The tumultuous relationship between Katharine Howard and England’s King Henry VIII was inextricably entwined with the rise to power and eventual fall of Thomas Cromwell, who served as the Lord Privy Seal. In this fictionalized account from Ford Madox Ford, the once-innocent Katharine begins to be swept up in the machinations of Henry VIII’s court, causing many unforeseen alliances, betrayals, and complications.

Now back in print, Ford's highly acclaimed portrait of Henry VIII's controversial fifth Queen This masterful performance of historical fiction centers on Katharine Howard—clever, beautiful, and outspoken—who 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 the present experience and understanding, and his sharply etched vision of the court of Henry VIII—first published in 1908—echoes aspects of Edwardian England as it explores the pervading influence of power, lies, fear, and anxiety on people's lives.