| About the Book She survived Henry VIII to be Betrayed by love.In her ninth book, Suzannah Dunn takes a chance and delivers a fiction based on the one Queen we seldom remember, the Protestant "blue stocking" Katherine Parr. Clever level-headed Katherine Parr survived four years of Marriage to Henry VIII.But when Thomas Seymour won her heart, not even a year after the old kings death, their hasty union undid a lifetime of caution
In turbulent times when the least indiscretion can mean the difference between life and death, Katherine Parr's tragedy plays out amongst those who loved-and-deceived her most. As events race towards their inevitable climax, in this sexy and modern re-telling, Cathy and Kate will risk everything they have in a world where love is luxury that even royalty cannot afford.
About The Author Born in 1963, Suzannah Dunn lives in Brighton, England. She is the author of several novels and collections of stories, including Tenterhooks and Blood Sugar. She is a graduate of the creative writing course at the University of East Anglia. | Submitted by: Howardfan
Comments: Divorced/Beheaded/Died, Divorced/Beheaded/Survived????
This is what makes Katherine Parr's life after Henry such an exciting read.
Told through the eyes of her best friend and widow of Henry's best friend Charles Brandon, this new novel and ninth book by Suzannah Dunn sheds a new light on the supposed "happily ever after" that Katherine Parr thought she had after Henry VIII's death and her secret Marriage to the man whom she had longed for and turn had longed for her, Thomas Seymour.
Dunn has certainly done her research and mixes fact with fiction in the most enjoyable way possible. From a fantasy affair between Catherine and Thomas, to true events which took place between Katherine Parr and her husband up until each of their deaths.
Catherine of Duchess Suffolk is portrayed a feisty woman, with children of her own. This woman is known for being rather blunt unlike the sweet natured friend of hers Parr. Catherine Brandon also shares a history with the first Queen, Katherine of Aragon of whom her mother Maria (Mary salts) attended to.
Stranger still is Thomas Seymour's almost infatuation with Elizabeth that is not over dramatized or exaggerated in this novel but slowly brought to surface.
Elizabeth was by this stage living as Seymour's "Ward" and knew of her mothers fate, and of Seymour's connection with the prince Edward and his own sister being the woman who took Anne's place as Queen number three.
I must admit at first i was not so inspired by the style of writing, but the more I read, the more Ii became entranced and overjoyed at a book based on Katherine Parr's last years and the slight happiness she was finally able to experience.
While parts of this book are fiction, Dunn adds her own findings at the end and leads you into the interesting events that took place after the end of the book, including the infamous "baby" rumour that hung over Elizabeth.
If you are interested in Katherine Parr or would like to know a little more of the Protestant woman who managed to survive a marriage to Henry VIII then give this book a good read.
Overall rating 7/10 |
Submitted by:yddib
Comments:This book I found a bit slow at first. You really have to stick with it as it did not grab me straight away. |
Submitted by: Lady-Demiya
Comments:Worst book ever! And that is saying something since I have read a lot of books. Where do I begin?
- Waaaay too modern. I cannot even believe how modernly written it is, and Catherine Brandon (story told through her eyes) speak as if she is from the 21st century, and thinks.
- The characters spoke in the same context and phrases as each other. It was hard to decipher who was saying what.
- None of the sentences flowed, or fitted together.
- Obvious grammar errors throughout the entire book.
- I read the entire thing, because I always finish a story, but really, wow, just wow. This is a book I will definitely not be re-reading.
| |
