Book
The King’s Pleasure
First published 1969
Katharine of Aragon arrives in England as the daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, intended to bind the Tudor dynasty to Spain through her marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Arthur’s early death leaves her political future uncertain until she marries his younger brother Henry VIII and becomes queen. For years their partnership appears secure, strengthened by public ceremony, diplomacy and Katharine’s determination to fulfil the obligations of queenship.
The failure of their sons to survive changes the marriage into a succession crisis. Henry’s attachment to Anne Boleyn and his determination to obtain an annulment force Katharine to defend both the validity of her marriage and the legitimacy of her daughter Mary. Lofts presents the king’s 'great matter' from Katharine’s viewpoint, making the rise of Anne Boleyn and England’s break with papal authority part of a personal struggle over faith, memory and royal identity.
Historical Periods
More from this period
5 more top-rated novels about Reign of Henry VII
Ranked by rating and voting volume; books already shown on this page are omitted.
More from this period
5 more top-rated novels about Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn
Ranked by rating and voting volume; books already shown on this page are omitted.
More by the author
