Kateryn Parr: The Making of a Queen (Women and Gender in Early Modern England, 1500-1750) [Hardcover]

Susan E. James (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1840146834 | ISBN-13: 978-1840146837 | Publication Date: July 1999

The influence of Kateryn Parr on the history and events of the latter half of the 16th century in England has, this text argues, been overlooked by historians. Perceived by many as a colourless and unimaginative figure, her life in fact contained many of the features of romantic fiction: personal peril, clandestine romance, war, jealous husbands and royal matrimony. Parr was a keen exponent of power politics, an active patron of the arts and a recognized author herself. Arguably the first queen of the English Reformation, Kateryn Parr's life and works are seminal to an understanding of the Tudor period. In this researched study, Susan James discusses the impact that Kateryn Parr and her brother William had on Henry VIII's court. Part one of the book charts the childhood and early adult lives of Kateryn, William and their sister Anne. Part two discusses Kateryn's influential position brought about by her marriage to Henry, and the vital role she played in guaranteeing the survival of her stepdaughter, Elizabeth, to become queen. The book also explores the strategies that Parr employed during her queenship and the ways in which some of these were later adopted by Elizabeth I.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 467 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Pub Ltd (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840146834
• ISBN-13: 978-1840146837
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,934,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, December 19, 2000

By 

Paul Streitz (Darien, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kateryn Parr: The Making of a Queen (Women and Gender in Early Modern England, 1500-1750) (Hardcover)

This is a great book. It should be a model of how historians approach the period. It is full of insightful detail such a quotes, vignettes and illustrations that illustrate Parr's life and her impact on society. The book is wonderful in striking a balance between the author's reflections on Parr's life, framing the historical times to give context and historical detail to support her conclusions.

So many books on the women of the English Renaissance seem to be written by little old ladies in Tropesshire, who rattle on about Virgin Queens, duty and stiff upper lips, that sort of tripe. The "see no evil, hear no evil, write no evil" school of history. Susan James's book is a refreshing departure from all that. I can only hope she takes on Elizabeth I as a subject after this book. A really modern, complete book on Elizabeth that has some semblance to historical reality has yet to be printed.

One, small detail, Susan James believe that Parr's daughter, Mary Seymour died before the age of two. She did not. She was placed in the home of another noble family. If she emails me, [e-mail], I'll tell her where Mary went.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Making of a Queen, October 17, 2000

By 

Royal G. Harrison (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kateryn Parr: The Making of a Queen (Women and Gender in Early Modern England, 1500-1750) (Hardcover)

This book has everything in it, from pillage and mayhem, royal murders, romance, sex and violence. And besides that, you're learning information never before published about the Tudor royal family. I thought Kateryn Parr was just a weepy widow who married a king and instead she turns out to be Scarlett O'Hara. What a surprise! A strong and well-presented book. Totally fascinating!