From Amazon: Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir takes on what no fiction writer has done before: creating a dramatic six-book series in which each novel covers one of King Henry VIII’s wives. In this captivating opening volume, Weir brings to life the tumultuous tale of Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s first, devoted, and “true” queen.A princess of Spain, Catalina is only sixteen years old when she sets foot on the shores of England. The youngest daughter of the powerful monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina is a coveted prize for a royal marriage—and Arthur, Prince of Wales, and heir to the English throne, has won her hand. But tragedy strikes and Catalina, now Princess Katherine, is betrothed to the future Henry VIII. She must wait for his coming-of-age, an ordeal that tests her resolve, casts doubt on her trusted confidantes, and turns her into a virtual prisoner.
Katherine’s patience is rewarded when she becomes Queen of England. The affection between Katherine and Henry is genuine, but forces beyond her control threaten to rend her marriage, and indeed the nation, apart. Henry has fallen under the spell of Katherine’s maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. Now Katherine must be prepared to fight, to the end if God wills it, for her faith, her legitimacy, and her heart.
From Me: Allison Weir does an amazing job of filling in with her wonderful imagination the details that make the story of these historical figures come to life. One can not help but like both Henry and Katherine! They are wonderful characters and are so in love in the beginning of their marriage! I listened to the part of the story this morning on my way to Starbucks when Katherine has lost the first baby because she was born too premature. The second baby was a male child and the entire kingdom celebrated. However this baby never made it to childhood as he died while Katherine was at court with Henry. The part that I am listening to this morning is that Katherine is pregnant again. Henry and his soldiers are ready to sail to France to fight Louis (Henry considers it a crusade because France's King Louis is no friend to the Pope). Henry makes Katherine the ruler in his absence. He tells her that she will rule as wisely as did her mother, Isabella. Henry takes Wolsey with him. Henry seems to be very in love with Katherine still. They both hope that this child will be a boy and a heir to the throne.
For six months in 1513, she served as regent of England while Henry VIII was in France. During that time the English won the Battle of Flodden, an event in which Catherine played an important part with an emotional speech about English courage.
Here is a link to a very easy to read article that explains the order of the wives:
And an excellent article by Philippa Gregory.
http://www.philippagregory.com/family-tree/katherine-of-aragon
From this same site (above):
There is also an explanation on the site that Isabella (and thus Katherine) was a descendant of John of Guant on this site.
From this same site (above):
There is also an explanation on the site that Isabella (and thus Katherine) was a descendant of John of Guant on this site.
and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/henry_viii/
Today I read part of chapter 18 of 34. The interesting thing that the author creates is the idea that it is Katherine herself who begins to believe that God is punishing both her and Henry for something....and perhaps it is indeed the marriage that is not right in the eyes of God. Allison Weir is painting the picture in the year in which Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy (Henry the son of the King), is born. Katherine has endured 7 or 8 births by this time. And they have only one child (Mary) to show for her years of pregnancies. Her figure is ruined. She looks much older than her 33 years. Henry on the other hand is 28 and extremely handsome and virile. He knows how to have a good time! He is strong and handsome. But Allison paints the picture that he is still loyal and kind to his wife. They still have a strong love between them. But Katherine is already becoming a person for whom her sewing and church duties each day are filling her life. And while one feels very sorry for Katherine when she hears the news that Bessie Blount has born the King a son, there is the feeling that Katherine is tired and ready to give up her childbearing days.....The King still comes to her bed and both wish for a son, but Allison is preparing us for Katherine to be content with no longer having this travail in her life.
It took me a long time to finish this book. But it was not because I did not find it of interest. There were just lots of details and sometimes I didn't want to turn the book on. I finished it last night (June 21, 2018). It would be amazing if Katherine was as good a person as Allison Weir painted her. To the very end she maintained that she was the true Queen. But in part that was to insure that her daughter, Mary, would be considered a legitimate candidate for Queen of England. Katherine never wavered and made good decisions to the very end. Allison indicated that Katherine's health may have been adversely affected by the unhealthy places that she lived at the end of her life. It is likely that Ann Boleyn could be implicated in the choices of places that Katherine was sent. But it is also clear that she has heart problems at the end. When she dies she writes to Henry one last time. She makes a will. And she dies with very loyal people surrounding her. She doesn't know that Henry will have Ann Boleyn executed. But she does all that she can to insure that her daughter will have a chance to rule.
Henry is painted as a very attractive man in spite of the paintings that we see of him later in life. All of this story takes place Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547). Mary does rule briefly....but it is Ann Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth, who is the memorable ruler. Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor rulers.
Wikipedia says: Upon Henry's death, he was succeeded by his son Edward VI. Since Edward was then only nine years old, he could not rule directly. Instead, Henry's will designated 16 executors to serve on a council of regency until Edward reached the age of 18. The executors chose Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, Jane Seymour's elder brother, to be Lord Protector of the Realm. If Edward died childless, the throne was to pass to Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, and her heirs. If Mary's issue failed, the crown was to go to Elizabeth, Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn, and her heirs. Finally, if Elizabeth's line became extinct, the crown was to be inherited by the descendants of Henry VIII's deceased younger sister, Mary, the Greys. The descendants of Henry's sister Margaret – the Stuarts, rulers of Scotland – were thereby excluded from the succession.[148] This final provision failed when James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603.
and
James I of England. ... He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 until his death and he ruled in England and Ireland from 24 March 1603 until his death. His reign was important because it was the first time England and Scotland had the same monarch. He was the first monarch of England from the House of Stuart.
Today I read part of chapter 18 of 34. The interesting thing that the author creates is the idea that it is Katherine herself who begins to believe that God is punishing both her and Henry for something....and perhaps it is indeed the marriage that is not right in the eyes of God. Allison Weir is painting the picture in the year in which Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy (Henry the son of the King), is born. Katherine has endured 7 or 8 births by this time. And they have only one child (Mary) to show for her years of pregnancies. Her figure is ruined. She looks much older than her 33 years. Henry on the other hand is 28 and extremely handsome and virile. He knows how to have a good time! He is strong and handsome. But Allison paints the picture that he is still loyal and kind to his wife. They still have a strong love between them. But Katherine is already becoming a person for whom her sewing and church duties each day are filling her life. And while one feels very sorry for Katherine when she hears the news that Bessie Blount has born the King a son, there is the feeling that Katherine is tired and ready to give up her childbearing days.....The King still comes to her bed and both wish for a son, but Allison is preparing us for Katherine to be content with no longer having this travail in her life.
It took me a long time to finish this book. But it was not because I did not find it of interest. There were just lots of details and sometimes I didn't want to turn the book on. I finished it last night (June 21, 2018). It would be amazing if Katherine was as good a person as Allison Weir painted her. To the very end she maintained that she was the true Queen. But in part that was to insure that her daughter, Mary, would be considered a legitimate candidate for Queen of England. Katherine never wavered and made good decisions to the very end. Allison indicated that Katherine's health may have been adversely affected by the unhealthy places that she lived at the end of her life. It is likely that Ann Boleyn could be implicated in the choices of places that Katherine was sent. But it is also clear that she has heart problems at the end. When she dies she writes to Henry one last time. She makes a will. And she dies with very loyal people surrounding her. She doesn't know that Henry will have Ann Boleyn executed. But she does all that she can to insure that her daughter will have a chance to rule.
Henry is painted as a very attractive man in spite of the paintings that we see of him later in life. All of this story takes place Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547). Mary does rule briefly....but it is Ann Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth, who is the memorable ruler. Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor rulers.
Wikipedia says: Upon Henry's death, he was succeeded by his son Edward VI. Since Edward was then only nine years old, he could not rule directly. Instead, Henry's will designated 16 executors to serve on a council of regency until Edward reached the age of 18. The executors chose Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, Jane Seymour's elder brother, to be Lord Protector of the Realm. If Edward died childless, the throne was to pass to Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, and her heirs. If Mary's issue failed, the crown was to go to Elizabeth, Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn, and her heirs. Finally, if Elizabeth's line became extinct, the crown was to be inherited by the descendants of Henry VIII's deceased younger sister, Mary, the Greys. The descendants of Henry's sister Margaret – the Stuarts, rulers of Scotland – were thereby excluded from the succession.[148] This final provision failed when James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603.
and
James I of England. ... He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 until his death and he ruled in England and Ireland from 24 March 1603 until his death. His reign was important because it was the first time England and Scotland had the same monarch. He was the first monarch of England from the House of Stuart.
