In her fourth historical novel, Dunn (The Queen of Subtleties; The Sixth Wife; The Queen's Sorrow) accomplishes the immense task of chronicling the life and personality of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Katherine Howard (1524–42), with consummate skill, exceptional creativity, and a laudable attention to detail. Told from the perspective of Cat Tilney, who was a ward of the Duchess of Norfolk like Katherine, the novel follows the allied ladies as they progress from childhood to womanhood. Unlike other novels about the ill-fated queen, Dunn's Katherine is neither ignorant nor flighty but rather a young woman caught in the world she shaped after being all but abandoned by her family. Don't label Dunn's book as a new twist on an old tale, however, for it is much more than that; Katherine's relationship with Francis Dereham, which would later be her undoing, is shown for what it very possibly could have been and what it is rarely acknowledged as—a childhood crush. VERDICT An absolutely essential read for Tudor-infatuated and historical fiction fans.—Audrey M. Johnson, Arlington, VA
The new novel from the bestselling author of THE SIXTH WIFE.
`England: firelight and fireblush; wine-dark, winking gemstones and a frost of pearls. Wool as soft as silk, in leaf-green and moss; satins glossy like a midsummer night or opalescent like winter sunrise...Little did we know it but that night we were already ghosts in our own lives...'
When twelve-year-old Katherine Howard comes to live in the Duchess of Norfolk's household, poor relation Cat Tilney is deeply suspicious of her. The two girls couldn't be more different: Cat, watchful and ambitious; Katherine, interested only in clothes and boys. Their companions are in thrall to Katherine, but it's Cat in whom Katherine confides and, despite herself, Cat is drawn to her. Summoned to court at seventeen, Katherine leaves Cat in the company of her ex-lover, Francis, and the two begin their own, much more serious, love affair.
Within months, the king has set aside his Dutch wife Anne for Katherine. The future seems assured for the new queen and her maid-in-waiting, although Cat would feel more confident if Katherine hadn't embarked on an affair with one of the king's favoured attendants, Thomas Culpeper.
However, for a blissful year and a half, it seems that Katherine can have everything she wants. But then allegations are made about her girlhood love affairs. Desperately frightened, Katherine recounts a version of events which implicates Francis but which Cat knows to be a lie. With Francis in the Tower, Cat alone knows the whole truth of Queen Katherine Howard - but if she tells, Katherine will die.
This historical fiction novel takes you back to a time of royal intrigue and forbidden love. Katherine Howard, a character of top interest, navigates the treacherous waters of the royal court, her life hanging in the balance.
For fans of Alison Weir (Six Tudor Queens), Tracy Borman (The Devil's Slave), Carol Mcgrath (The Silken Rose), Elizabeth Chadwick (The Summer Queen), and Elizabeth Fremantle (The Girl in the Glass Tower).
The new novel from the bestselling author of THE SIXTH WIFE.
`England: firelight and fireblush; wine-dark, winking gemstones and a frost of pearls. Wool as soft as silk, in leaf-green and moss; satins glossy like a midsummer night or opalescent like winter sunrise...Little did we know it but that night we were already ghosts in our own lives...'
When twelve-year-old Katherine Howard comes to live in the Duchess of Norfolk's household, poor relation Cat Tilney is deeply suspicious of her. The two girls couldn't be more different: Cat, watchful and ambitious; Katherine, interested only in clothes and boys. Their companions are in thrall to Katherine, but it's Cat in whom Katherine confides and, despite herself, Cat is drawn to her. Summoned to court at seventeen, Katherine leaves Cat in the company of her ex-lover, Francis, and the two begin their own, much more serious, love affair.
Within months, the king has set aside his Dutch wife Anne for Katherine. The future seems assured for the new queen and her maid-in-waiting, although Cat would feel more confident if Katherine hadn't embarked on an affair with one of the king's favoured attendants, Thomas Culpeper.
However, for a blissful year and a half, it seems that Katherine can have everything she wants. But then allegations are made about her girlhood love affairs. Desperately frightened, Katherine recounts a version of events which implicates Francis but which Cat knows to be a lie. With Francis in the Tower, Cat alone knows the whole truth of Queen Katherine Howard - but if she tells, Katherine will die.
This historical fiction novel takes you back to a time of royal intrigue and forbidden love. Katherine Howard, a character of top interest, navigates the treacherous waters of the royal court, her life hanging in the balance.
For fans of Alison Weir (Six Tudor Queens), Tracy Borman (The Devil's Slave), Carol Mcgrath (The Silken Rose), Elizabeth Chadwick (The Summer Queen), and Elizabeth Fremantle (The Girl in the Glass Tower).
The Confession of Katherine Howard
The Confession of Katherine Howard
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Editorial Reviews
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940173600189 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins UK |
| Publication date: | 05/27/2010 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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