Six Tudor Queens - Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir

Books

I was ecstatic to receive a hardback copy of Katherine of Aragon The True Queen by Alison Weir in the post the other week from Bookbridgr. I am a huge fan of British history especially the Tudor era. I get my love of history from my mum. She has hundreds of history books and I’m definitely going to pass this book onto her.

I have never heard of the author Alison Weir before I came upon this book. I am more familiar with Philippa Gregory’s series of books. I am so glad I discovered the first book of The Six Tudor Queen series. That’s right, this book is the first of six, detailing the lives of all Henry VIII’s six wives.

Do you remember the rhyme from school to remember how they all died? It’s one of the things I still remember from history class funnily enough.

Katherine of Aragon – Divorced

Anne Boleyn – Beheaded

Jane Seymour – Died

Anne of Cleves – Divorced

Catherine Howard – Beheaded

Catherine Parr – Survived

Six Tudor Queens - Katherine of Aragon The True Queen by Alison Weir

Book Description

A Spanish princess. Raised to be modest, obedient, and devout. Destined to be an English Queen.

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.

She misses her mother. She mourns her lost brother.
She cannot trust even those assigned to her protection.

KATHERINE OF ARAGON. The first of Henry’s Queens. Her story.

My Review

Katherine of Aragon The True Queen is a very beautiful book. My first impression was wow! It’s got a stunning inside cover beautifully designed. A lovely portrait of Katherine of Aragon. As you turn the first couple of pages you come across her family tree. One side is of her Spanish ancestors and the other is of the English Tudor period of 1501. This book tells us her life story from when she first came to England in 1501 to marry Henry VII’s son Arthur who wasn’t a very well person.

She then moves on to marry Henry VIII of course and they have a daughter Mary. Katherine tries to give him a son but is unsuccessful. So Henry decides to divorce her and move on to someone who can. Anne Boleyn.

Alison Weir is a fantastic historian writer. She makes you feel as if you are right there in the book. You must remember though it’s a novel, not a non-fiction book. Weir puts her own spin on Katherine of Aragon and makes her the centre of the story. This is her journey, not Henry VIII’s which I really love.

I really cannot wait until the next book is out. Anne Boleyn’s story is probably the most famous one and I have to admit my favourite.

Thanks to Bookbridgr for my advanced copy.

I have given Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir 5 out of 5 stars.

Hardback Edition 597 pages

Published 5th May by Headline Review

Are you a fan of The Tudors?