The Last Wife of Henry Vlll: Review

The Last Wife of Henry Vlll

by Carolly Erickson

Synopsis:

From the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette comes a powerful new novel about Catherine Parr, The Last Wife of Henry VIII. The least known of Henry VIII's six wives was the cleverest of them all. Alluring, witty, and resourceful, she attracted the king's lust and, though much in love with the handsome Thomas Seymour, was thrown into the intrigue-filled snakepit of the royal court. While victims of the king's wrath suffered torture and execution, Catherine withstood the onslaught, even when Henry sought to replace her with wife number seven. She survived her royal husband, and found happiness with Seymour--but it was shadowed by rivalry with the young Princess Elizabeth, whose affection Seymour coveted. Catherine won the contest, but at great cost.

This is my second book by Carolly Erickson and I am heading to the library at once to see what else they have of her work! She is amazing! This book was so well written and just it was a page turner. I started reading it Thursday, went away for a girls weekend and was unable to pick it back up until yesterday and it is now DONE!

A must for anyone who enjoys a good historical read! I am giving this book 4 stars!

This book falls into these book challenges !

*The 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge
* The 2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette: review

Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette: by Carolly Erickson

From Publishers WeeklyHistorian Erickson (Bloody Mary; To the Scaffold; etc.) makes her first foray into fiction with this invented journal kept by the notorious queen who was sent to the guillotine during the French Revolution in 1793. Recounting her childhood as Austrian Archduchess Maria Antonia, her marriage to feckless Frenchman Louis XVI and her naïve pangs of conscience about hungry peasants clamoring at the gates of Versailles, Erickson delivers a spirited blend of fiction and fact. While Marie Antoinette's love affair with Swedish nobleman Axel Fersen is well-documented, other characters pivotal to Erickson's plot are pure fabrication: swarthy servant Eric, his jealous wife, Amelie, and the queen's confessor, Father Kuthibert. These inventions add color to the story of the ruler inaccurately linked to the phrase "Let them eat cake!" The novel's narrative engagingly reflects Marie Antoinette's progression from privileged adolescent to royal mother of four (though only one daughter and son survived into adulthood), and Erickson's descriptions of pomp and circumstance lend flavor and flair. While France's most infamous queen was clearly more sybarite than saint, Erickson's lively account reveals a woman whose bravery and resilience seem as noteworthy as the bloody details of her demise.

I have mentioned it a few times, and I will say it again, I love reading books from back in the day. Might be my favorite!

This book showed a different side of Marie Antoinette, more than just the popular phase we all think of when we hear her name... " Let them eat Cake". Which is a perfect motto to live by if you ask me!

Loved this book and I am going to give it 4 out of 5 stars!

This book falls into these reading challenges, take a peek maybe you can find your next read on one of my lists.

*The 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge
* The 2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge

Until next time...
Happy Reading!

History Book Fans

Anyone out ther love reading historical books?

Books from the likes of Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory, Jane Austen...etc, etc???

Here is my task, should you choose to take it...

Share with me, oh I don't know...3, of your favorite books that take place in another time. Fiction? Non-Fiction? Romance? Doesn't matter, I will take them all.

Point me in the right direction, and I will let you be a Crazy Book Slut in training! No? Okay, I will be extremely thankful!

Until next time...
Happy Reading!