Kateryn Parr

The influence of Kateryn Parr on the history and events of the latter half of the 16th century in England has, this text argues, been overlooked by historians. Perceived by many as a colourless and unimaginative figure, her life in fact contained many of the features of romantic fiction: personal peril, clandestine romance, war, jealous husbands and royal matrimony. Parr was a keen exponent of power politics, an active patron of the arts and a recognized author herself. Arguably the first queen of the English Reformation, Kateryn Parr's life and works are seminal to an understanding of the Tudor period. In this researched study, Susan James discusses the impact that Kateryn Parr and her brother William had on Henry VIII's court. Part one of the book charts the childhood and early adult lives of Kateryn, William and their sister Anne. Part two discusses Kateryn's influential position brought about by her marriage to Henry, and the vital role she played in guaranteeing the survival of her stepdaughter, Elizabeth, to become queen. The book also explores the strategies that Parr employed during her queenship and the ways in which some of these were later adopted by Elizabeth I.