Six Tudor Queens: Katheryn Howard, The Tainted Queen cover art

Six Tudor Queens: Katheryn Howard, The Tainted Queen

Six Tudor Queens 5

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Six Tudor Queens: Katheryn Howard, The Tainted Queen

By: Alison Weir
Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £18.89

Buy Now for £18.89

About this listen

 'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen.

'With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime' TRACY BORMAN

'Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naïveté and her desire to be loved... It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned'
ELIZABETH FREEMANTLE

'Alison's sensitively drawn novel will change everyone's preconceptions'
SUSAN RONALD

...

A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY.

At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love.

She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King.

Henry declares she is his rose without a thorn. But Katheryn has a past of which he knows nothing. It comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love... and blackmail.

KATHERYN HOWARD
THE FIFTH OF HENRY'S QUEENS.
HER STORY.

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on extensive research to recount one of the most tragic tales in English history - that of a lively, sweet but neglected girl, used by powerful men for their own gain.

History tells us she died too soon.
This mesmerising novel brings her to life.

PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES:

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

'Well researched and engrossing' Good Housekeeping

'Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising' Tracy Borman

'Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail' Daily Mail

(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2020 Alison Weir Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Renaissance Women's Fiction Royalty Tudor Biography

Critic reviews

There is an Anne of Cleves we all think we know - the dumpy fourth wife so uninspiring that Henry VIII couldn't even consummate their marriage. Alison Weir gives us a radically different 'Anna of Kleve' - one who is definitely hiding some secrets under her thick, unbecoming German gown. It takes a writer of Weir's skill to make us believe her fantasia on the established story. But more importantly, it takes a historian of Weir's experience - her familiarity with the sources, and the period detail - to use this compelling fiction to cast a revealing fresh light on the real historical figure. (Sarah Gristwood)
Katheryn emerges from the pages of this beautifully realised portrayal as beguiling, vivacious and, in the end, tragically naive . . .This novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime
In this vivid and beautifully crafted portrayal, Alison Weir transforms Henry VIII's much-maligned fourth wife into a woman of passion, courage and mystery. Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising, this novel captivates from the first page to the last. It is like meeting Anna of Kleve for the very first time. A masterpiece. (Tracy Borman)
Weir demonstrates her deep knowledge of the period offering fascinating detail on all aspects of Tudor life. . .It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned
Alison's sensitively drawn novel will change everyone's preconceptions
This is my favourite of the series
Alison Weir is an expert at weaving together historical detail, political powerplay and the feelings of a naive woman.
All stars
Most relevant
This book started a little slow for me, but as the drama escalated, I got hooked in further and further. The tedious house of cards kept building the tension, making you feel stressed as a reader, knowing the consequence that would follow.
The naivety of Katheryn makes you as a reader frustrated at times, but adds to the experience of the novel. Unlike Anne Boleyn, I knew little of Katheryn Howard prior to reading this book. I will now read other books to pick out the facts from the fiction to feed my new found curiosity surrounding the life of Katheryn Howard.

A great addition to the series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is such a good book, so well written and narrated . I’ve read all 5 of this series and the quality has remained high throughout. Very much looking forward to the next one.




Such a good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have read all the amazing Six Queens series so far and was keeping my eye out for this fifth in the series with eager anticipation. So, when I stumbled upon this when actively doing a search one day on Audible (NOTE: Audible, if you read these reviews, then PLEASE add a feature for members to tag a series or author we have an interest in so that we can be notified immediately of a new release).

I have to agree with other reviewers here regarding the first half of the book being rather less interesting. This book is one of two distinct halves and it's the second part which is far more interesting and, in my opinion, much better written by Weir. I get the sense that when there is little to go on in terms of historical detail, Weir is less flowing in her writing. Not being an historian myself, I cannot say just how much we know about Katheryn Howard's early life. We know certain key details, but how much beyond that. Perhaps that is the problem here. If Weir has had to fill in much more than usual in order to more heavily fictionalize Katheryn's early life, then this is perhaps where she is weaker in terms of compelling writing. To be fair, I can't say for sure, I am speculating as I know very little of the actual known history prior to the key events of the various queens covered in this series. I thought, for example, that Weir did much better with Jane Seymour and Anna of Cleaves in terms of their early back stories. How much more we knew about those back stories in reality may or may not be part of the reason why, I don't know. All I do know is that those two prior books were far more interesting in that regard for me.

However, Weir returns to her usual fine form when Katheryn is thrust into court life and therefore far more within the bounds of historically known facts. Once we shift into that phase of the story, then things really become far more interesting. What never ceases to amaze me about that period, is how many people are willing to take such reckless risks despite knowing full well the awful punishment that awaited them if caught. Why they'd risk such blatant misdeeds is beyond me! Katheryn knew her cousin, Anne Boleyn, lost her head due to adultery, real or imagined, and yet she went down the same path!

Anyway, Weir shines in the latter and tragic stages of this story as she manages to portray the abject terror Katheryn faced in her final days. The hope against hope that her life would be spared was written so well and very poignantly.

Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen is sadly not the best of the series I'm afraid. It isn't a bad story, but it doesn't shine like others in the series do.



A Little Disappointing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I adore this series and this may be my favourite! Brilliantly narrated and excellent storytelling. A must for history fans or those who love some juicy drama. Does contain a lot of references to sex and sex scenes

Brilliant storytelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thoroughly enjoyed, but did not like the narrator. Monotone and lacking animation and performance.
Sounded like a very dull Teacher, droning on.

Addictive listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews