Philippa Gregory -The King's Curse

review written by Maggie Perkovic & read live on the bookshow 2nd october 2014.
I do like this author's writing skill,but I have an annoyance with the way she tweaks History for her own ends.
She did it in "The Other Boleyn Girl", making Anne Boleyn the older sister, which
everyone knows Anne came after Mary, hence her closeness to her brother as
they were not very many years apart.
In this book she tells of the "Curse" which fell on all those with a greater claim to
the throne than Henry Tudor. The Plantagents fell foul of this curse and having lost
many of her relations because of this, the Countess of Salisbury whose father was
close enough to the throne to be eliminated and she was living on a thread and
knew that the young Henry was ready to destroy any one who defied him and boasted
of their right to rule instead of the Tudors  whose claim was tenuous indeed.
The story is told in the first person, and she appears to have a strong connection
with Katherine of Aragon whose father ordered Henry VIII to get rid of her brother
before she would be sent to England with her considerable dowry. Despite this
they became very close and indeed the Countess cared for Mary, Katherine's
daughter when mother and daughter were separated.
Well written and absorbing but a few facts enhanced to make a good book I fear.
Even so, I do recommend this book.