Katharine Parr, The Sixth Wife: A Novel

NOTE: I received early access to this book through netgalley in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Ballantine Books. I now feel as though I have met Katharine Parr, and I like her, a lot! Author Alison Weir's Katharine is a fully-fleshed out woman -- intelligent, proud, caring -- but NOT perfect. KATHARINE PARR: THE SIXTH WIFE IS a very satisfying conclusion to Weir's six-novel series on the wives of England's King Henry VIII. 4.5 stars is probably more accurate than four. As someone who has read a lot of historical fiction over the decades, I am accustomed to uneven execution. Sometimes I find historical novels nothing more than a recitation of facts and events, supplemented by semi-believable dialog. Other times, I find historical detail overwhelms story. So when I find a novel like this one, that strikes just the right balance of historical authenticity, dialog, and full character development -- it's a REAL treat! Covering 30 of Katharine's 36-year life, THE SIXTH WIFE begins with the death of Katharine's father and ends with her own -- all from her point of view. Over that period, we watch her slowly evolve from a dutiful, but inconsequential daughter to a woman wise, strong and decisive enough to be a good queen. We also see her move closer and closer to the center of political power, through four very different kinds of marriages: 1. Sir Edward Burgh 2. John Neville, 3d Baron Latimer 3. Henry VIII, King of England 4. Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley Danger abounds. Katharine's life span coincides with Tudor England's struggle to find a suitable path from Roman Catholicism to Church of England, which presents Katharine and many of her friends with the ongoing threat of heresy. Weir's Katharine is a complex person. An author of multiple religious books, a steady friend, and loyal to her family of origin. Loving and kind to Henry VIII's children - she is often credited with bringing them altogether as a family for the first time. Certainly all of her stepchildren (including Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth I) loved and respected her. But she was also capable of harsh rebukes, envy, and pettiness. Katharine's relationship with husband #4, Tom Seymour, is interesting and believable. Though instantly attracted to one another (while she is still married to husband #2), Katharine dutifully puts her feelings aside when the King comes calling. And after Henry's death, when Katharine and Tom finally marry, her romanticized ideal slowly shifts to seeing him for who he truly is --- ambitious, self-absorbed, and always putting his own needs ahead of everyone else's. I found this portrait of Seymour much more intriguing than the way he is normally portrayed, which is attractive, popular, and charismatic. If you are a lover of historical fiction, interested in Tudor England, or just partial to good biography -- this is well worth your investment of time.

This biography of Katharine Parr is told not like a scholarly work but like a story. It takes a few liberties to provide an immersive experience, but it's worth the tradeoff. It provides a strong flavor of the turmoil during the reign of Henry VIII, especially the reform of the Anglican Church. It was a frightening time to be alive and especially frightening for anyone associated with the court. It's easy to feel like Katharine Parr was the least interesting of Henry VIII's wives, because the marriage was relatively uneventful compared to the previous ones. But in fact, Katharine may have played a large role in restoring the princesses Mary and Elizabeth to the succession, which had an enormous impact on history. It was also interesting learning about Katharine's life before she became queen. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.