SOCIAL SCIENCES

Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII

S. & S. Apr. 2017. 464p. illus. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781501108631. $30; ebk. ISBN 9781501108655. BIOG
COPY ISBN
Russell (From Albion to Zazzera) builds upon his extensive scholarly research of the 16th-century royal household to produce this sympathetic biography of Catherine Howard (1523–42). Henry VIII called Catherine "a jewel for womanhood," and married her shortly after his divorce from Anne of Cleves, for whom Catherine had served as lady-in-waiting. This portrayal shows Catherine to be an immature yet attractive girl who had the misfortune of becoming the object of Henry VIII's ardor. Russell discusses the impact that religious rivalry, international diplomacy, and court etiquette had on Catherine's precipitous fall from grace. She was executed on charges of adultery and treason after serving as queen consort for less than 16 months, well before her 21st birthday. Possibly sexually abused as a young girl, promiscuous before her marriage, and unfaithful after it, Catherine was the least politically consequential of Henry's wives, yet her story is important for what it reveals about the brutality and chauvinism of Henrician England. Highly readable and peppered with engrossing stories, this book is also fascinating for its details about what was considered sexually moral in 16th-century England.
VERDICT Biography lovers and those intrigued by the lives of the royals will welcome this tragic story of Henry VIII's fifth wife. [See Prepub Alert, 5/23/16.]
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?