Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzannah Dunn, 307 pages


Henry VIII has been unlucky in love; a Spanish queen that is set aside due to her barreness because of God's anger, a teasing beauty sent to the chopping block, a quiet queen that dies in childbirth, and a plain princess that "withers" the king's interest. Now Henry has fallen for his pure English rose, Katherine Howard. But Katherine Howard is far from pure, and will she be able to navigate the dangerous waters of Henry's court without him realizing this. Childhood friend Cat Tilney is called to serve the new queen. With cloths of gold and gems surrounding her Katherine seems impervious to all gossip, but that can always change. Cat just wants a happy and long life with her love Francis, but that may not be what the future holds.

I love English history and especially Henry VIII's family, so I was excited to see this new novel. "The Confession of Katherine Howard" did not disappoint. Suzannah Dunn did a superb job of bringing to life this intriguing time period, filled with captivating characters that seem larger than life. By telling the story from the viewpoint of a childhood friend, a woman's view of the changes sweeping England's church and goverment makes for interesting reading. For anyone who enjoys Carolly Erickson and Allison Weir, this is a definite must read. "The Confession of Katherine Howard" is a welcome addition to my bookshelf.

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