FROUDE, ANTHONY - THE DIVORCE OF CATHERINE OF ARAGON - (1897 IN SOUTH AFRICA

Please note that this illustration shows a modern reprint - my book is the Longmans 1897 version - book still in good condition for its age with maroon boards and silver lettering *** This book was an interesting take on the so-called divorce between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and its subsequent impact on history. What made it interesting is that Froude expresses a number of views that run contrary to the conventional views held by most historians. Never have I read an author who placed so much blame on Catherine and to an extent, their daughter Mary. He's also the first I've read that viewed the execution of Thomas More as justifiable and is one of the few to suggest that Anne Bolyn, and those implicated along with her, were likely guilty (again, to an extent) of the crimes of which they were accused. I didn't feel that Froude made the most compelling case in Henry's favor, but that may have been due to the fact that based on other readings, I tend to agree with more conventional interpretations of that episode in history. It was also hard to ignore the author's obvious hatred of Catholics, which likely colored his interpretation of the facts, and, perhaps owing to the time period in which the book was written, there are strong currents of nationalism that likely also affected his interpretation of the facts.  It was still a great read, and it was intriguing to approach one of the most famous events in history from a different angle. *N.B.*   If you buy more than one book from me you only pay R 6 postage on each additional book – see what else I have to offer, it might be worth your while.