Louise's Reviews > Katheryn Howard: the Scandalous Queen

Like any good historical novel, the author grafts a personality on to the historical record. As the title suggests, the focus is on Katheryn. Alison Weir speculates on the motives of Katheryn's Howard relatives, the women of her court and the three men who courted her, but what Katheryn thought and felt is clearly the center.

With the death of Katheryn’s mother when she was seven years old Kathryn had very little stability, love or guidance. Her beauty attracted men. Weir emphasizes the physical side of the resulting relationships, but I would expect this lonely, adrift young teen aged girl needed the attention and sweet talk they brought her. While each of the 3 main lovers is portrayed as sincere and ardent, there is clearly something exploitive going on. For instance her music teacher was pursing his 13 year old student; Francis Dereham seemed to be pursuing only sex; and Thomas Culpepper is presented as an ideal suitor despite having committed rape and murder and was pushing this teenaged queen into what he surely knew was a life threatening situation.

There are great descriptions, such as life the at the Dowager Dutchess of Norfolk’s households where gentlewomen waited for a marriage match to be made on their behalf; how Katheryn’s family manipulated her to attract the King in order to advance their power and that of the Catholic cause; and the brief encounters with Anne of Cleves and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. The best description was that of how Katheryn waited out the King’s decision on her fate.

This book does what historical fiction should do, that is, help you envision the people and the times. While this is a great read and I recommend it, in addition to what Weir has presented as Katheryn’s thoughts and feelings, I would have liked more overview of Katheryn and her situation.