Jane sipped her wine, watching as her new sister-in-law blushed prettily. Edward seemed besotted with his new wife. At seventeen, Catherine was a very comely girl, a year younger than he. Jane has been surprised at how practised she was at the art of coquetry, and how warmly the men were looking at her. Even Father seemed to be under her spell. Catherine's father, Sir William Fillol, was leaning back in his chair replete, looking well pleased with the match - as he should be, for Edward, being Father's heir, had good prospects and the determination to do well. Even at the age of ten, Jane knew that for an ambitious young man, marriage to the well-bred co-heiress of a wealthy landowner would be a great advantage.
***
THE WOMAN HAUNTED BY THE FATE OF HER PREDECESSOR.
Eleven days after the death of Anne Boleyn, Jane is dressing for her wedding to the King.
She has witnessed at first hand how courtly play can quickly turn to danger and knows she must bear a son . . . or face ruin.
This new Queen must therefore step out from the shadows cast by Katherine and Anne. In doing so, can she expose a gentler side to the brutal King?
JANE SEYMOUR
THE THIRD OF HENRY'S QUEENS
HER STORY
Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new research for her captivating novel, which paints a compelling portrait of Jane and casts fresh light on both traditional and modern perceptions of her. Jane was driven by the strength of her faith and a belief that she might do some good in a wicked world.
History tells us how she died.
This spellbinding novel explores the life she lived.
***
I am enjoying reading this series of books very much. This is the third in the Six Tudor Queens series. I have read the previous two, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession. You can read my review of the second book by clicking here.
One thing that I am particularly enjoying from these books is the overlap between them. For example, Jane Seymour was initially one of the maids of honour to both Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Therefore, the reader has the opportunity to follow each of Henry VIII's Queens in their individual context and place within the royal court.
As we can expect of Ms. Weir, the novel has been extensively researched. We can rely on the fact that this fictionalised account is set around real events and which affords the novel some gravitas.
I very much admired Jane's commitment to Katherine and how she maintained her view of Katherine as Queen, even when Henry had set her aside and married Anne Boleyn. However, and this is not a criticism of the book, I found it hard to believe that Jane remained as trusting of Henry when she had not merely observed, but lived in the royal court and seen the way in which he had treated his previous two wives.
However, the author did a great job of portraying Jane's quiet determination to appeal to Henry's better nature about the execution of Anne Boleyn and his treatment of his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. What was equally well portrayed through both Jane and Anne, was the way in which women were used as pawns for the advancement of men in their families.
Excellently written in an accessible style, Ms. Weir has brought another of Henry VIII's Queens expertly to life. I will definitely be reading the next in the series, Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait very soon.
ISBN: 978 1472227713
Publisher: Headline Review
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback
No. of Pages: 544 (paperback)
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