[.ca] The Last Wife of Henry VIII: A Novel (ISBN 0312374615)

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...:
Noted historical biographer, Carolly Erickson, turns her hand to fiction with this story of Catherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII of England. This novel tracks the life of Catherine Parr, who was named for Catherine of Aragon, wife of the man who would one day be her third husband. Catherine Parr was a cultured and intelligent woman who lived in a time when women were not masters of their fates. The author artfully weaves fact with fiction in this first person narrative of her life. The reader learns of Catherine Parr's youth, her early marriages, as well as that of her marriage to King Henry VIII, whose eye she unfortunately caught just when she thought she would be able to marry the love of her life, the dashing, handsome, and dangerously ambitious Thomas Seymour. Having narrowly survived in her marriage to Henry VIII, she was finally able to fulfill her hearts desire and marry the man of her dreams, only to find herself rivaled for her fourth husband's affections by a coy and hoydenish teenager, the Princess Elizabeth. Catherine Parr's life is one that seemed to be shadowed by the capriciousness of the Tudor court and the treacherous jockeying for power by its subjects, a life lived in a world where women were mere chattel. Although the book seems, at times, to be more fiction than fact and has a strong element of romance running through it, those who enjoy light historical fiction, such as that written by Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy, will enjoy this book.

Not as Good as Her Non-Fiction Books:
I am a fan of Carolly Erickson's works. Enthralled by "Great Harry" and "Mistress Anne". Loved "Bloody Mary", "Our Tempestuous Day" and the rest. So I had high expectations; but was disappointed. Catherine Parr, according to other biographies, was an acutely devout woman, a radical Protestant who would have scorned magical manifestations of saints. So why did she believe St. Agatha's body was incorruptable? That was the only passage in this novel that showed her spiritual devotion. Her dillema: how to keep her life and her convictions with an irracible King/Husband who was reformist or traditionalist when it suited him - or when Cranmer pulled him one way and Gardiner the other - breathing down her neck. That was not there at all, and I think that was a central part of her life. The other half of her tragedy - her adoration for that rogue Thomas Seymour - was well covered and well written. There were factual errors. Perhaps her first husband was not old Lord Burgh but his grandson Edward. That she married the old man is disputed, and Ms. Erickson's scene where Catherine nearly did marry the old man was well done. Was Lord Latimer, her second husband, leading the rebels because he wanted to or was forced to is in dispute? I'll grant Ms. Erickson that. But William Tyndale was not executed 'a hundred years ago' It happened in 1538, within Catherine's lifetime. I could not suspend my disbelief enough after reading that to enjoy the book. Ms. Erickson's an engaging writer; but this one was not up to the standard of her other books.

STELLAR NARRATION OF RIVETING HISTORICAL FICTION:
Once again acclaimed author/historian Carolly Erickson allows listeners the pleasure of being privy to her subject's innermost thoughts and feelings. Listeners will find themselves spellbound as they hear Catherine Parr relate her story in her own words. Fictionalized history has never been finer or more rewarding. Terry Donnelly gives a stellar voice performance as she brings to life the well educated, clever, romantic woman who was the last of Henry VIII's six wives. To many at the time Catherine must have seemed an odd choice for Henry. She was the daughter of a country squire, and lost her first husband in 1529. She then married Sir John Nevill, a gentleman of means with a Yorkshire estate called Snipe Hall. He died in 1542, which left Catherine available to be courted by Henry. She accepted his proposal. The machinations of court life are, as always, fascinating as Catherine manages to remain aloof from the various factions. It should be noted that she did have a burgeoning interest in Protestantism and is dismayed to find the Church of England clerics every bit as crafty as the Catholics before them. She proves to be an able and thoughtful stepmother, although at the time she was only slightly older than Princess Mary. Henry was in declining health and Catherine outlived him to marry Thomas Seymour. One more riveting biography from Carolly Erickson and stellar narration by gifted stage actress Terry Donnelly. - Gail Cooke