The Queen's Governess

Karen Harper has written a couple of books on the Tudors. I read "The Last Boleyn" and it was pretty good. "The Queen's Governess" looked at Kat Ashley, who was in charge of Queen Elizabeth from the time she was a small child, like a second mother to her, really. I liked Harper's portrayal of Kat as something other than a besotted ninny. After all, she practically single handedly raised one of the most intelligent women in the world and was a close companion to her as well as a guardian. She survived and stayed in favor with King Henry VIII through five wives (not something too many others can claim), so she must have had some wicked sharp diplomacy skills. All in all it was a good read.