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There have been many biographies of royal Tudor women published over the years, and new ones keep coming. There have been far fewer written about non-royal women of the era, and many of those have been short on details about the subject of the biography. It is necessary, of course, to provide context for the life story in question, and some educated guesses are also necessary, given the refusal of early historians to take an interest in the lives of non-royal women, but Griggs's biography has much more detail about its subject's life than most, and she chooses to focus, when details are scarce, on Kat's family and close associates rather than generalized history, giving the reader a clearer insight into Kat's world and how she would have viewed the events she lived through.

The picture that emerges, well documented, shows us a Kat Astley who was politically savvy, a steadying influence on her young royal charge, and an influential figure at court once Elizabeth became queen. Griggs's text and footnotes provide sources and she includes an extensive bibliography. The book as a whole is an impressive accomplishment.

It is a delightful bonus that Kat's story is also "a good read."

To see all of Kathy's review visit her Facebook page a Who's Who of Tudor Women

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1742855204514409&set=pb.100063698370736.-2207520000

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