Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of England’s King Henry VIII, has rarely received a positive portrayal in fiction. Throughout the 20th century in books, tv series, and movies, she was depicted as frivolous, immature, hyper-sexual, forgettable, and at times cruel. In recent years, the popular musical Six has tried to reclaim Katherine’s story and has made her a cultural icon in the era of the #MeToo Movement. But are any of these depictions capturing the true Katherine Howard?
In today’s episode, I will be joined by Leigh Wakefield, a historian whose recent masters dissertation focused on the cultural portrayals of Katherine Howard and how this has impacted Katherine’s legacy for future generations.
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