Gareth Russell

What a truly fantastic book! Gareth Russell not only delves into the short life of this unfortunate young woman, he also describes aspects of Tudor life that are merely presented as the foundation in other books. As an example, the fosterage of young men and women. Yes, we know it happened; here, Russell explains not just the household in which Catherine [sic] was fostered, but how it led to her early death. It was scattered, minimally supervised, and Catherine was roomed with 4 or 5 other upper class women who were also enjoying amorous liaisons with young men surrounding the Duchess of Norfolk. Also, the petitioning of a Queen for a position in her household. How exactly did that happen? Russell provides a letter from Joan Bulmer, nee Acworth, a former "ally in mischief" in their youth, and explains the particulars of what was involved in contemplating royal service.

Also important were the physical placements of the women in Queen Catherine's household: those who allowed in guests and visitors to the main apartments, which rooms were locked from the inside or not, and which pages and women had access to the hallway to the actual private quarters. All very detailed and providing an explanation that is central to the Queen's flirtations.

These were difficult times in which to live and the end of the book describes not just Queen Catherine's beheading and the mutilations and deaths of her paramours, but also the casualness with which Henry VIII condemned to death anyone who displeased him. A well-written and sympathetic biography of a tragic figure in Tudor history.… (mehr)