5 GOLD stars
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: A favourite author
In a Nutshell: The early life of Katherine Parr, sixth and final wife of Henry VIII.
I loved this book, a very promising start to a new series, and I can't wait to read the next instalment!
Book #1 covers the period from childhood to the beginning of her second marriage, to John Neville, Lord Latimer.
I was looking forward to this series as Katherine Parr had such a varied and interesting life, with her four marriages and somewhat daring approach to religion (for the time), which of course she had to keep hidden from so many people in her life, not least of all her husbands. She was known as being educated, a thinker, an intelligent woman, but fewer men appreciated a woman such as she in the early 16th century.
One important new friend she made was her first father-in-law's chaplain, Matthew, who did much to simplify the basics of religious reform for her, and showed her how she could truly submit to God away from all the pomp and corruption of the Catholic Church. I loved the religious detail in the book; Katherine's thoughts echoed many of mine. I was fascinated by the extent of the avarice amongst the Church VIPs. One of the main reasons for this hadn't occurred to me until I read this book - younger sons of landed gentry or aristocracy, who would not inherit, often faced a future in the Church whether they had strong faith or not, so they made the most of the opportunities available.
If you're interested in the religious reform of the 16th century, do read this!
At the time, what happened at the court of Henry VIII affected and enthralled everyone, especially those born into nobility like Katherine, so there is a fair bit of talk about Henry's Great Matter, but it doesn't take over the story any more than it must have featured in their lives. I particularly liked Katherine's mother's take on the proceedings. A sometimes unreliable but at the same time wise narrator.
I noted how Katherine, with all her dreams of love and passion like that between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was level and wise enough to accept that she could still find happiness in her good life with Lord Latimer.
Well done, Gemma!
