Skip to main content

The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn #Inbetweeny

What is it about historical fiction that's just so addictive?

You already know the ending (and if it's anything to do with the Tudors then, lets face it, it's not going to go well.) You already know the pages will contain lust filled, powerful men, Court intrigue and treachery and women at the mercy of a good marriage. Even though I know all of this I still find myself sucked in and in true 'non named crisp stylie' once I have read one page, I can't stop until I've read them all. 

The Sixth Wife is all about Henry VIII sixth and last wife, Katherine Parr. Henry is dead, Katherine (Kate) is finally free and celebrates by remarrying at the first opportunity Thomas Seymour, the brother of Henry's third wife and Uncle to the new King. Who needs Channel 5 when you have Tudors!

I have read endlessly about Henry, his wives and his children and this didn't break the mould. Told from the perspective of Kate's best friend the Duchess of Sussex - Cathy (her love life was even more complicated, don't ask!) As usual, I instantaneously became addicted becoming monosyllabic to my family and squirrelling myself away to squeeze in 'a few more pages' until I was called upon to tie a shoelace or referee the latest fall out. 

I kind of feel like I shouldn't like reading this particular strand of historical fiction, all full of women reduced to embroidering their husband's shirt sleeves. But I always enjoy this genre. And that is, after all, how we once were. I do get a bit fed up sometimes when it always seems to boil down to sex. It was intriguing to find out that Dunn followed Kate's story quite faithfully with the one addition of Thomas and Cathy's supposed affair. Why add sex? Why is it not a fascinating story as it is? There was the intrigue with Elizabeth, the makings of Jane Grey and even Bess Cavendish (one of my favourite historical figures) made an appearance. So why did it have to largely be about an affair. That said it didn't make me dislike it any less than other books featuring a wife of Henry VIII. 

I liked Dunn's comments in the information included at the back of the book about the style of language she used, choosing to write in a modern style rather than Olde English. Yes, we may have spoken differently back then but to faithfully replicate it doesn't necessarily add to the story and can alienate the reader at times. 

I did enjoy it, the book included so many powerful characters that all went on to lead such fascinating lives that it couldn't not be interesting to read. If you are fans of the genre but wanting something where Henry VIII isn't central, it's a good bet.

The link to the book takes you to Northumberland's Mobile Library Services. If you're unable to get to a library have the library come to you! There is also details as to how you can become a Home Library Service volunteer, New Years resolution??? 




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mount by Jilly Cooper #inbetweeny

I'll start this blog with a warning, this post does contain spoilers. So if you haven't read the book then please don't read this blog, yet. Of course you should read this post just wait a little while until you've read the latest installment of Rupert Campbell Black (RCB). Warnings out of the way I'll begin. I was massively looking forward to reading this book having hugely enjoyed the previous ones. RCB is my (not so) secret trashy pleasure and has been for many years. This book had all the ingredients of a classic, pages of wonderfully named characters, a few tortured souls and of course RCB with all his horses, dogs and now grandchildren. The book got off to a good start full of characters from old but also plenty of new ones to mix it up a bit. The horse's really played a starring role in this book but I also really loved Gav and at first Gala. Yep only at first as she went strongly down hill and I bet you can guess why. RCB. Here is where I fell o...

After The Party by Cressida Connolly

After The Party was May's book of the month. “Had it not been for my weakness, someone who is now dead could still be alive. That is what I believed and consequently lived with every day in prison.’ It is the summer of 1938 and Phyllis Forrester has returned to England after years abroad. Moving into her sister’s grand country house, she soon finds herself entangled in a new world of idealistic beliefs and seemingly innocent friendships. Fevered talk of another war infiltrates their small, privileged circle, giving way to a thrilling solution: a great and charismatic leader, who will restore England to its former glory. At a party hosted by her new friends, Phyllis lets down her guard for a single moment, with devastating consequences. Years later, Phyllis, alone and embittered, recounts the dramatic events which led to her imprisonment and changed the course of her life forever.” We were very confused initially as to which party the book was referring to. We all thought it...

Wedlock by Wendy Moore

Is a book good if you all liked it but can't find much to say about it? That was the case with Wedlock . A true story about Mary Eleanor Bowes ' marriage to Captain Stoney , the violence she suffered at his hand and her subsequent struggle to obtain a divorce in the 1700's. We started off fine, enthusing about how much we all liked it until suddenly we were talking about X Factor. Ahem. This is a serious book club don't you know Ok so lets have a serious conversation about all the local history the book contained. Oh yes we loved the fact that it was all about Newcastle. Didn't it make you want to visit Gibside Hall that is so close to us but that we've never been to. And Bowes Museum, we should have a field trip. Now Peshwari Naan Bread is far superior to Garlic...how did that creep in?! A Chicken Chaat discussion later and we managed to discuss how easy the book was to read. Despite it being a period book there was no archaic language making it very acce...