The Queen’s Governess by Karen HarperGenre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Release Date: January 21, 2010
“A fresh and intriguing historical novel told in the voice of Queen Elizabeth I's governess.Ever since I first heard about Kat Ashley, I wondered why she did not play a more front burner role in historical fiction. She was always relegated to the position of a sub character. Now she gets her due. I am very excited to read this one and see things from Kat’s perspective.
Katherine Ashley, the daughter of a poor country squire, happily secures an education and a place for herself in a noble household. But when Thomas Cromwell, a henchman for King Henry VIII, brings her to the royal court as a spy, Kat enters into a thrilling new world of the Tudor monarchs.
Freed from a life of espionage by Cromwell's downfall, Kat eventually befriends Anne Boleyn. As a dying favor to the doomed queen, Kat becomes governess and surrogate-mother to the young Elizabeth Tudor. Together they suffer bitter exile, assassination attempts, and imprisonment, barely escaping with their lives. But they do, and when Elizabeth is crowned, Kat continues to serve her, faithfully guarding all the queen's secrets (including Elizabeth's affair with the dashing Robert Dudley) . . . and ultimately emerging as the lifelong confidante and true mother-figure to Queen Elizabeth (from Penguin Group website)”
Check out more works by Karen Harper here.
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
This is top of my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI just got this baby in the mail and am itching to delve in! I love Kat Ashley and too have wondered why there wasn't a book with her in the limelight. Julianne Douglas just gave it a good review on her blog.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book, I really want to read some more history novels this year. So I will put this one on my tbr list.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know? I've wondered the same about Kat (or lack thereof) and am happy this book gives her recognition. Adding another book to my list...
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