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In The Court of Henry VIII #2
The Queen's Mistake
From the author of The Secret Bride , the tragic tale of the fifth wife of Henry VIII.
When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart's desire in favor of her family's ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon—her own romantic past.
The Queen's Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart.
When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart's desire in favor of her family's ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon—her own romantic past.
The Queen's Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2009
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3487 people want to read
About the author
Diane Haeger
19 books332 followersDiane Haeger is the bestselling author of fifteen published novels, including Courtesan, The Ruby Ring and My Dearest Cecilia. Her work, to date, has been translated into 18 different languages and has been featured in the LA Times and Harper's Bazaar Magazine. She loves telling real stories from history. She lives in California with her husband and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
April 15, 2013
The most unrealistic portrayal of Catherine that I've read besides Philippa Gregory's version.
(Not the first Catherine, I meant the one who got beheaded. Oh, wait. The other one who got beheaded, this doesn't need a spoiler tag, does it?)
For a book entitled The QUEEN'S Mistake, there's not much of the book in which Catherine is actually queen. It's more of a retelling of her past, and a veeeeeeeeeeeeery long and dull courtship between Catherine and Thomas Culpepper. The long and dull courtship is largely adolescent, with much ado about I-love-you-but-I-can't-have-you-let's-run-away-together! /insert lovesick sigh here.
It got more than a little trying after the not-so-secret courtship persists through half the book, with the two kids thinking they're being so discreet the way adolescents do, and everyone else but Henry knowing about their relationship. Catherine comes off as far too innocent and the author does everything she can to make light of her previous relationships. Oh, everyone falls in love and into bed with the young Catherine in her grandmother's house? No idea how that happened. Pfft. It's all because she's lonely and she misses her dead mommy who died 10 years ago.
At court, she's portrayed as guileless and devoted to her queen, Anne of Cleves. The villain, Mary Lascelles, is one-dimensional in her wickedness and determination to bring Catherine down. Francis Dereham is also lacking in development. There's not much of him before he shows up in a few scenes looking for a payout.
Altogether, I didn't find anything about this book that stood out. The characters are one-dimensional, and the writing unexceptional; historical fiction needs the added edge of good writing, since they retell a story we have known before.
(Not the first Catherine, I meant the one who got beheaded. Oh, wait. The other one who got beheaded, this doesn't need a spoiler tag, does it?)
For a book entitled The QUEEN'S Mistake, there's not much of the book in which Catherine is actually queen. It's more of a retelling of her past, and a veeeeeeeeeeeeery long and dull courtship between Catherine and Thomas Culpepper. The long and dull courtship is largely adolescent, with much ado about I-love-you-but-I-can't-have-you-let's-run-away-together! /insert lovesick sigh here.
It got more than a little trying after the not-so-secret courtship persists through half the book, with the two kids thinking they're being so discreet the way adolescents do, and everyone else but Henry knowing about their relationship. Catherine comes off as far too innocent and the author does everything she can to make light of her previous relationships. Oh, everyone falls in love and into bed with the young Catherine in her grandmother's house? No idea how that happened. Pfft. It's all because she's lonely and she misses her dead mommy who died 10 years ago.
At court, she's portrayed as guileless and devoted to her queen, Anne of Cleves. The villain, Mary Lascelles, is one-dimensional in her wickedness and determination to bring Catherine down. Francis Dereham is also lacking in development. There's not much of him before he shows up in a few scenes looking for a payout.
Altogether, I didn't find anything about this book that stood out. The characters are one-dimensional, and the writing unexceptional; historical fiction needs the added edge of good writing, since they retell a story we have known before.
February 20, 2012
“Predictability” is the main term which can be used to describe Diane Haeger’s “The Queen’s Mistake”. Although Haeger’s other works such as “The Perfect Royal Mistress” (which I loved) and “Courtesan” are also simple reads; The Queen’s Mistake is even more simplified and ‘dummied’ down.
We are immediately introduced to a portrayal of Catherine Howard which is quite one dimensional: the naïve but promiscuous girl who turns to sex to fulfill a missing void from an absent father, dead mother, and cruel grandmother. Catherine’s characterization is simply too restricted and not explored. Plus, if I may venture to say, she is simply annoying.
There is where predictability already comes into play. Even if I was unfamiliar with Catherine’s fate, Haeger makes it very obvious in the beginning of the book which basically causes a lack of eagerness to read on. The thread of predictability also intertwines with Catherine’s interactions toward other characters with Haeger’s over-dramatized foreshadowing. Again, even if new to the topic, one could figure out what happens. If you are a Tudor expert? Well, you will find yourself groaning here and there.
Oddly enough, some of the other characters (such as the Duke of Norfolk) encompass a bit more depth. It appears Haeger was too afraid to explore Catherine but had more lenience with other minor plotline figures. Truth be told, the dialogues NOT involving Catherine are more engaging than her own storyline. This is helped by the novel being told by various characters’ perspectives which adds depth and intrigue.
There are some issues with the other characters, though. Anne of Cleves is also too stereotypical (ugly, horse-looking, smelly German) who in this novel has a great relationship with Catherine (suddenly they are best buddies!); while Culpeper is a hopeless romantic in love with Catherine. Henry barely even has any depth in the novel but is also just searching for love. Basically, everyone is portrayed as far too innocent: Catherine feels so much guilt at stealing Anne of Cleve’s husband and just wants to be a country wife with Culpeper while Culpeper plans to ask Henry for permission to marry Catherine (before Henry marries Catherine). Once Catherine does marry Henry, she regularly voices how she just wants to be a good wife and that she has never done more than kiss Thomas while she was married (pleeassee!).
Even more annoying are the constant references to Anne Boleyn (which is inaccurate) and Henry’s CONSTANT insistence that Catherine call him Hal.
Surprisingly, even with a lack of complexity; The Queen’s Mistake does illustrate scenes rather well. However, it isn’t much better than an episode of The Tudors. Actually, the novel reads much like the season of The Tudors with Catherine Howard and I even pictured some of the actors as I read; which NEVER happens to me! On the positive side, unlike some other historical fiction authors (ahem, PG!), Haeger did not repeatedly explain character relations/titles and instead gave background information in a seamless and educational way.
The buildup of Catherine’s fate takes much to long as the book drags and could have been told with far less pages. Yet, the climax ending is rushed, barely described, and packed into less than 5 pages resulting in a very disappointing ending. As for historical accuracy? The main events are accurate but the ratio of ridiculous, fictional occurrences are much too high: sexual liaisons between Francis Dereham and the Dowager Duchess (ewww), a poisoned kitten, Henry slapping Catherine, Catherine trying to get a pardon for Margaret Pole in the tower, etc.
Clearly, The Queen’s Mistake is not a historical fiction masterpiece but it is a somewhat entertaining novel. If you approach it not expecting much and just seeking a quick amusement, then it isn’t bad. Honestly, it IS better than some of the other recent historical fiction contributions (ahem again, PG). Haeger’s work is also recommended if you oppose the traditional view of Catherine basically being a slut and want to see her viewed as more innocent of any wrong-doing. However, if you are seeking depth, accuracy, and are annoyed by falsified fictional events; then this book can be skipped.
We are immediately introduced to a portrayal of Catherine Howard which is quite one dimensional: the naïve but promiscuous girl who turns to sex to fulfill a missing void from an absent father, dead mother, and cruel grandmother. Catherine’s characterization is simply too restricted and not explored. Plus, if I may venture to say, she is simply annoying.
There is where predictability already comes into play. Even if I was unfamiliar with Catherine’s fate, Haeger makes it very obvious in the beginning of the book which basically causes a lack of eagerness to read on. The thread of predictability also intertwines with Catherine’s interactions toward other characters with Haeger’s over-dramatized foreshadowing. Again, even if new to the topic, one could figure out what happens. If you are a Tudor expert? Well, you will find yourself groaning here and there.
Oddly enough, some of the other characters (such as the Duke of Norfolk) encompass a bit more depth. It appears Haeger was too afraid to explore Catherine but had more lenience with other minor plotline figures. Truth be told, the dialogues NOT involving Catherine are more engaging than her own storyline. This is helped by the novel being told by various characters’ perspectives which adds depth and intrigue.
There are some issues with the other characters, though. Anne of Cleves is also too stereotypical (ugly, horse-looking, smelly German) who in this novel has a great relationship with Catherine (suddenly they are best buddies!); while Culpeper is a hopeless romantic in love with Catherine. Henry barely even has any depth in the novel but is also just searching for love. Basically, everyone is portrayed as far too innocent: Catherine feels so much guilt at stealing Anne of Cleve’s husband and just wants to be a country wife with Culpeper while Culpeper plans to ask Henry for permission to marry Catherine (before Henry marries Catherine). Once Catherine does marry Henry, she regularly voices how she just wants to be a good wife and that she has never done more than kiss Thomas while she was married (pleeassee!).
Even more annoying are the constant references to Anne Boleyn (which is inaccurate) and Henry’s CONSTANT insistence that Catherine call him Hal.
Surprisingly, even with a lack of complexity; The Queen’s Mistake does illustrate scenes rather well. However, it isn’t much better than an episode of The Tudors. Actually, the novel reads much like the season of The Tudors with Catherine Howard and I even pictured some of the actors as I read; which NEVER happens to me! On the positive side, unlike some other historical fiction authors (ahem, PG!), Haeger did not repeatedly explain character relations/titles and instead gave background information in a seamless and educational way.
The buildup of Catherine’s fate takes much to long as the book drags and could have been told with far less pages. Yet, the climax ending is rushed, barely described, and packed into less than 5 pages resulting in a very disappointing ending. As for historical accuracy? The main events are accurate but the ratio of ridiculous, fictional occurrences are much too high: sexual liaisons between Francis Dereham and the Dowager Duchess (ewww), a poisoned kitten, Henry slapping Catherine, Catherine trying to get a pardon for Margaret Pole in the tower, etc.
Clearly, The Queen’s Mistake is not a historical fiction masterpiece but it is a somewhat entertaining novel. If you approach it not expecting much and just seeking a quick amusement, then it isn’t bad. Honestly, it IS better than some of the other recent historical fiction contributions (ahem again, PG). Haeger’s work is also recommended if you oppose the traditional view of Catherine basically being a slut and want to see her viewed as more innocent of any wrong-doing. However, if you are seeking depth, accuracy, and are annoyed by falsified fictional events; then this book can be skipped.
July 30, 2011
If you're wanting a story about Henry VIII along the lines of the novels of Philippa Gregory, this isn't it- in fact, one of the many chapters in the Tudor saga is even more mangled here than in Ms. Gregory's works. While it's true that Henry was cordial to Anne of Cleves (if you exclude his famous ""I like her not!"" remarks and branding her the 'Flanders mare'), that's about the only fact that seems close to the truth in this borderline fan fic of a story. The biggest errors, and ones that got on my nerves, were the constant references to Anne Boleyn, when according to the book ""The Six Wives of Henry VIII"" (which is a scholarly look at the Tudors and quite good) Henry never publically mentioned her again after her execution, yet in 'The Queen's Mistake' he's constantly seen to be mentioning or thinking of her just like the rest of the court. Also, Catherine Howard is painted to be an innocent bystander that all the men drool over, which is just plain ridiculous. If you want an intriguing look at Henry's fifth wife, read The Boleyn Inheritance. While it's not accurate either, the twists and turns are a lot more fun and make the whole thing more bearable than this take did.
September 30, 2019
Catherine Howard is getting tired of living with the Dowager Duchess and her house of sin and is thrilled to discover that she is going to Court to serve Anne of Cleves, the new Queen. She throws herself into Court life life and finds a few instant admirers but her heart is quickly won by Henry's dashing servant Thomas Culpepper. Hopes for a future with Thomas are dashed when her ambitious family ensure that the King falls in love with her and she is forced to become his Queen. But her continued feelings for Thomas and her less than innocent past are about to come back and haunt her.
Catherine gets her dubious education living with the Dowager Duchess. The other women living there sneak young men into the dorms each night, drawing her into adventures that endanger her honour and reputation. Her music teacher stubbornly pusues her and the dashing Francis Dereham talks of the couple being betrothed and married, which Catherine views as a bit of a game rather than serious committment. When she arrives at Court she catches the attention of several well connected men including Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas who despite being married is happy to get involved with the attractive young woman. Despite finding Thomas Culpepper arrogant, Catherine soon finds herself falling for him and contemplates getting her Uncle's permission to marry him.
Things start going wrong for Catherine when she realises that her Uncle Norfolk brought her to Court to catch the eye of the King just as Henry was losing interest in Queen Anne. She is unhappy at the prospect of having to give up Thomas for Henry's affections and starts playing a dangerous game in seeing Thomas behind Henry's back with help from Jane Rochford who arranges meetings between them. Thomas Cromwell is aware of Gregory's interest in Catherine and he starts to meddle himself to try and stop the King's initial interest in Catherine, although Gregory is the main Cromwell that we see in the story. I found Gregory to be an interesting character in this author's plot as I never saw him in any other Tudor novel, as these books tend to focus on his father. I liked the focus on Catherine's relationship with Gregory and Thomas Culpepper as well as her 'romance' with Henry.
This author also focuses a lot on Mary Lassells, a woman in the household who is responsible for Catherine's later fall from grace. The plot surrounding her in this book is that she fell for the music teacher Henry Manox, losing him to Catherine who quickly got tired of his advances. Mary then falls for Francis only to lose him to Catherine as well, making her angry and bitter and full of vengeance. In later years after Catherine marries Henry, Mary decides to demand a place at Court where she can watch what is happening and the nervous Norfolks feel they have to bring not only Mary, but a few other girls and Francis Dereham into their service where they can keep an eye on them all. Mary soon decides to pass on her secret information about Catherine's past to Cranmer to ensure Catherine's downfall. I couldn't help feeling sorry for Catherine with so many people who knew her past demanding favours and in place to cause trouble.
My one niggle was having Mary, Henry's daughter, constantly mouthing off to him about his wedding to Catherine being an abomination and unacceptable to her, and slagging him off for running away from her mother to be with Anne Boleyn. I somehow doubt she would have dared to talk to Henry like that, and certainly ranting to him about Anne Boleyn would have made him explode with rage! Henry would have erupted if his daughter had spoken to him like that rather than meekly sit there and let her rant. But really that is just a minor niggle in the book and it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I really enjoyed the way that the author told Catherine's story, putting a different spin on things by introducing Gregory Cromwell, and having the Dowager Duchess arranging for Manox to be there to 'educate' Catherine to get her more ready for Court and seducing the King. I liked the idea that the Norfolks actually sabotaged Catherine's honour in this plot to prepare her to be the seductress she will need to be to snare a King. It was interesting for the plot to have the Norfolks not caring if she messed around at Court until they were sure the King was snagged. This and the focus on Mary Lassell's jealous rage was entertaining. I liked the way that she was hellbent on her personal mission to destroy Catherine, making her a dreadful character!
The writing was good, the characters were nicely developed and I very much enjoyed the way she presented the story. I'm looking forward to her other Tudor books which are already sitting on my bookshelves!
Catherine gets her dubious education living with the Dowager Duchess. The other women living there sneak young men into the dorms each night, drawing her into adventures that endanger her honour and reputation. Her music teacher stubbornly pusues her and the dashing Francis Dereham talks of the couple being betrothed and married, which Catherine views as a bit of a game rather than serious committment. When she arrives at Court she catches the attention of several well connected men including Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas who despite being married is happy to get involved with the attractive young woman. Despite finding Thomas Culpepper arrogant, Catherine soon finds herself falling for him and contemplates getting her Uncle's permission to marry him.
Things start going wrong for Catherine when she realises that her Uncle Norfolk brought her to Court to catch the eye of the King just as Henry was losing interest in Queen Anne. She is unhappy at the prospect of having to give up Thomas for Henry's affections and starts playing a dangerous game in seeing Thomas behind Henry's back with help from Jane Rochford who arranges meetings between them. Thomas Cromwell is aware of Gregory's interest in Catherine and he starts to meddle himself to try and stop the King's initial interest in Catherine, although Gregory is the main Cromwell that we see in the story. I found Gregory to be an interesting character in this author's plot as I never saw him in any other Tudor novel, as these books tend to focus on his father. I liked the focus on Catherine's relationship with Gregory and Thomas Culpepper as well as her 'romance' with Henry.
This author also focuses a lot on Mary Lassells, a woman in the household who is responsible for Catherine's later fall from grace. The plot surrounding her in this book is that she fell for the music teacher Henry Manox, losing him to Catherine who quickly got tired of his advances. Mary then falls for Francis only to lose him to Catherine as well, making her angry and bitter and full of vengeance. In later years after Catherine marries Henry, Mary decides to demand a place at Court where she can watch what is happening and the nervous Norfolks feel they have to bring not only Mary, but a few other girls and Francis Dereham into their service where they can keep an eye on them all. Mary soon decides to pass on her secret information about Catherine's past to Cranmer to ensure Catherine's downfall. I couldn't help feeling sorry for Catherine with so many people who knew her past demanding favours and in place to cause trouble.
My one niggle was having Mary, Henry's daughter, constantly mouthing off to him about his wedding to Catherine being an abomination and unacceptable to her, and slagging him off for running away from her mother to be with Anne Boleyn. I somehow doubt she would have dared to talk to Henry like that, and certainly ranting to him about Anne Boleyn would have made him explode with rage! Henry would have erupted if his daughter had spoken to him like that rather than meekly sit there and let her rant. But really that is just a minor niggle in the book and it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I really enjoyed the way that the author told Catherine's story, putting a different spin on things by introducing Gregory Cromwell, and having the Dowager Duchess arranging for Manox to be there to 'educate' Catherine to get her more ready for Court and seducing the King. I liked the idea that the Norfolks actually sabotaged Catherine's honour in this plot to prepare her to be the seductress she will need to be to snare a King. It was interesting for the plot to have the Norfolks not caring if she messed around at Court until they were sure the King was snagged. This and the focus on Mary Lassell's jealous rage was entertaining. I liked the way that she was hellbent on her personal mission to destroy Catherine, making her a dreadful character!
The writing was good, the characters were nicely developed and I very much enjoyed the way she presented the story. I'm looking forward to her other Tudor books which are already sitting on my bookshelves!
November 20, 2009
"Use well with the king what you have learned of men"
In the Queen’s Mistake Haeger puts a new *spin* on Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's doomed fifth wife. A poorer member of the powerful Howard family, Catherine is relegated to the country home of the Dowager Duchess of Suffolk where supervision over the young girls of the household is lax and sexual escapades are common. The Duke of Norfolk has great plans for Catherine and he wants her sexually educated before she's brought to court so he can land another Howard woman on the throne of England. I'm not quite sure I'm buying this rationalization - I would have thought a pure maid would better suit the old King but oh well.....
After dallying with her music teacher and plight trothing herself to the Duchess' secretary Catherine is sent to court to serve Henry's new queen, Anne of Cleves and she soon captures the roving eye of the unhappy groom. She also meets younger courtier Thomas Culpepper and soon begins making whoopee with him anytime they can be alone, and it’s is a lot more frequent than you'd expect in such an overcrowded castle but that's what Haeger's would have us believe.
And the rest, as they say is history. If you are a long-time reader of all things Tudor you know what Catherine's fate is and if you don't I don't think you want me spoiling it for you. Over and above the ludicrous notion that the Howards would encourage lose sexual behavior so she could entrap a king, my biggest problem is just generally bad writing. I've seen other reviewers refer to it as "pedantic" and "juvenile" and I couldn't agree more. I grew very tired of hearing about foods dribbling down Henry's beard, his sweaty hands, distasteful breath and all around grossness. I got it the first few times and I did not need to be clubbed over the head with it.
Unfortunately, when the writing and storyline are not enough to engage my attention I start to nit-pick and that's what happened here. First there was Thomas Culpepper, gentleman of the bedchamber and The King of England is confiding all aspects of his love life with him. How were Thomas and Catherine able to meet so often with no one noticing (how did a maid of honor get a private room???) was a bit of a stretch as well as the time she brought him his own satisfaction in the garden (wonder if there was a fountain handy to wash her hand off?). You guys don’t even want to know about the bit with Cromwell’s son.
I didn't buy the reasoning behind Cranmer's persecution of her just because she was Catholic believable, nor did I buy into the big *true love* between Catherine and Thomas (no chemistry there), and in the end she became so darn Mary Sue-ish it took a lot of will power not to hurl the book at the wall. I probably would have gone for three stars but the ending ticked me off so bad (what a let down) that I'm knocking it down to two. This is the third book I've tried by this author and the third time is not the charm for me. I'm done. Get it from the library if you must, I'm glad I did.
Lastly, someone want to tell me if it's physically possible to ride horse from York to Hampton Court in a full day? I'm guessing not...
In the Queen’s Mistake Haeger puts a new *spin* on Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's doomed fifth wife. A poorer member of the powerful Howard family, Catherine is relegated to the country home of the Dowager Duchess of Suffolk where supervision over the young girls of the household is lax and sexual escapades are common. The Duke of Norfolk has great plans for Catherine and he wants her sexually educated before she's brought to court so he can land another Howard woman on the throne of England. I'm not quite sure I'm buying this rationalization - I would have thought a pure maid would better suit the old King but oh well.....
After dallying with her music teacher and plight trothing herself to the Duchess' secretary Catherine is sent to court to serve Henry's new queen, Anne of Cleves and she soon captures the roving eye of the unhappy groom. She also meets younger courtier Thomas Culpepper and soon begins making whoopee with him anytime they can be alone, and it’s is a lot more frequent than you'd expect in such an overcrowded castle but that's what Haeger's would have us believe.
And the rest, as they say is history. If you are a long-time reader of all things Tudor you know what Catherine's fate is and if you don't I don't think you want me spoiling it for you. Over and above the ludicrous notion that the Howards would encourage lose sexual behavior so she could entrap a king, my biggest problem is just generally bad writing. I've seen other reviewers refer to it as "pedantic" and "juvenile" and I couldn't agree more. I grew very tired of hearing about foods dribbling down Henry's beard, his sweaty hands, distasteful breath and all around grossness. I got it the first few times and I did not need to be clubbed over the head with it.
Unfortunately, when the writing and storyline are not enough to engage my attention I start to nit-pick and that's what happened here. First there was Thomas Culpepper, gentleman of the bedchamber and The King of England is confiding all aspects of his love life with him. How were Thomas and Catherine able to meet so often with no one noticing (how did a maid of honor get a private room???) was a bit of a stretch as well as the time she brought him his own satisfaction in the garden (wonder if there was a fountain handy to wash her hand off?). You guys don’t even want to know about the bit with Cromwell’s son.
I didn't buy the reasoning behind Cranmer's persecution of her just because she was Catholic believable, nor did I buy into the big *true love* between Catherine and Thomas (no chemistry there), and in the end she became so darn Mary Sue-ish it took a lot of will power not to hurl the book at the wall. I probably would have gone for three stars but the ending ticked me off so bad (what a let down) that I'm knocking it down to two. This is the third book I've tried by this author and the third time is not the charm for me. I'm done. Get it from the library if you must, I'm glad I did.
Lastly, someone want to tell me if it's physically possible to ride horse from York to Hampton Court in a full day? I'm guessing not...
September 26, 2018
One of the few novels about Katherine Howard in print is Diane Haegar’s The Queen’s Mistake. Having recently gone on a binge read about some of Henry VIII’s other wives, but never having read anything written about Katherine Howard other than some of the history books that cover all of the wives, I decided to find whatever I could about Katherine and see how at least one author has decided to interpret the known facts.
Most historians seem to agree that, while Katherine was a Howard and thus a member of a powerful family, she herself was not seem as an important or valuable member of that house until Henry VIII began to show his displeasure at being married to Anne of Cleves. Seeing another chance to control the king through his women, the Earl of Norfolk, head of the Howard family, uncle of Henry’s second queen Anne Boleyn, went looking among the various young women of the family in the hopes that they might find someone pretty enough to catch the king’s eye. The prospective mistress, perhaps bribe, he found was Katherine.
Katherine’s father was a younger Howard son among 21 children, and had no inherited wealth or lands. Her mother died when she was five, having borne six children to Katherine’s father and five to a previous husband. The children were parceled out as wards to various relatives; her father remarried and took a position at Calais.
Katherine was given into the care of her father’s stepmother, the Dowager Countess, who had a rather large number of poor relations and young female wards and attendants and seemed rather lax in watching over and educating them. By courtly standards, Katherine was poorly educated. What she had, however, was beauty. And a history to be hidden.
Looked at through modern sensibilities, Katherine was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her music teacher, Henry Maddox, when she was around 13, and was later seduced at 15 by an older man, Francis Dereham, her guardian’s secretary, with whom she may have entered into a precontract to marry - witnesses at her trial agreed that they called each other husband and wife, and were fully sexually intimate. In Tudor times, a girl of 13 might be seen as old enough to marry, and a girl of 15 would be deemed capable of consent, so these sexual experiences were generally seen as proof of her unchaste character and not manipulation or abuse of a young girl by older men.
She, however insisted that she had not consented to either. Ironically, had she agreed that she had been precontracted to Dereham, she might have lived - that would have rendered her marriage to the king null and void, and made the charge of adultery with Thomas Culpepper irrelevant, at least as far as the king was concerned.
Interpretations of Katherine’s character and behaviour tend to be connected to how her early sexual experiences are viewed. Those who see her as the victim of older men tend to see her as a tragic figure, one who perhaps, as victims of sexual abuse often can be, was too prone to interpret sex as love, and to seek sex inappropriately because that’s what she was used to. Those who blame her for her early experience see her as deceitful, deliberately unfaithful, hedonistic and immoral. We’ll likely never know, as she left very little behind to tell us who she was, beyond her testimony and confession. She was barely 18 when she died.
Diane Haeger has resisted taking the easy way out, of presenting Katherine as all victim or all whore. Instead, she shows us a young girl bereft of love and affection at an early age, who takes what she can get, but doesn’t trust that what she is given is honest. In her own mind, is she seducer or seduced? A bit of both. The men who claim her while she is still a young girl at the Dowager Countess’s estate of Horsham as a mere girl at least give her a sense of being wanted, and with Dereham, to some extent, Haeger has her return his affection. But she doesn’t take his protestations of wanting to marry her seriously, especially once her uncle Norfolk announces his plans to bring her to court. She hopes to reach higher than a mere secretary, a servant - she dreams of attracting the attention of a nobleman. The thought that she might capture the king is not really in her mind. And Haeger proposes the possibility that the liaisons were not just known of, but arranged by the Dowager Countess as part of a plan to turn Katherine into a courtesan, the perfect mistress. It’s an interesting idea, and allows her to present Katherine as a wanton - she gives her sexual favours freely and carelessly once she arrives at court - and still maintain her as essentially a victim. If she was programmed to respond sexually to any man who showed her interest or affection, then it’s arguably not wholly her fault if she did succumb to attention, even love, from Culpepper.
Once it becomes clear to her that the king desires her, poor Katherine is trapped. Her family is pressuring her to acquiesce to his wishes, and the blackmailers - servants from her former life at Horsham who know all about Maddox and Dereham - have begun to demand favours and positions at court. Her uncle Norfolk and the Dowager Countess have both assured the king of her virginity, even though both know of her past, and that she is now having an affair with Culpepper. The only way out now would be to tell the truth, but that would put Culpepper beyond her reach forever. And so the tragedy move inexorably towards its end.
I liked this interpretation of Katherine as a young woman trapped and betrayed by almost everyone who should have taken care of her, from her early days as an orphaned and penniless unwanted relative to the pawn of powerful forces beyond her control - her family’s ambition, the king’s desires, the intrigues over religion that saw poor Katherine not as a girl in above her head, but a possible resurgence for the Catholic faith. She never had a chance, and all she really did wrong was take what comfort she could from perhaps the only person who truly saw her, cared for her, loved her.
Most historians seem to agree that, while Katherine was a Howard and thus a member of a powerful family, she herself was not seem as an important or valuable member of that house until Henry VIII began to show his displeasure at being married to Anne of Cleves. Seeing another chance to control the king through his women, the Earl of Norfolk, head of the Howard family, uncle of Henry’s second queen Anne Boleyn, went looking among the various young women of the family in the hopes that they might find someone pretty enough to catch the king’s eye. The prospective mistress, perhaps bribe, he found was Katherine.
Katherine’s father was a younger Howard son among 21 children, and had no inherited wealth or lands. Her mother died when she was five, having borne six children to Katherine’s father and five to a previous husband. The children were parceled out as wards to various relatives; her father remarried and took a position at Calais.
Katherine was given into the care of her father’s stepmother, the Dowager Countess, who had a rather large number of poor relations and young female wards and attendants and seemed rather lax in watching over and educating them. By courtly standards, Katherine was poorly educated. What she had, however, was beauty. And a history to be hidden.
Looked at through modern sensibilities, Katherine was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her music teacher, Henry Maddox, when she was around 13, and was later seduced at 15 by an older man, Francis Dereham, her guardian’s secretary, with whom she may have entered into a precontract to marry - witnesses at her trial agreed that they called each other husband and wife, and were fully sexually intimate. In Tudor times, a girl of 13 might be seen as old enough to marry, and a girl of 15 would be deemed capable of consent, so these sexual experiences were generally seen as proof of her unchaste character and not manipulation or abuse of a young girl by older men.
She, however insisted that she had not consented to either. Ironically, had she agreed that she had been precontracted to Dereham, she might have lived - that would have rendered her marriage to the king null and void, and made the charge of adultery with Thomas Culpepper irrelevant, at least as far as the king was concerned.
Interpretations of Katherine’s character and behaviour tend to be connected to how her early sexual experiences are viewed. Those who see her as the victim of older men tend to see her as a tragic figure, one who perhaps, as victims of sexual abuse often can be, was too prone to interpret sex as love, and to seek sex inappropriately because that’s what she was used to. Those who blame her for her early experience see her as deceitful, deliberately unfaithful, hedonistic and immoral. We’ll likely never know, as she left very little behind to tell us who she was, beyond her testimony and confession. She was barely 18 when she died.
Diane Haeger has resisted taking the easy way out, of presenting Katherine as all victim or all whore. Instead, she shows us a young girl bereft of love and affection at an early age, who takes what she can get, but doesn’t trust that what she is given is honest. In her own mind, is she seducer or seduced? A bit of both. The men who claim her while she is still a young girl at the Dowager Countess’s estate of Horsham as a mere girl at least give her a sense of being wanted, and with Dereham, to some extent, Haeger has her return his affection. But she doesn’t take his protestations of wanting to marry her seriously, especially once her uncle Norfolk announces his plans to bring her to court. She hopes to reach higher than a mere secretary, a servant - she dreams of attracting the attention of a nobleman. The thought that she might capture the king is not really in her mind. And Haeger proposes the possibility that the liaisons were not just known of, but arranged by the Dowager Countess as part of a plan to turn Katherine into a courtesan, the perfect mistress. It’s an interesting idea, and allows her to present Katherine as a wanton - she gives her sexual favours freely and carelessly once she arrives at court - and still maintain her as essentially a victim. If she was programmed to respond sexually to any man who showed her interest or affection, then it’s arguably not wholly her fault if she did succumb to attention, even love, from Culpepper.
Once it becomes clear to her that the king desires her, poor Katherine is trapped. Her family is pressuring her to acquiesce to his wishes, and the blackmailers - servants from her former life at Horsham who know all about Maddox and Dereham - have begun to demand favours and positions at court. Her uncle Norfolk and the Dowager Countess have both assured the king of her virginity, even though both know of her past, and that she is now having an affair with Culpepper. The only way out now would be to tell the truth, but that would put Culpepper beyond her reach forever. And so the tragedy move inexorably towards its end.
I liked this interpretation of Katherine as a young woman trapped and betrayed by almost everyone who should have taken care of her, from her early days as an orphaned and penniless unwanted relative to the pawn of powerful forces beyond her control - her family’s ambition, the king’s desires, the intrigues over religion that saw poor Katherine not as a girl in above her head, but a possible resurgence for the Catholic faith. She never had a chance, and all she really did wrong was take what comfort she could from perhaps the only person who truly saw her, cared for her, loved her.
August 2, 2010
Normally, I love Tudor-era historical fiction. It was such a fascinating, precarious time in history with a mad king who ultimately ruled with his passions, altering his country irrevocably in the wake of his cycles of ecstasy and hatred. The women he married were just as likely to face complete ruin as attain dizzying power, and the story of his young fifth queen shows the cost of not realizing Henry's idealistic view of the women he became enamored with. Katherine Howard's story is a touching, if tragic one.
However, this book left me wanting to throw it through the wall. Not that this novel is without its merits, but its flaws were entirely too distracting for me to enjoy what would have otherwise have been a fantastic read. The utter pettiness of Mary Lasells (killing a kitten in a fit of bitterness? Really?!) and Francis Dereham were almost caricatured. Rather than rounding out the two characters, which would have added a great deal to the story, Haeger left the figures as shallow, utterly consumed by jealousy and bitterness. Dereham was a caricature of the scorned lover, and Mary Lasell's character put the high schoolish you-stole-my-boyfriend-prepare-to-suffer schtick into complete overdrive. Norfolk's character wasn't much better, though, let's face it, history does treat the man as insufferably ambitious, and I'm not sure he could have been much more complex without centering the novel around him.
Henry didn't have as much depth as I would have liked either. Though it was touching to see a man wanting to be loved for himself rather than his position, we don't see too much of what caused such violent swings in Henry's favor. Rather than a powerful monarch in the decline of his health, the man seems almost childish, ready to believe whatever idiot thing Norfolk decides to whisper into his ear and throwing tantrums when those he idealizes prove to be human rather than divine (as it would seem he would rather them be to suit his purposes). I'm unsure if the author intended the repetitive references to Henry's jowls, foul smell, and festering sore were purposeful to create a sense of repulsion in the reader, but these too-frequent descriptions were a bit over emphasized. On a positive note, his pursuit of Katherine had a sweet, bumbling, touching quality to it. His argument with Mary had me laughing out loud; the scene has been played out the world over, and to see it in a royal family was very refreshing. I also enjoyed seeing the repartee between him and his two daughters, and I couldn't help but smile at the warm moments between Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward. It was nice to see Henry the father.
However, I did enjoy a better treatment of Katherine than I had seen in novels like 'The Boleyn Inheritance.' Rather than a vapid, empty-headed child, we see a naive young woman at the mercy of her family's whims, who gains the ability to survive in the merciless court of Henry VIII entirely too late to save herself. In love with a man of her own choosing, she decides to take the path of least social resistance and marry a man out of duty rather than pursue a life with the man she loves. Rather than reach to be queen, she resigns herself to it, and it is through her character that the unreasonability and, really, hypocrisy, of expecting individuals to embody lofty ideals to suit one's own purposes is made most evident. I liked this Katherine, and thus perhaps reacted more harshly to the petty bitterness surrounding her than I did in other novels. Then again, it could also be that I felt clubbed over the head with the backbiting more in this novel than in others. The poor woman is brought down by those who hate her for the power she's attained, though in reality, the girl wants none of it, and would rather trade places with almost any of them so that she could live a life more of her choosing rather than as a ersatz virgin sacrifice to her own family's relentless ambition.
Thomas Culpeper for his part, is also a complex character, and does a fantastic job of embodying the hypocrisy of court. Ironically, though he (and Jane Rochford) try to act as guardians to Katherine (and perhaps the only true friends she has at court), he is also her chief downfall. It was easy to see why Katherine risked everything for Thomas, and the affair had an almost Tristan-and-Isolde quality to it. Jane, for her part, also gets a better treatment. Maternal toward Katherine (partially a penance, partially because she just likes the girl), Jane allows her to keep her affair with Culpeper, which ultimately costs the both of them their lives. Parents, it seems, always want their children to have what they themselves were denied. In Jane's case, this is a man who adores her. However, it is also this very well-intentioned desire that costs Jane, Culpeper, and Katherine each their heads.
The Dowager Duchess is also an interesting character (though her dalliance with one of Katherine's former lovers was, in my humble opinion, not entirely necessary). In this novel, Katherine's two lovers are planned as a way of teaching the girl to seduce and thus advance the family cause. Though this isn't out of the question, I'm unsure how realistic this type of thing actually is. However, that twist in the plot serves to exculpate the duchess from being a clueless idiot, oblivious to what occurs beneath her own roof. Rather the woman is a keen observer of everything around her, and truly wants the best for Katherine. However, she does miscalculate tragically in pushing her granddaughter into the king's marriage bed, and thus aids in the sacrificing of her granddaughter to her family ambition.
All in all, the parts I enjoyed, I was almost enthralled with. However, the pettiness and cruelty so over emphasized here, along with powerful characters with absolutely no redeeming qualities left me not wanting to come back to this novel.
However, this book left me wanting to throw it through the wall. Not that this novel is without its merits, but its flaws were entirely too distracting for me to enjoy what would have otherwise have been a fantastic read. The utter pettiness of Mary Lasells (killing a kitten in a fit of bitterness? Really?!) and Francis Dereham were almost caricatured. Rather than rounding out the two characters, which would have added a great deal to the story, Haeger left the figures as shallow, utterly consumed by jealousy and bitterness. Dereham was a caricature of the scorned lover, and Mary Lasell's character put the high schoolish you-stole-my-boyfriend-prepare-to-suffer schtick into complete overdrive. Norfolk's character wasn't much better, though, let's face it, history does treat the man as insufferably ambitious, and I'm not sure he could have been much more complex without centering the novel around him.
Henry didn't have as much depth as I would have liked either. Though it was touching to see a man wanting to be loved for himself rather than his position, we don't see too much of what caused such violent swings in Henry's favor. Rather than a powerful monarch in the decline of his health, the man seems almost childish, ready to believe whatever idiot thing Norfolk decides to whisper into his ear and throwing tantrums when those he idealizes prove to be human rather than divine (as it would seem he would rather them be to suit his purposes). I'm unsure if the author intended the repetitive references to Henry's jowls, foul smell, and festering sore were purposeful to create a sense of repulsion in the reader, but these too-frequent descriptions were a bit over emphasized. On a positive note, his pursuit of Katherine had a sweet, bumbling, touching quality to it. His argument with Mary had me laughing out loud; the scene has been played out the world over, and to see it in a royal family was very refreshing. I also enjoyed seeing the repartee between him and his two daughters, and I couldn't help but smile at the warm moments between Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward. It was nice to see Henry the father.
However, I did enjoy a better treatment of Katherine than I had seen in novels like 'The Boleyn Inheritance.' Rather than a vapid, empty-headed child, we see a naive young woman at the mercy of her family's whims, who gains the ability to survive in the merciless court of Henry VIII entirely too late to save herself. In love with a man of her own choosing, she decides to take the path of least social resistance and marry a man out of duty rather than pursue a life with the man she loves. Rather than reach to be queen, she resigns herself to it, and it is through her character that the unreasonability and, really, hypocrisy, of expecting individuals to embody lofty ideals to suit one's own purposes is made most evident. I liked this Katherine, and thus perhaps reacted more harshly to the petty bitterness surrounding her than I did in other novels. Then again, it could also be that I felt clubbed over the head with the backbiting more in this novel than in others. The poor woman is brought down by those who hate her for the power she's attained, though in reality, the girl wants none of it, and would rather trade places with almost any of them so that she could live a life more of her choosing rather than as a ersatz virgin sacrifice to her own family's relentless ambition.
Thomas Culpeper for his part, is also a complex character, and does a fantastic job of embodying the hypocrisy of court. Ironically, though he (and Jane Rochford) try to act as guardians to Katherine (and perhaps the only true friends she has at court), he is also her chief downfall. It was easy to see why Katherine risked everything for Thomas, and the affair had an almost Tristan-and-Isolde quality to it. Jane, for her part, also gets a better treatment. Maternal toward Katherine (partially a penance, partially because she just likes the girl), Jane allows her to keep her affair with Culpeper, which ultimately costs the both of them their lives. Parents, it seems, always want their children to have what they themselves were denied. In Jane's case, this is a man who adores her. However, it is also this very well-intentioned desire that costs Jane, Culpeper, and Katherine each their heads.
The Dowager Duchess is also an interesting character (though her dalliance with one of Katherine's former lovers was, in my humble opinion, not entirely necessary). In this novel, Katherine's two lovers are planned as a way of teaching the girl to seduce and thus advance the family cause. Though this isn't out of the question, I'm unsure how realistic this type of thing actually is. However, that twist in the plot serves to exculpate the duchess from being a clueless idiot, oblivious to what occurs beneath her own roof. Rather the woman is a keen observer of everything around her, and truly wants the best for Katherine. However, she does miscalculate tragically in pushing her granddaughter into the king's marriage bed, and thus aids in the sacrificing of her granddaughter to her family ambition.
All in all, the parts I enjoyed, I was almost enthralled with. However, the pettiness and cruelty so over emphasized here, along with powerful characters with absolutely no redeeming qualities left me not wanting to come back to this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2017
3.5 stars
Catherine Howard was Henry VIII’s fifth wife; she was also Anne Boleyn’s cousin. Catherine was not even 20 years old yet when she married Henry and Henry was almost 50. Although Henry didn’t know it, Catherine had a bit of a reputation for being promiscuous. When Henry found out, after they had been married for a short time, things did not end well for Catherine.
I have read a little bit about Catherine, but not as much as some of Henry’s other wives. This book didn’t change my opinion of her. I’m not a fan of Catherine herself, although the story was good.
Catherine Howard was Henry VIII’s fifth wife; she was also Anne Boleyn’s cousin. Catherine was not even 20 years old yet when she married Henry and Henry was almost 50. Although Henry didn’t know it, Catherine had a bit of a reputation for being promiscuous. When Henry found out, after they had been married for a short time, things did not end well for Catherine.
I have read a little bit about Catherine, but not as much as some of Henry’s other wives. This book didn’t change my opinion of her. I’m not a fan of Catherine herself, although the story was good.
September 15, 2024
very much so historical fiction, but still very entertaining and well written
June 10, 2023
Katheryn Howard was dumb.
Promiscuous.
Ridiculously stupid.
Lavish.
Right?
This book blew me out of the water. I’ve been longing to read a book in which Katheryn Howard was innocent, but still executed. This book told that story, and told it well.
In The Queen’s Mistake, Katheryn (or Catherine, as it is spelled in this book) was almost exactly like I always imagined her. She was witty and ambitious, but kind too. She like sumptuous things, but she came from a poor background; before court, she wore only hand-me down dresses. Her promiscuity seems much more explained, too. We see her with other girls, led by their example and later she generally regrets what happened, trying to put it behind when she comes to court.
I thoroughly enjoyed the changing perspectives. We got to see court through the eyes of Henry VIII; Thomas Culpepper, Katheryn’s true love; Jane Rochford, Katheryn’s great ally at court; the Duke of Norfolk, the driving force behind Katheryn’s rise; Agnes Tilney, Katheryn’s step-grandmother; Mary Laceless, the girl who pushed Katheryn of her pedestal; and Anne Basset, maid-of-honor to the Queen and daughter of ambitious Lady Lise.
This novel also explained the dynamics of Katheryn and Henry’s children exceptionally well. Elizabeth’s love of her new stepmother was beautiful, and their interactions were some of my favorite parts.
(WARNING: The next paragraph contains spoilers!)
I liked the different ending to this book: it ends with Katheryn on her way to Syon Abbey, rather than her execution. The last paragraph states: “She refused to cry anymore. She refused defeat.” I mean… come on! And her and Thomas’s last interaction BROKE me!
I loved this book and must have it for my shelf. My favorite Katheryn Howard telling so far!
Promiscuous.
Ridiculously stupid.
Lavish.
Right?
This book blew me out of the water. I’ve been longing to read a book in which Katheryn Howard was innocent, but still executed. This book told that story, and told it well.
In The Queen’s Mistake, Katheryn (or Catherine, as it is spelled in this book) was almost exactly like I always imagined her. She was witty and ambitious, but kind too. She like sumptuous things, but she came from a poor background; before court, she wore only hand-me down dresses. Her promiscuity seems much more explained, too. We see her with other girls, led by their example and later she generally regrets what happened, trying to put it behind when she comes to court.
I thoroughly enjoyed the changing perspectives. We got to see court through the eyes of Henry VIII; Thomas Culpepper, Katheryn’s true love; Jane Rochford, Katheryn’s great ally at court; the Duke of Norfolk, the driving force behind Katheryn’s rise; Agnes Tilney, Katheryn’s step-grandmother; Mary Laceless, the girl who pushed Katheryn of her pedestal; and Anne Basset, maid-of-honor to the Queen and daughter of ambitious Lady Lise.
This novel also explained the dynamics of Katheryn and Henry’s children exceptionally well. Elizabeth’s love of her new stepmother was beautiful, and their interactions were some of my favorite parts.
(WARNING: The next paragraph contains spoilers!)
I liked the different ending to this book: it ends with Katheryn on her way to Syon Abbey, rather than her execution. The last paragraph states: “She refused to cry anymore. She refused defeat.” I mean… come on! And her and Thomas’s last interaction BROKE me!
I loved this book and must have it for my shelf. My favorite Katheryn Howard telling so far!
September 5, 2010
Anne Boleyn has been the subject of many books and movies, while her young cousin, Catherine Howard's story is not as well known but is also rife with tragedy and drama. Mrs. Haeger's novel, The Queen's Mistake, chronicles the life of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard. The book was an easy read, but very entertaining. To my knowledge, while no new historical facts were presented, I found the story of Catherine Howard was told with a fresh perspective in this novel. I especially liked the romanticized development of the relationship between Catherine and Thomas Culpeper, so reminiscent of young love. Although I knew the outcome of the story, I still found myself rooting for Catherine and Culpeper to be together.
Mrs. Haegar has a great talent for making you feel like you're amongst the court of Henry VIII. Her descriptions of the surroundings, clothing, food, etc. are very vivid. I also enjoyed the back story involving Mary Lassells and how her envy of Catherine helped bring down the young queen's downfall.
I felt very sorry for Catherine. She was so young and naive and never had the opportunity to reach her potential and come into her own.
I look forward to reading more of Mrs. Haegar's books!
Mrs. Haegar has a great talent for making you feel like you're amongst the court of Henry VIII. Her descriptions of the surroundings, clothing, food, etc. are very vivid. I also enjoyed the back story involving Mary Lassells and how her envy of Catherine helped bring down the young queen's downfall.
I felt very sorry for Catherine. She was so young and naive and never had the opportunity to reach her potential and come into her own.
I look forward to reading more of Mrs. Haegar's books!
August 24, 2012
I'm a big fan of Diane Haeger's Tudor novels - this is the second one I've read, other than her 16th-century French novel about Diane de Poitiers and Henri II, "Courtesan." However, I'm really not a big fan of Catherine Howard, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Diane characterized Catherine and Henry VIII, as well as Thomas Culpeper, Catherine's lover. She tweaks the story line a bit, which I wasn't prepared for, but I think it turned out to be an enjoyable and heart-wrenching story. By the last page, I was near tears, even though I typically do not get emotional while thinking about Catherine Howard. Diane did a great job bringing out sympathy in her reader and showing a truly beautiful love story between Catherine and Thomas, and I was also happy hat she showed the aging, fat King Henry VIII in a softer light than he is usually portrayed. There were certain scenes where I couldn't help but love Henry, even though he was not a particularly lovable character during those years. Overall, a very good Tudor novel!
December 13, 2012
Não é segredo para ninguém que sou fã dos Tudor e deste que este livro saiu que fiquei com ele debaixo de olho, e quando o vi na feira do livro a um preço muito simpático, nem hesitei.
Sobre Catarina Howard apenas tinha lido um livro tripartido entre ela, Jane Bolena e Ana de Cleves. Neste livro, e num espaço temporal de cerca de 2 anos conhecemos Catarina e a forma como a família se move para a tornar na nova rainha.
Uma vez mais se comprova que a corte de Henrique VIII estava cheia de intrigas, de jogos políticos e de poder e muita ambição.
Gostei também da escrita da autora e vou ficar atenta a outros livros seus.
Para quem gosta dos Tudor, tem mais um livro interessante.
Sobre Catarina Howard apenas tinha lido um livro tripartido entre ela, Jane Bolena e Ana de Cleves. Neste livro, e num espaço temporal de cerca de 2 anos conhecemos Catarina e a forma como a família se move para a tornar na nova rainha.
Uma vez mais se comprova que a corte de Henrique VIII estava cheia de intrigas, de jogos políticos e de poder e muita ambição.
Gostei também da escrita da autora e vou ficar atenta a outros livros seus.
Para quem gosta dos Tudor, tem mais um livro interessante.
March 7, 2010
Good histortical fiction.
May 17, 2024
An entertaining book, if not the most remarkable or interesting one. It's a dramatic book chronicling the last years of Catherine Howard, the queen and fifth wife of King Henry VIII, but not a whole lot happens, and despite all the courtly intrigue, infidelity, and royal anger, it's kind of a dull story all the way through.
Nineteen-year-old Catherine has had a sordid past, full of country loving and trysts with servant boys and girls (group sex in a barn? okay), until she is called to court as a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves and then, ultimately as the mistress-turned-wife of Henry himself. From there, she is involved in more courtly affairs and the whole book turns into a would-be love story of people who want to be together but can't and thus risk the downfall of not only their lives but the lives of every single person around them.
Catherine is a very strange character in this book, part sexpot and part innocent waif, which maybe was the point? It's unclear. Diane Haeger writes this book like it's a spin-off version of a childhood obsession—which I understand, I had a Tudor obsession phase when I was a kid—in which she fictionalizes real events but doesn't make them all that more interesting or worth reading about, not from Catherine's point of view, or Thomas's, or anyone else in the story. It was kind of interesting just in the sense of the reader knowing what is going to happen to Catherine, so we see her and her family panicking and trying to figure out what to do, ultimately all in vain. Other than that, not that engaging.
Nineteen-year-old Catherine has had a sordid past, full of country loving and trysts with servant boys and girls (group sex in a barn? okay), until she is called to court as a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves and then, ultimately as the mistress-turned-wife of Henry himself. From there, she is involved in more courtly affairs and the whole book turns into a would-be love story of people who want to be together but can't and thus risk the downfall of not only their lives but the lives of every single person around them.
Catherine is a very strange character in this book, part sexpot and part innocent waif, which maybe was the point? It's unclear. Diane Haeger writes this book like it's a spin-off version of a childhood obsession—which I understand, I had a Tudor obsession phase when I was a kid—in which she fictionalizes real events but doesn't make them all that more interesting or worth reading about, not from Catherine's point of view, or Thomas's, or anyone else in the story. It was kind of interesting just in the sense of the reader knowing what is going to happen to Catherine, so we see her and her family panicking and trying to figure out what to do, ultimately all in vain. Other than that, not that engaging.
May 2, 2018
I liked this book and I debated between 3 and 4 stars. It felt like I read this book forever, it was slow going. Lots and lots of description, especially of clothing. It was hard to pick up, but once I started reading again, I enjoyed it.
It was interesting that men were free to have sex with whomever they wanted but women were not. Even the King had mistresses, but his wives were punished for their alleged infidelities. The Howard family encouraged Catherine to hone her seducing skills on the country boys at their estate. Yet she was expected to be pure when she married.
It also bothered me that the Howard family was so conniving, so devious, so well aquatinted with the ways of the court, but they were unable to handle a couple of house servants who blackmailed them with Catherine’s past. They even brought these servants to the King’s court and that proved to be Catherine’s downfall. I found this really unbelievable.
The love story between Catherine and Thomas was sweet and, if you don’t think too much about it, the love of King Henry for Catherine was sweet, too.
I got bogged down with the number of characters named Thomas, Edward, Catherine, Anne, the Seymours and the Howards. All the Ladies, Countesses, Bishops, Earls. It was a lot. I forgot who was loyal and who wasn’t, who had motives and what they were.
I knew little of the history of Henry VIII and his wives and, after reading the book, it has piqued my interest.
It was interesting that men were free to have sex with whomever they wanted but women were not. Even the King had mistresses, but his wives were punished for their alleged infidelities. The Howard family encouraged Catherine to hone her seducing skills on the country boys at their estate. Yet she was expected to be pure when she married.
It also bothered me that the Howard family was so conniving, so devious, so well aquatinted with the ways of the court, but they were unable to handle a couple of house servants who blackmailed them with Catherine’s past. They even brought these servants to the King’s court and that proved to be Catherine’s downfall. I found this really unbelievable.
The love story between Catherine and Thomas was sweet and, if you don’t think too much about it, the love of King Henry for Catherine was sweet, too.
I got bogged down with the number of characters named Thomas, Edward, Catherine, Anne, the Seymours and the Howards. All the Ladies, Countesses, Bishops, Earls. It was a lot. I forgot who was loyal and who wasn’t, who had motives and what they were.
I knew little of the history of Henry VIII and his wives and, after reading the book, it has piqued my interest.
November 17, 2009
Catherine Howard is well known as Henry VIII's youngest and unwisest queen. Being the fifth queen, Henry was older, he had his heir already, and now wanted a young and beautiful but most of all, dutiful wife who could provide backup heirs. Unbeknownst to Catherine, she was strategically placed right under his nose at the exact moment that Henry was looking to legally dispose of his fourth wife, who was Anne of Cleves, otherwise known as the "flanders mare".
The novel begins with the young Catherine cavorting around her family home at Horsham, as she flirts with her music teacher Henry Manox, and then Francis Dereham. Catherine was an orphan, losing her parents at an early age, but the author gives Catherine a sympathetic air when Catherine lovingly remembers her mother Joyce. Agnes was her guardian and grandmother, the Dowager Duchess who is portrayed as having every intention of providing Catherine with this unclean environment, though Agnes saw it as a training ground for Catherine: to learn to utilize her feminine wiles as preparation for court. And soon enough, the Duke of Norfolk, Catherine's uncle Thomas Howard, comes along and invites Catherine to court coincidentally at that time in 1540 that Queen Anne of Cleves is barely hanging on to her position.
The political charades are written out as exchanges between Thomas Cromwell and his son, George; and then as the Duke of Norfolk scheming with Stephen Gardiner to help Henry VIII find another way out of yet another disastrous marriage. The Cromwell versus Howard political battle is well-played out in the novel giving the reader an accurate sense of the tumultuous period of Protestant vs. Catholic and the ever changing needs and wants of the king. The battles for being a strategically placed family within the courts of Henry VIII are also present with the many jealous ladies at court vying for their own power. The memory of Anne Boleyn, Catherine's own cousin who was Henry's second wife and swiftly beheaded is also used as a constant reminder for Catherine to watch herself, yet she does not heed the subliminal warnings.
The Duke of Norfolk is quite pleased with his niece's beauty and feigned innocence, especially as Henry begins to notice her himself. Unfortunately for Catherine, Henry is now rather fat and unattractive in his eating habits and his leg ulcer getting worse with infection. Catherine's heart lies with Thomas Culpeper whom she meets as she enters the court as Queen Anne's lady in waiting. Thomas Culpeper is a favorite of Henry's, and naive Catherine beds Thomas and falls in love with him. Although in reality, we cannot be sure when Culpeper and Catherine began their affair, the author Haeger writes of it happening rather immediately upon Catherine's arrival at court.
King Henry must always have his way, and if he want to have the rose without a thorn, as he believes Catherine to be, then that is what he shall have. Cromwell meets his demise, Cranmer gets upset that the naive Catholic girl becomes Queen especially since he hates the Howards. Norfolk, Agnes, Culpeper and Lady Rochford feature a lot in Haeger's telling, which makes me hunger for the actual reality of the situation. We know Catherine's fate, but how is it that Norfolk strays from Henry's mad grasp and is not executed along with Catherine? Cromwell was executed because he suggested Anne of Cleves as Henry's fourth wife, so I would have assumed the same would hold true for the Duke of Norfolk, but he successfully untangled himself from the mess that he helped to create. His son, Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey, was also a supporting character in this telling, and I have a feeling there is also more to his story. I've had a book titled "Henry VIII's Last Victim" by Jessie Childs which concerns this Henry Howard, and I now have the eagerness to pick that one up.
Catherine's greatest love is portrayed as Culpeper, although she remained faithful to Henry, she still visited Culpeper with the aid of Lady Jane Rochford. Culpeper, Dereham, Rochford and Catherine are all executed. While reading the story of Catherine, I found the title of "The Queen's Mistake" to be quite fitting. Throughout this novel, I had the sensation of shaking my head at Catherine's silly and naive actions. How could she not have learned from her own cousin's downfall, Queen Anne Boleyn, who was executed by her husband Henry in 1536? It was still fresh on the courts' minds as the realized they were having another Boleyn/Howard relation come to the throne. It had to have been on Catherine's mind at some point, but obviously she did not take heed of the silent warning. Catherine employed her prior betrothed, Frances Dereham, as her secretary, and let several other previous acquaintances from Horsham into her court: another mistake. All Cranmer had to do to seal Catherine's fate was to get the jealous girls to spill all they could about Catherine's behavior.
The novel included several important characters as mentioned, but the writing seemed a bit juvenile to me. I had trouble getting into the story from the beginning, especially because of the immorality of Catherine that was evident immediately. I have read Catherine's main events of her life as a queen before, and I had hoped for some insight or to gain a better understanding of her character through the writing of Diane Haeger. By the time this novel was done, I did not feel as sympathetic for her as I would have thought, feeling perhaps that the ends justified the means. I did however appreciate the way that Haeger chose to write the end of this story, and wish the same dramatic feel could have been used more liberally throughout the preceding pages. This is an easy to read fictional account of Catherine's days at court and would be enjoyed by those who do not know the story already. Haeger demonstrates how Catherine made many mistakes, yet I would still like to know more of the facts surrounding her swift downfall and the relationships that she had at that time. Haeger successfully intrigued me on the characters of Thomas Howard, Thomas Culpeper and Lady Jane Rochford so much so that I am going to dig up some non-fiction material to quench the thirst for more. Somehow, the Tudor era continues to beckon my soul, no matter how many books I read concerning these eccentric courtiers.
The novel begins with the young Catherine cavorting around her family home at Horsham, as she flirts with her music teacher Henry Manox, and then Francis Dereham. Catherine was an orphan, losing her parents at an early age, but the author gives Catherine a sympathetic air when Catherine lovingly remembers her mother Joyce. Agnes was her guardian and grandmother, the Dowager Duchess who is portrayed as having every intention of providing Catherine with this unclean environment, though Agnes saw it as a training ground for Catherine: to learn to utilize her feminine wiles as preparation for court. And soon enough, the Duke of Norfolk, Catherine's uncle Thomas Howard, comes along and invites Catherine to court coincidentally at that time in 1540 that Queen Anne of Cleves is barely hanging on to her position.
The political charades are written out as exchanges between Thomas Cromwell and his son, George; and then as the Duke of Norfolk scheming with Stephen Gardiner to help Henry VIII find another way out of yet another disastrous marriage. The Cromwell versus Howard political battle is well-played out in the novel giving the reader an accurate sense of the tumultuous period of Protestant vs. Catholic and the ever changing needs and wants of the king. The battles for being a strategically placed family within the courts of Henry VIII are also present with the many jealous ladies at court vying for their own power. The memory of Anne Boleyn, Catherine's own cousin who was Henry's second wife and swiftly beheaded is also used as a constant reminder for Catherine to watch herself, yet she does not heed the subliminal warnings.
The Duke of Norfolk is quite pleased with his niece's beauty and feigned innocence, especially as Henry begins to notice her himself. Unfortunately for Catherine, Henry is now rather fat and unattractive in his eating habits and his leg ulcer getting worse with infection. Catherine's heart lies with Thomas Culpeper whom she meets as she enters the court as Queen Anne's lady in waiting. Thomas Culpeper is a favorite of Henry's, and naive Catherine beds Thomas and falls in love with him. Although in reality, we cannot be sure when Culpeper and Catherine began their affair, the author Haeger writes of it happening rather immediately upon Catherine's arrival at court.
King Henry must always have his way, and if he want to have the rose without a thorn, as he believes Catherine to be, then that is what he shall have. Cromwell meets his demise, Cranmer gets upset that the naive Catholic girl becomes Queen especially since he hates the Howards. Norfolk, Agnes, Culpeper and Lady Rochford feature a lot in Haeger's telling, which makes me hunger for the actual reality of the situation. We know Catherine's fate, but how is it that Norfolk strays from Henry's mad grasp and is not executed along with Catherine? Cromwell was executed because he suggested Anne of Cleves as Henry's fourth wife, so I would have assumed the same would hold true for the Duke of Norfolk, but he successfully untangled himself from the mess that he helped to create. His son, Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey, was also a supporting character in this telling, and I have a feeling there is also more to his story. I've had a book titled "Henry VIII's Last Victim" by Jessie Childs which concerns this Henry Howard, and I now have the eagerness to pick that one up.
Catherine's greatest love is portrayed as Culpeper, although she remained faithful to Henry, she still visited Culpeper with the aid of Lady Jane Rochford. Culpeper, Dereham, Rochford and Catherine are all executed. While reading the story of Catherine, I found the title of "The Queen's Mistake" to be quite fitting. Throughout this novel, I had the sensation of shaking my head at Catherine's silly and naive actions. How could she not have learned from her own cousin's downfall, Queen Anne Boleyn, who was executed by her husband Henry in 1536? It was still fresh on the courts' minds as the realized they were having another Boleyn/Howard relation come to the throne. It had to have been on Catherine's mind at some point, but obviously she did not take heed of the silent warning. Catherine employed her prior betrothed, Frances Dereham, as her secretary, and let several other previous acquaintances from Horsham into her court: another mistake. All Cranmer had to do to seal Catherine's fate was to get the jealous girls to spill all they could about Catherine's behavior.
The novel included several important characters as mentioned, but the writing seemed a bit juvenile to me. I had trouble getting into the story from the beginning, especially because of the immorality of Catherine that was evident immediately. I have read Catherine's main events of her life as a queen before, and I had hoped for some insight or to gain a better understanding of her character through the writing of Diane Haeger. By the time this novel was done, I did not feel as sympathetic for her as I would have thought, feeling perhaps that the ends justified the means. I did however appreciate the way that Haeger chose to write the end of this story, and wish the same dramatic feel could have been used more liberally throughout the preceding pages. This is an easy to read fictional account of Catherine's days at court and would be enjoyed by those who do not know the story already. Haeger demonstrates how Catherine made many mistakes, yet I would still like to know more of the facts surrounding her swift downfall and the relationships that she had at that time. Haeger successfully intrigued me on the characters of Thomas Howard, Thomas Culpeper and Lady Jane Rochford so much so that I am going to dig up some non-fiction material to quench the thirst for more. Somehow, the Tudor era continues to beckon my soul, no matter how many books I read concerning these eccentric courtiers.
February 16, 2013
Opinião do Blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...
Há quinze anos atrás, a meio do Doutoramento em Psicologia Clínica, Diane descobriu uma história de amor que durou duas décadas, a de Diana de Poitiers e Henrique II de França, história essa que mudaria a sua vida para sempre e que inspiraria o seu primeiro livro, Courtesan. Autora de romances históricos com protagonistas femininas, passados em várias épocas e nações, Diane já escreveu treze livros sendo quatro deles baseados na corte de Henrique VIII. Actualmente, vive em Newport Beach com o marido e os filhos.
O Erro da Rainha é o segundo volume da série Na Corte de Henrique VIII e incide sobre a história da quinta rainha de Henrique, Catherine Howard, acusada de adultério e decapitada por traição. Numa série em que a autora tem buscado percorrer personagens menos visíveis da corte Tudor como a princesa Maria, esposa do duque de Sufolk e irmã do rei e Bess Blount, amante do rei e mãe do seu filho ou as rainhas Catherine Howard e Jane Seymour, podemos encontrar histórias nunca contadas ou um lado que nunca conhecemos da corte mais poderosa, sensual e intriguista do século XVI.
Ela foi a quinta. Ela foi a mais jovem rainha de Henrique. Usada como moeda de troca por notoriedade e glória para uma família derrotada, fútil e encantada com a beleza da corte, Catherine ou Kathryn, era a rosa sem espinhos, a luz da vida de um rei derrotado pela vida que condenou os que mais amou a perder a cabeça e que acabou por também perder a sua. Vista como arma contra o homem mais poderoso do reino, prima da inteligente Anna Bolena, sobrinha do ambicioso Norfolk, ela teve tudo e perdeu tudo por luxúria, amor e juventude. Rainha por quase dois anos, amante do camareiro preferido de Henrique VIII, antiga aia de Anne de Cléves e odiada por Maria Tudor, ela foi a glória e a perda, a última facada num rei demasiadas vezes traído, demasiado poderoso, demasiado inconstante. Decapitada por traição, a última esperança dos Howard ainda hoje assombra Hampton Court mas as cartas de promessas, as companhias incriminatórias e um passado de folia condenou-a a levar à letra o seu lema, Nenhuma Outra Vontade senão a Sua.
Numa escrita acessível e envolvente, Haeger conta-nos a história da quinta rainha de Henrique VIII pela sua pessoa, arrastando-nos para a glória e intriga que assoberbavam a corte Tudor e conseguindo mostrar uma outra Catherine que não deixando de ser fútil e infantil acaba por nos conquistar o coração. Através de uma perspectiva única, a que não falta detalhes históricos, a autora conquista o interesse dos seus leitores e traz um pouco de humanidade a estas personagens relembradas através dos séculos, romanceando-as e tornando-as mais do que nomes, factos e datas. Do momento da chegada de Anne de Cléves à morte de Catherine vamos ver o espelho das traições e ambições, os medos e segredos, as chantagens e favores que governaram sobre uma corte poderosa e longe de se deixar abalar pelos inimigos pois as quedas podiam ver do sorriso ao lado.
Não sendo a rainha que mais interesse tem provocado nem a mais amada ou odiada, Catherine Howard foi esquecida e rotulada de prima de Ana Bolena, a outra rainha decapitada mas a verdade é que ela foi uma peça mais importante do que todos gostam de pensar. Maravilhada pelas jóias e luxo dos palácios, apaixonada e fútil, Catherine é usada por tudo e todos e o que ela realmente queria foi-lhe negado logo à partida e as regras do jogo foram esquecidas. Dando vida a uma jovem que apesar da beleza não podia se comparar às restantes rainhas de Henrique, a autora mostra-nos a inocência da incompreensão, o perigo de confiar e o poder mortal do desejo, mostra-nos como uma jovem do campo pode chegar à rainha pela beleza e pela ânsia de juventude, como meias verdades não passavam de omissões, como o poder podia fazer arriscar tudo quando tudo já estava perdido.
Humanizadas, as personagens são um ponto a favor deste livro mas gostava de ter visto um bocadinho mais de realidade na sua construção e não tanto ficcionadas mas, mesmo assim, são personagens que acabam por facilitar a compreensão do autor e, se calhar, acabam por ser mais reais do que esperaríamos. Neste livro como noutros, acho que tem falhado a construção de Henrique VIII pois é uma personagem muito complexa que apesar de ter passado por uma fase frágil nesta altura não deixa de ser um rei que todos controla. Pessoalmente, gostei das referências a Ana Bolena apesar de duvidar que nessa altura o nome dele aparecesse tantas vezes nas bocas da corte mas penso que não é improvável que muitas vezes não se pensasse nela, tirando Henrique VIII que sabe-se, nunca mais voltou a tocar no seu nome.
Numa narrativa que não esquece os factos mais importantes e onde a vida privada da rainha é o palco principal, O Erro da Rainha é uma dança, entre salões e quartos, salas de concelho e salas vazias, entre desprezo e ironia, entre passado e aquelas que se pensa ser as verdades. Um retrato de como a inocência e a ignorância podiam ser usadas pela ambição, de como gestos podem condenar e os sonhos se podem desfazer, a história de Catherine Howard está repleta de paixões, luxúria, desejo e insensatez e Haeger aproveitou cada bocadinho para criar um livro onde o leitor se sente transportado e dono e senhor dos segredos e verdades.
Em mais um livro sobre os Tudors, Diane Haeger acaba por ser diferente, mais humana, mais sentimental e isso dá ao seu livro toda uma nova perspectiva que o torna um bom romance sobre esta época e que irá agradar aos fãs de leituras incididas sobre os Tudors que não procurarem verdades absolutas pois essas não existem.
Há quinze anos atrás, a meio do Doutoramento em Psicologia Clínica, Diane descobriu uma história de amor que durou duas décadas, a de Diana de Poitiers e Henrique II de França, história essa que mudaria a sua vida para sempre e que inspiraria o seu primeiro livro, Courtesan. Autora de romances históricos com protagonistas femininas, passados em várias épocas e nações, Diane já escreveu treze livros sendo quatro deles baseados na corte de Henrique VIII. Actualmente, vive em Newport Beach com o marido e os filhos.
O Erro da Rainha é o segundo volume da série Na Corte de Henrique VIII e incide sobre a história da quinta rainha de Henrique, Catherine Howard, acusada de adultério e decapitada por traição. Numa série em que a autora tem buscado percorrer personagens menos visíveis da corte Tudor como a princesa Maria, esposa do duque de Sufolk e irmã do rei e Bess Blount, amante do rei e mãe do seu filho ou as rainhas Catherine Howard e Jane Seymour, podemos encontrar histórias nunca contadas ou um lado que nunca conhecemos da corte mais poderosa, sensual e intriguista do século XVI.
Ela foi a quinta. Ela foi a mais jovem rainha de Henrique. Usada como moeda de troca por notoriedade e glória para uma família derrotada, fútil e encantada com a beleza da corte, Catherine ou Kathryn, era a rosa sem espinhos, a luz da vida de um rei derrotado pela vida que condenou os que mais amou a perder a cabeça e que acabou por também perder a sua. Vista como arma contra o homem mais poderoso do reino, prima da inteligente Anna Bolena, sobrinha do ambicioso Norfolk, ela teve tudo e perdeu tudo por luxúria, amor e juventude. Rainha por quase dois anos, amante do camareiro preferido de Henrique VIII, antiga aia de Anne de Cléves e odiada por Maria Tudor, ela foi a glória e a perda, a última facada num rei demasiadas vezes traído, demasiado poderoso, demasiado inconstante. Decapitada por traição, a última esperança dos Howard ainda hoje assombra Hampton Court mas as cartas de promessas, as companhias incriminatórias e um passado de folia condenou-a a levar à letra o seu lema, Nenhuma Outra Vontade senão a Sua.
Numa escrita acessível e envolvente, Haeger conta-nos a história da quinta rainha de Henrique VIII pela sua pessoa, arrastando-nos para a glória e intriga que assoberbavam a corte Tudor e conseguindo mostrar uma outra Catherine que não deixando de ser fútil e infantil acaba por nos conquistar o coração. Através de uma perspectiva única, a que não falta detalhes históricos, a autora conquista o interesse dos seus leitores e traz um pouco de humanidade a estas personagens relembradas através dos séculos, romanceando-as e tornando-as mais do que nomes, factos e datas. Do momento da chegada de Anne de Cléves à morte de Catherine vamos ver o espelho das traições e ambições, os medos e segredos, as chantagens e favores que governaram sobre uma corte poderosa e longe de se deixar abalar pelos inimigos pois as quedas podiam ver do sorriso ao lado.
Não sendo a rainha que mais interesse tem provocado nem a mais amada ou odiada, Catherine Howard foi esquecida e rotulada de prima de Ana Bolena, a outra rainha decapitada mas a verdade é que ela foi uma peça mais importante do que todos gostam de pensar. Maravilhada pelas jóias e luxo dos palácios, apaixonada e fútil, Catherine é usada por tudo e todos e o que ela realmente queria foi-lhe negado logo à partida e as regras do jogo foram esquecidas. Dando vida a uma jovem que apesar da beleza não podia se comparar às restantes rainhas de Henrique, a autora mostra-nos a inocência da incompreensão, o perigo de confiar e o poder mortal do desejo, mostra-nos como uma jovem do campo pode chegar à rainha pela beleza e pela ânsia de juventude, como meias verdades não passavam de omissões, como o poder podia fazer arriscar tudo quando tudo já estava perdido.
Humanizadas, as personagens são um ponto a favor deste livro mas gostava de ter visto um bocadinho mais de realidade na sua construção e não tanto ficcionadas mas, mesmo assim, são personagens que acabam por facilitar a compreensão do autor e, se calhar, acabam por ser mais reais do que esperaríamos. Neste livro como noutros, acho que tem falhado a construção de Henrique VIII pois é uma personagem muito complexa que apesar de ter passado por uma fase frágil nesta altura não deixa de ser um rei que todos controla. Pessoalmente, gostei das referências a Ana Bolena apesar de duvidar que nessa altura o nome dele aparecesse tantas vezes nas bocas da corte mas penso que não é improvável que muitas vezes não se pensasse nela, tirando Henrique VIII que sabe-se, nunca mais voltou a tocar no seu nome.
Numa narrativa que não esquece os factos mais importantes e onde a vida privada da rainha é o palco principal, O Erro da Rainha é uma dança, entre salões e quartos, salas de concelho e salas vazias, entre desprezo e ironia, entre passado e aquelas que se pensa ser as verdades. Um retrato de como a inocência e a ignorância podiam ser usadas pela ambição, de como gestos podem condenar e os sonhos se podem desfazer, a história de Catherine Howard está repleta de paixões, luxúria, desejo e insensatez e Haeger aproveitou cada bocadinho para criar um livro onde o leitor se sente transportado e dono e senhor dos segredos e verdades.
Em mais um livro sobre os Tudors, Diane Haeger acaba por ser diferente, mais humana, mais sentimental e isso dá ao seu livro toda uma nova perspectiva que o torna um bom romance sobre esta época e que irá agradar aos fãs de leituras incididas sobre os Tudors que não procurarem verdades absolutas pois essas não existem.
May 9, 2018
A fiction account of the life of Katherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, who was beheaded for having an affair with Thomas Culpepper while married to Henry. It’s a ok story. She gives Kat more intelligence than many authors do but there is depth lacking in her characterization and in the other characters of the book. They all seem rather flat. A secondary character. Mary Lassells add some much needed emotion and motivation to the story & maybe had she been the main character the story would have been more compelling.
October 16, 2020
Just as good as the first in this series. While it may not be as factually based (and who can say we know exactly how things went down back then? None of us was there.), it was a good read. It's too bad Haeger played up the supposed ugliness of Anne of Cleves. I feel like I owe it to myself to study up on some non-fiction about these ladies just to see how fictionalized these events are! In all, a good read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
August 12, 2021
I'm not a fan of Catherine Howard, never have been. I only chose to read this book because I enjoyed Haeger's first book in this series. I found her portrayal of Catherine and well...everyone but Henry to be weak. It's rather hard to make Henry VIII a weak character, you'd have to be a truly weak writer to manage that. The writing was lack luster and just plodded along. There was never any intrigue.
July 21, 2018
The more I read about the women in the Tudor time, the more I feel sad for them they had no say in their lives. To be beheaded because you had sex seems extreme. As usually Henry the VIII is shown has a paranoid, selfish easily manipulated fool.
July 3, 2017
A very kind perspective on the action of Catherine Howard and yet also very heartbreaking.
October 12, 2017
I love this time period and the books are so well written
November 14, 2017
It's a nice filler book while waiting for something to come out but it's not really one I would read again I don't think it portrayed Catherine Howard well.
May 12, 2018
I wasn't even sure I was going to like this book...I loved it! The ending is very sad though.
May 13, 2020
Good character development. I appreciated how this version of Henry VIII is complicated and multi-faceted. Truly a tragedy for all involved.
May 17, 2020
Great book this is book 2 so I went and ordered 1, 3 and 4 which came yesterday I cant wait to read them. This was by Diane Haeger first time reading her.
November 27, 2020
There are countless books on England’s most notorious king, but not all are as easy to read as others. For anyone looking for a simple and easy read on wife #5, this is a great place to start!
May 7, 2021
An excellent tale from Catherine Howard's POV.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews