Catherine Parr (born in 1512) is chiefly known for being the last of the British King Henry 8th’s six wives. With four husbands of her own, over the course of her lifetime, she was no slouch in the marrying department, either.
But Catherine was also a writer and translator. She was the first woman in England to have a printed book – Prayers or Meditations – published under her own name. As well as English, she was fluent in French, Italian and Latin, and learned Spanish as an adult.
Her translations include Psalms or Prayers taken out of Holy Scriptures, a work by Bishop John Fisher originally published in Latin. She would go on to translate widely, focusing largely on religious texts – which in those Reformation days also carried political weight.
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