I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the Tudor dynasty.
For far too long, Arthur has been an afterthought - his name bandied about only in regards to whether or not he and his wife, the indomitable Catherina of Aragon (my favorite), consummated their marriage before he died unexpectedly a few months after the ceremony.
Here, the author uses his meticulous research to bring Arthur to life, to show us there is so much to the young man who died before he could reach his full potential.
And believe me, this loss is so much more devastating than it appears.
We do not know for sure what kind of king Arthur would have been (being raised by Henry VII, it is not outside the bounds of reality to suspect he could have become as paranoid and frugal. Nor should we completely doubt he might have been any less of a tyrant than Henry VIII). However, in Catherine of Aragon, Arthur would have had a suitable match that possibly could have curbed some of the negative impulses. Both had been raised from birth to prepare for their ascent to a throne, and given responsibilities and the education to ensure they were ready. Arthur's little brother Henry was given no such duties and was outmatched and outwitted by Catherine at every turn once he sought a divorce. He was still a highly-educated prince, but Henry's destination before Arthur's death was likely the Church. It's no wonder as to why Anne Boleyn told him to stop going head-to-head with her - Catherine bested him in any exchange.
Even though his life was short, Arthur lived through one of England's most turbulent periods. Henry VII's reign was never truly secure, nor was his claim to the throne any stronger than anyone else's (and honestly, his was a lot weaker). But Arthur's birth represented just the security Henry VII sought.
Surviving documents from Arthur's life show just how well he'd been prepared to wear the crown when his time came. By the age of three he'd been sent to the Welsh border as the Prince of Wales. Though he did not rule on his own given his age, these court documents show a well-run government moving briskly and competently along. As he grew, Arthur took on more of a role within this government, seeing courtiers and petitioners, continuing his education, making decisions, determined to do his duty as the future king.
Learning more about Arthur in relation to those around him was the most intriguing part of this book for me - especially in regards to Catherine. We know that after Arthur's death, Catherine was left in limbo for years. We also know that Prince Henry was determined to marry her even as his father dragged his feet, and that Prince Henry married her as soon he became King Henry. Despite what would come two decades later, Catherina and Henry seem much more of some kind of a love match than Catherine and Arthur had been, though both marriages would obviously have served their countries well. The reason I say so is only because I discovered through this text that neither Catherine nor Arthur made any effort to learn one another's primary language, in all the years they were betrothed. It was not until Catherine married Henry that she began to fully immerse herself in the English language. Arthur made no effort to learn Spanish, so the couple communicated in French and Latin.
The author also does a fantastic job dispelling the myths over Arthur's supposed sickly health. There's this perception, because of his early death, that Henry VII constantly worried for his son because of poor health. Surviving evidence shows quite the opposite - that he was a lively, active boy. He was not frail, but actually a strong young man gifted at both dance and archery.
While there is still so much we will never know for certain. the author's thorough research and use of surviving sources serves the text well. He fleshes out someone who has been confined to the shadowy edges of history for far too long, and brings the boy-who-would've-been-king to life.
Highly recommended.
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