Now back in print, Ford's highly acclaimed portrait of Henry VIII's controversial fifth QueenThis masterful performance of historical fiction centers on Katharine Howard--clever, beautiful, and outspoken--who catches the jaded eye of Henry VIII and becomes his fifth Queen. Corruption and fear pervade the King's court, and the dimly lit corridors vibrate with the intrigues of unscrupulous courtiers hungry for power. Soon Katharine is locked in a vicious battle with Thomas Cromwell, the Lord Privy Seal, as she fights for political and religious change.Ford saw the past as an integral part of the present experience and understanding, and his sharply etched vision of the court of Henry VIII--first published in 1908--echoes aspects of Edwardian England as it explores the pervading influence of power, lies, fear, and anxiety on people's lives. "The Fifth Queen is a magnificent bravura piece." --Graham Greene"The best historical romance of this century." --The Times Literary Supplement"A noble conception--the swan song of historical romance." --Joseph Conrad