Question from Elizabeth M. - Biographies of Catherine of Aragon
I have a copy of Garrett Mattingly's biography of Katherine of Aragon, written in the early 1940s. Has there ever been another biography of her? I am just curious why she has seemingly not been tackled by biographers since Mattingly's work.
It is odd, I've wondered that myself. Perhaps Mattingly's book is such a landmark that others are intimidated. There's quite a raft of Mary Tudor books coming out (Linda Porter's, Judith Richards recently and Anna Whitelock's next year) -- perhaps this will prompt a modern scholarly reevaluation of Catherine's life.
If someone does produce a new English-language study of Catherine's life I hope, among other things, that the author finally settles that issue of "yellow for mourning in Spain."
Perhaps I shall take up the challenge once my bio of Jane Grey goes to press. I've been looking for a next topic, and this would be a good one since I more ro less specilize in ealry 16th century aristocratic and royal women.
phd historian, please do!! It would be a real contribution to Tudor scholarship -- as well as to the readers of this blog. I'm sure your treatment would be both scholarly and readable for the wider public, and offer new insights into Catherine's behavior and motivations.
Alysia, I am eagerly awaiting it too! It will not go to press until 2009. Publishing is a very lengthy and tedious process. Leanda de Lisle, for example, jus thad her own book delayed by 4 months thanks to an error in printing. So for now, we all have to wait on the powers at the presses. But I will post a notice when a firm release date is known.
Foose, thanks for the vote of confidence. Once the LJG book is closer to release, I will begin looking seriously into the possibility of making Katherine of Aragon my next project.
It is odd, I've wondered that myself. Perhaps Mattingly's book is such a landmark that others are intimidated. There's quite a raft of Mary Tudor books coming out (Linda Porter's, Judith Richards recently and Anna Whitelock's next year) -- perhaps this will prompt a modern scholarly reevaluation of Catherine's life.
ReplyDeleteIf someone does produce a new English-language study of Catherine's life I hope, among other things, that the author finally settles that issue of "yellow for mourning in Spain."
Perhaps I shall take up the challenge once my bio of Jane Grey goes to press. I've been looking for a next topic, and this would be a good one since I more ro less specilize in ealry 16th century aristocratic and royal women.
ReplyDeletephd historian, please do!! It would be a real contribution to Tudor scholarship -- as well as to the readers of this blog. I'm sure your treatment would be both scholarly and readable for the wider public, and offer new insights into Catherine's behavior and motivations.
ReplyDeletephd when does your book go to press? I'm eagerly awaiting it :D
ReplyDeleteAlysia, I am eagerly awaiting it too! It will not go to press until 2009. Publishing is a very lengthy and tedious process. Leanda de Lisle, for example, jus thad her own book delayed by 4 months thanks to an error in printing. So for now, we all have to wait on the powers at the presses. But I will post a notice when a firm release date is known.
ReplyDeleteFoose, thanks for the vote of confidence. Once the LJG book is closer to release, I will begin looking seriously into the possibility of making Katherine of Aragon my next project.
ReplyDelete