I am a huge history buff especially when it comes to the
Tudors. When I saw THE FAVORED QUEEN, a historical fiction
based on Henry VIII's third bride Jane Seymour, I had to get
my hands on it. Within it's cover I found an imaginative
retelling of the shy queen's time at court. I was a bit
shocked when I realized that the story started not as Jane
begins
her love affair with the infamous king, but when she was a
young maid of honor in Queen Catherine's service. Through
the story we look into the life of a young lady living at
court and the dangers of being so close to the political
giants of the country. The times were incredibly difficult
for young Jane due to the power struggle King Henry was
involved in. It is not easy to discard a beloved but
infertile queen for a woman thought of as a whore throughout
the kingdom.
The majority of this story focused on the time before Jane
Seymour became queen. The reader is given alternate views of
what the personalities of the main players were like during
this turbulent time in British history. A mixture of
historical events and fictitious encounters develop into an
intriguing story that any lover of historical fiction will
enjoy. The reader is given a window to view what life at
court may of been like, including all the glamor and
danger. There are fictional characters included in the story
to add drama and to fill in holes that historical accounts
have left us. They add spice and a new perspective on a
story that has been told numerous time over the years. As a
novel meant to be historical entertainment, THE FAVORED
QUEEN breathes life and excitement into a story that is
studied and scrutinized by many across the world.
Born to a noble family, Jane Seymour is sent to King Henry
VIII’s Court as Maid of Honor to Queen Catherine of Aragon.
There she works alongside Anne Boleyn and witnesses Anne’s
seduction of the king and her plot to supplant Queen
Catherine. The people of England suffer through many trials
and tribulations: the terribly contagious and deadly
sweating sickness, the ousting of their beloved Queen
Catherine, and a drastic shift of religious faith.
Throughout this, Jane becomes a trusted confidante to King
Henry, who often turns to her in his times of trouble.
When Anne Boleyn is crowned Queen of England, no one is
safe from her wrath. Desperate to provide the king with the
son Queen Catherine never did, Anne will stop at nothing to
have her way—even if that means murder. Jane’s influence on
the king grows, and when Anne is unable to provide an heir
to the throne, King Henry asks her to do him the honor of
becoming his next queen. Suddenly Jane must decide what is
more important to her—her loyalty to her king or her
loyalty to her heart.
In this beautifully written historical novel, Carolly
Erickson illuminates the world of the Tudor Court through
the unique eyes of Jane Seymour, the third wife of King
Henry VIII and the first wife who could fulfill his biggest
wish—a son.
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