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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
To be honest I had to abandon this book.
I have enjoyed other Philippa Gregory books I just could not get into this.
The main character Margaret Poole is connected to the Tudor Court and Catherine of Aragon. Her fame in history is she is the oldest woman King Henry Eighth executed.
She is also a Plantagenet princess - rightful heir to the English throne before those pesky Tudors arrived with their disease. Or so she is fond of telling us. Fascinating story line but I just could not read it and I have read many Philippa Gregory books.
Its therefore on my abandoned shelf.
I have enjoyed other Philippa Gregory books I just could not get into this.
The main character Margaret Poole is connected to the Tudor Court and Catherine of Aragon. Her fame in history is she is the oldest woman King Henry Eighth executed.
She is also a Plantagenet princess - rightful heir to the English throne before those pesky Tudors arrived with their disease. Or so she is fond of telling us. Fascinating story line but I just could not read it and I have read many Philippa Gregory books.
Its therefore on my abandoned shelf.
This is perhaps the most powerful Philippa Gregory novel, I've read to date. I absolutely adored it, and I think it is a book, that will stay with me for sometime. Although it's quite a lengthy novel, (a 20 CD Audiobook) it's a very engrossing read. The long life of Margaret Pole, is a fascinating source for a novel. An exceptionally strong women, who navigated the ever-changing world of the Tudor Court - with ultimately fatal and tragic consequences. This is the first Philippa Gregory book, that elicited a strong emotional response from me, especially towards the end.
I must also praise the narrative talents of Reader, Bianca Amato - whose voice was a perfect match for both, the story and character of Lady Margaret Pole. A book that is a "must read" for everyone
I must also praise the narrative talents of Reader, Bianca Amato - whose voice was a perfect match for both, the story and character of Lady Margaret Pole. A book that is a "must read" for everyone
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Looking at history through the eyes of a woman we know so little about but who was at the center of it all is so incredibly fascinating, especially as a lens for the demise of Henry VIII. This story paints a clear picture of his effect on the English people at the time. I really recommend this for anyone interested in fiction about the Tudor era.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage
I enjoyed reading this, especially because of the ending. Although at times it got a little repetitive it was worth persevering as I did not expect the twist at the end and it really made the book.
I preferred The Constant Princess, but this was
Still very entertaining.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Stars
First I will say this: I am no Historian. History was a subject I had zero interest in in school, and it’s never really interested me as an adult, unless we’re talking about historical threads, tied to very specific topics of personal interest; but, generally speaking, it’s never ever excited me. All this to say: I have no idea as to the historical accuracy of the novel, but wow, what a great story!
Of course despite my lack of historical knowledge, I am familiar with the Tudors—this familiarity a biproduct of being on the planet for almost 40 years—and most especially the infamous wife murderer Henry the VIII. I’ve also read a few of Phillipa Gregory’s novels in the Tudor series, so it’s not a world that is completely unknown to me. Writing the book from the perspective of the lesser known figure, Margaret Pole, was such a great choice; she was right in the centre of things, and seeing the evolution of the King from beloved and tender-hearted boy to paranoid tyrant through the lens of the woman who raised him made for a wonderfully dynamic characterization. I was also extremely touched by the relationship between Margaret and Mary and found myself feeling particularly emotional during some of the scenes between the two. It also helped put what I know of Mary in her later years as Queen into perspective, how and why she might have become as vicious as she did. Margaret herself was a fascinating character: the undisputed head of her family and a respected peer of the titled men of court in a time ruled almost exclusively by men.
It is true that Gregory gets a little heavy handed at times, with reference to The Curse over and over. I also got a tired of Margaret’s constant refrain about staying alive at all cost. However, while found the repetitiousness eye-roll inducing, it was easy enough to overlook, and overall found the book to be an easy read, full of intrigue and excitement and so thoroughly entertaining. It certainly piqued my interest in the Plantagenets, and I’ve spent a good number of hours since reading other various items on the family.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and to Goodreads for the complementary copy of this book. It was good to be reminded of how enjoyable Gregory’s novels are, and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the books in The Cousins’ War.
First I will say this: I am no Historian. History was a subject I had zero interest in in school, and it’s never really interested me as an adult, unless we’re talking about historical threads, tied to very specific topics of personal interest; but, generally speaking, it’s never ever excited me. All this to say: I have no idea as to the historical accuracy of the novel, but wow, what a great story!
Of course despite my lack of historical knowledge, I am familiar with the Tudors—this familiarity a biproduct of being on the planet for almost 40 years—and most especially the infamous wife murderer Henry the VIII. I’ve also read a few of Phillipa Gregory’s novels in the Tudor series, so it’s not a world that is completely unknown to me. Writing the book from the perspective of the lesser known figure, Margaret Pole, was such a great choice; she was right in the centre of things, and seeing the evolution of the King from beloved and tender-hearted boy to paranoid tyrant through the lens of the woman who raised him made for a wonderfully dynamic characterization. I was also extremely touched by the relationship between Margaret and Mary and found myself feeling particularly emotional during some of the scenes between the two. It also helped put what I know of Mary in her later years as Queen into perspective, how and why she might have become as vicious as she did. Margaret herself was a fascinating character: the undisputed head of her family and a respected peer of the titled men of court in a time ruled almost exclusively by men.
It is true that Gregory gets a little heavy handed at times, with reference to The Curse over and over. I also got a tired of Margaret’s constant refrain about staying alive at all cost. However, while found the repetitiousness eye-roll inducing, it was easy enough to overlook, and overall found the book to be an easy read, full of intrigue and excitement and so thoroughly entertaining. It certainly piqued my interest in the Plantagenets, and I’ve spent a good number of hours since reading other various items on the family.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and to Goodreads for the complementary copy of this book. It was good to be reminded of how enjoyable Gregory’s novels are, and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the books in The Cousins’ War.
Phillips Gregory used to do it for me when I was in the mood for a certain kind of read, but this one is just boring. Characters are flat and time moves so quickly that we aren't given enough interaction between characters to care about anyone.
Philippa Gregeory is my favorite go to author when I'm in the mood to read about Tudor/Plantagenet England which is one of my favorite time periods in history. The King's Curse was a great read! I highly recommend it.
This King’s Curse is up there with one of my favourite Philippa Gregory novels. The book is written in the perspective of Lady Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury. Gregory cleverly accounts the vital events of the English reformation through the perspective of Lady Margaret Pole. Lady Margaret recalls when she was the protector of Arthur Prince of Wales. I don’t want to add too many spoilers if you don’t know the history. But she equally, perceives the coronation of Henry V111, his marriage to Queen Katherine of Aragon. Lady Margaret is placed as her First Lady in waiting and witnesses her many miscarriages and heart breaks, due to Henry’s frequent infidelities. Equally, through the perspective of Lady Margaret Pole we see her rise and fall into a society when she can never comfortably aspire to her true Plantagenet identity. Throughout, this novel we see the juxtaposition of Henry V111’s character, as he moves from a handsome, generous King to a frightful tyrannical beast. The constant imagery of the tower and it’s frightful history certainly foreshadows a tragic outcome for the Pole family. Hope you enjoy this novel as much as I have.