Maid of the King's Court

February 20, 2017
In this YA debut, Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces in London (which manages the Tower of London and other sites) delivers a story that’s both delightfully playful and rich in historical detail. It’s 1535 England, Henry the VIII is king, and Eliza Camperdowne has just been betrothed on her 12th birthday, in order to safeguard her family’s future. When the engagement devolves into scandal, Eliza is sent to a finishing school of sorts to “learn how people behave in good society.” Later, she becomes a maid of honor in the king’s court, where she is to wait on Queen Anne herself, but she winds up outlasting Anne and Henry’s subsequent wives as well. Worsley’s accessible prose, headstrong heroine, and sense of romance may remind readers of Shannon Hale’s work. Eliza’s wit and many courtly adventures make her an engaging companion as she transforms from a naïve girl who describes the king as having “exchanged” Anne Boleyn for a new wife to one intimately involved in the machinations of the court. Ages 12–up. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates.

February 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-The fate of the noble Camperdowne family rests on the marriage prospects of the baron's spunky but dutiful daughter Elizabeth. After a canceled betrothal, Elizabeth is sent to live with distant relatives in the hopes of furthering her prospects. At the age of 15, she becomes a maid of honor at the court of Henry VIII, along with her cousin and rival, Katherine Howard. Instead of securing an advantageous marriage, Elizabeth befriends Ned Barsby, a courtier of low standing. As it becomes increasingly clear that the king is displeased with his current wife, Elizabeth's father asks her to aim to become Henry's mistress. But Katherine beats her to the game and becomes not only the king's mistress but also his next wife and queen. After two years, word spreads that Katherine is having an affair, and she is arrested and later beheaded. The dialogue-heavy prose and the courtly intrigues make this historical novel a riveting page-turner. Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces and a British television personality, uses the perspective of a fictitious cousin to explore the motives of the ill-fated Katherine Howard. Although some historical details are altered-the character of Francis Manham, Katherine's lover, is a blend of at least three different individuals, for example-much of the novel comes from documented events, such as the scene in which Queen Anne of Cleves's staff must inform her "exactly how babies were made."

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Starred review from January 15, 2017
Hampton Court curator Worsley's debut novel for teens digs into the danger that lies just beneath the glamour of Henry VIII's court.Newly trained maid-in-waiting Elizabeth Camperdowne is sent to court to find a rich husband and save her father, Lord Anthony, from financial ruin. Wild-natured, red-haired white Elizabeth and her "luxuriantly plump and sloe-eyed" cousin Katherine Howard arrive at court in time for the lecherous Henry's marriage to wife No. 4, Anne of Cleves, whom they will attend. After Henry sends Anne into exile for failing to consummate their marriage, the narrative proceeds to follow Katherine's rise from mistress to fifth wife and her subsequent execution for adultery. Elizabeth, the fictional narrator, must remain vigilant; one wrong move can cost her her life, but she does have a choice, which gives her more power than she thought she possessed. She can seize the opportunity to save her family by becoming the king's mistress, or she can risk everything to be with the man she loves, bastard-born page Ned Barsby. The novel is a satisfying blend of fact and artistic liberty: the women's duties as maids of the court are drawn from history, but Katherine's illicit lover is an amalgam of her two real-life lovers. The retention of British spellings and the inclusion of lesser-known customs of the period add further authenticity. Exhilarating, romantic, and illuminating; has the potential to turn casual readers into Tudor history buffs. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 15 & up)

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February 1, 2017
Grades 8-11 Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne has understood her role in life since childhood: she is meant to marry a rich man who will bring wealth and stability to her once-great home. At first, the responsibility to strengthen her family name fills her with pride, but as she adjusts to the court of King Henry VIII, she becomes uncertain of what she wishes her future to be. This fast-paced historical novel will captivate anyone who loves tales about the lives of royalty, wherein real people (Henry VIII, Katherine Howard) appear alongside the fictional. Early chapters, before Elizabeth's arrival at court, do drag a little, but debut author Worsley, a television historian, captures the mood and the details of each moment in the royal home. The strong theme of a place in court not being quite what it seems is reminiscent of Kiera Cass' The Selection (2012). A thrilling read that is sure to have readers running to a history book, eager to learn more about the facts behind the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)