The Fifth Queen / Ford Madox Ford

Katharine Howard, clever, beautiful and out-spoken, catches the jaded eye of Henry VIII and becomes his fifth Queen. Corruption and fear pervade the King’s court and the dimly lit corridors vibrate with the intrigues of unscrupulous courtiers hungry for power. Soon Katharine is locked in a vicious battle with Thomas Cromwell, the Lord Privy Seal, as she fights for political and religious change. Ford saw the past as an integral part of present experience and understanding and his sharply etched vision of the court of Henry VIII echoes aspects of Edwardian England as well as exploring the pervading influence of power, lies, fear and anxiety on people’s lives.