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sanewberg 's review for:
Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of King Henry VIII
by Sarah-Beth Watkins
I'm a bit torn on this one. Going into it, I was hoping to learn about Lady Katherine Knollys, but I don't feel like I really did. This book felt like it was more about the Tudor monarchs who ruled during Katherine's life time. I really love reading about the Tudors so I did enjoy the book, but that's not what I was expecting to read about in this one. I don't know if there is just a lack of sources on Katherine, but I really would have liked it to focus more on her. Like I think it's interesting that she had to flee England during Mary I's reign but I would have liked to learn a bit more about what her life was like in Frankfurt. I also would have liked to learn a bit more about her relationship with her children and her husband.
My other issue has to do with one of Watkins' central arguments. Obviously from the subtitle, we know that Watkins is arguing that Katherine was Henry VIII's illegitimate daughter. Now, I don't disagrees with that, I think it's likely that Katherine was Henry's daughter. My issue is that she kept trying to argue that Henry did not acknowledge Katherine because she could have been a liability in Henry trying to marry Katherine's aunt, Anne Boleyn. The thing is that Katherine was likely born in 1524 and Henry and Anne's relationship didn't start until around 1527 at the earliest, so why didn't Henry acknowledge Katherine in those 3+ years? I just felt that she missed the mark a bit there with her argument there.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book. I wanted to read about Katherine Knollys, not the Tudor monarchs with Katherine in the background. That being said, I did like what I read for the most part, so I will give Sarah-Beth Watkins another chance in the future.
My other issue has to do with one of Watkins' central arguments. Obviously from the subtitle, we know that Watkins is arguing that Katherine was Henry VIII's illegitimate daughter. Now, I don't disagrees with that, I think it's likely that Katherine was Henry's daughter. My issue is that she kept trying to argue that Henry did not acknowledge Katherine because she could have been a liability in Henry trying to marry Katherine's aunt, Anne Boleyn. The thing is that Katherine was likely born in 1524 and Henry and Anne's relationship didn't start until around 1527 at the earliest, so why didn't Henry acknowledge Katherine in those 3+ years? I just felt that she missed the mark a bit there with her argument there.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book. I wanted to read about Katherine Knollys, not the Tudor monarchs with Katherine in the background. That being said, I did like what I read for the most part, so I will give Sarah-Beth Watkins another chance in the future.