Customer Reviews

The Last Wife of Henry VIII: A Novel

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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. This novel tracks the life of Catherine Parr, who was named for Catherine of Aragon, wife of the man who would one day be her third husband.

Catherine Parr was a cultured and intelligent woman who lived in a time when women were not masters of their fates. The author artfully weaves fact with fiction in this first person narrative of her life. The reader learns of Catherine Parr's youth, her early marriages, as well as that of her marriage to King Henry VIII, whose eye she unfortunately caught just when she thought she would be able to marry the love of her life, the dashing, handsome, and dangerously ambitious Thomas Seymour.

Having narrowly survived in her marriage to Henry VIII, she was finally able to fulfill her hearts desire and marry the man of her dreams, only to find herself rivaled for her fourth husband's affections by a coy and hoydenish teenager, the Princess Elizabeth. Catherine Parr's life is one that seemed to be shadowed by the capriciousness of the Tudor court and the treacherous jockeying for power by its subjects, a life lived in a world where women were mere chattel.

Although the book seems, at times, to be more fiction than fact and has a strong element of romance running through it, those who enjoy light historical fiction, such as that written by Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy, will enjoy this book.

The daughter of Catherine of Aragon's lady-in-waiting, Catherine Parr is familiar with Henry VIII's court, witness to a quest for an heir that drives him from wife to wife, father of two daughters, an illegitimate son and Jane Seymour's fragile boy, who is always in precarious health. Much noticed by the king, Catherine is happy to be free of the dangerous court, deeply in love with her unprepossessing husband, Ned Burgh, his estate made possible by the intercession of the king on Catherine's behalf. However, when Ned dies in a tragic accident barely a year into their marriage, Catherine's lands are claimed by her irascible father-in-law and his powerful contacts in the church. A marriage to John Neville, Lord Latimer, affords Catherine some sanctuary, her much older husband demanding little but her affection.

Through religious turmoil and rebellion against the king, Catherine exercises the intuition and restraint of a lady bred to her position, until she falls hopelessly in love with Tom Seymour, uncle to the unhealthy young prince, heir of Henry. Promising to marry her as soon as the elderly John dies, Seymour retains his façade in court as an available bachelor, one of Henry's trusted inner circle. So it is Tom that first learns of Henry's intention to marry Catherine Parr not long after the beheading of the faithless Catherine Howard. All these years, Catherine has watched Henry put aside his first wife for love of Anne Boleyn, whom he beheads to marry Jane Seymour, who dies in childbirth. Then the unfortunate Ann of Cleves barely escapes the executioner as Henry weds Catherine Howard, the child bride who cares more for the delicious danger of romance than her own safety.

Thinking herself only a trusted confidant of the king, Catherine Parr soon realizes she is in an intractable position with Henry's set on her as his next conquest. When she, too, fails to deliver an heir, plots and rumors of heresy abound, the familiar drumbeat of a queen in disfavor. Parr is thirty-five when Henry Tudor finally succumbs to the excesses of his body, his long reign ended. Freed from the demands of a sovereign become monster, Catherine marries Tom Seymour only to find herself once more deluded, lulled by the tender phrases of a dashing husband who proves painfully false after all. Catherine Parr is defined by her yearning for happiness, early widowhood, nerve-wracking years as the Queen of England and the foolish wife of an overly-ambitious nobleman. Like the others trapped in Henry's web, Catherine is a victim of beauty and history, a treacherous, unpredictable court and a world where women serve as pawns for men's ambition and lust for power. Luan Gaines/2006.

Carolly Erickson has been writing biographies since I was pretty young, and I've always had a lot of respect for her, although I have to admit that the last couple I've read have seemed pretty insubstantial compared to her earlier work, whether due to carelessness or an attempt to appeal to a broader readership by "dumbing down" her writing. I haven't read her previous novel, but this one was a terrible disappointment.

I would like to explain my expectations of historical fiction, and this novel in particular. Obviously, since there is a lot we don't know about people's lives and, after all, it _is_ fiction, I personally will give the novelist a lot of leeway. We don't know that Catherine Parr didn't have an ongoing friendship with Henry, and it's certainly possible. We don't know when she met Thomas Seymour or exactly what her and her second husband's roles in the Pilgrimage of Grace were, so my attitude on those things is, "Go for it! Imagine to your heart's content." However, unless there is good reason for it, a historical novelist shouldn't _contradict_ history or the known character of a real person. Some of the innaccuracies of fact and inconsistencies of character in this book are downright painful for anyone who knows _anything_ at all about the real history, and there are people who will take this for a realistic portrayal of historical figures and events.

The book was well written but as it went further on I was more and more distracted and annoyed by the author's flights of fancy, and I agree with other reviewers that at times it read more like a tacky romance than the story of one of the most truly pious, well-educated and level-headed queens that England ever had.

I have read several historical fiction books pertaining to this era. If you are looking for more fiction than history, this would be the one for you. If you are more interested in the time period and accuracy, you may want to stay away from this one. It is a much more frivolous book, bordering on a romance novel, than it is fiction with a solid plot line. Definately for the light-hearted reader.

I've been reading Tudor history (including Dr. Erickson's historical biographies)and historical fiction for 35 years, and I would have to call this one of the worst novels about Henry VIII or his wives I've ever read. Katherine Parr's life was dramatic and remarkable in fact, and changing significant details of it did not improve her story. In fact, it cheapens it. I nearly quit reading because of the horrific inaccuracies--or rather deliberate departures from historical fact--but I didn't. Yes, I realize that this is fiction, but please. The only source I can find that Katherine married the younger Edward Borough is Lady Antonia Fraser via Susan E. James. Is it really likely that nearly all historians and genealogists have gotten this wrong for almost five hundred years? I was willing to suspend disbelief and go with that interpretation, but the book just goes downhill from there. The ending was shocking, but not in a good way. Tom Seymour obviously didn't die in a completely fictional attempt to usurp the throne prior to Katherine's death. Again, his life was dramatic enough not to need that kind of fictionalizing. When Katherine's brother Will tells her, "Cat, Tom's gone," I thought "where did he go?" until I realized that she had completely distorted the facts of Tom Seymour's death. It's an easy read, but it's barely historical. Please don't read this novel and think it bears any resemblance to actual Tudor history.

As an avid reader of history, my trick for enjoying historical fiction is to pretend that a friend and I are just telling each other "what we thought happened". I don't usually get too mad at friends, even ones who dissagree with me about important stuff like how insane Henry was by the end of his life. I find this trick makes it enjoyable to read something as light and fluffy as this book. I was very pleased to find that Ms. Erickson didn't alter the end of Catherine Parr's life, even though her early death was definately not your standard Hollywod ending. What I enjoyed most about the book, was how it illustrated and compared the ages of all the important players in Henry's adulthood. Never before have I had such a vivid mental picture of how Henry aged while his queens did not. This book fleshes out a view of Henry's power and his increasing ruthlessness as he aged contrasted with the powerlessness of his queens. How accurate a picture it is, is up to the reader to decide. What I don't buy, is that Catherine and Tom Seymour actually had nearly that many intimate opportunities, those castles and manors were so packed with servants and groupies that there was very little privacy. I also have a little trouble with Catherine Parr being that impulsive, my mental picture of this woman is more learned and controlled, I think her religous writings and beliefs were more important to her than the book alludes to. But that's just my opinion.
I would reccomend this book, without reservation. It is a pleasent and easy read on an interesting subject. It moves quickly and keeps your attention. It would be a great gift to a history buff. For the historical basis try The Wives Of Henry The VIII by Antonia Fraser or The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir, both are great. For the best of Carolly Erickson try Josephine, To The Scaffold and Bloody Mary, all are excellent histories.
One last point,(and please take this with a smile) both Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr outlived Henry. Catherine died in childbirth within a few years. While Anne lived as an honored "sister" of the king, in her own manor, supported by Henry's money, for 10 years after he died. She gets my vote for surviving Henry.

Do not expect any historical accuracy from this book because there is none. Knowing Ms. Erickson's background and having enjoyed her books on Henry VIII and Mary Tudor, I had high expectations for this book. I was completely disappointed. None of the historical facts about Katherine Parr except that she was the last wife of Henry VII are included in this book. I know Ms. Erickson can do better.

Normally I am a fan and avid reader of Carolly Erickson's books, but this one left me glad that it was not the first book of hers that I read. If so, I don't think I would have continued to read others. I've read many books re. Henry VIII and his wives. Katherine Parr has undoutedly held my interest for many years. There are far better books (both fiction and non-fiction) re. Katherine than the one written by Erickson.

I was particularly disappointed in the level of unbelievability. Certainly, this book is a "fictional historical novel," still, Erickson would have us believe that Katerine was a woman ruled by passion with very little brains. On the one hand Erickson goes into detail regarding Katherine Parr's admonistion to Catherine Howard regarding her stupidity in not understanding the network of spies and the level of political intrigute of court life. Poor stupid Catherine took men to her bed and thus lost her head. Yet, fast forward a few chapters later when Erickson would have us believe that Katherine Parr was foolish enough to cavort with Tom Seymour while wedded to Henry and, furthermore, somehow get away with it?

Also, there was a level of liberty in the telling of the cutting of Elizabeth's dress by Tom Seymour.

Overall, I give the book a grade of C.. not a bad book, but not a great one either.

I love any book about this particular time in history, so I really enjoyed this story. Carolly Erickson makes everthing so real, I can see the picture as clearly as if I were watching it on Television.
I have read several of Carolly Erickson's novels and so far I have not been disappointed with any of them. Right now I am reading her novel about Josephine titled "The Secret Life Of Josephine-Napoleon's Bird of Paradise". And once again I am enjoying her story. I read a few comments about this book not being historical accurate. I have not done enough research concerning this period, so even if it is not totally accurate I still enjoyed the book.
I myself write historical novels, and I am very accurate about the historical facts, but then I am writing about my hometown New Orleans and also about my French and Spanish Creole culture, so it is not difficult for me to be accurate. But if the book is good and the history isn't too outlandish, well I don't get too upset.
Arlette Gaffrey author of A World Of His Own-In The Land Of The Creoles.

Catherine Parr was the last wife of King Henry VIII and the only one of his 6 wives to survive the lethal intrigues of his court. Like all of Henry's wives in the "real" history of her life there are large blanks. In this novel Carolly Erickson tries to fill in many of those blanks to give us a rounded view of Catherine's life.

Its just a shame that the result is a somewhat bland novel for more than half its length, and somewhat unconvincing in regards to the love affair during her second marriage. The Catherine of the novel is nice, but a bit boring. This was a novel that I had to push myself to finish and only really comes alive in the latter half of the book. Its a book I'd read once, but not twice.