Kings Pleasure [Mass Market Paperback]

Norah Lofts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1976

From the moment of Katharine's betrothal to Arthur, Prince of Wales, she looked upon herself as the future Queen of England. But Arthur died just after their marriage and it was as the wife of his brother, Henry VIII, that she went to her coronation. This delightful, richly tapestried novel tells of her life with Henry - the many happy years; the birth of their daughter, Mary Tudor; her popularity with the people; and, above all, her constant and unswerving love for the king. But after nearly twenty years, Henry - his eyes fixed firmly on the ambitious young Anne Boleyn - repudiated their marriage, submitted Katharine to the humiliations of a 'trial' and banished her from his life. The King's Pleasure is a brilliant re-creation of one of history's greatest tragedies. This is a story which will impress Katharine in the reader's mind as a noble woman and a great queen.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The story of tyrant king Henry VIII is told from the perspective of his first wife, Spanish princess Katharine of Aragon, in this re-released 1969 novel. For many years Katherine enjoys the love of her husband and the people of England, until Henry's selfish nature and obsession with young Anne Boleyn threaten Katherine's reign. Her stubborn Catholic views won't allow her to give in to Henry's demand for a divorce, and this same sense of piety ultimately destroys her. While not a page-turner (there's a reason many historical novelists focus on Anne Boleyn rather than Katherine), Lofts's period details are vivid and precise. Despite a somewhat choppy narrative (Anne and Henry's four-year affair is treated more like an afterthought), Lofts drums up such sympathy for Katharine that even though the ending is certain, readers will find themselves praying right along with the queen for Henry's change of heart. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This is everything that a good historical novel should be." -- The Guardian --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (November 12, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449231399
• ISBN-13: 978-0449231395
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,652,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book for Katharine of Aragon Fans..., September 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The King's Pleasure: A Biographical Novel of Katharine of Aragon (Hardcover)

We have all heard a great deal about Anne Boleyn, and I believe, this is with good reason, for she was facinating woman. However, how much do we hear about an EVEN MORE facinating woman, who was not only pushed aside by her husband, but also by history itself? Katharine of Aragon's history is spellbinding. She witnessed the ousting of the Moors from Spain. Her mother was one of the few medieval "Queens" who was a queen in her own right, the captivating Isabella of Spain. Imagine learning about queenship from such a woman! Katharine then moves to England, marries Arthur, becomes a widow and a pawn, bantered between Henry VII and Ferdinand, two of the wiliest kings of Europe. By the time Henry VIII marries her, her education in statescraft is complete. She is granted the position of Queen Regent during her husband's absence, was a participant in the Field of the Cloth of Gold, and came to know three of the most powerful kings in Europe, her husband Henry, Francois I of France and her nephew Charles V of Spain. The respect she engendered from Erasmus and Thomas More and many other erudite men of her day, show what type of intelectual personality she was.

While I do not wish to denigrate Anne Boleyn in any way (for I am an Anne-o-phile), I must recommend Katharine of Aragon to you as well. In truth, out of Henry six wives, Katharine was the superior queen.

I also recommend Antonia Fraser's and Alison Weir's "The Wives of King Henry VIII" and Jeane Plaidy's series of three books on Katharine of Aragon. I also recommend Margaret Campbell Barnes' "The King's Fool" about the life of Henry VIII's fool, Will Somers and his view of the events surrounding the "King's Secret Matter".

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book, May 2, 2000

By 

"kotinca" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King's Pleasure: A Biographical Novel of Katharine of Aragon (Hardcover)

This is an incredible story about the life of Cathrine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. The woman that came to England to marry Henry's older brother and then after his death married Henry against his father's wishes. The book tells about her support of the Catholic church, and the suffering she went through when Henry put her aside for his second wife Anne Boelyn. This book helps you understand how even after the public humiliation this woman could write one of history's most moving love letters to the man who had denied her as his wife and told the world that his daughter with her (To become known as "Bloody Mary")was a bastard and Catherine a wanton. Great story, well told, relaxing reading. Very historically acurate.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The King's Lust, January 24, 2000

By 

Antonio Sacin (Panama City Beach, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The King's Pleasure: A Biographical Novel of Katharine of Aragon (Hardcover)

This is a novel based on the historical facts of Henry VIII's first divorce and subsequent marriage of Anne Boleyn. The story is entirely from the point of view of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife who never agreed to divorce him. The historical facts in itself are fascinating from the multitude of different conflicts going on: the monarchy succession, the budding religious wars, the national-state rivalries, the personalities, the class struggle, all these aspects combine at a crucial moment in history playing the background to the story of Catherine from her childhood to her grave.