The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzannah Dunn

Queen Katherine, the fifth Queen of Henry VIII, has always been a character overlooked often. She has often been described as a teenager girl who was made the Queen to satisfy her uncle's ambitious plans for her family and she was equally naive about it. It gets difficult to comprehend the character as such, with a crown on head and a giggle on face, married to a persona like Henry VIII. Curious to find out more about the Queen, I stumbled upon this book in a book store and decided it will help me get another perspective to the story. It erases the 'child whore' character that Author Emily Purdy had described in her book 'The Tudor Wife', but not much. 

Cover page 

The cover page is not very different from the other books in this genre. Tassels on the side with the queen face and twirly font, this book cover plays by the rules. It makes it easy to spot it on the shelf and classify the genre but also easy enough to forget after reading. 

Characters

The books is written from the point of view of Queen Katherine's friend. Her life with the queen is all she knows. She knows her for what she actually is unlike most people who are blinded by the naivety of the young girl. 

The queen has been described as naive alright but she is also a different kind of naive. 'Sometimes she cutting, unkind, petty; sometimes droll; often intriguing.' 

She has been described as someone everyone loves and strives to meet standards with, where she herself is edgy. She does not grant passage to everyone into her world and that is why her friend feels honored to be with the Queen. 

Content

The book is about the fifth Queen of Henry VIII. It begins from when the queen is about to be sentenced to death due to adultery and treason. The story then goes back to the days at Chesworth house where she resides with Catherine. They become thick friends even though it took long. Cat understood the soon to be queen like no one did. She is afraid when Katherine is chosen to be the next queen. She is found saying - 'Try as I might, I couldn't laugh along with him because I was afraid, all the time, that she'd be uncovered. The King - for all that he was King and should know everything - seemed to be under the misapprehension that Kate was a lady worthy of his devotion. Well, I knew differently. What I knew was that she was just a girl, and moreover, a girl who liked boys.' 

The narration follows the life of the Howard queen till she is beheaded. 

A detailed sequel of events adorn the book. Every name and face has been described too well. The situations have been made realistic through the narration. 

Language

The language here is the tricky part. It keeps switching from medieval English to modern everyday language which is quite disturbing. The words are often repeated. Too flowery sentences lose the plot at some places. The description is quite detailed at few places which could have been skipped for sure. The story is from Cat's perspective, which gives another voice to the queen itself. 

Good points

The characters in the book are detailed to the speck of dust. The content is a great story and not merely a collection of data. Each character is different from the other. The second person perspective is a breath of fresh air.

Bad points

Use of everyday language and repetitive words kill the otherwise beautiful narration. Some details in the book seem unnecessary. It puts off the reader.

Overall 

It is an interesting book on the fifth queen of Henry VIII. It is a different take on her life altogether. Worth a read but may not necessarily quench the thirst to know more about the queen. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for those who are new to the genre. 

Quotable quotes 

How, though, really, it struck me, has she ever been a proper queen? A little over a year running around in some lovely dresses: that's all it had been, her queenship. It hadn't ever been serious, she hadn't ever been in the least like a queen. A private wedding in a tiny chapel. No coronation. She was a Ninteen-year-old girl who'd produced no heirs, promoted no one, inspired no reforms or counter-reforms, and made no alliances.

Mary, Queen of Scots by John Hale

After the long awaited death of Mary Tudor or “Bloody Mary” as the subjects knew her, Elizabeth ascended to power. Much to her people’s loathsome attitude towards her, Elizabeth triumphed as a queen who would finally succeed the Tudor dynasty. All other monarchs during her time were forgotten due to her lineage and her rule, full of scandal but one. Mary of Scots, after losing her husband, the king of France, left France to come back and rule over Scotland. And why not. It was her right, by birth. But a long time had passed since she first set foot on the Scottish soil. The subjects seemed to have forgotten her. Here she built her kingdom piece by piece. Surviving all the scandals and her Cousin Queen Elizabeth’s notorious plans, Mary finally rules of Scotland. 

This tale is of Mary, Queen of Scotland. She is much overshadowed by the cousin, Queen Elizabeth. This book enlivens her again in flesh and blood. A tale which we ought not to forget. Was Mary a woman or a monarch?

Elizabeth said sharply, “Do you rejoice at the prospect of the death of a Queen?”
“She is a Papist and an enemy of England.”
“Papist or not, enemy or not, she is a Queen.”
“But your grace, it is you who wished her destroyed.”
“Cast down, but not dead,” said Elizabeth at once. “Her army destroyed, but her life spared. I do not relish the thought of the death of any Queen. It is too close to our person.”

Cover page

The cover page is an interesting composition. But not very different from other books in the genre. It consists of the queen face and some golden tassels here and there. The title comes at the bottom with the black background. The cover page has been kept simple and classy. The author has not taken any risks of deviating from the norms. Hence, it fails to make a lasting impression. 

Characters

The book, as the title suggests, is about the Queen Mary, of Scotland. It captures her during the most troublesome times of her life. Therefore, at every page flipped, a vulnerable woman rather than a strong Queen, is seen. There was always struggle between her heart and her head, and every time her heart won. It was sad, seeing a Queen of such an honor to be diminished to someone like that. The author chose to show the weaker side of her. There was also nothing kings-like in John’s description of Mary. It might as well be another woman who has been wronged. The characterization feels one-dimensional.

Queen Elizabeth, on the other hand, has been portrayed as a woman who detests the subjects who participate in treason. This quality, she seems to have been inherited from her father. She is also a jealous woman who understands her position in the court. Other than these, there is not much about the queen who is so much talked about.

Lord Darnley, the second husband of the queen, is just described as a drunk fool who would never hesitate to put himself in trouble. There is more to these characters than described in the book.

It is an independent decision of an author to choose to show only one side of the characters, but in this case, it may not go down well with the fans of the genre. There is no point in reading about a royal life when there is no royalty in the characters. 

Content

Mary loses her husband while she is in France. Seeing her position wavering, she decides to come back to Scotland where she is expected to rule. Only to discover that it is not very easy. The kingdom needs to be tamed. Elizabeth, on the other hand, sees her as trouble and conspires to overthrow her demeaning herself in the process. 

The book is the tale on Queen of Scots from the time she ascends to the throne till she dies at the scaffold in the tower of London. It is filled with the conspiracy theories and the murderous epidemic that washes the land during Queen Mary’s rein. 

“If this horse had a name it would go down in history, but as I stole it some hours ago in Edinburgh it will not be remembered.” 

Language

The narration is filled with suspense and pity. It is a fast paced story of descend of the Queen of Scots. The language definitely needs some polishing, but it definitely puts the author in the lineage of authors like Jean Plaidy and Emily Purdy. 

Good points

The book is a fast-paced historical fiction. It speaks of the sequence of events and its results without taking sides. The cover is well composed. A safe approach but appealing. The book tells history without dwelling in unnecessary details. The makes the book a thriller. 

Lady Jean had straightened up and she smiled. Any man worth his salt would have liked to have seen that smile when he woke and turned over. 

Bad points

The characters lack depth. Especially since the characters are royalties, there should be more written about them than it is in the book. 

Overall

The author has a knack for storytelling. This book definitely puts the author on the map. 

Who do I recommend this to

This book is recommended to all the curious readers who are interested in the tales of the royals. Mary of Scots is an interesting personality to be read about. 

Quotable quotes 

Elizabeth standing in the doorway, looked at her ageing lover at the feet of her eternal rival. “Madam”, she said, “If your head matched your heart I would have been the one waiting for death.”

On scaffold she raised her voice triumphantly, “I freely forgive all my enemies and all who have lusted after my blood – for my end is my beginning.”

* I received this book from the publication for review. It has not influenced the review at all.

The Tudor Wife by Emily Purdy

Anne Boleyn is a historical character that has astonished me, and I am sure many others. After watching different series and documentaries, I was very much obsessed with the Tudor queens, Anne Boleyn especially. When I came across this book in a recent sale I instantly knew learning about the queens from a lady-in-waiting’s perspective is going to be something else! I started reading this book as soon as I bought it. This is definitely a piece of art that anyone interested in the English royalty must read!

‘Your wife I cannot be; your mistress I will not be.’ Those were her words, cold and to the point, like a dagger in the heart.

Cover page

I absolutely loved the cover-page. It has been well thought over and researched. The cover consists of a queen wearing the periodical attire. Very cleverly the artist has hidden the face of the queen and only the ensemble is visible, since the book is about all the queens and not just one. The book title reads—The Tudor Wife. The typography is well thought of. The cover-page in all does complete justice to the story inside. 

Characters

The book is a compilation of the life of all the Tudor queens married to Henry the eighth, except the last one. The person narrating the tales is Jane Rochford, Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law. All the characters in the queens are parallel to the history and not much change has been done in the name of historical fiction. You will come to love, hate and sympathize with all the queens, such is the writing of Emily Purdy.

There are many other characters that have been brought to live by Emily Purdy.

Content

Vengeance is mine; I shall repay.
–Romans 12:19

The book begins with this verse. This is for Jane Rochford, who dies with the blood of Anne Boleyn and many other in her hand. The book talks about all the queens but last of Henry VIII. Jane is the narrator of the story. Hence all the characters are depicted from her point of view. These are the tales of accession to the throne and the downfall. Each of the queens have been given their due. 

More than half of the book is dedicated to Anne Boleyn, fairly so since she is probably most remembered queen. One chapter is dedicated to Anne of Cleaves. And all that has been said about her is that she was repulsive to the king, so much that he divorced her and adopted her as a sister. Other queens have their fair part in the book, their stories told well.

But things were changing. Though Henry continued to profess his undying love and shower her with gifts, there hung about him brooding air of a man who has grown tired of waiting and is beginning to wonder whether it is really worthwhile…

Language

The narration is filled with guilt, even though Jane talks about vengeance. Jane Rochford definitely feels guilty of the various deaths that are partly on her heads. Therefore in the entire book she is always looking for sympathy and justifying herself. 

The narration is going to get you sympathize and understand each queen and Jane Rochford herself. Where in the entire world she is known as a symbol of jealousy and betrayal, the author will get you to maybe pity her somewhere. 

I absolutely loved the narration. I got to have some beautiful quotes too. So I am happy! 

Good points

The cover-page takes you to the world of royalty right at first glance. This is definitely one of the covers that will compel you to buy the book. 

The characterization is very gripping. Anne Boleyn has been further immortalized by the book. Other queens also get their respective spaces.

The narration is really gripping. You would find yourself wishing that you could read for a living. This one book is going to keep you awake till the midnight. 

Bad points

Where the author got all the characters right, she deviated a lot when she came to Catherine Howard. Catherine has been portrayed throughout as a nymphomaniac child. It sentence itself sounds wrong but yeah. There are also too many details of her encounter which seem to be unbelievable at certain stage.

There are certain passages in the book that feel repeated. The same lines have been said with different words. Which tend to tire you. I mean who liked to listen to the same thing over and over again! 

‘Calais,’ she continued, as if she had not heard. ‘Once a woman surrenders herself to a man, even though that is what he wants to do, he instantly loses all respect for her. Some men are just better at hiding the truth than others, and some do not even bother to try.’

Overall

Overall, I loved the book enough to read few other by the same author. I am now interested in knowing what happens to the Tudor offspring and how Elizabeth succeeds to the throne. Emily Purdy has definitely got me curious. 

Who do I recommend this to

I would recommend this book to everyone interested in the English royalty. Anne Boleyn fans, this is definitely something to watch out for. Someone who loves good narration, this is the book!

Quotable Quotes:

‘Perhaps you look for dead men’s shoes?’ Anne batted her lashes coyly. ‘If any misfortune befell His Majesty you would look to have me!’

Guard your heart, Elizabeth, guard it as if it were your greatest treasures; keep it under lock and key, and be wary of who you let near it, lest you be betrayed. Let no man be your master; be mistress of your own fate instead. Never surrender!’

‘Weep not for us, but for the absence of justice from England!’ Weston advised the crowd as they were led back to their cell in the Beauchamp Tower.

‘No, Jane, you have courage, for you have far greater need of it than I do! You have to go on living, while I have only to die. And someday, Jane, you too will die, and then you will have to answer to God for what you have done. He—in this case, she—who sows the whirlwind must expect to reap the storm. Good-bye Jane.’

A swift slash of silver steel ended Anne’s life. So died the only woman who had ever made a fool of Henry Tudor, challenged and denied him.

In death, poetry, and legend they had all found immortality. And I would be remembered alongside them, my name a byword for jealousy, treachery, betrayal, and lies. I found my immortality in infamy; I has unjustly become one of the villains in Anne Boleyn’s tale, my true innocence blotted out and obscured by bloodstains.

Thanks to Thomas Cromwell, I would always be remembered as “The Red Widow”, with my husband’s blood forever on my hands; whenever people heard my name they would instantly think of lies, jealousy of embittered wives, and treachery.
Yes I had a lot to thank Cromwell for—that is what I thought of as I stood beside the scaffold and watched him die.

‘There is no such thing as love, Jane; it’s just the dream we all aspire to, and the stuff of songs and stories that fuel our hopes and longings. Aye, there is passion, but passion is not love, Jane, though we like to delude ourselves into thinking it is. But it dies quick; it is a flame that flares high, blazes bright, and soon dies, and all we are left with are the cold ashes of memory.’

Even though tomorrow I must die, and Cranmer urges me to clear my conscience so that I mat die shriven of all my sins, of that I will never repent! Vengeance was mine and I did repay!