Helpful Score: 1
I thought that this book kept me at a distance. It keep all of the important dates, figures, etc but was too formal feeling to be a novel. I feel that it would have been better if it was truly made into a novel or needed to go the other way and become a non-fiction book. I felt caught in no-man's land between. Still a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
I loved this book, it follows Elizabeth I's governess from her childhood (Katherine's) to her service to Anne Boelyn and her service to young Elizabeth after Anne's death until her reign as queen. I usually read these books and they drag a little but not this one. It kept my attention from start to finish. I am a Phillipa Gregory fan but Karen Harper has found a new fan in me.
I am an avid reader of historical fiction and have a particular interest in Elizabethan/Tudor history, so this story about Kat Ashley, famous governess of Elizabeth Tudor definitely drew my interest...initially.
The story follows the life of Mistress Ashley (née Champernowne), through her own point of view, from her childhood in Devon, to introduction into Court life and intrigue under the reign of Henry VIII, and throughout her time in the position as the Governess and companion of Elizabeth. Though the story is an intriguing one, I would credit it more to history than to the writer. Karen Harper's writing style was abrupt, lacking in finesse and smooth transition from subject to subject, making the reading experience feel almost rushed. She often would jump back and forth through time from what was occurring in a particular moment in the book to an aside where she mentions what happened in the future- lacking in any continuity. Modern terminology/slang is often interjected at inappropriate moments, like the phrase, "famous last words". The character development was poor; often times a crucial element to explaining a character's motivation for something specific would be thrown in at the last moment- in the last 50 pages 'Kat' is describing Elizabeth's temperament and comes up with personality elements that were non-existent in the previous 200 pages.
I found the descriptions of the main protagonist, Kat Ashley, to be the most disappointing. History remembers her as a fierce character, defending and protecting the Princess (later Queen) through various dangers, even defying those in power for her charge. Instead, in this book she is an insecure, nervous, frightened, weepy woman who seems to barely get by except by luck. Had the writer created a balanced character, showing both her strengths AND weaknesses, it would have given depth to the character-and certainly would have made the book more interesting.
Though the writing style was rather dissatisfying, the historical research was ...acceptable (though there were a handful of anachronisms & mistakes), and the exploration of the events that occurred in this novel is notable. For someone who has cursory interest in Tudor England, the book is adequate. However, if you are looking for an in-depth look and the intrigue, history, and the people of the Tudor age, with a great story-teller that draws you in from cover to cover- I would not recommend this particular book. Overall- Karen Harper falls short of the allure of the famous Kat Ashley.
The story follows the life of Mistress Ashley (née Champernowne), through her own point of view, from her childhood in Devon, to introduction into Court life and intrigue under the reign of Henry VIII, and throughout her time in the position as the Governess and companion of Elizabeth. Though the story is an intriguing one, I would credit it more to history than to the writer. Karen Harper's writing style was abrupt, lacking in finesse and smooth transition from subject to subject, making the reading experience feel almost rushed. She often would jump back and forth through time from what was occurring in a particular moment in the book to an aside where she mentions what happened in the future- lacking in any continuity. Modern terminology/slang is often interjected at inappropriate moments, like the phrase, "famous last words". The character development was poor; often times a crucial element to explaining a character's motivation for something specific would be thrown in at the last moment- in the last 50 pages 'Kat' is describing Elizabeth's temperament and comes up with personality elements that were non-existent in the previous 200 pages.
I found the descriptions of the main protagonist, Kat Ashley, to be the most disappointing. History remembers her as a fierce character, defending and protecting the Princess (later Queen) through various dangers, even defying those in power for her charge. Instead, in this book she is an insecure, nervous, frightened, weepy woman who seems to barely get by except by luck. Had the writer created a balanced character, showing both her strengths AND weaknesses, it would have given depth to the character-and certainly would have made the book more interesting.
Though the writing style was rather dissatisfying, the historical research was ...acceptable (though there were a handful of anachronisms & mistakes), and the exploration of the events that occurred in this novel is notable. For someone who has cursory interest in Tudor England, the book is adequate. However, if you are looking for an in-depth look and the intrigue, history, and the people of the Tudor age, with a great story-teller that draws you in from cover to cover- I would not recommend this particular book. Overall- Karen Harper falls short of the allure of the famous Kat Ashley.
