Henry VIII remained unmarried for two years after Jane’s death. His fourth wife was Anne of Cleves. For many different reasons, Anne is the least known and talked about of Henry 's wives. Margaret Campbell Barnes focuses on Anne in her historical fiction novel, “My Lady of Cleves”.
Barnes opens the novel with Anne’s marriage to Henry. This novel is written as a form of entertainment but its rich with history at least in some parts. Barnes takes some historical liberties with some inaccuracies and contrived potlines such as the bubbling romance between Anne and the tudors court painter, Hans Holbein. Barnes bring Anne to life with new personality traits that are believable.
The biggest issue with My Lady of Cloves is there is a lack of a climax.
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Catherine was one of the daughter of a poor howard lord. After her mother 's death, Catherine was sent to live with her fathers step mother the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. The dutchess housed many other young women of poor parents, and her household lack discipline. Catherine was involved with two men during her time in the Dutchess household. Her uncle Norfolk brought her to court to serve Anne of Cleves. He then encouraged her to become the king 's mistress. After Henry divorce Anne of Cleves, he married Catherine Howard. Sixteen months after their wedding, Catherine was under arrest for having an affair with two different men at court. Both she and they were executed for treason.
Catherine Howard is usually the least enviable and least admired of the lot. Portrayed by contemporary and modern writers as a vixen, temptress, innocent and thought of as empty-headed. Russell 's novel Young and Damned and Fair is an engaging and readable biography. Throughout this novel Russell weighs almost every theory there is about Catherine against multiple pieces of historical evidence. Throughout the entire novel Russell doane take sides. He is merely trying to some Catherine as a whole