Anne is famous for being the only wife to outlive her former husband (who preferred to kill his wives rather than let them continue to live without him). Kitty Howard, the youngest of his queens (about 16 years old when Henry had her killed), for being quite stupid. But the book doesn’t only deal with Anne and Kitty. It also features Jane Boleyn, the sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn (wife of George Boleyn, who was accused of engaging in incest with his sister, Queen Anne).
I don’t read Gregory to get the facts, but I do read Gregory books to get the picture. And what a vivid picture she paints of these three women. One is stoic and charms her court (Anne), one is uneducated and selfish (Katherine), and one is bitter, resentful and slightly mad (Jane). This makes for riveting reading.
Still haven’t picked up a Phillippa Gregory book on the Tudors? To not do so is a tragedy. Go hence!
Funny, Jane Seymour was the one he loved the most–she was the only one to produce a son, hence his adoration. She died post-childbirth from puerperal fever, a septic condition from childbirth. Of course, had she lived longer she, too, may have fallen out of favor, but it was her son that gave Henry the heir he wanted.
Which is why he opted to have an arranged marriage with Anne of Cleves – he was very sad after Jane Seymour’s death and didn’t want to “love a wife” again. And he didn’t love Anne of Cleves at all – in fact, he loathed her while married to her. That’s why he noticed Katherine Howard, who was one of Anne’s maids in waiting.
Supposedly, the family on my Dad’s side came to England as part of Anne of Cleves’s retinue. (I need to check Uncle Don’s history to see what he says about it.)