Customer Reviews

Kings Pleasure

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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".

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.

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.

This is a quiet little fictionalized biography of Katharine of Aragon, daughter of those heavy hitters Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and first (and longest-lasting) wife of Henry VIII. The author is very sympathetic to her subject, and there is really no attempt at objectivity. Despite her obvious affection for her subject, however, I still thought Lofts' depiction of Katharine was quite psychologically believable. A woman of indominatible will, but not domineering; a woman of surpassing faith, but not a fanatic; a woman of unimpeachable integrity in a court rife with corruption and immorality. I could not but feel alternately sympathetic for her impossible position and irritated by her refusal to compromise in any way, thereby perpetuating her miserable circumstances as Henry attempts for eight years to strong arm her into acknowledging that their marriage was unlawful and their daughter, Princess Mary, therefore illegitimate.

Although not written in the first person, the narrative is entirely from Katharine's point of view and deals with events as they were experienced by and revealed to her. For this reason, there is very little about the relations between Henry and Anne Boleyn herself, for example. Despite the absence of much "plot" per se (as mentioned, much of Katharine's life was taken up by waiting, waiting, waiting), I was not at all bored by the lack of overt action and actually enjoyed the read more and more as it went along.

Any student of history knows the outcome of her waiting. That is not the point. It is the portrait painted here of Katharine herself that is at the heart of this work. For those unfamiliar with the factual history, this novel could be confusing as it presupposes some knowledge of the events at work during her life. For those already familiar with this period of Tudor history, I highly recommend this entry.

This was the first book I ever read by Norah Lofts & I was hooked from page 1 - she has done an outstanding job of telling Katharine of Aragon's story with accuracy and intimacy. You really feel like you understand the character's heart & mind, and you can't help being moved by her story. Awesome!!!

Perhaps one of the most fascinating stories in English history is the "great matter" of Henry VIII, a king's determination to cast aside his lawful wife in pursuit of a male heir and the satisfaction of his overweening ego. But the story, in Loft's emotionally measured telling, begins years earlier, as the sensible, loyal Katharine of Aragon learns her life lessons at the knee of her mother, Isabella of Castile. War-weary, Isabella takes her children with her from skirmish to skirmish, all of them inured to death and the gruesomely wounded soldiers in the fields. As her sisters, especially her beloved Joanna (Juana de Loca: see The Last Queen: A Novel, by CW Gortner), accomplish political marriages, Katharine awaits her turn. Finally, at fifteen, she is sent to England, there to be betrothed to the unassuming Arthur, heir to Henry VII, and his younger brother, Harry. Even at his tender age, Harry is clearly more king-like, large, aggressive, confident. And Harry covets both his brother's crown and his new princess bride.

Fate intervenes, Arthur dead after only four months of marriage. Determined to wed Katharine, Harry's father obtains a dispensation for his son's future union, providing proof to Rome that the marriage between Arthur and Katharine was unconsummated. (The political machinations begin, the complex alliances that attend Henry's reign through his divorce from Katharine and the many marriages that follow, only to yield the country to the divisions of the half-sisters sired by Henry, Mary and Elizabeth.) Nearing the end of his life, Henry VII balks, attempts to dissuade his son from the marriage, but Harry displays the stubbornness that will define his reign, an implacable will and clarity of mind that allows him to dominate the years he is on the throne. Thanks to the author's diligent preparation, we have an intimate perspective on the young woman who becomes Henry VIII's queen, a woman six years older than her royal husband and hopelessly in love.

Indeed, theirs is a happy match in intellect and temperament until the couple faces the painful truth: Katharine's inability to provide Henry with a male heir. Even his infidelities have been circumspect, his famous cruelty never unleashed at his wife's expense. But now Henry is profoundly disappointed, convinced that his ill-starred marriage is an impediment of which he must be rid. With his usual thoroughness, Henry applies himself to solving the dilemma; like it or not, Katharine must be put aside. And Anne Boleyn waits in the wings, growing ever more impatient, sure she can give Henry what Katharine cannot. The queen, who has been such a dutiful wife, suddenly stands in the way. The author poignantly captures these incredibly painful months, years of waiting, Henry's growing intransigence, the queen's attributes, once so charming, become obstacles, her very devotion and loyalty causing a brokenhearted queen to remain resolute in the justness of her cause, absorbing blow after blow from her once-affectionate, now ambivalent husband. Rome must declare the marriage void.

Pivotal historical characters people the long journey of Henry's appeasement, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas More, Cardinal Woolsey, Thomas Cranwell, a reluctant pope. As Katharine valiantly fights for herself and her daughter, history turns against the Spanish princess, Henry breaking with Rome in a great political and religious upheaval with far-reaching implications. Yet Lofts focuses on the very human Katharine and Henry, once so harmonious, forever riven in the pages of history, Katharine's affection for Henry undiminished to the last. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

Thought this book was great. Really about a woman who loved her husband, despite everything he put her through. You really see who Katherine of Aragon was.

I read this after reading The Concubine, my first Norah Lofts book. And she continues to impress me. I did like the more clear timeline in The Concubine and thought that would have helped this novel but that is a small complaint. This book was wonderful. It was highly detailed and rich in emotion. It was published in the 1970s and has certainly stood the test of time. I would highly recommend it for Tudor fans and would also recommend The Concubine as a nice continuation.

There are fewer loftier characters of the Tudor era, than Katherine of Aragon, and I felt this author of years ago presented the tale very well. Lofts weaves a fine tapestry of the much known about era, keeping the facts closely threaded with the tale itself. I felt a lot more respect for Katherine herself, since I've always been more an admirer of Anne Boleyn.

I have the book about Henry's second wife "The Concubine" and it will interesting to hear of the great matter from a different perspective. The next book is a little bit longer, which might be saying something in that alone.

MY PLEASURE TO READ. INTERESTING AND HARD TO PUT DOWN. NORAH LOFTS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS.NEVER DISAPPOINTED IN HER BOOKS.