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Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, has been searching for a way to curry King Henry VIII’s favor ever since the disastrous beheading of his niece, Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII’s dissatisfaction with his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, gives Thomas Howard just the opportunity he needs- all he seeks now is a female to appeal to the king. Catherine Howard has been groomed for just such a possibility by her aunt, Agnes Howard, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Catherine Howard’s naiveté will be both her salvation and her destruction, as she rises to become the fifth wife of King Henry VIII. Diane Haeger puts an interesting spin on the fifth marriage of King Henry VIII. In her approach, Catherine Howard’s dalliances while in the home of her aunt were condoned, even encouraged, so she could learn how to seduce a man. Agnes and Thomas are portrayed as nefarious and scheming, believing that family ambition supersedes any personal desires or thoughts. Catherine’s innocence and naiveté despite her sexual prowess make sense in this context, explaining why a woman later charged with adultery could also have been known as his “rose without thorns.” No longer the enchanting young man, King Henry VIII is an embittered, aging monarch who seeks only to be loved. In many ways, he is portrayed as more of a spoiled brat, albeit one with the power to kill anyone who opposes him. Catherine’s lack of courtly knowledge attracts him as he mistakes this for innocence. Oddly enough, Diane Haeger manages to make King Henry VIII a likable character despite his childish fits and seeming disregard as to his current appearance. THE QUEEN’S MISTAKE is a fascinating glimpse at a woman who parallels Anne Boleyn in many ways. Catherine Howard is a woman trapped by the conventions of her time, desiring that which she cannot have. At its essence, THE QUEEN’S MISTAKE is a love story, albeit without the happily-ever-after. Highly recommended! Reviewed by Debbie |
The Queen’s Mistake: In the Court of Henry VIII Rating:
Posted December 2009 |
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