08/10/2015
In this absorbing Tudor historical, Gregory (The White Queen) traces the relationship between Henry VIII and Kateryn Parr, his sixth wife, from the time of the king's marriage proposal in 1543 until his death four years later. Kateryn is a beauty: learned, kind, twice-widowed yet young enough to bear the sons crucial to securing the succession; she is also passionately in love with another. Her dutiful tolerance of Henry's bad breath, corpulence, ulcerous leg, and fumblings in bed make pitiable the personal cost of his proposal. Gregory balances Kateryn's sensual responses to royal life—the smell of her predecessor's furs, the king's sweat-drenched clothing—with the religious controversy that dominated the 1540s. Initially naive to court factions, Parr is guided by her sister and develops enormous satisfaction from scholarly examination of the Bible. Expressing her own Reformist views when pro-Catholic forces are ascendant, Kateryn risks the king's extreme displeasure and is "tamed" to save her life; the process bleaches the marriage of its satisfactions. Tracing Kateryn's path to intellectual independence requires more religious discussion than some readers will prefer, but Gregory's portrait of the complex, aging king and his sensual, scholarly bride will satisfy Tudor enthusiasts. (Aug.)
The Taming of the Queen
Narrated by Bianca Amato
Philippa GregoryUnabridged — 18 hours, 3 minutes
The Taming of the Queen
Narrated by Bianca Amato
Philippa GregoryUnabridged — 18 hours, 3 minutes
Audiobook (Digital)
Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
Already Subscribed?
Sign in to Your BN.com Account
Related collections and offers
FREE
with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription
Overview
Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives-King Henry VIII-commands her to marry him.
Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent.
But is this enough to keep her safe? A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. But she cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and Henry's dangerous gaze turns on her. The traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy-the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant...
From the bestselling author who has illuminated all of Henry's queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power, and education at the court of a medieval killer.
Editorial Reviews
"Our obsession with Henry and the Tudors continues unabated."
Praise for The Taming of the Queen:
"A fascinating history lesson, disguised as a novel, about a wily woman who survives lethal Tudor plots and outlasts a deadly king.
Gregory manages to make history lively, fascinating and real, even as she puts her own twist on what readers believe they know. The impeccable research shows in every page, while her wonderfully realistic dialogue and remarkable characters come to life. Gregory is a historian with heart and wit who makes history accessible.
"This wives’ tale takes on a new life under Gregory’s whimsical pen.
Who’s ever heard of Kateryn Parr? Henry VIII’s sixth wife was smart, independent—and managed to outlive him. In historical-fiction-queen Gregory’s latest, she’s unforgettable.”—People Magazine
"This novel beautifully exemplifies [Kateryn Parr’s] accomplishments while portraying an honest and emotional woman learning to survive in a dangerous royal court.
"This wives’ tale takes on a new life under Gregory’s whimsical pen.
"Our obsession with Henry and the Tudors continues unabated."
The unforgettable, vivid story of Henry VIII’s last queen, Kateryn Parr…will have readers spellbound
"Parr’s story speaks of resilience, of a spirit that cannot be squelched."
"The White Princess features one of the more intriguing theories about the possible fate of the princes."
"Gorgeous fun."
"Loyalties are torn, paranoia festers and you can almost hear the bray of royal trumpets as the period springs to life. It’s a bloody irresistible read."
11/01/2015
Kateryn Parr is called to the court of King Henry VIII. She falls in love with Thomas Seymour and hopes for permission from the king to marry him. Instead, Henry commands that she will become the queen, his sixth wife. She submits because she must. The king, as head of the Church of England, instituted church reforms in years past, creating two religious factions: one supporting reform and one supporting the old ways. Kateryn supports Henry's ideas, and, with his blessing, she spends her free time studying, reading, and translating religious texts. She even writes and publishes her own book of prayers—the first woman to do so in English. Then, inexplicably and suddenly, the king is displeased with her independent thinking. He builds a case against her and is on the brink of arresting her for heresy when she begs his forgiveness. He punishes her through humiliation and fear and ultimately "tames" her. Gregory creates an insider's view of life in Henry's court and the pleasures and perils of the office of the queen. Beautifully read by Bianca Amato. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of the author's previous works and of historical fiction in general. ["Full of vivid details and fraught with the constant tension of a court run by a madman, this novel will appeal most to historical fiction readers and those who enjoyed Wolf Hall": LJ 7/15 starred review of the Pantheon hc.]—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence
★ 07/01/2015
In her latest historical outing, Gregory (The White Queen) studies the final Tudor wife. Henry VIII has chosen his sixth and last bride, Kateryn Parr, and she is justifiably terrified at this prospect. There is no denying the king, even as her heart longs for her lover Thomas Seymour. Kateryn's family is of the reformed faith and wants her to promote their religious agenda to the king. Reluctant at first, she comes to embrace the Protestant faith in earnest. Subjected to Henry's dramatic mood swings, Kateryn quickly learns that she must tread carefully to stay safe and promote her cause. Things go smoothly for a period, but the capricious king decides that the old religion is best after all and Kateryn is now in danger of being arrested for heresy. As she fights for her life, she must compromise her newfound religious principles. VERDICT Full of vivid details and fraught with the constant tension of a court run by a madman, this novel will appeal most to historical fiction readers and those who enjoyed Wolf Hall. The end of the story is well known, but Gregory beautifully builds the suspense.—Kristen Stewart, Pearland Lib., Brazoria Cty. Lib. Syst., TX
Once again, Philippa Gregory makes historical events personal. Bianca Amato offers an elegant, queenly performance, delivering intimate portraits of fascinating royals. King Henry VIII proposes marriage to young widow Kateryn Parr. Although Kateryn is in love with Thomas Seymour, she realizes she can’t refuse the king, who is almost twice her age, grotesquely obese, with a seeping, oozing, foul-smelling leg wound. As the king woos her with kindness, Amato reveals Kateryn’s growing fondness for him. She creates an independent, clear-eyed woman, who burns for Seymour but crushes her emotions. Amato is remarkable portraying the last of Henry’s queens, a woman who was the first to publish a book, to advocate for a Bible translation in English, and to restore the princesses to their mercurial father’s good graces. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
2015-06-04
By pondering the mistakes of her predecessors, Kateryn Parr, sixth wife of King Henry VIII, manages to keep her head. Gregory, who has written extensively about the Tudors and other British dynasties, now turns her attention to the end of Henry's reign. The king, though grotesquely obese and suffering from gout and a suppurating leg wound, still fancies himself the warrior, huntsman, and seducer he was in his youth. Kateryn Parr, a widow at 31, is commanded shortly after her husband's death to come to court, where Henry immediately makes his matrimonial intentions clear. Although she loves Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, who died giving birth to Henry's heir, Prince Edward, Kateryn knows she has no choice but to marry Henry. As consort, Kateryn strives to avoid, by word or deed, any indication she is other than Henry's loving helpmeet. Although well-aware that none of his other wives had any control over his mercurial whims—not even best-beloved Jane, who died alone while Henry was off hunting—Kateryn is not planning on providing any ammunition to those who would see her replaced, like the love letter that led to Katherine Howard's execution or the arrogance that made Anne Boleyn a target. She concentrates on studying and promoting her pet projects, advocating for Scriptures in English and supporting the Protestant Reformation, while appearing never to overtly disagree with the growing faction hoping to restore papism. With a male heir in place, both Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth are relegitimized thanks to Parr. However, she is warned, by Thomas and others, that if Henry wants her gone, no amount of discretion can save her life. Gregory puts readers at the scene with visceral details like the annoying sounds Henry makes while gorging himself and the smell of his never-healing leg that seeps into Kateryn's dreams. Although Kateryn's studiousness makes for some dull reading, the pace picks up as her intellect becomes her greatest liability.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170479894 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | 08/25/2015 |
| Series: | Plantagenet and Tudor Series |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Sales rank: | 927,412 |
Videos
