King's Pleasure

Perhaps one of the most fascinating stories in English history is the "great matter" of Henry VIII, a king's determination to cast aside his lawful wife in pursuit of a male heir and the satisfaction of his overweening ego. But the story, in Loft's emotionally measured telling, begins years earlier, as the sensible, loyal Katharine of Aragon learns her life lessons at the knee of her mother, Isabella of Castile. War-weary, Isabella takes her children with her from skirmish to skirmish, all of them inured to death and the gruesomely wounded soldiers in the fields. As her sisters, especially her beloved Joanna (Juana de Loca: see The Last Queen: A Novel, by CW Gortner), accomplish political marriages, Katharine awaits her turn. Finally, at fifteen, she is sent to England, there to be betrothed to the unassuming Arthur, heir to Henry VII, and his younger brother, Harry. Even at his tender age, Harry is clearly more king-like, large, aggressive, confident. And Harry covets both his brother's crown and his new princess bride. Fate intervenes, Arthur dead after only four months of marriage. Determined to wed Katharine, Harry's father obtains a dispensation for his son's future union, providing proof to Rome that the marriage between Arthur and Katharine was unconsummated. (The political machinations begin, the complex alliances that attend Henry's reign through his divorce from Katharine and the many marriages that follow, only to yield the country to the divisions of the half-sisters sired by Henry, Mary and Elizabeth.) Nearing the end of his life, Henry VII balks, attempts to dissuade his son from the marriage, but Harry displays the stubbornness that will define his reign, an implacable will and clarity of mind that allows him to dominate the years he is on the throne. Thanks to the author's diligent preparation, we have an intimate perspective on the young woman who becomes Henry VIII's queen, a woman six years older than her royal husband and hopelessly in love. Indeed, theirs is a happy match in intellect and temperament until the couple faces the painful truth: Katharine's inability to provide Henry with a male heir. Even his infidelities have been circumspect, his famous cruelty never unleashed at his wife's expense. But now Henry is profoundly disappointed, convinced that his ill-starred marriage is an impediment of which he must be rid. With his usual thoroughness, Henry applies himself to solving the dilemma; like it or not, Katharine must be put aside. And Anne Boleyn waits in the wings, growing ever more impatient, sure she can give Henry what Katharine cannot. The queen, who has been such a dutiful wife, suddenly stands in the way. The author poignantly captures these incredibly painful months, years of waiting, Henry's growing intransigence, the queen's attributes, once so charming, become obstacles, her very devotion and loyalty causing a brokenhearted queen to remain resolute in the justness of her cause, absorbing blow after blow

This was the first book I ever read by Norah Lofts & I was hooked from page 1 - she has done an outstanding job of telling Katharine of Aragon's story with accuracy and intimacy. You really feel like you understand the character's heart & mind, and you can't help being moved by her story. Awesome!!!

This is an incredible story about the life of Cathrine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. The woman that came to England to marry Henry's older brother and then after his death married Henry against his father's wishes. The book tells about her support of the Catholic church, and the suffering she went through when Henry put her aside for his second wife Anne Boelyn. This book helps you understand how even after the public humiliation this woman could write one of history's most moving love letters to the man who had denied her as his wife and told the world that his daughter with her (To become known as "Bloody Mary")was a bastard and Catherine a wanton. Great story, well told, relaxing reading. Very historically acurate.

This is a novel based on the historical facts of Henry VIII's first divorce and subsequent marriage of Anne Boleyn. The story is entirely from the point of view of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife who never agreed to divorce him. The historical facts in itself are fascinating from the multitude of different conflicts going on: the monarchy succession, the budding religious wars, the national-state rivalries, the personalities, the class struggle, all these aspects combine at a crucial moment in history playing the background to the story of Catherine from her childhood to her grave.