Book excerpt: As a woman, a foreigner and a Catholic, with influence over her husband, King Charles I, Henrietta Maria was viewed with deep suspicion by many of her subjects. In this book, Michelle White directly tackles issues of Henrietta's actual and perceived influence, and how it was portrayed in popular print by those sympathetic and hostile to her cause. Addressing key themes of patriarchy and sectarianism, she explores the reasons why Henrietta aroused such passions, and whether concerns about her role were justified. In so doing, she presents a vivid portrait of a strong willed woman who had a profound influence on the course of English history.