The Unfaithful Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Fifth Wife
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
C.M P. (selkie) reviewed on + 418 more book reviews
I have always been a big fan of Carolly Erickson's work, but I really cannot what she was thinking when she wrote this book. It is certainly not Erickson's best work. There are too many historical discrepancies that it should be considered fiction only, not historical fiction.
In it, the reason for Henry's deep infatuation with Catherine is that he supposedly had an affair with her mother, whom died while giving birth to his stillborn son. But if there where any truth to this at,all would Erickson have not mentioned it in her biography "Great Harry"? But she did not. Also, if that were the case, he would have been able to declare the marriage invalid rather than having her sent to the block because if they were never married, she could not have committed adultery.
The book has her father go to see her frequently (which I have never read in any source), and has her confide in her Uncle William (whom I have also never heard of in another source---not to say he id not exist, but if he had been that close of a confidante I am sure he would have been mentioned more in the history books).
We are supposed to believe that Catherine is the helpless prey to all men she has dealings with, and not the thoughtless, fun-loving person, that was known to make sport of those that might show some decorum, and encouraged her to do the same.
But worst of all is how she portrays Anne of Cleves as not only physically ugly, but also morally repulsive as a selfish, heartless, jealous, & conniving instigator. Although it would have been a normal reaction to be somewhat jealous of losing one's husband (and a crown) to a younger rival, Anne of Cleves has been noted in almost all historical records as having been accepting of her fate, & charitable & kind (as well as not unattractive, except to Henry, which was his way of dealing with his own hurt pride when she had offended him by her less than enthusiastic reaction to his unexpected surprise visit to her while masquerading as a highwayman) .I can only hope that the injustice is made up for in a later book.
In it, the reason for Henry's deep infatuation with Catherine is that he supposedly had an affair with her mother, whom died while giving birth to his stillborn son. But if there where any truth to this at,all would Erickson have not mentioned it in her biography "Great Harry"? But she did not. Also, if that were the case, he would have been able to declare the marriage invalid rather than having her sent to the block because if they were never married, she could not have committed adultery.
The book has her father go to see her frequently (which I have never read in any source), and has her confide in her Uncle William (whom I have also never heard of in another source---not to say he id not exist, but if he had been that close of a confidante I am sure he would have been mentioned more in the history books).
We are supposed to believe that Catherine is the helpless prey to all men she has dealings with, and not the thoughtless, fun-loving person, that was known to make sport of those that might show some decorum, and encouraged her to do the same.
But worst of all is how she portrays Anne of Cleves as not only physically ugly, but also morally repulsive as a selfish, heartless, jealous, & conniving instigator. Although it would have been a normal reaction to be somewhat jealous of losing one's husband (and a crown) to a younger rival, Anne of Cleves has been noted in almost all historical records as having been accepting of her fate, & charitable & kind (as well as not unattractive, except to Henry, which was his way of dealing with his own hurt pride when she had offended him by her less than enthusiastic reaction to his unexpected surprise visit to her while masquerading as a highwayman) .I can only hope that the injustice is made up for in a later book.
