- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: JR Books Ltd (25 May 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1906217386
- ISBN-13: 978-1906217389
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 531,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
‘Carolly Erickson is one of the most accomplished and successful historical biographers writing in English’ Times Literary Supplement.
Product Description
The least known of Henry VIII’s six wives was the cleverest of them all. Alluring, witty and resourceful, she attracted the king’s lust and, though much in love with the handsome Thomas Seymour, was thrown into the intrigue-filled snakepit of the royal court. While victims of the king’s wrath suffered torture and execution, Catherine withstood the onslaught, even when Henry sought to replace her with wife number seven. She survived her royal husband and found happiness with Seymour – but it was shadowed by rivalry with young Princess Elizabeth, whose affection Seymour coveted. Catherine won the contest, but at a great cost. Engaging, fascinating, full of intrigue and scheming, this is a true-life tale of moral rectitude, loyalty and devotion, told vividly with verve and imagination. Other Carolly Erickson titles coming from JR Books: The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette A Novel The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon’s Bird of Paradise. A Novel Carolly Erickson holds a Ph.D. in medieval history from Colombia University and was a college professor before becoming a writer. She has written many historical biographies, including The First Elizabeth, Her Little Majesty, and Alexandra.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was very disappointed with this book. I'm a great fan of historical novels and the Tudor period in particular, and although I wasn't expecting this to be biographical, I was very surprised at the lack of attention to historical accuracy, particularly since Carolly Ericksson is apparently a noted historical biographer. I have read quite a lot about Catherine Parr and I just didn't recognise the woman in this book. According to other historical sources, she was married to two elderly men before she married Henry, but this novel has her married to the young son of the man who is generally thought to be her first husband. Her pregnancy and miscarriage came as a surprise too.
I thought the characterisations were generally very poor. Many well known historical characters like Mary and Elizabeth were portrayed rather differently, and in my opinion not convincingly. There is little attempt to explore Catherine Parr's relationship with her step-children, which according to other sources was a key element in her marriage to Henry. There is little evidence that Catherine carried on an affair with Thomas Seymour before her marriage to Henry, while she was still married to her second husband, and it seems very unlikely that this affair continued during her marriage to the King. This would have been very difficult as she was constantly in the public eye and given that Henry's previous wife Catherine Howard was executed for adultery, it hardly seems credible that Catherine Parr would have risked this, knowing that Henry was unlikely to live long in his poor state of health anyway.
It was interesting that there was no bibliography or references at the back of this book, which could explain why the historical accuracy was so questionable. Perhaps it was written to be enjoyed just as a novel, but in that case, why base it around well known historical figures? Either it's based on fact, or it's fiction, it seems to me that the author couldn't quite decide. It certainly doesn't encourage me to read any of Carolly Ericksson's other books.
I suppose someone reading this without any knowledge of that period of history might find it enjoyable, but I struggled to finish it and left it behind in the hotel where we stayed because it isn't a book I would want to read again.
I thought the characterisations were generally very poor. Many well known historical characters like Mary and Elizabeth were portrayed rather differently, and in my opinion not convincingly. There is little attempt to explore Catherine Parr's relationship with her step-children, which according to other sources was a key element in her marriage to Henry. There is little evidence that Catherine carried on an affair with Thomas Seymour before her marriage to Henry, while she was still married to her second husband, and it seems very unlikely that this affair continued during her marriage to the King. This would have been very difficult as she was constantly in the public eye and given that Henry's previous wife Catherine Howard was executed for adultery, it hardly seems credible that Catherine Parr would have risked this, knowing that Henry was unlikely to live long in his poor state of health anyway.
It was interesting that there was no bibliography or references at the back of this book, which could explain why the historical accuracy was so questionable. Perhaps it was written to be enjoyed just as a novel, but in that case, why base it around well known historical figures? Either it's based on fact, or it's fiction, it seems to me that the author couldn't quite decide. It certainly doesn't encourage me to read any of Carolly Ericksson's other books.
I suppose someone reading this without any knowledge of that period of history might find it enjoyable, but I struggled to finish it and left it behind in the hotel where we stayed because it isn't a book I would want to read again.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm a great fan of Carolly Erikson, but was surprised and disappointed by the lightweight nature of this book.
The descriptions of the characters were very superficial and predictable, I thought.
I've read a lot about the Tudors, both novels and biographies, but learnt nothing new in this book.
Also there are a lot of inaccuracies - such as Catherine Parr making TEA for a sick peasant! This sort of inexcusable mistake spoils the whole enjoyment of a book.
O.k for something to read on a wet Sunday afternoon, but otherwise I would not choose this book again.
"Great Harry" and "Bloody Mary" by Carolly Erikson are FAR better, you wouldn't believe they were written by the same author.
The descriptions of the characters were very superficial and predictable, I thought.
I've read a lot about the Tudors, both novels and biographies, but learnt nothing new in this book.
Also there are a lot of inaccuracies - such as Catherine Parr making TEA for a sick peasant! This sort of inexcusable mistake spoils the whole enjoyment of a book.
O.k for something to read on a wet Sunday afternoon, but otherwise I would not choose this book again.
"Great Harry" and "Bloody Mary" by Carolly Erikson are FAR better, you wouldn't believe they were written by the same author.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Carolly Erickson is a quite well known and respected writer of biographies. As I like her biographies and I like historic novels I thought that her knowledge and style of writing would create a great historic novel. All through it is just superficial and very, very light. It is no fun reading it. She does not use the unique opportunity of the medium "novel" to re-create this famous Queen Consort as she sees her without having to prove every line she writes in a proper biography. This is rather Jean Plaidy at her worse. Nope, I do hope that Carolly Erickson will stick to proper biographies. Here her talents lies, but not with historic novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
not so historical
For having a chance to enjoy this book one should bear in mind the disclaimer in the first page: it's just a novel without historical accuracy. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Elisa
Disappointing
Considering Carolly Erickson's historical credentials, I was very disappointed in this novel of hers. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Mrs. D. J. Smith
LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Noted historical biographer, Carolly Erickson, turns her hand to fiction with this story of Catherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII of England. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2008 by Lawyeraau
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