The King's Curse

By: Philippa Gregory

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Summary:Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII’s claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter—Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret’s contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. Margaret soon becomes a trusted advisor and friend to the honeymooning couple, hiding her own royal connections in service to the Tudors.

After the sudden death of Prince Arthur, Katherine leaves for London a widow, and fulfills her deathbed promise to her husband by marrying his brother, Henry VIII. Margaret’s world is turned upside down by the surprising summons to court, where she becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. But this charmed life of the wealthiest and “holiest” woman in England lasts only until the rise of Anne Boleyn, and the dramatic deterioration of the Tudor court. Margaret has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen; to the religion she loves or the theology which serves the new masters. Caught between the old world and the new, Margaret Pole has to find her own way as she carries the knowledge of an old curse on all the Tudors.

Review: The King's Curse a novel by historical fiction writer Philippa Gregory takes you into the world of Margaret Pole who is the cousin of Elizabeth of York who was forced to marry the Father of Henry the 8th the infamous King of England who had the bad habit of divorcing his wives or chopping off their heads.  Margaret has the misfortune of being the member of a family who is an old ruling class in England and who has been part of an war to see who will become the ruling family; while watching her brothers; uncles; and loved ones get murdered around her she has done her best her entire life to stay in the background and protect those she loves most from the axe and from the kings roving mood swings and temper.

As she protects her beloved princess, children, sons, husband and family in general she learns what family loyalty really means, this book gives the leader a new and isightful perspective to tudor England and into Henry the 8th's cruel psyche and how sometimes even when you do your best in the end it is not always enough.  The main character was an amazing caregiver, wife, and Mother, and the end results were honestly heartbreaking.  The characters, religious viewpoints, and plot lines in this book for me were amazing.

Liz