≡ [PDF] Queen Gambit The Tudor Trilogy Elizabeth Fremantle Elizabeth Fremantle 9781405909389 Books

Queen Gambit The Tudor Trilogy Elizabeth Fremantle Elizabeth Fremantle 9781405909389 Books

Download As PDF : Queen Gambit The Tudor Trilogy Elizabeth Fremantle Elizabeth Fremantle 9781405909389 Books

Queen Gambit The Tudor Trilogy Elizabeth Fremantle Elizabeth Fremantle 9781405909389 Books

. . . has been twice married before Henry notices her. The story extends from 1543 to 1549, into her fourth marriage. The story is related mostly by lowborn Dorothy Fownton, Dot to most, Katherine’s dresser and friend. Haunted by what she feels to be her sins, some pretty serious, Katherine is nevertheless bright, witty, learned, and outspoken, even to this most dangerous of Kings. Besides Henry and Seymour, the novel is populated by Henry’s daughters from previous marriages, Mary and Elizabeth, both declared illegitimate; by Dr. Huicke; William Parr, her brother; Margaret Neville, her step-daughter from her first marriage; Anne, her sister; and assorted courtiers and ladies of the Court. The qualities of courage, good looks, and a bright intelligence first bring her to Henry’s attention, and later enable her to escape the fate extended to previous wives.


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Queen Gambit The Tudor Trilogy Elizabeth Fremantle Elizabeth Fremantle 9781405909389 Books Reviews

I was lately complaining to a fellow reviewer of HF that too many of the books I have attempted lately have failed due to deplorable writing by those who have only the slenderest command of English and which are rife with clichés and anachronisms. At her suggestion to try this one as both literate and historically accurate, I took her recommendation and was not disappointed. Author Fremantle is particularly adept at giving subtle characterizations of all the familiar Tudor players Henry VIII, his daughters and counselors and the ladies in waiting. I found the portrayals of Elizabeth I as a young girl and Henry himself to be particularly skillful. But best is her depiction of Katherine Parr, the only woman to survive marriage to the volatile and masterful king. Although it was never clear to me exactly to what "gambit" the title refers, I would suppose it was this queen's ability to endure where others had fallen and match Henry move-for-move on the chessboard of a court populated with ambitious and treacherous individuals, all jockeying for favor and power. I likewise appreciated her portrait of Thomas Seymour, the conniving yet charming courtier who woos and wins Katherine, with unhappy consequences. Much of the tale is told through the story of Katherine's lifelong maid Dot - apparently also an actual historical figure - and her impressions of the court and its inhabitants ring very true as to what life was like for the rich and famous in the 1500s. Only one passage struck me as odd, namely, the mention of Seymour's "thingy" swinging as he gets out of bed. Is this an old English term? Also well done is the description of the influence of the "reformers" as England moves away from Catholicism and how Katherine herself struggled with ideas brought forth from the "new learning." Overall, a very successful and readable story of an intelligent and savvy woman who kept her head and her humanity during an era of upheaval in English history. Recommended.
Katherine Parr seems to be this year's hot ticket as far as the Tudor historical fiction goes. I've seen at least three new novels focused on Henry VIII's last wife, and more seem to be popping up regularly on my recommendations. This one started off with a bang. Katherine's second husband, Lord Latymer, is on his deathbed, in extreme pain, begging Katherine, who apparently has great knowledge of herbs, to euthanize him. Shortly after his passing, she and her stepdaughter are called to court and put into the service of Mary Tudor, the king's eldest child. Almost simultaneously, Katherine falls in love with the dashing but unscrupulous Thomas Seymour and is chosen as Henry's next queen. When duty calls, love must wait.

Most of the novel follows the historical course of events--with, of course, some speculation and embellishment. Katherine is a sympathetic but somewhat dull figure, but, fortunately, Fremantle develops some very interesting secondary characters who keep the story going. Dr. Huicke, the king's physician, is sent to Latymer's sickbed. He admires Katherine's strength, diligence, and cunning in herbology, and the two become close friends, to the point where the two even share some dangerous secrets. Fremantle also develops a side story focused on Dorothy (Dot) Fownten, a maid first to Katherine's stepdaughter and then to her. Dot, a keen observer of human nature and devoted to the queen, provides insights into the historic events and persons and even has a romance of her own.

Although I love historical fiction, I prefer mine to have a bit more history and a lot less schlocky romance--which, unfortunately, is where this novel heads in the last third or so. Still, it was a fast and fairly enjoyable read. Fremantle provides an appendix to the book that I know I will return to in working on my own novel. It includes not a brief "who's who" list of the historic figures but also a very fine list of resources.
. . . has been twice married before Henry notices her. The story extends from 1543 to 1549, into her fourth marriage. The story is related mostly by lowborn Dorothy Fownton, Dot to most, Katherine’s dresser and friend. Haunted by what she feels to be her sins, some pretty serious, Katherine is nevertheless bright, witty, learned, and outspoken, even to this most dangerous of Kings. Besides Henry and Seymour, the novel is populated by Henry’s daughters from previous marriages, Mary and Elizabeth, both declared illegitimate; by Dr. Huicke; William Parr, her brother; Margaret Neville, her step-daughter from her first marriage; Anne, her sister; and assorted courtiers and ladies of the Court. The qualities of courage, good looks, and a bright intelligence first bring her to Henry’s attention, and later enable her to escape the fate extended to previous wives.