The Ivy Crown

in the beginning they were children studying in a little schoolroom under the eaves of a palace turret. history would know them as Mary Tudor, Katherine Parr and Kate Willoughby. they could hardly know then that fate would make two of them queens, the other a powerful duchess; they were a triumvirate for life. in Tudor lore, Katherine is remembered as the wife who out-lived her royal husband, the renowned Henry VIII. yet, with two previous husbands before she came to the throne, she'd already led a full life. katherine's mother, Maud Parr, was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon when, about 1513, she gave birth to a daughter who was named for the Spanish queen. born to great wealth and position, with blood more illustrious than the king's, the sensitive Katheine was barely out of childhood when she was sent to the North of England to wed an older man she'd never seen.she was, in the tradition of her time, to endure two such loveless marriages. she left an indelible mark on their personalities and hearts. this is the story of an elegant and compelling woman, who was--though the term would have been strange to her--the first Protestant Queen of England.

Anyone who likes fictionalized biographies, like those written by Phillipa Gregory, or Margaret George will enjoy this book. The story is rich in historical detail, and the characters are well-developed.

Loved it. Absolutely loved it. The storyline never drags, the characters are believable and fairly historically accurate. A beautifully painted portrait of Tudor history.

This is a novelette type biography of Katherine Parr, 6th wife of Henry VIII. It brings to live the period, its political and religious intrigues and change. Highly recommended for those who like English History.