Queen Katherine and the Howards (Hardback)
A Tudor Family on the Brink of Disaster
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 248
Illustrations: 30 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036112523
Published: 31st January 2025
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Writings of certain nineteenth and twentieth-century historians continue to colour our perceptions of the past, but is the picture of Katherine Howard painted by some of them necessarily fair? Was she really a neglected young girl set up by an unscrupulous family to enable them to exercise control over Henry VIII, or a secure teenager brought up in the home of her illustrious step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, who treated her well? Ultimately, was her untimely death the fault of others or the result of Katherine’s own ill-advised choices?
Through original research and use of primary sources, Queen Katherine and the Howards: A Tudor Family on the Brink of Disaster examines the Howards’ journey from practising law in East Anglia to their elevation to the dukedom of Norfolk by Richard III and, following the Yorkist defeat at Bosworth, their decades of service and loyalty to the fledgling Tudor dynasty.
The final weeks of Katherine Howard’s short life, presented as a day-to-day narrative, enables the reader to appreciate how terrifyingly quickly the old duchess and Katherine’s associates, most involved against their wishes, were rounded up and consigned to the Tower for concealing what they knew of her lively past.
The last chapters examine how the third Duke of Norfolk, Katherine’s paternal uncle, although surviving the turmoil of the scandal and continuing in his roles as Lord Treasurer and Henry VIII’s leading general, remained highly vulnerable; he and his son eventually fell victim to the king’s deadly paranoia.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Nicola Hall
As a keen reader of Tudor history Queen Katherine’s story is not new to me, however Marilyn Robert’s’ new book kept me enthralled.
She lays down the facts and disputes many of the long-standing opinions and ‘facts’ about Katherine Howard’s life. But in addition to this she tells the story from before and after Katherine’s rapid rise and fall in Tudor society. Setting her short life in the middle of her much longer lived step grandmother and uncle helps to put this period of history in context and also highlights how the events of her very short reign impacted her family, the mighty Howard’s, well into the future.
I would recommend Queen Katherine and the Howard’s to those interested in Tudor history and I feel that anyone who likes a drama filled true life story would relish reading this book.
I have read other biographies on Queen Katherine but this is the most complete history of her life and her families that I have ever read. The author has written it in a way that is informative, colorful, truthful and never dry (which is sometimes hard to do with any biography). In my opinion, the author presents Katherine honestly and erases a lot of the misconceptions that history and historical fiction novels and television has cast upon her. A must read for any Tudor fan or anyone who loves reading about English monarchy history. Comes with pictures which is always a bonus for me.
NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve
A really interesting read about Henry VIII youngest bride.
NetGalley, Angela Thompson
The Howards were a family that wanted to remain in the favour of the king and did many things to stay as a prominent family at that time at a cost to many people.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Kathryn McLeer
This was a strong look at Katherine Howard’s final days, it had that element that I was looking for and thought worked as a historical nonfiction book. It was researched well and learned a lot about this. Marilyn Roberts has a strong writing style and am excited to read more.
About Marilyn Roberts
Marilyn Roberts holds a Masters Degree in The History and Politics of the Administration of Education in England and Wales. She worked in education for several years and was a Collections Care coordinator at Epworth Old Rectory Museum, the childhood home of John and Charles Wesley. She has lectured to groups and societies on historical topics for over twenty years and has published books on King John and Magna Carta, the Mowbray Family, Queen Victoria’s descendants, Royal Family Trees and the Mountbattens.
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Henry VIII is one of history’s most memorable monarchs. Popularly known for his six wives, and the unfortunate fate which befell Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry initiated many reforms and changes which still affect our lives today. The annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon set in motion the separation of the English church from Rome and the establishment of the Church of England, which in turn led to the dissolution of the monasteries, the hauntingly evocative remains of which can be seen across the United Kingdom. Henry also oversaw the legal union between England and Wales,…
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