Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen: Six Tudor Queens 1

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Alison’s talk lasted a full hour, which flew by, but she followed up with a series of questions from the audience, which included whether she had a favourite of the six wives and what did she make of the different portrayals of Cromwell – what was her take on him when compared to that of Hilary Mantel and Wolf Hall for example. Sadly for the audience Alison didn’t divulge much more or go into precise details. We’ll have to wait for the books. There is a significant gap in our knowledge of Tudor history. Numerous biographies of members of the Tudor dynasty have been written, yet not one has been devoted to Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales (1486-1502), the older brother of Henry VIII. Had he lived, Arthur would have become King of England (and Henry, very probably, Archbishop of Canterbury), but Arthur died young, the victim of a mystery illness, before he could reach his potential. Even so, he had united in blood the warring royal dynasties of Lancaster and York, made a spectacular marriage and shown all the signs of becoming a great Renaissance prince. His tragedy was that he died too soon. Arthur was born in 1486, the year after his father, Henry VII, the first Tudor King, had vanquished Richard III, the last of the Plantagenets, at the Battle of Bosworth and founded a new, usurping dynasty. To consolidate his weak claim to the throne, Henry had married Richard`s niece, Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV. Arthur, their first child, was born prematurely at eight months. He was to be joined in the royal nursery by several siblings. His sister Margaret, born in 1489, married the King of Scots. His younger brother Henry, born in 1491, was made Duke of York. Arthur received a fine education that would prepare him for kingship. But then the people she trusted turned on her and King Henry VIII gave his heart to another. Once admired and feared, Katherine is now a virtual prisoner.

There were concerns as to whether Arthur should tax his strength by consummating the marriage, very real concerns, as Katherine`s only brother, the Infante Juan, had died young as a result (it was thought) of over-indulgence in the nuptial bed. Arthur`s health was known to be precarious. Nevertheless, the young couple were ceremonially put to bed together on their wedding night. What happened between the sheets was, years later, to become a matter of great debate, but it was assumed at the time that the marriage had been consummated. Katherine of Aragon is meticulously researched. This faithfulness to the history is the novel’s great strength." (The Times) Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir is our BookDiva Book of the Month." http://www.nudge-book.com/blog/2016/05/six-tudor-queens-katherine-of-aragon-the-true-queen-by-alison-weir/This e-short, published in March 2017, bridges the first two novels in the Six Tudor Queens series, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. It's a mysterious tale, drawn together from fragments of history - and a good dose of speculation. Or is it...?

Launching Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace on 9th May 2016Arthur’s death proved devastating for his parents – his mother would die the following year after giving birth to the child that was conceived of their grief - and for Katherine, who was now to endure seven years of penurious widowhood before being rescued by her knight in shining armour, Henry VIII. But that is another story. The novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the personal life of Queen Katherine behind the intricate and vicious political intrigues of the Tudor court. She is revealed to be a strong, intelligent woman who struggles to protect the future of her daughter, as well as her own right to maintain her religious faith. Meticulous research, combined with Alison Weir’s empathy for her subject, makes this an illuminating and engaging portrait of ‘the true queen.’ Often portrayed as a dour and downtrodden woman, Katherine of Aragon is revealed to be astute and resolute enough to survive into old age. This is an enjoyable and enlightening read, and I look forward to the next one in the series." (Historical Novel Society) The lives of the six wives make for dramatic stories. The extensive research I have done has afforded new insights into their lives. In all the romancing, for example, has anyone noticed the evidence that tells us what Anne Boleyn felt about being pursued by Henry VIII? Or that Henry VIII, an overprotected teenager, was prudish when it came to sex? I could go on…

The primary driving factor of the Six Tudor Queens series isn’t actually the plight of Henry’s wives, the reasons that compel them to marry Henry or even the rivalries they must overcome to take the throne. Katherine of Aragon features among the Top Summer Holiday Reads of https://www.airtours.co.uk/blog/top-summer-holiday-reads/, where I've written about my perfect holiday. It is, of course, an absolutely superb book. [Alison Weir] combines a scholar's research with a novelist's imagination to bring history enthrallingly to life." (Josephine Ross)For the first time I felt as though, thanks to Alison’s skilful writing and storytelling, I came to “know” Katharine’ NICOLA TALLIS What we did learn though was that it wasn’t easy being one of Henry’s wives. In that role your main job was to give him a male heir – something which they nearly all failed at pretty spectacularly. As Alison said: This brilliant series has brought Henry VIII’s six wives to life as never before. This novel will enthral and inspire, just as much as it will break your heart’ TRACY BORMAN Anne Boleyn, Katherine’s lady-in-waiting and the woman who stole Henry’s heart, is the last straw. What should have been a glorious reign for the Spanish Princess ends in disaster when Henry turns on Katherine, stripping her of her title and her privileges, and eventually raising another woman to the position of Queen.

The conversations are sparkling, gripping and word-perfect. As King Henry ages, the machinations of his vicious court are never far away’ HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY Six weeks from home across treacherous seas, everything is different: the language, the food, the weather. And for her there is no comfort in any of it. At sixteen years old, Catalina is alone among strangers.A tour de force. If you think you know everything about Henry VIII’s last queen, you’re in for a wonderful treat – you don’t!’ SUSAN RONALD This series hinges on King Henry’s determination to sire an heir. The Six Tudor Queens series takes readers to a time when England had fallen into and survived a series of Civil Wars, the result of many a messy conflict over the subject of inheritance. Alison Weir takes on what no fiction writer has done before: creating a dramatic six-book series in which each novel covers one of King Henry VIII's wives. In this captivating opening volume, Weirbrings to life the tumultuous tale of Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first, devoted, and true queen." (Brilliant Books) King Henry VIII spends the Six Tudor Queens series determined to steer his kingdom clear of further strife. And he believes that a male heir will permit him to do just that. In fact, even though Anne Boleyn’s beauty ultimately stole Henry’s love away from his first wife, it was Katherine’s inability to give him a male heir that first fractured their relationship. Alison Weir is a British historian that has written numerous biographies on England’s famous Kings and Queens. Before writing fiction and nonfiction, Alison taught children with special needs.