Comparing Catherine of Aragon in British and Spanish Women’s Historical Novels

What is it about?

This article compares how women writers from Britain and Spain portray Catherine of Aragon in their historical novels. It highlights how she played a key role but has often been overlooked inboth history and fiction. The study looks at works by authors such as Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Hilary Mantel, and their Spanish counterparts Pilar Queralt del Hierro, Magdalena Lasala, and Almudena de Artega, demonstrating how these novels attempt to give new voices to Catherine and challenge traditional, male-centered stories about history.

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Why is it important?

This article is important because it shows how women authors use historical fiction to revise and expand official histories that have often ignored or marginalised female figures. By comparing British and Spanish perspectives on Catherine of Aragon, the work highlights the power of women’s writing to reshape cultural narratives, promote gender equality, and recover overlooked histories.

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