Yes, I know it’s officially September, but this is my book suggestion from August.
I’ve really enjoyed Philippa Gregory’s historical novels. Yes, they are novels, but she has done a lot of historical research that underlays her plots and the way she lays out her books.
In August I just finished The Constant Princess. Katherine of Aragon–Henry VIII’s first wife–has always been an intriguing figure. A sad one as well. From being someone whose life seemed to be on such a sunny path to someone whose whole focus rested on asserting her rights as queen to a king whose lust took first place–how did she get there? And what kept her going?
Gregory creates the story of her life from her childhood as Infanta of Spain–but who know from the age of three that she was going to be Queen of England.
Reading her story gives much more insight into what gave her the backbone to continue fighting for her rights with Henry–as well as presenting a less positive view of her with her insistence that her marriage to Arthur, Henry’s older brother (who died just months after their wedding) had never been consummated, despite evidence to the contrary.
Definitely worth reading!
