, especially around education, in a believable and period-appropriate way. Love to see it.
This definitely falls into the more literary, biographical side of historical fiction, which didn’t do great things for the pacing in my opinion. It’s a frequent pitfall in fictionalised accounts of real people: the tendency to include lots of events in their life without considering all the ways that real people’s lives don’t necessarily follow an engaging narrative. But to give an indication of the pacing, here is the back cover summary:
“As the daughter of a gentry family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. She must put aside her dreams and accept the husband chosen for her. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court, overlooking the River Dart, relieved that her husband is not the ageing monster of her nightmares. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..”
That hook at the end, a chance shipboard encounter turns her world upside down? Happens at maybe the 50% mark (I didn’t note down the exact point as I was listening, unfortunately). Which is to say that at least the whole first half of this chunky book is spent on her “settling into the life of a dutiful wife and mother.” And as I said, there is a great deal of time devoted to “such and such political event is happening in the background, lets go around and share our opinions about it, now someone is pregnant again,” with less time given to character-driven engagement with a cohesive plot than I prefer. If that sort of slow-paced historical fiction comprised of lots of summaries is your jam, this might be for you—it’s just not mine. For example, I couldn’t get through Mantel’s WOLF HALL. This book felt like it was in a similar vein, though slightly more tolerable (eg. I finished it).
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was well narrated by the author.
This is a book about people talking about notable historical events during the Tudor period, with occasional breaks for someone to give birth. If you’re not already familiar with the royal, political and church history of this period, I think a good chunk of it will probably go over your head, and there isn’t a whole lot of other plot to make up for it. The problem was, I was rarely given a reason to care about all these happenings beyond my general interest in history; the impact on the main characters is generally minimal, and there isn’t enough interiority to make up the difference. But if you have at least a vague idea of Henry VIII’s many wives and the various changes in religious policy, you might be interested in observing it from a new, albeit distant, perspective.
I kind of feel bad for giving this book less than three stars because it’s meticulously researched and the prose is solid and overall it wasn’t BAD. But it did get repetitive, and it didn’t suit my particular preferences for historical fiction so I can’t really say I enjoyed it.
Gold star for research. Absolutely love that the female characters aren’t spunky modern feminists transported back five hundred years. The protagonist Katherine chafes against some of the restrictions placed on women, especially around education, in a believable and period-appropriate way. Love to see it.
This definitely falls into the more literary, biographical side of historical fiction, which didn’t do great things for the pacing in my opinion. It’s a frequent pitfall in fictionalised accounts of real people: the tendency to include lots of events in their life without considering all the ways that real people’s lives don’t necessarily follow an engaging narrative. But to give an indication of the pacing, here is the back cover summary:
“As the daughter of a gentry family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. She must put aside her dreams and accept the husband chosen for her. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court, overlooking the River Dart, relieved that her husband is not the ageing monster of her nightmares. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..”
That hook at the end, a chance shipboard encounter turns her world upside down? Happens at maybe the 50% mark (I didn’t note down the exact point as I was listening, unfortunately). Which is to say that at least the whole first half of this chunky book is spent on her “settling into the life of a dutiful wife and mother.” And as I said, there is a great deal of time devoted to “such and such political event is happening in the background, lets go around and share our opinions about it, now someone is pregnant again,” with less time given to character-driven engagement with a cohesive plot than I prefer. If that sort of slow-paced historical fiction comprised of lots of summaries is your jam, this might be for you—it’s just not mine. For example, I couldn’t get through Mantel’s WOLF HALL. This book felt like it was in a similar vein, though slightly more tolerable (eg. I finished it).
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was well narrated by the author.
January 11, 2022
A man may go adventuring, but a woman’s place was in the home. Her mission in life was to give her husband strong sons. She must be passive, accepting of her situation. Katherine-Kate’s life had been mapped out for her from a child. She will have no say in who she marries. She can only hope that her father does not wed her to some aged lord. Oh, how she wished she were her brother. Johnny’s life would be glamours and exciting, whereas Katherine-Kate would always be wishing for more. But that was the way of the world, and there was nothing that Katherine-Kate could do about it.
This is an age where a king could break from the Catholic Church to secure a divorce only to execute his Queen three years later. The nobility may have wealth and position, but that did not protect them from the king’s wrath. Every word must be carefully weighed up, and if you spoke the wrong word to the wrong person then you could lose everything, even your life. I really liked the way the author approached this period. The story of Henry VIII is played out in the background of the novel, and as he we hear through gossip and family discussions what is happening in Henry VIII court, Katherine-Kate’s more pressing desire is to be a good wife and more importantly a mother to sons.
Katherine-Kate is very young when this novel opens. She looks with longing at the couples who dance at the fair wishing that she could marry the man she loves rather than the man her father chooses. In that moment she envies the poor, but she knows she has no choice but to do as her father wills. My heart really broke for Katherine-Kate in this novel. She is still a child, by any standers when she is forced to marry. The fact that her father demands she not be bedded until she was older made for some very uncomfortable reading - her father knew she was too young, but married her anyway. Katherine-Kate goes to live with her husband in a home that is filled with hostility. It would be enough to break anyones spirit, but Katherine-Kate is determined to make the best of her situation.
As Katherine-Kate grows into a woman she slowly comes into her own. She knows that to achieve favour she must give her husband a son, an heir. But like Anne Boleyn the best she can do is a daughter. Katherine-Kate is so very disappointed that she refuses to hold her child let alone bond with her.
A girl, a girl, a girl! This was not how things should have turned out. She had failed. She was an imposter. Not a fine and capable lady at all; she was just a silly little maid.
Unfortunately Katherine-Kate’s relationship with her daughter does not improve as this story goes on and I think that is the greatest tragedy in this story.
As we watch Katherine-Kate grow and mature, she relishes in her role as lady of the house, but she still longs for adventure. And as her marriage rapidly deteriorates her eyes fall upon a man who sets her heart a flutter. If she had a choice of who she had married then it would have been him, but alas, unlike the king she cannot seek a divorce, even if her husband makes her so desperately unhappy.
I thought this novel was a wonderful insight into the Tudor era and I really enjoyed following Katherine-Kate’s journey from young girl to an old frail woman. Katherine-Kate is a character that was very easy to like, she is also very human in the telling.
I thought this novel was as enjoyable as it was successful. This book has really set the bar incredibly high for this year!
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
This is an age where a king could break from the Catholic Church to secure a divorce only to execute his Queen three years later. The nobility may have wealth and position, but that did not protect them from the king’s wrath. Every word must be carefully weighed up, and if you spoke the wrong word to the wrong person then you could lose everything, even your life. I really liked the way the author approached this period. The story of Henry VIII is played out in the background of the novel, and as he we hear through gossip and family discussions what is happening in Henry VIII court, Katherine-Kate’s more pressing desire is to be a good wife and more importantly a mother to sons.
Katherine-Kate is very young when this novel opens. She looks with longing at the couples who dance at the fair wishing that she could marry the man she loves rather than the man her father chooses. In that moment she envies the poor, but she knows she has no choice but to do as her father wills. My heart really broke for Katherine-Kate in this novel. She is still a child, by any standers when she is forced to marry. The fact that her father demands she not be bedded until she was older made for some very uncomfortable reading - her father knew she was too young, but married her anyway. Katherine-Kate goes to live with her husband in a home that is filled with hostility. It would be enough to break anyones spirit, but Katherine-Kate is determined to make the best of her situation.
As Katherine-Kate grows into a woman she slowly comes into her own. She knows that to achieve favour she must give her husband a son, an heir. But like Anne Boleyn the best she can do is a daughter. Katherine-Kate is so very disappointed that she refuses to hold her child let alone bond with her.
A girl, a girl, a girl! This was not how things should have turned out. She had failed. She was an imposter. Not a fine and capable lady at all; she was just a silly little maid.
Unfortunately Katherine-Kate’s relationship with her daughter does not improve as this story goes on and I think that is the greatest tragedy in this story.
As we watch Katherine-Kate grow and mature, she relishes in her role as lady of the house, but she still longs for adventure. And as her marriage rapidly deteriorates her eyes fall upon a man who sets her heart a flutter. If she had a choice of who she had married then it would have been him, but alas, unlike the king she cannot seek a divorce, even if her husband makes her so desperately unhappy.
I thought this novel was a wonderful insight into the Tudor era and I really enjoyed following Katherine-Kate’s journey from young girl to an old frail woman. Katherine-Kate is a character that was very easy to like, she is also very human in the telling.
I thought this novel was as enjoyable as it was successful. This book has really set the bar incredibly high for this year!
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
January 10, 2022
For a woman from the past to leave a mark in history books, she had to have lived an extraordinary life. Some have notorious reputations, or they were considered women of immaculate character. In Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, there was one who was “a woman of noble wit.” She was the daughter of an ancient gentry family who had connections with the court of Henry VIII. Her large family would navigate political turmoil and religious reformations to survive. The name of this wife and mother was Katherine Raleigh, and her tale is told in Rosemary Griggs’ debut novel, “A Woman of Noble Wit.”
I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Rosemary Griggs for sending me a copy of this novel and allowing me to be part of this book tour. I did not know much about Katherine Raleigh before this novel, except that she was the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh, so I was looking forward to reading her story.
Katherine was a daughter of the Champernowne family who had a fiery passion for reading. As a girl, she was terrified of marrying an older man, but her family decided to marry Katherine to Otho Gilbert, a young man with a passion for firearms and adventures. As Katherine settles into her new life at Greenway Court, England experiences the reign of King Henry VIII through religious reforms, many marriages, and numerous executions. Although Katherine was not at court, she would receive gossip about court and her sister Kat, who we know today as Kat Ashley, the governess of Princess Elizabeth Tudor.
Katherine is a dutiful and loving wife to Otho, but her heart skips a beat when she meets the charming privateer Walter Raleigh Senior one day. I found Walter a much better match for Katherine than Otho, who seemed rather vain and jealous of his wife’s reputation. Katherine is free to be her educated self with Walter. They navigate the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I while raising their family. We see how Katherine was known as “a woman of noble wit” through heartache, fear, and love.
As a debut novel, I found it a delightfully engaging read. Griggs has brought Katherine Raleigh from the shadows of her famous son’s fame and shined a light on her story. If I did have a complaint about this novel, it would be that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, I think it was an enchanting debut novel that illuminated the life of a fascinating woman who lived during the Tudor dynasty. I am excited to see what Rosemary Griggs will write about next. If you want a novel about a relatively hidden Tudor woman, I would highly suggest you read “A Woman of Noble Wit” by Rosemary Griggs.
I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Rosemary Griggs for sending me a copy of this novel and allowing me to be part of this book tour. I did not know much about Katherine Raleigh before this novel, except that she was the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh, so I was looking forward to reading her story.
Katherine was a daughter of the Champernowne family who had a fiery passion for reading. As a girl, she was terrified of marrying an older man, but her family decided to marry Katherine to Otho Gilbert, a young man with a passion for firearms and adventures. As Katherine settles into her new life at Greenway Court, England experiences the reign of King Henry VIII through religious reforms, many marriages, and numerous executions. Although Katherine was not at court, she would receive gossip about court and her sister Kat, who we know today as Kat Ashley, the governess of Princess Elizabeth Tudor.
Katherine is a dutiful and loving wife to Otho, but her heart skips a beat when she meets the charming privateer Walter Raleigh Senior one day. I found Walter a much better match for Katherine than Otho, who seemed rather vain and jealous of his wife’s reputation. Katherine is free to be her educated self with Walter. They navigate the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I while raising their family. We see how Katherine was known as “a woman of noble wit” through heartache, fear, and love.
As a debut novel, I found it a delightfully engaging read. Griggs has brought Katherine Raleigh from the shadows of her famous son’s fame and shined a light on her story. If I did have a complaint about this novel, it would be that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, I think it was an enchanting debut novel that illuminated the life of a fascinating woman who lived during the Tudor dynasty. I am excited to see what Rosemary Griggs will write about next. If you want a novel about a relatively hidden Tudor woman, I would highly suggest you read “A Woman of Noble Wit” by Rosemary Griggs.
January 21, 2022
Katherine Champerowne, who is she? I had never heard of her before, well it is often that we don't hear of a lot of women from the Tudor Era. We hear of all of the wives of King Henry VIII, they are all mentioned at some point in this novel. Katherine Champerowne is actually the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh. We don't know that until the last part of the novel. She was born in 1519 to Sir Philip Champernowne, of Modbury and Katherine Champernon born Mohuns Ottery, Devonshire, England. Gentlepeople with connections to the King.
What we do learn, is about Katherine as young girl with dreams. She aspires to great things; the one thing is not to be married to an old man. She has to forgo her own dreams and accept the man chosen for her. In this case someone to help pay off the debts of the family.
Devon Modbury where Katherine was raised, had pirates and privateers with a host of rebellions and plots against the king. This story takes the reader from the reign of King Henry VIII all the way through Queen Elizabeth I.
In all this time Katherine does what she is told, marries a man that is not an old man of whom she was afraid would happen to her but rather a boy, her father said that they could not have conjugal visits until Katherine was a bit older as she was only about 14 or 15 at the time. After a while it did not stop Otho Gilbert from having his way.
Katherine maintained the household, was a dutiful wife and mother, became well liked. Otho was a man consumed by jealousy, for many reasons, one of which was his wife and her ability to be a kind and well-liked woman. He was also jealous of her family's connections to the Tudor Court thus making the marriage a rocky one at times.
A chance encounter with a handsome man when she was young has Katherine thinking of him a lot over the years. Life continues for Katherine, until her husband tragically dies, she then marries the man of her dreams, Walter Raleigh. They go on to have a happy life midst the political situation that surrounds them. Katherine is also cousin to Kat Ashley who is another important part of the Elizabethan era. Katherine rebels and spends the night in prison with the martyr Agnes Prest the night before her execution. Her husband was worried that there would be retributions for this so maybe her connection to Kat saved her? Who knows?
My review is long, and I apologize, I also apologize if there are some spoilers, but I did so enjoy the book. I got a bit tear jerky towards the end. The story really got to me. There you have it, my thoughts on a Woman of Noble Wit by Rosemary Griggs. I loved the story; I am a huge Tudor/Elizabethan fan and I had not read a historical novel of this magnitude in a long time. I have to say that I give it 5 stars, for the research and giving the reader an insight into the life of the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh.
What we do learn, is about Katherine as young girl with dreams. She aspires to great things; the one thing is not to be married to an old man. She has to forgo her own dreams and accept the man chosen for her. In this case someone to help pay off the debts of the family.
Devon Modbury where Katherine was raised, had pirates and privateers with a host of rebellions and plots against the king. This story takes the reader from the reign of King Henry VIII all the way through Queen Elizabeth I.
In all this time Katherine does what she is told, marries a man that is not an old man of whom she was afraid would happen to her but rather a boy, her father said that they could not have conjugal visits until Katherine was a bit older as she was only about 14 or 15 at the time. After a while it did not stop Otho Gilbert from having his way.
Katherine maintained the household, was a dutiful wife and mother, became well liked. Otho was a man consumed by jealousy, for many reasons, one of which was his wife and her ability to be a kind and well-liked woman. He was also jealous of her family's connections to the Tudor Court thus making the marriage a rocky one at times.
A chance encounter with a handsome man when she was young has Katherine thinking of him a lot over the years. Life continues for Katherine, until her husband tragically dies, she then marries the man of her dreams, Walter Raleigh. They go on to have a happy life midst the political situation that surrounds them. Katherine is also cousin to Kat Ashley who is another important part of the Elizabethan era. Katherine rebels and spends the night in prison with the martyr Agnes Prest the night before her execution. Her husband was worried that there would be retributions for this so maybe her connection to Kat saved her? Who knows?
My review is long, and I apologize, I also apologize if there are some spoilers, but I did so enjoy the book. I got a bit tear jerky towards the end. The story really got to me. There you have it, my thoughts on a Woman of Noble Wit by Rosemary Griggs. I loved the story; I am a huge Tudor/Elizabethan fan and I had not read a historical novel of this magnitude in a long time. I have to say that I give it 5 stars, for the research and giving the reader an insight into the life of the mother of Sir Walter Raleigh.
May 14, 2024
Rosemary Griggs : 'A Woman of Noble Wit'
This is a fictitious novel historically and rather accurately based on the life of Katherine Champernoune/Gilbert/Raleigh who happens to be my 14th Great Aunt.
As a decendant of Katherine's older sister Joan and Sir Anthony Denny, I thoroughly enjoyed Griggs's insight and research into the ways of lives of my forebears. I particularly enjoyed the depictions of Sir Phillip Champernoune and Lady Catherine Carew (my 15th Great Grandparents).I enjoyed 'walking alongside' my noble Great Aunt through, her at times trying ,and yet ever so rewarding life. I would have loved to have gotten to know Joanie more...
I only have one discrepancy about the accuracy of Griggs's research and this is the story within the story about Katie Gilbert /Raleigh...I have found genealogical evidence that suggests that she married again (after George Raleigh) a man called William Miners and that she went on to have 2 children, Mary and Harry Miners in 1565 and 1569 respectively. This discrepancy does make me question the accuracy of the depiction of the tense relationship between mother and daughter...although I completely understand why the author chose to do so it was seemingly typical of the times for mothers to prefer sons over daughters .. Supposedly in the book her fate was unknown but perhaps she went in hiding or similar as the source that I have found suggests she lived until 1602 when she was 55.
It truly was strange and enjoyable to read a book containing so many characters names familiar to me from doing my own family tree and research. I thank Rosemary for all the time and effort put into the writing and publishing of such a novel, for an Aussie girl in 2024 to be able to travel back to the days of Henry the 8th and walk alongside her 14th Great Aunt it was really a spectacular read and a privalage.
This is a fictitious novel historically and rather accurately based on the life of Katherine Champernoune/Gilbert/Raleigh who happens to be my 14th Great Aunt.
As a decendant of Katherine's older sister Joan and Sir Anthony Denny, I thoroughly enjoyed Griggs's insight and research into the ways of lives of my forebears. I particularly enjoyed the depictions of Sir Phillip Champernoune and Lady Catherine Carew (my 15th Great Grandparents).I enjoyed 'walking alongside' my noble Great Aunt through, her at times trying ,and yet ever so rewarding life. I would have loved to have gotten to know Joanie more...
I only have one discrepancy about the accuracy of Griggs's research and this is the story within the story about Katie Gilbert /Raleigh...I have found genealogical evidence that suggests that she married again (after George Raleigh) a man called William Miners and that she went on to have 2 children, Mary and Harry Miners in 1565 and 1569 respectively. This discrepancy does make me question the accuracy of the depiction of the tense relationship between mother and daughter...although I completely understand why the author chose to do so it was seemingly typical of the times for mothers to prefer sons over daughters .. Supposedly in the book her fate was unknown but perhaps she went in hiding or similar as the source that I have found suggests she lived until 1602 when she was 55.
It truly was strange and enjoyable to read a book containing so many characters names familiar to me from doing my own family tree and research. I thank Rosemary for all the time and effort put into the writing and publishing of such a novel, for an Aussie girl in 2024 to be able to travel back to the days of Henry the 8th and walk alongside her 14th Great Aunt it was really a spectacular read and a privalage.
October 15, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book about the life of Katherine Raleigh.
I admittedly love most Historical Fiction that is set in and around the Tudor period, especially when it is from the perspective of a woman. The fact the book is set in Devon (my home county) meant I knew a fair few of the places mentioned, which made it all the more enjoyable for me.
I enjoyed learning about Katherine’s life during a turbulent period of history, and how this affected both her and her family, even though they lived many miles away from the centre of things at court. It is fascinating to see her day to day life, beliefs and values and how these went on to form her children into the people they became, most notably, of course, her last-born child, Sir Walter Raleigh. Her life is full of ups and downs, turmoil and grief but she also finds love, passion, contentment and joy which I believe makes this such a brilliant page-turner.
Rosemary Griggs has a great ability to take the minimal facts known about Katherine’s life and merge them with her fantastic knowledge of the period and localities involved to form this amazing, vivid, piece of fiction. I truly didn’t want the book to end.
I hope to read more from Rosemary in the future.
I admittedly love most Historical Fiction that is set in and around the Tudor period, especially when it is from the perspective of a woman. The fact the book is set in Devon (my home county) meant I knew a fair few of the places mentioned, which made it all the more enjoyable for me.
I enjoyed learning about Katherine’s life during a turbulent period of history, and how this affected both her and her family, even though they lived many miles away from the centre of things at court. It is fascinating to see her day to day life, beliefs and values and how these went on to form her children into the people they became, most notably, of course, her last-born child, Sir Walter Raleigh. Her life is full of ups and downs, turmoil and grief but she also finds love, passion, contentment and joy which I believe makes this such a brilliant page-turner.
Rosemary Griggs has a great ability to take the minimal facts known about Katherine’s life and merge them with her fantastic knowledge of the period and localities involved to form this amazing, vivid, piece of fiction. I truly didn’t want the book to end.
I hope to read more from Rosemary in the future.
August 24, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Too often in history, we hear that the women surrounding powerful men were simply just not important. Not important enough to be the voice of their own stories or the victors in their own history. In a women of noble wit, Rosemary Griggs carves a raw and unflinching portrait of the woman who mothered one of the most famous figures in early modern history. The victories of the man known of Sir Walter Raleigh are well known, documented and discussed. This book is no different. However in this portrayal of the story so many of us know, it is the woman behind it all who is at the heart of the story.
Deftly paced and well researched, the life and character of Katherine is brought to life in technicolour. Showing what it means to be a woman in Late Tudor and early Stuart England, and all the issues that arise for the less powerful sex, A Woman of Noble Wit champions these unheard voices centre-stage. A must read for anyone interested in the time period and women in history.
Too often in history, we hear that the women surrounding powerful men were simply just not important. Not important enough to be the voice of their own stories or the victors in their own history. In a women of noble wit, Rosemary Griggs carves a raw and unflinching portrait of the woman who mothered one of the most famous figures in early modern history. The victories of the man known of Sir Walter Raleigh are well known, documented and discussed. This book is no different. However in this portrayal of the story so many of us know, it is the woman behind it all who is at the heart of the story.
Deftly paced and well researched, the life and character of Katherine is brought to life in technicolour. Showing what it means to be a woman in Late Tudor and early Stuart England, and all the issues that arise for the less powerful sex, A Woman of Noble Wit champions these unheard voices centre-stage. A must read for anyone interested in the time period and women in history.
October 1, 2021
As most historical fiction novels set during the Tudor period, much of what happens to families is due to political upheaval and the lives and deaths of the monarchs. While the same is true of this book, the royal family drama was but a footnote to explain the rise and fall of family members, and the focus of the story was centered on Katherine-Kate. Married while still a child as was common practice of the time, Katherine-Kate is dutiful and understanding of her fate. The story shifts when Walter Raleigh is introduced and I enjoyed learning more about this rich historical figure. Thank you to Net Galley and Matador for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. #AWomanofNobleWit #NetGalley
December 17, 2023
Rosemary Griggs brings a welcome breath of fresh air to the historical novel, avoiding the commercial entrapment of concentrating on the Kings and Queens of England and the Royal Court.
The heroine here is Katherine Champernowne, an educated Devon woman born during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. Tudor and Elizabethan Devon is brought vividly to life. As her children grow older we learn of events on the world stage but keep the focus on the Gilbert and Raleigh families into which Katherine has married.
This is the remarkable story of a strong, brave woman surviving plagues, religious dissent and the whims of an embittered queen, finding love and happiness in the arms of her pirate hero.
The heroine here is Katherine Champernowne, an educated Devon woman born during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. Tudor and Elizabethan Devon is brought vividly to life. As her children grow older we learn of events on the world stage but keep the focus on the Gilbert and Raleigh families into which Katherine has married.
This is the remarkable story of a strong, brave woman surviving plagues, religious dissent and the whims of an embittered queen, finding love and happiness in the arms of her pirate hero.
December 17, 2023
Rosemary Griggs brings a welcome breath of fresh air to the historical novel, avoiding the commercial entrapment of concentrating on the Kings and Queens of England and the Royal Court.
The heroine here is Katherine Champernowne, an educated Devon woman born during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. Tudor and Elizabethan Devon is brought vividly to life. As her children grow older we learn of events on the world stage but keep the focus on the Gilbert and Raleigh families into which Katherine has married.
This is the remarkable story of a strong, brave woman surviving plagues, religious dissent and the whims of an embittered queen, finding love and happiness in the arms of her pirate hero.
The heroine here is Katherine Champernowne, an educated Devon woman born during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. Tudor and Elizabethan Devon is brought vividly to life. As her children grow older we learn of events on the world stage but keep the focus on the Gilbert and Raleigh families into which Katherine has married.
This is the remarkable story of a strong, brave woman surviving plagues, religious dissent and the whims of an embittered queen, finding love and happiness in the arms of her pirate hero.
January 28, 2022
A well-written and interesting novel! We all know the name of Walter Raleigh, an explorer under Elizabeth I 's reign. What about his mother?
A Woman of Noble Wit, by Rosemary Griggs.
Not much is known about Katherine, Walter's mother. The author has created a compelling woman with a strong feeling of loyalty towards her family. However, this did not come at a cheap price! .....
I enjoyed this novel very much, as it is well embedded in historical events of the time, her family, the religious conflicts, life of privateers (or were they pirates?), all meticulously researched. Evocative descriptions of Devon countryside brought a fitting atmospheric touch to the novel. Highly recommended!
A Woman of Noble Wit, by Rosemary Griggs.
Not much is known about Katherine, Walter's mother. The author has created a compelling woman with a strong feeling of loyalty towards her family. However, this did not come at a cheap price! .....
I enjoyed this novel very much, as it is well embedded in historical events of the time, her family, the religious conflicts, life of privateers (or were they pirates?), all meticulously researched. Evocative descriptions of Devon countryside brought a fitting atmospheric touch to the novel. Highly recommended!
August 14, 2024
A Woman of Noble Wit written and narrated by Rosemary Griggs is a fascinating account of the life of Sir Walter Raleigh's mother, Katherine Champerone. Beautifully read by the author, I was engaged throughout
Perfect for lovers of history and specifically Tudor history, Griggs tells of the life, loves and sacrifices of a highly compelling character who lived a full and challenging life, instilling strong ideal s in her children, the youngest of whom went on to become one of the most famous figures in tudor history. Glorious!
Thank you to NetGalley, Troubador Publishing Ltd and the author Rosemary Griggs for this awesome ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Perfect for lovers of history and specifically Tudor history, Griggs tells of the life, loves and sacrifices of a highly compelling character who lived a full and challenging life, instilling strong ideal s in her children, the youngest of whom went on to become one of the most famous figures in tudor history. Glorious!
Thank you to NetGalley, Troubador Publishing Ltd and the author Rosemary Griggs for this awesome ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
September 16, 2025
The book is slow and skips the opportunity to care about the loss of people in her circle because the surrounding characters are not really developed. The book is about how difficult of a life and how powerlessness a woman can be/feel even when born into a family of privilege. The reoccurring theme is how the life of women was dictated by men during this period in history. It would be a great book for a women's studies program, but I didn't find it particularly engaging or entertaining. However, it did feel like an accurate depiction of that time in history from a women's perspective, so despite being fiction, it has educational merits.
August 26, 2024
Sir Walter a Raleigh was the youngest son to Katherine during her second marriage. This is her story of a life lived during the reign of Henry VIII. She was forced into an unhappy marriage at a young age but eventually will find true love and happiness.
Well written and well narrated by the author (I listened to the audiobook). Katherine’s family had links to the King’s court at a turbulent time, when social and religious changes too place.
Well written and well narrated by the author (I listened to the audiobook). Katherine’s family had links to the King’s court at a turbulent time, when social and religious changes too place.
September 5, 2024
I loved listening to this book. You get a lot of books about Henry viii, but this one was unique in its perspective. Katherine Kat, is indeed a woman of noble wit. She is strong, she is smart, she is resolved to make something of her life. I loved her relationship with Walter Sr. and each of her children. Her family too was so supportive and engaged both in court life and her life.
The writing was descriptive and emotional and the narration was on point.
#netgalley #AWomanOfNobleWit
The writing was descriptive and emotional and the narration was on point.
#netgalley #AWomanOfNobleWit
March 30, 2025
I found the earlier parts of the book, concerning her upbringing and first marriage, relatively interesting. Once she and Walter Raleigh fell in love at first sight, the book turned into a boring romance, trading off with re-hashed tales from the Tudor court as seen from her particular angle. I didn't finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2023
I didn't want this one to end. I've totally enjoyed this novel. Love the way that Rosemary Griggs wrote this story.
My only frustration besides the book ending, was that on the sections where Walter was speaking, the kerning drove me nuts.
This book is well worth the read.
My only frustration besides the book ending, was that on the sections where Walter was speaking, the kerning drove me nuts.
This book is well worth the read.
April 20, 2024
If you listen to the audiobook, be prepared to listen to about a chapter that wasn’t edited where you can hear the narrator/author stop and start, giggle, and talk to her husband lol. But if you get past that, all is well for the rest of the book.
January 19, 2025
fascinating by history.
Glad to read about all the families especially Sir Walter Raleigh who love Queen. Elizabeth I, but she wouldn’t agree to marry him. Didn’t have any information on his family at all.
Glad to read about all the families especially Sir Walter Raleigh who love Queen. Elizabeth I, but she wouldn’t agree to marry him. Didn’t have any information on his family at all.
June 12, 2022
A poor man's Phillipa Gregory???
I found this book very bland.
It tells of a Devon family in the time of Henry the 8ths reign.
The story is bland and borin
This book is not for me.
I found this book very bland.
It tells of a Devon family in the time of Henry the 8ths reign.
The story is bland and borin
This book is not for me.
April 14, 2023
engaging
I enjoyed this thoroughly. A quick and untaxing read which aims to flesh out a woman recorded in history but lightly.
I enjoyed this thoroughly. A quick and untaxing read which aims to flesh out a woman recorded in history but lightly.
October 16, 2023
Really enjoyed this
November 3, 2023
A brilliant first novel it had me hooked from the first page I couldn’t put it down
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews