- The Sixth Wife
"The Sixth Wife" is a
1953 historical novel by notednovelist Jean Plaidy . It recounts the tale ofCatherine Parr , the sixth wife ofHenry VIII , King of England. The novel covers the life of Catherine as Queen, and her fearful feeling of being replaced in the King's eyes. Though the novel conveys Catherine's life, several other characters' lives are foreshadowed as well. Catherine's family play a key role including her sisterAnne Parr Herbert , her stepdaughter Elizabeth, nieceJane Grey , doomed friendAnne Askew , rivalsThomas Wriothesley ,Stephen Gardiner ,Henry Howard ,Anne Stanhope , Mary Howard Fitzroy theDowager Duchess of Richmond and former romantic interestThomas Seymour . The novel unfolds over a period of five years, recounting Catherine's rise asQueen Consort to her death asDowager Queen .Historical inaccuracies
Though the novel is a work of
fiction , it contains minor historical inaccuracies regarding theSix Wives of Henry VIII . It states thatAnne Boleyn suffered fourmiscarriages during her marriage to the King yet there were three that were historically confirmed. Also Henry, while reflecting upon his wives, recalls that he marriedJane Seymour quickly because she waspregnant and she lost the child shortly after the wedding, something which is entirely fictional.Catherine Howard is also recalled to have lost a child. There is only small historical evidence to suggest that Catherine may have become pregnant during her short term as Queen, but she may have suffered afalse pregnancy before beginning her menstrual cycle and not having a miscarriage as stated in the novel.
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