This is an old school historical novel from the 1960s by a writer who was found in libraries, along with Dorothy Dunnett, as one of the few historical novelists still in print in the 1970s when the received wisdom among publishers was that there was no market in historicals. (A self fulfilling prophecy given the lack of material in print.) Luckily the advent of the Cadfael series from 1977, pitched as a crime series that just happened to be set in the C12th and massively popularised by the TV series, together with the literary 'Name of the Rose' and its well-received film, relaunched the genre. Initially, there was a flood of crime novels set in past eras but things settled down and straight historical novels began to be published, creating the immersive and widely-read genre of today. (I don't think it's a coincidence that Ken Follett only made the switch from contemporary thrillers at the end of the 1980s).

Anyway, for many years, Plaidy was one of the few carrying the flag for fiction set in historical periods prior to our own. Unfortunately, her style does not resonate with modern readers as it comes across as pretty 'dry'. There is 'head hopping' in scenes where the viewpoint suddenly switches between participants and a fair amount of info dumping which made things a little hard going at times. There was some interest in the various characters focused upon, tracing the career of Thomas Wolsey as a pompous and fabulously wealthy cleric at the right hand of the King to his descent into a pathetic figure in a reduced household and eventually summoned to stand trial. Similarly, there was a shorter thread from the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell, rather different than more recent portrayals of the character: although loyal to Wolsey to a point, he also has his eye on the main chance.

Katherine is another main character along with Henry VIII and it was good, for once, to see his nasty side emerging years before the incident at the jousting match which some writers blame for a personality change - as this novel authentically shows and various actual history books I've read, there was plenty of evidence of the King's vile temper and vindictiveness long before his accident. Anne Boleyn though is only a background character who shows unremitting spite against Queen Katherine and Mary and their supporters, and also Wolsey despite his being the Queen's 'enemy'.

Technically, the matter of obtaining a divorce or more strictly accurate an annulment of his marriage was 'the King's Great Matter' but I suppose the publishers thought 'secret' sounded better as a title and whenever it's referred to in the book.

I found the scenes near the end of the dying Katherine comforted by her friend Maria who managed to win through to her side despite obstacles, and their shared childhood reminiscences of Spain, quite touching. But on the whole, I don't think I would bother with another of the writer's works. Overall, a workmanlike 3 star rating from me. ( )

I have been collecting Jean Plaidy novels for more than 10 years. I read her Norman Trilogy years ago and loved it....so I started on a mission to collect every historical novel she wrote. At the time, her books were pretty much out of print...and hard to find. Several have been released in new editions though, so it's much easier to find her books now. I have made it part of my annual reading goals this year to focus on Jean Plaidy. I was so caught up in finding all the books that I never took the time to actually read them! Silly me! I can free up almost an entire bookcase of storage space in my library if I read my Plaidy books and donate them to charity. So....getting started!

I love the drama and politics of the Tudor Era...so I decided to start with Plaidy's Tudor Saga. There are 11 books in the series. The King's Secret Matter is the 4th book (the last in a trilogy about Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs first wife). There is a lot of political wrangling in this book. Henry wants to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn....and he's willing to do just about anything to accomplish that goal. We all know the story....and its outcome. I loved reading Plaidy's version....she creates a dramatic historical fiction picture of how things played out. This isn't historical romance. Plaidy takes history and fleshes out the scenes....puts the humanity, emotion and drama into it. No sex....just intrigue, politics and power plays.

I am loving the Tudor Saga so far! So much plotting, disappointment, and intrigue. This book really gave insight into Henry's personality changes....he became obsessed with having a male heir, he made rash, emotional, violent decisions. He really is larger than life and, for me, one of the most interesting English monarchs to study....but he was a terrible king. Paranoid. Mentally unbalanced. Obsessed. Impulsive. I can't imagine the stress, fear and strain that his wives endured. Makes it such an interesting era in history to read about.

I'm glad I'm finally reading my Plaidy books! Excellent novels!

Jean Plaidy is only one of many pen-names used by author Eleanor Hibbert. Another of her pseudonyms that many readers might recognize is Victoria Holt. Plaidy was the name she used when writing historical fiction. She used Victoria Holt for romantic suspense novels. She also wrote as Philippa Carr and several other pseudonyms. Quite the prolific writer!

On to the next book -- Murder Most Royal! ( )

I liked this fourth Tudor book more than the first two, but not as much as the third. The pace often drags, and little action occurs.

Cardinal Wolsey is the most vivid of the characters. The author also does a good job of making me feel sympathy for the cardinal when his power starts to wane. The further he drops in status, the more I sympathise, despite his former arrogance.

The Tudor series is not a string of novels written one after the other; they were written at different stages during Plaidy’s life. The first book was the last to be written. This subsequent three are a continuation of the Daughters of Spain series.

As with all Plaidy novels, “The King’s Secret Matter” features a lot of repeated info and dry facts. The main reason why her works are so dry is because there’s far too much *telling*, as opposed to *showing*. The reader is often told what happened in a few sentences, when the author could’ve dramatized scenes to show what happened.

Something else Plaidy’s guilty of is her continuous use of the passive voice. In this novel we’re told that: “At the door of the Palace stood the Queen holding the hand of her daughter,” as opposed to the active voice: “The queen stood holding her daughter’s hand at the place door.”

Passive voice = passive prose.

Another annoying trait this author has is writing with hindsight. Her characters say prophetic things, which is too unrealistic, or they wish for things – repeatedly – until they either get their wish or die trying.

For example, Katherine of Aragon won’t allow her devotees to bad-mouth Anne Boleyn, as Katherine is convinced that Anne’s fortunes will turn sour. At one point when Katherine alludes to Anne’s uncertain future, “her women looked after her in wonderment. Then they shivered, for she spoke with the voice of a prophet.”

The future was unknown for these people as it is for us, but in these stories they have premonitions, which I can’t believe the real people these characters are based on would ever have, such as Katherine prophesising her own death: “some premonition told her that her end was near.”

It’s all down to the author writing with hindsight, which I find very irritating.

Something about Jean Plaidy’s books keep me coming back for more. Perhaps it’s her obvious love for English history, which I share, that draws me back. I wish she’d focused less on turning out as greater quantity of novels as possible and concentrated more on quality writing.

“The King’s Secret Matter” has some good moments, and I liked more than I disliked, but it would’ve benefited from ten or more redrafts, followed by a meticulous inspection by a copy-editor.

The twelve-year marriage of Henry and Katharine has declined from an idyllic union into an uneasy stalemate. The king's love for his aging queen has grown cold, and he is angry with her failure to give him the heir to the throne he desperately wants. When the seductive Anne Boleyn arrives at court, the king is captivated by her dark beauty and bold spirit, and becomes obsessed with his desire to possess her. With his chief advisor, Cardinal Wolsey, the king devises a secret plot to declare the marriage with Katharine null and void. But Katharine refuses to surrender to his wishes and fights desperately to retain her title and safeguard her daughter, Mary.

My Thoughts:

This is the fourth in the Tudor series by Miss Plaidy. The story continues with Henry and Katherine twelve years in to their marriage and still no heir to the throne. Henry is getting worried and along comes Anne Boleyn who gives him hope, but first he must rid of Katherine.

As always the book is well written and full of historical facts. Again as I have said before the books are slightly dated and and don’t have the passion that is in todays historical reads. The book is still a very good read and won’t dissapoint any Tudor or historical fiction fans. ( )