The Young Queens is a collection of six short stories exploring moments in time during the teen years of the wives of Henry VIII. Readers are treated to insights into these young women as people, not just wives. Their hopes, dreams and intelligence are presented in contrast to the influence of the powerful men who controlled their destinies. Their stories are ones of survival and strategy as they learn to wield political power within the patriarchy and use femininity for personal gain.
I was struck by the relationships between these young women – their connections as relatives and members of the royal court separate to the King. Their stories are woven together in an intricate pattern of nobility, service and ambition. The Young Queens gives a truly female perspective of life in the 1500s. Their skills and talents, knowledge of the world, opinions on religious reform and understanding of the expectations placed on them as women challenges readers to view this era in a new way. The significance of the War of the Roses and Henry VIII’s quest for a male heir sheds even more light on the complete disregard for women and their value as people.
The Young Queens is a captivating work of meticulously researched historical fiction. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Semour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine Parr were each the heroine of their own story and deserve a place in history separate to the man who wanted to use them for his own gain. There is an authenticity to this book that pulls readers into the past allowing them to become immersed in these legendary lives.
Firmly in the Young Adult age range, this is not a book for primary children. These young women gained experience with young men, considered the expectations of the marriage bed and contemplated pregnancy. From as young as 12 years old, they knew what might be expected of young women in the male dominated court.
A huge thank you to Andersen Press for an early copy of this stunning book. My own daughter researched the individual legacies of the wives of Henry VIII for her A Level EPQ essay. I can’t wait to pass this on to her to read next. I know she won’t be able to put it down!
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