The first novel in Ford's trilogy about Katharine Howard. It is set in the court of Henry VIII, where the young, serious Katharine arrives and attracts the king's notice. Powerful men such as Thomas Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk pursue rival aims in matters of religion and state. Katharine, with strong beliefs of her own, becomes a figure in these struggles. Ford draws a richly detailed picture of Tudor life and politics, and the book is an early example of his skill with historical fiction.