{PDF EPUB} Catherine Parr Wife Widow Mother Survivor the Story of the Last Queen of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Nor Catherine Parr: Wife, Widow, Mother, Survivor
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Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Catherine Parr Wife widow mother survivor the story of the last queen of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Nor Catherine Parr: Wife, Widow, Mother, Survivor. The Story of the Last Wife of Henry VIII. A good introduction to the topic, covering the main aspects of Katherine Parr's life, with plenty of interpretation. Norton has produced a series of works on the wives of Henry VIII, in which she concentrates on the Queens' own perspectives on life, with plenty of biographical detail, rather than the wider historical context. Her work on Katherine Parr covers all of the events of her life, and attempts to draw conclusions about the Queen's own emotional or practical response to the turmoil that surrounded the Tudor gentry and nobility. Whilst Norton has clearly benefited from Dr James' research, she draws her own conclusions from the information – for example, her views on Katherine's level of education and skill in languages differ from those of James, but are certainly very credible, and perhaps more likely. More than any other of Katherine's biographers, Norton concludes quite definitely that Katherine's evangelical religion dated from her first marriage to Edward Burgh, when she came under the influence of Edward's father, a noted reformer. Whereas Dr Starkey infers that exposure to Lord Latimer's reformist friend, Sir Francis Bigod, may have influenced Katherine, Norton implies that it was Katherine who encouraged the friendship between the men, and the proposed match between Bigod's son and Latimer's daughter. Norton explores the relationships Katherine had with Latimer's wider family – identifying the risks the couple were exposed to by the potentially treasonous activities of Latimer's brothers, William and Marmaduke. She notes, however, that Katherine must have had a soft spot for Marmaduke ( Ed - if only for his name!) appointing him to a place in her household, once Queen. Norton quite rightly identifies when an event is possible, but not proven. However, she sometimes then goes on to draw very definite conclusions from that event.An example is her use of the Legend of Sir Nicholas Throckmorton to demonstrate Katherine's reputation for helping her friends and family. She gives convincing reasons why the Legend may be accurate, whilst pointing out that it was written after Katherine had become Queen, so composed with the benefit of hindsight. In one paragraph she writes “It is therefore not impossible that Catherine (sic) could have secured an audience with the king…" then on the next page says “This is the first recorded meeting between Catherine and Henry." Katherine's reformist religious views are explored at length, and Norton gives her a very proactive role in shaping the religious position of her step- daughter, later Elizabeth I. This is a very readable work (although it might benefit from more rigorous editing) and would be a welcome addition to a reader seeking a wide range of interpretations of Katherine's life. This book review is part of a Profile on Katherine Parr available for Kindle, for purchase from Amazon US and Amazon UK. Catherine Parr : Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. Available. Expected delivery to Germany in 18-23 business days. Description. Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. Catherine Parr was enjoying her freedom after her first two arranged marriages when she caught the attention of the elderly Henry VIII. The most reluctant of all Henry's wives, she offered to become his mistress rather than submit herself to the dangers of becoming Henry's queen. This only increased Henry's enthusiasm for the vibrant, intelligent young widow and Catherine was forced to abandon her handsome lover, Thomas Seymour, for the decrepit king. She quickly made her role as queen a success, providing Henry VIII with a domestic tranquillity that he had not known since the early days of his first marriage. For Henry, Catherine was a satisfactory choice but he never stopped considering a new marriage, much to Catherine's terror. Catherine is remembered as the wife who survived but, without her strength of character it could have been very different. It was a relief for Catherine when Henry finally died and she could secretly marry Thomas Seymour. Left with no role in government affairs in her widowhood, she retired to the country, spending time at her manors at Chelsea and Sudeley. It was here that her heart was broken by her discovery of a love affair between her stepdaughter, the future Elizabeth I, and her husband. She died in childbirth accusing her husband of plotting her death. Traditionally portrayed as a matronly and dutiful figure, Elizabeth Norton's new biography shows another side to Catherine. Her life was indeed one of duty but, throughout, she attempted to escape her destiny and find happiness for herself. Ultimately, Catherine was betrayed and her great love affair with Thomas Seymour turned sour. show more. Elizabeth Norton. Dr Elizabeth Norton is an historian, with particular interest in the Tudor period and the queens of England. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Lives of Tudor Women and The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor . Her earlier works include the first accessible biography of Henry VII’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, biographies of four of Henry VIII’s wives (Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr) and his mistress, Bessie Blount. She is also the author of England’s Queens: The Biography which is the only book to deal with the full history of English queenship from the early Anglo-Saxon period to the present. Elizabeth often gives talks to literary festivals, history societies and other groups, and also regularly appears as an expert on television and radio, including Channel 5’s Secrets of Great British Castles , National Geographic’s Bloody Tales of the Tower and BBC1’s Flog It. She has been featured on Sky Arts’ The Book Show and is also a frequent contributor to BBC London News. She also writes for leading history and family history magazines, including BBC History and All About History. She holds degrees from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, has recently submitted her PhD, and teaches history at King’s College London. She lives in Esher with her husband and three children. Catherine Parr: Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. The sixth wife of Henry VIII was also the most married queen of England, outliving three husbands before finally marrying for love. Catherine Parr was enjoying her freedom after her first two arranged marriages when she caught the attention of the elderly Henry VIII. She was the most reluctant of all Henry’s wives, offering to become his mistress rather than submit herself to the dangers of becoming Henry’s queen. This only served to increase Henry’s enthusiasm for the young widow and Catherine was forced to abandon her lover for the decrepit king. Whilst Catherine was reluctant to be a queen she quickly made the role a success, providing Henry VIII with a domestic tranquillity that he had not known since the early days of his first marriage. For Henry, Catherine was a satisfactory choice but he never stopped considering a new marriage, to Catherine’s terror. Catherine is remembered as the wife who survived but, without her strength of character it could have been very different. When informed that the king had ordered her arrest for heresy, she took decisive action, defusing the king’s anger and once again becoming his ‘own sweetheart’. It was a relief for Catherine when Henry finally died and she secretly married the man she had been forced to abandon for Henry, Thomas Seymour. During her retirement, Catherine’s heart was broken by her discovery of a love affair between her stepdaughter, Princess Elizabeth, and her husband. She never recovered from the birth of her only child and, in her fever accused her husband of plotting her death. Catherine Parr is often portrayed as a matronly and dutiful figure. Her life was indeed one of duty but, throughout, she attempted to escape her destiny and find happiness for herself. Ultimately, Catherine was betrayed and her great love affair with Thomas Seymour turned sour. Catherine Parr: Wife widow mother survivor the story of the last queen of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Norton. Master John/National Trust Catherine Parr became England’s queen in her early 30s and ruled for almost four years as Henry VIII’s spouse. King Henry VIII’s last wife, Catherine Parr, began her marriage knowing that her husband had sent two of his former wives to the chopping block. But when Henry VIII ordered her arrest, Parr knew just what to do — and convinced him to spare her life. From her birth in 1512, Catherine Parr shared a link with Henry VIII. Her mother, Maud Green, was a lady-in-waiting for Queen Catherine of Aragon. Green even supposedly named her daughter after Henry’s first wife. Neither Maud nor Sir Thomas Parr, Catherine’s father, could have predicted that their daughter would grow up to become queen herself. But before Catherine Parr became the spouse of Henry VIII, she married two other men. In 1529, when Parr turned 17, she married Sir Edward Borough, the son of Anne Boleyn’s chamberlain Thomas Borough. It was the first of Parr’s four marriages, three of which left her widowed. Catherine Parr’s Four Husbands. Henry VIII is perhaps best known for marrying six times.