Katharine Parr: the sixth wife: a novel

Henry VIII was neither her first nor her last husband, yet it's Katharine Parr's status as his sixth wife, naturally, that commands the most attention. Weir's admirable conclusion to her best-selling Six Tudor Queens series reveals Katharine as a woman of intellect, kindness, and strategic acumen who plays the long game to attain her heart's desires. Twice-widowed when she marries Henry, she brings a diverse range of experiences to her queenship. Weir smoothly knits all these life segments together, showing how Katharine's background shapes her character and beliefs. Raised in a loving family that respects women's education, she first weds a nobleman's son and, second, an older Catholic baron. The story strikes a clear path through the complicated political and religious circumstances of 1520--40s England as the action sweeps from Lincolnshire to Yorkshire during the Pilgrimage of Grace to dazzling London. In choosing Henry over personal happiness, Katharine, secretly Protestant, seeks to guide the realm in that direction. She comes to love the king despite his age and infirmities, but influential women tend to acquire enemies. Weir handles Katharine's relations with her stepchildren with realistic nuance as well as how Henry's death leads Katharine into intense romantic intrigue. This wide-ranging novel expertly showcases Katharine's courageous, eventful life and many noteworthy accomplishments.

Weir's final book in the Six Tudor Queens series (after Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen) is an engaging and deeply researched take on Henry VIII's final wife, Katherine Parr. Katherine, the highly educated and beautiful daughter of high-ranking courtiers, marries heir Edward Burgh at 16. Marital relations are scarce and awkward, and Weir suggests Edward is gay. After Edward's death, Katherine marries widower John Latimer, twice her age. As John lays dying, Katherine and Thomas Seymour fall in love and secretly pledge to marry; meanwhile, Henry VIII asks for Katherine's hand, having recently executed Katheryn Howard. With anti-reformist religious fervor rising and heretic hunter Bishop Gardiner burning suspects at the stake, Katherine accepts Henry, hoping to sway him toward religious reforms. Katherine is pious; she openly hosts religious debates in her chambers, but is a secret reformist, wishing to practice without Catholic observances, and later uncovers Gardiner's plot to arrest her for heresy. Weir brings her expertise of the Tudor era to bear with rich detail and historical perspective on politics and religion, and the many intelligent conversations between Katherine and Henry VIII add to the charm. With a mercurial, captivating king as hook, Weir serves up a sharp and lucid blend of grim fact and stylish fiction. Agent: Julian Alexander, the Soho Agency. (May)

Tudor historian Weir concludes her popular series of novels about each of Henry VIII's wives with this title (following Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen), which tells the story of the wife who outlived her notorious husband. Katharine is a wealthy widow looking to finally marry for love after two prior marriages dictated by duty, when she unfortunately catches the king's eye. Though she's disappointed she won't be able to marry the man she truly loves, she becomes determined to use the opportunity to sway Henry for the religious reforms she favors. Then a dangerous endeavor puts her at risk of being the third of Henry's wives to meet an untimely end by the executioner's blade. As with the earlier books in Weir's series, the major draw here for Tudor fans will be the detailed account of Katharine's life outside of her marriage to Henry--territory that will likely be unfamiliar to most readers. VERDICT Weir creates a believable portrait of a savvy woman able to hold her own despite often having her life shaped by forces outside her control. A solid choice for Tudor enthusiasts looking for a well-researched, entertaining novel.--Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign P.L., IL

*Starred Review* Henry VIII was neither her first nor her last husband, yet it's Katharine Parr's status as his sixth wife, naturally, that commands the most attention. Weir's admirable conclusion to her best-selling Six Tudor Queens series reveals Katharine as a woman of intellect, kindness, and strategic acumen who plays the long game to attain her heart's desires. Twice-widowed when she marries Henry, she brings a diverse range of experiences to her queenship. Weir smoothly knits all these life segments together, showing how Katharine's background shapes her character and beliefs. Raised in a loving family that respects women's education, she first weds a nobleman's son and, second, an older Catholic baron. The story strikes a clear path through the complicated political and religious circumstances of 1520–40s England as the action sweeps from Lincolnshire to Yorkshire during the Pilgrimage of Grace to dazzling London. In choosing Henry over personal happiness, Katharine, secretly Protestant, seeks to guide the realm in that direction. She comes to love the king despite his age and infirmities, but influential women tend to acquire enemies. Weir handles Katharine's relations with her stepchildren with realistic nuance as well as how Henry's death leads Katharine into intense romantic intrigue. This wide-ranging novel expertly showcases Katharine's courageous, eventful life and many noteworthy accomplishments. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

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Tudor historian Weir concludes her popular series of novels about each of Henry VIII's wives with this title (following Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen), which tells the story of the wife who outlived her notorious husband. Katharine is a wealthy widow looking to finally marry for love after two prior marriages dictated by duty, when she unfortunately catches the king's eye. Though she's disappointed she won't be able to marry the man she truly loves, she becomes determined to use the opportunity to sway Henry for the religious reforms she favors. Then a dangerous endeavor puts her at risk of being the third of Henry's wives to meet an untimely end by the executioner's blade. As with the earlier books in Weir's series, the major draw here for Tudor fans will be the detailed account of Katharine's life outside of her marriage to Henry—territory that will likely be unfamiliar to most readers. VERDICT Weir creates a believable portrait of a savvy woman able to hold her own despite often having her life shaped by forces outside her control. A solid choice for Tudor enthusiasts looking for a well-researched, entertaining novel.—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign P.L., IL

Weir's final book in the Six Tudor Queens series (after Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Queen) is an engaging and deeply researched take on Henry VIII's final wife, Katherine Parr. Katherine, the highly educated and beautiful daughter of high-ranking courtiers, marries heir Edward Burgh at 16. Marital relations are scarce and awkward, and Weir suggests Edward is gay. After Edward's death, Katherine marries widower John Latimer, twice her age. As John lays dying, Katherine and Thomas Seymour fall in love and secretly pledge to marry; meanwhile, Henry VIII asks for Katherine's hand, having recently executed Katheryn Howard. With anti-reformist religious fervor rising and heretic hunter Bishop Gardiner burning suspects at the stake, Katherine accepts Henry, hoping to sway him toward religious reforms. Katherine is pious; she openly hosts religious debates in her chambers, but is a secret reformist, wishing to practice without Catholic observances, and later uncovers Gardiner's plot to arrest her for heresy. Weir brings her expertise of the Tudor era to bear with rich detail and historical perspective on politics and religion, and the many intelligent conversations between Katherine and Henry VIII add to the charm. With a mercurial, captivating king as hook, Weir serves up a sharp and lucid blend of grim fact and stylish fiction. Agent: Julian Alexander, the Soho Agency. (May)