Our latest review is of the new release In the Footsteps of the Six Wives of Henry VIII by Sarah Morris and Natalie Grueninger. Although this is not a book about the seventeenth-century, one mustn’t overlook the importance of the Tudors upon the Stuart period, and so I was happy to review it here on The Seventeenth Century Lady.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I’m very pleased to say I loved it. The book takes us on a journey to each of the places (castles, houses, palaces, etc) most associated with Henry VIII’s six wives: Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr.
Although I normally don’t read Tudor history, this book satiated my appetite for Early Modern History very nicely indeed. I enjoyed the beautifully-made diagrams of important dates associated with the various properties such as the well-known Whitehall Palace and Hampton Court Palace, but also the lesser-known ones like Eltham Palace (the fate of which was described as falling into ruin during the seventeenth century). Under each property, there is a section which includes some very handy visitor information.
One of the greatest things about this book is the fact that it is only based on English sites, but takes us to Catherine of Aragon’s Spain, Anne Boleyn’s early years in France, and Anne of Cleves’ Low Countries. I knew almost nothing about the latter but because of this book, I can happily say I know where she lived. The images selected for this book are fabulous and combined with the information really brings it all to life.
Sometimes a book with two authors doesn’t work, but the combined talents of Sarah Morris and Natalie Grueninger are seamless and written in an approachable and informative manner. In short, this book is a fun and enlightening read – perfect for both ardent Tudor fans and general history buffs alike.
5/5
