I am delighted to host a stop on the blog tour to celebrate the publication of ‘‘Katharine of Aragon, Spanish Princess: ‘I am not as Simple as I May Seem’’ by Heather R Darsie.
Thank you to Heather and Amberley Publishing for asking me to take part.
Thank you to Heather for this interview.
What made you write about Katherine of Aragon?
I am intrigued by Henry VIII’s internationally-connected wives, especially Anna of Cleves and Katharine of Aragon. A few years ago, I realized that I had read very little if anything about Katharine’s family history. I sought to remedy that with this book. Hopefully I have.
What does your book add to previous works covering Katherine?
It does a deep-dive into the founding of her family’s dynasty with all of its violence and intrigue. I think I avoid over-glorifying Katharine’s parents. I also explain the reasons why she remained in England from 1502 to 1509; there was a lot more going on than Henry VII of England being a miser and Ferdinand II of Aragon being a callous father.
How do you think Katherine’s Spanish upbringing shaped her English Queenship?
I think having as much access to multiculturalism as Katharine did through architecture and even just the people around her at court helped her support the move toward the Renaissance and humanist thinking at the English court. In addition, Katharine learned the power of propaganda from her parents, which she surely supported when Henry VIII of England started using it during their reign.
What surprised you most researching this book?
How awful Katharine of Aragon’s paternal grandfather John II of Aragon was. He gives the word “ruthless” an entirely new, terrible perspective.
Is there something particular that people should know about Katharine?
Katharine was either so burdened or so sick by the end of her life that her ability to communicate in Spanish was slipping, which is reflected in her letters. She was having serious grammatical issues. It could also be indicative of the isolation she experienced during the last couple-few years of her life. To me, that is one of the saddest pieces of evidence of a tragic end to a once-proud life.
Buy ‘Katherine of Aragon, Spanish Princess:
Follow Heather on Social Media:
Heather’s website: Maidens and Manuscripts
Twitter: @HRDarsieHistory
Other stops on the tour
