This novel takes quite abit of literary license with what is known about Kitty Howard-Hanry VIII's fifth bride.


The novel portrays Katherine as a chaste wife the Henry who loves him and who he loves. She does admit to her pre-marital infidelities but only after the accusation about she and Thomas Culpepper surface. She adamantly denies every having profaned her marriage with anyone, most especially Thomas Culpepper. She is convinced that the sole reason these charges are being brought against her is because she is a staunch catholic and the protestants in power fear her influence over the King.
It is a liberal approach to take to Kitty's story. I do not believe that she was killed because of a Catholic/Protestant faction at work in the court. Kitty was a simple girl, I am unsure if she could even read and write. She was the silliest and least "queen-like" of all of Henry VIII's wives. From what history does know of her she was constantly asking King Henry for more clothes and more jewelry. She was vain and focused on her vanities and the wild parties she would have in her quarters withe other girls she had been raised at Madame/Grandmother Howard's with. She clearly posed no threat to either the Catholic or the Protestant faction at court, so there should be no need to remove her other than she was sleeping around on the king. She is not her cousin Anne killed on trumped up false charges so King Henry could marry another. By all counts Henry adored Kitty, feeling her up at banquets and other public appearances and he was heartbroken and embarrassed to discover her infidelities.
In her defense she was a young girl thrown at an old and infirm king in the hopes that her young and nubile body would help the king over-come his impotence and provide the country with another heir. The king was grossly over-weight, he smelled from the rotting ulcer on his leg, often suffered extreme episodes of constipation and gas-he was hardly what a young girl would want for a husband. The king himself pushed her off on Culpepper to dance and such. I do not think he intended their affair, but I think an attraction struck up between 2 young and attractive people.
The novel is still interesting but not in the least historically accurate. ( )

3.5 stars

Catherine Howard was Henry VIII’s fifth wife; she was also Anne Boleyn’s cousin. Catherine was not even 20 years old yet when she married Henry and Henry was almost 50. Although Henry didn’t know it, Catherine had a bit of a reputation for being promiscuous. When Henry found out, after they had been married for a short time, things did not end well for Catherine.

I have read a little bit about Catherine, but not as much as some of Henry’s other wives. This book didn’t change my opinion of her. I’m not a fan of Catherine herself, although the story was good. ( )

This was an easy & entertaining read.

I do not know how accurate it is...but it seemed to follow other books I've read about Catherine Howard rather closely.

Sad she was a dupe for such vile opportunism & placement in Henry VIII's court.

Honestly how could anyone think that a young woman would be happy to be the prize of a sociopathic, obese, stinking old man...king or not! Grotty! ( )

It took a long time to read this book, which is an indicator that it fell flat and did not hold my interest. Basically, the "Queen's Mistake" is that she was a silly, young girl with very little social skills or knowledge of appropriate behavior.

The court of Henry VIII was particularly cut throat. Known for his mercurial mood swings, he killed advisers like cutting wheat from a field -- suddenly and swift.

The Howard family previously placed Anne Boleyn in Henry's vision and used her as a means to gain favor with Henry. When Anne was beheaded, a political match was in place with Anne of Cleves. A disastrous pairing. When pretty little Katherine arrived at court, she also was used as a pawn to sooth the terrible demise of Anne Boleyn and to once again gain the king's good graces.

Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, came to court as a lady in waiting for Anne. Her early years spent in the house of her grandmother did not groom her for a life of political intrigue. Catching the eye of obese Henry, all too soon she was swept into the vortex of Anne of Cleves downfall and her swift leaving of court for a life as the King's "good sister." And, suddenly, she replaced wife number four.

Pretty and promiscuous, Katherine had bedded others before Henry. When her cheating with Thomas Culpepper while married to the King was discovered, her life ended the same way as her cousin. She was beheaded. ( )

This book is one in the author’s ‘In The Court of King Henry VIII’ series. I saw this book in the library and was drawn to the cover, since I enjoy reading about historical English royalty. However, this was a real disappointment. After several days of trying, I simply could not finish the book. One of the things that really bothered my was the way Catherine was portrayed as sexually precocious at a very young age, by design. As this story is told, her grandmother and uncle felt sexual training was part of her preparation as the future queen they intended her to be. But in addition to that, the book was just not that interesting. I thought about struggling through to the end, and then realized that there are so many other books on my list waiting to be read, some of which cover this same period in history. And I felt giving the time to this book meant putting aside a book I really might enjoy.

I know some people think it is unfair to read a book when you haven’t finished it, but my take is...
If you found a book so uninteresting that you could not read it, I would like to know that BEFORE I waste my time on it. Now clearly, if you look at the Goodreads ratings, you will see I am in the minority, so read some other reviews before you cross this off you list. You may actually enjoy this one.

Why did you choose this book? The cover caught my eye
When did you read this book? August 2011
Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction who are willing to take a chance
Source: library ( )