Review: The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger
by Diane Haeger
Catherine Howard comes to the court of Henry VIII with the goal having fun and eventually settling down with a good husband of high social status. Her ambitious family - specifically¸ her uncle the Duke of Norfolk - plan to elevate Catherine to the highest position in the land, the wife of Henry VIII. There’s only a tiny snag…the King already has a Queen, the plain-faced but kind Anne of Cleves. As Catherine happily flirts and falls in love with the handsomest courtier serving the King, Thomas Culpepper, her Howard relatives scheme to oust Anne and lead the King back to the Catholic faith with a youthful new bride. When their plans succeed and Catherine marries the King, trouble starts almost immediately as her old friends and enemies converge on the court, demanding favors and special positions in return for their silence about Catherine’s secret dalliances in the past…
Catherine Howard’s been enjoying a resurgence in popularity; seems like the historical fiction/historical romance section of the bookstore is overflowing with new books about her. Haeger’s is one of the best versions of her life that I have read. Mostly told through the eyes of Catherine, Diane Haeger reveals a girl who is sweet and vivacious, but simply loves boys too much. This Catherine enjoys flirting and attention, and feels no shame for it. But she is loyal and kind, too; once married to Henry, she does her best to obey her marriage vows, which is no small feat when you’re a teenager and your husband is an obese man old enough to be your grandfather! In this version of history, there was nothing Catherine could have done to save herself from her ultimate fate. No matter how well behaved she was after marriage, she was condemned by her youthful indiscretions long before she ever met the King. But even knowing that the cards are completely stacked against her, you can’t help but root for Catherine as she does her best to maneuver the web of deceit around her.
To read more about The Queen’s Mistake, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.
Catherine Howard comes to the court of Henry VIII with the goal having fun and eventually settling down with a good husband of high social status. Her ambitious family - specifically¸ her uncle the Duke of Norfolk - plan to elevate Catherine to the highest position in the land, the wife of Henry VIII. There’s only a tiny snag…the King already has a Queen, the plain-faced but kind Anne of Cleves. As Catherine happily flirts and falls in love with the handsomest courtier serving the King, Thomas Culpepper, her Howard relatives scheme to oust Anne and lead the King back to the Catholic faith with a youthful new bride. When their plans succeed and Catherine marries the King, trouble starts almost immediately as her old friends and enemies converge on the court, demanding favors and special positions in return for their silence about Catherine’s secret dalliances in the past…
Catherine Howard’s been enjoying a resurgence in popularity; seems like the historical fiction/historical romance section of the bookstore is overflowing with new books about her. Haeger’s is one of the best versions of her life that I have read. Mostly told through the eyes of Catherine, Diane Haeger reveals a girl who is sweet and vivacious, but simply loves boys too much. This Catherine enjoys flirting and attention, and feels no shame for it. But she is loyal and kind, too; once married to Henry, she does her best to obey her marriage vows, which is no small feat when you’re a teenager and your husband is an obese man old enough to be your grandfather! In this version of history, there was nothing Catherine could have done to save herself from her ultimate fate. No matter how well behaved she was after marriage, she was condemned by her youthful indiscretions long before she ever met the King. But even knowing that the cards are completely stacked against her, you can’t help but root for Catherine as she does her best to maneuver the web of deceit around her.
To read more about The Queen’s Mistake, buy it or add it to your wishlist click here.