The King's Curse

Nobody does British royal history like Philippa Gregory, and this final novel of The Cousins' War series does not disappoint. What is unique about this novel is that it is told, not from the perspective of a queen or major player in the action, but from the perspective of a woman who was in many ways a witness to history, although Gregory takes the license of making her much more than that.

Lady Margaret Pole is a member of the Plantagenet family, whom Henry Tudor overthrew to take over the throne of England. Her cousin is Henry's wife, Elizabeth, so Margaret is close to the royal family, and spends a great deal of time with their children. She and her husband have the care of Prince Arthur of Wales, Henry's heir. She is with Arthur when Catherine of Aragon comes to be his bride, and becomes fast friends with the new princess. Then Arthur dies from sickness, and his spoiled younger brother Harry marries his widowed bride and becomes Henry VIII shortly thereafter. With Henry's ascension to the throne, Margaret is restored to her family's titles, lands, and wealth, and becomes an important member of Catherine's household.

This novel covers the period from 1499ish to the 1540's, from Catherine of Aragon through Catherine Howard, all told from Margaret's perspective as a loyal adherent of Catherine's and a staunch supporter of the Roman Catholic church. We see her fortunes, and those of her sons, rise and fall as we see Henry VIII go from a handsome, popular monarch to an insecure, unpredictable, obese despot. Gregory makes Margaret into a player in the political intrigue of the time, and who is to say she was not? If you have any interest in British history, this novel makes for a great read.

The King's Curse