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elisacarlene's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rosannelortz's review against another edition
5.0
In a story especially apropos for the year of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Katharina: Deliverance follows the story of Katharina Von Bora, from her entrance into a convent at the age of five to her marriage to Martin Luther at the age of twenty-six. When her father remarries, the unwanted child is sent away to the cloister where she grows to adulthood under the strict rules of the silent Cistercian order. But the convent’s way of life is soon to be challenged. Martin Luther’s inflammatory writings are spreading throughout Germany, even being smuggled into the convent for the eager nuns to read.
With a group of other nuns, Katharina von Bora makes the decision to abandon the life she knows and flee the convent. Luther aids the nuns in their escape and, once they are all safe in Wittenburg, strives to find them shelter…and husbands. Katharina lodges with the town clerk for a few months and then moves to the home of the Cranachs. A burgeoning romance develops between the former nun and Jerome Baumgarten, a former student of Luther’s. But when Jerome leaves Wittenburg to seek his parents’ approval for the match, he disappears from the scene permanently, and Katharina is left to wait and grieve. Feeling responsible for her fate, Luther encourages a second match between Katharina and one of his colleagues, Kaspar Glatz, but she is disgusted by him and refuses him in no uncertain terms.
The horrors of the Peasants’ War, and Luther’s lack of diplomacy which leads in part to the tragedy, provide a solemn backdrop to Katharina’s life in the Cranach household. Caught between the justifiable anger of the starving peasants and the God-given authority of the tyrannical aristocracy, Luther encourages the rulers to show charity and the peasants to submit, but he seems to only draw anger from both sides. Katharina and the rest of the burghers in Wittenburg can only watch and wait and hope that the atrocities occurring in other castles and cities will not enter their town.
Luther is portrayed as a public figure at first–it seems that Katharina perceives him more as a symbol of the Reformation than as a flesh-and-blood man. I loved the choice the author made to wait to provide a physical description of Luther until Katharina begins to look at him differently–to think that perhaps he is a man she could marry. She has told her friend Eva that, “He is a good man, who, if some of his wilder impulses can be contained, may yet become great.” And finally, she realizes, with the urging of her friends the Cranachs, that perhaps she is just the one to contain him, to provide the assistance he needs to change to world.
In the Author’s Note, Skea draws attention to the lack of historical evidence surrounding Katharina’s life. There are very few details we know for certain. Much of the heroine’s character must be deduced from Luther’s own letters. Skea has tried her best to fill in the monumental gaps, and in my assessment, she does a convincing job. The sixteenth century world comes alive with her spare prose, provoking many interesting questions: how would a nun feel when entering the real world after such a restrictive life? What is the responsibility of a man when his ideas are taken farther than he intended?
Skea also draws attention to the role of women in the sixteenth century in a refreshing way. Without creating an anachronistically modern heroine, she shows how Katharina (by speaking her mind in the company of men) flouted convention, providing a spirited picture of the young woman who would eventually become Luther’s “my lord Katie” and set the pattern for Protestant marriages.
With a group of other nuns, Katharina von Bora makes the decision to abandon the life she knows and flee the convent. Luther aids the nuns in their escape and, once they are all safe in Wittenburg, strives to find them shelter…and husbands. Katharina lodges with the town clerk for a few months and then moves to the home of the Cranachs. A burgeoning romance develops between the former nun and Jerome Baumgarten, a former student of Luther’s. But when Jerome leaves Wittenburg to seek his parents’ approval for the match, he disappears from the scene permanently, and Katharina is left to wait and grieve. Feeling responsible for her fate, Luther encourages a second match between Katharina and one of his colleagues, Kaspar Glatz, but she is disgusted by him and refuses him in no uncertain terms.
The horrors of the Peasants’ War, and Luther’s lack of diplomacy which leads in part to the tragedy, provide a solemn backdrop to Katharina’s life in the Cranach household. Caught between the justifiable anger of the starving peasants and the God-given authority of the tyrannical aristocracy, Luther encourages the rulers to show charity and the peasants to submit, but he seems to only draw anger from both sides. Katharina and the rest of the burghers in Wittenburg can only watch and wait and hope that the atrocities occurring in other castles and cities will not enter their town.
Luther is portrayed as a public figure at first–it seems that Katharina perceives him more as a symbol of the Reformation than as a flesh-and-blood man. I loved the choice the author made to wait to provide a physical description of Luther until Katharina begins to look at him differently–to think that perhaps he is a man she could marry. She has told her friend Eva that, “He is a good man, who, if some of his wilder impulses can be contained, may yet become great.” And finally, she realizes, with the urging of her friends the Cranachs, that perhaps she is just the one to contain him, to provide the assistance he needs to change to world.
In the Author’s Note, Skea draws attention to the lack of historical evidence surrounding Katharina’s life. There are very few details we know for certain. Much of the heroine’s character must be deduced from Luther’s own letters. Skea has tried her best to fill in the monumental gaps, and in my assessment, she does a convincing job. The sixteenth century world comes alive with her spare prose, provoking many interesting questions: how would a nun feel when entering the real world after such a restrictive life? What is the responsibility of a man when his ideas are taken farther than he intended?
Skea also draws attention to the role of women in the sixteenth century in a refreshing way. Without creating an anachronistically modern heroine, she shows how Katharina (by speaking her mind in the company of men) flouted convention, providing a spirited picture of the young woman who would eventually become Luther’s “my lord Katie” and set the pattern for Protestant marriages.
endlessmidnight's review against another edition
4.0
Katharina was a rather unknown but nonetheless interesting figure in history. About the former nun who will go on to marry Martin Luther, head of the reformation state.
But I feel as though there could have been more. Such as her story fully as it ends when she is married to Luther. But I really wanted more. More about her life as his wife, as well as her influence on him.
I did feel her beginning life wasn’t all too nice, as well as the dilemma she faced. She was well past the best age for marriage at that point of time.
But Katherina didn’t make a decision until the end. I think the best time was to do it in the middle. I somewhat enjoyed the glimpses but it felt extraneous, as she doesn’t survive being his wife. She doesn’t end up as a widow at the end of the day. She doesn’t have much to reflect upon not does it really make me care since it is just too far away.
That was the main flaw of the novel, there were some things it could have gone deeper. And some things it could have left out such as about Katharina on her last years.
So, this wasn’t entirely bad. But there was a lot it could have improved on in execution if you asked me. But still, I did gain some enjoyment from this work.
But I feel as though there could have been more. Such as her story fully as it ends when she is married to Luther. But I really wanted more. More about her life as his wife, as well as her influence on him.
I did feel her beginning life wasn’t all too nice, as well as the dilemma she faced. She was well past the best age for marriage at that point of time.
But Katherina didn’t make a decision until the end. I think the best time was to do it in the middle. I somewhat enjoyed the glimpses but it felt extraneous, as she doesn’t survive being his wife. She doesn’t end up as a widow at the end of the day. She doesn’t have much to reflect upon not does it really make me care since it is just too far away.
That was the main flaw of the novel, there were some things it could have gone deeper. And some things it could have left out such as about Katharina on her last years.
So, this wasn’t entirely bad. But there was a lot it could have improved on in execution if you asked me. But still, I did gain some enjoyment from this work.
kasbeth's review
5.0
I thourghlhy enjoyed this story of a strong and determined woman and turbulent period of religious history, this was a well written blend of fact and fiction and I look forward to the next book.
rachm77's review
4.0
Historical fiction is not my favourite genre, so I should first confess that I only read this as I know the author. However, I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Katharina’s story. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay is that I continued thinking about her after finishing the novel, and really want to read the next instalment.
Katharina Deliverance focuses on the childhood and early adulthood of Martin Luther’s wife, and the writer does a great job of weaving Katharina’s story through events and ideas which shaped the Reformation. Sections which focused on Katharina’s evolving occasionally felt a little didactic, and I wonder whether this might put off readers who are more interested in the characters and history than theology, but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I found the two different time periods included in the narrative a little confusing in places, but also liked the way the older Katharina’s memories were used to foreshadow or draw attention to significant characters and events.
Katharina Deliverance depicts a world I knew very little about, but I felt entirely immersed in it as I read, and I’m looking forward to returning when book 2 comes out!
I received a free digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Katharina Deliverance focuses on the childhood and early adulthood of Martin Luther’s wife, and the writer does a great job of weaving Katharina’s story through events and ideas which shaped the Reformation. Sections which focused on Katharina’s evolving occasionally felt a little didactic, and I wonder whether this might put off readers who are more interested in the characters and history than theology, but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I found the two different time periods included in the narrative a little confusing in places, but also liked the way the older Katharina’s memories were used to foreshadow or draw attention to significant characters and events.
Katharina Deliverance depicts a world I knew very little about, but I felt entirely immersed in it as I read, and I’m looking forward to returning when book 2 comes out!
I received a free digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
kristin's review
4.0
I would like to thank netgalley and Sanderling for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting look at the reformation from a unique pov, the nun who ran away and married Luther himself. I'm really interested in the sequel.
An interesting look at the reformation from a unique pov, the nun who ran away and married Luther himself. I'm really interested in the sequel.
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