Catherine of Aragon continues to fascinate readers 500 years after she became Henry VIII’s first queen. Her life was one of passion and determination, of suffering and hope, but ultimately it is a tragic love story, as circumstances conspired against her. Having lost her first husband, Henry’s elder brother Prince Arthur, she endured years of ill health and penury, to make a dazzling second match in Henry VIII. There is no doubt that she was Henry’s true love, compatible with him in every respect and, for years, she presided over a majestic court as the personification of his ideal woman. However, Catherine’s body failed her in an age when fertility meant life or death. When it became clear that she could no longer bear children, the king’s attention turned elsewhere, and his once chivalric devotion became resentment. Catherine’s final years were spent in lonely isolation but she never gave up her vision: she was devoted to her faith, her husband and to England, to the extent that she was prepared to be martyred for them. One of the most remarkable women of the Tudor era, Catherine’s legendary focus may have contributed to the dissolution of the way of life she typified.
Amy Licence is one of my favourite authors. She even featured twice in my top books of 2016! Catherine of Aragon is known as the tragic first wife of Henry VIII, who was set aside so he could marry Anne Boleyn. In reality, her legacy is so much bigger than that. Amy Licence pieces together an intimate look at Catherine’s life, from birth until her death in exile. It’s a wonderful book, well-written and researched and it really brings Catherine to life.
Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife by Amy Licence is available now in the UK and is available for pre-order in the US. It’s due to be released on 1 April 2017.
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