Six Queens

Like the author, I have always been fascinated by the women who were unlucky enough to be married to King Henry VIII. In ‘Six Queens’, Lydia Monks sets out to show that they should not just be remembered by the rhyme, ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived’, but as individuals with their own stories.

The book opens with a foreword from historian, Suzannah Lipscomb, who explains that being a historian is like being a detective. Giving an overview of the available evidence, source materials and bias, she sets the scene for Lydia Monks’ biographies whilst offering inspiration for budding historians and piquing curiosity about Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr.

Each biography begins with an overview of the queen, her life dates, motto and key information before telling their story through a combination of text, illustration and comic strip. Although each section covers the marriage to Henry VIII, the focus is very much on the queen with relevant details about life in Tudor England- fashion, medicine etc- where appropriate.

Although not currently a specified period in the History curriculum for KS2, the Tudors has long been a favourite period of history taught in primary schools with Henry being almost celebrated for having ‘had’ six wives, women he married and disposed of at will. This book does much to redress the balance. For example, Catherine Howard- so often dismissed as promiscuous, foolish or even as ‘a natural tart’ - is viewed in a far more sympathetic light whilst Katherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr are given full credit for acting as Regent in Henry’s place.

The book concludes with the fact that despite Henry’s desperation for a son and all he did to achieve this goal, his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, both came to the throne, proving that women were capable of ruling England- and doing so successfully.

Dealing with the complex issues surrounding these women, including arranged marriages, accusations of adultery and incest, brutal state murder, abuse, coercion and control, and presenting these in an age appropriate manner is no mean feat, yet in ‘Six Queens’, Lydia Monks has very successfully achieved this, offering an excellent introduction to the lives of these women, who deserve to be remembered as so much more than wife to a king.

Six Queens

Lydia Monks

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529095289