Anne of Cleaves probably had the best life of Henry VII's wives, but Katherine Parr probably had, on the whole, the best marriage (Catherine of Aragon's was good...until it wasn't). In Katherine Parr: The Sixth Wife, Alison Weir brings her Six Wives series of novels to a satisfying close.
Katherine was a highly educated woman and Weir depicted her as someone who found comfortable and joy in learning. She also portrays her as a loving and resilient person, whose close friendships an family relations (with her siblings Anne and William and her cousin Magdalen) carry her through her father's early death, three widowhoods, and political intrigue. Katherine's first marriage is to the son of a violent and controlling man, but she does develop some affection for her incompatible husband and mourns his death. Her second marriage, to Lord Lattimer, brings her two stepchildren aunt he realization that she's stronger willed and savvier than her husband.
She also discovers her Protestant leanings. Henry's break with Rome wasn't, in his mind, a rejection of Catholicism and he disliked and distrusted Protestants as much as those who "clung" to Rome. Heretics were executed publicly, so Katherine took risks when she stepped away from Catholicism.
As she approached her 30s, she had other matters to deal with. Her husband, whom she loved, was dying of tuberculosis and she was simultaneously being pursued by Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Jane, and by Henry VIII. She loved Tom, but her family (like most attuned to political issues) convinced her to marry Henry. By this point, he wAs morbidly obese and had a leg wound that stank and could not heal so marriage to him would have been unpleasant, even if he weren't so mercurial. Their years together, at least as portrayed here, were affectionate. Both were bright and well read and enjoyed intellectual debates. Katherine was also a good stepmother to his son and daughters, with the hope of becoming regent when Henry died.
When Henry moves to another castle for Christmas, 1546, Katherine does not know she will never see him again. Or that the courtiers, particularly Thomas Seymour, have control of a weary, dying Henry. She doesn't even learn of her husband's death until the public does, 3 days after its January 28th occurrence. She fights briefly for control but gives in to the inevitable. Reading this in 2023, I can't help but see echos of the rumors that a frail Elizabeth II was controlled by courtiers who'd taken sides in the family business conflicts.
Widowed for the third time, Katherine retreats from court only to have Tom Seymour renew his pursuit of her. She tries to resist but her earlier passion and the possibility of having a child lead to a secret marriage. Their household includes his ward, Lady Jane Grey, an intellectual but proto-puritain Protestant girl who finds wearing colors sinful and is being groomed to be Edward VII's eventual wife. It also includes teenage Elizabeth and her lady and waiting Kat Ashley. It's Mrs. Ashley who tells Katherine of Tom's early morning visits toElizabeth's chamber and the inappropriate behavior. Tom is clearly molesting his stepdaughter whom he initially wanted to marry, but while uneasy, Katherine doesn't see how serious the situation is. She's preoccupied with intrigue between the Seymours and eventually with a long-wanted pregnancy. Tom continues to flirt with and molest Elizabeth, eventually cutting a dress off her in Katherine's presence. Katherine sends Elizabeth away for her own good and is still unsure how to deal with Tom when she dies from childbirth complications, a few days after delivering a healthy daughter named Mary.
Historical fiction isn't fact, even when written by a historian. That being said, I enjoyed how Weir brought the six wives to life. As she's shown in some of her recent work, we don't have a lot of information on even famous or well connected women of the past. They're cyphers and novels bring them to life.
