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Six Tudor Queens #2
Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession
Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, is the second captivating novel in the Six Tudor Queens series. An unforgettable portrait of the ambitious woman whose fate we know all too well, but whose true motivations may surprise you. Essential reading for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.
'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian
The young woman who changed the course of history.
Fresh from the palaces of Burgundy and France, Anne draws attention at the English court, embracing the play of courtly love.
But when the King commands, nothing is ever a game.
Anne has a spirit worthy of a crown - and the crown is what she seeks. At any price.
ANNE BOLEYN. The second of Henry's Queens. Her story.
History tells us why she died. This powerful novel shows her as she lived.
SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.
'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian
The young woman who changed the course of history.
Fresh from the palaces of Burgundy and France, Anne draws attention at the English court, embracing the play of courtly love.
But when the King commands, nothing is ever a game.
Anne has a spirit worthy of a crown - and the crown is what she seeks. At any price.
ANNE BOLEYN. The second of Henry's Queens. Her story.
History tells us why she died. This powerful novel shows her as she lived.
SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
About the author
Alison Weir
81 books7,740 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
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August 12, 2018
I cried my eyes out...
September 6, 2017
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Anne Boleyn is eleven-years-old when she leaves her noble English family’s estate to serve at the royal court of the Netherlands. She is shuffled from one estate to another before her ambitious father arranges for Anne to work as a maiden to Queen Katherine, wife of Henry VIII. Before long, Anne inadvertently catches Henry’s eye, who begs her to be his mistress. Though she initially spurns his advances, he remains persistent and Anne soon realizes his affections could be worked to improve her status and that of her family. Anne decides to play along, unaware that her machinations will be the cause of her undoing.
Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession is the second book in the Six Tudor Queens series (in which each book is dedicated to recounting the life of one of King Henry VIII’s wives). Spanning from 1512 to 1536, Anne’s life is examined from the time when she is eleven years of age living in her family’s Hever Castle to the moment when the light of life leaves her eyes forever.
Because Henry VIII courts Anne Boleyn while he’s still married to Queen Katherine, some of Anne’s story overlaps with events from the first book in the series, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen . Having read books one and two back-to-back, the intermittent overlap was evident but caused minimal irritation, due in large part to the intrigue of the events being recounted from Anne’s perspective.
Based on decades of extensive research, Weir gives one interpretation of Anne Boleyn’s life, charting her transformation from a demure and obedient girl to an empowered, free-thinking adult woman. When Anne sets off for the Netherlands at the age of eleven, she is imbued with the understanding that her life will always be ruled by men.
Anne and her brothers and sister had been brought up to render unconditional obedience [to their father]. When she and [her sister] married, their husbands would take over this role. It had been drummed into them both that women were weak creatures and should always be subject to the wise dominion of men.
However, while working in the Netherlands, and later in France, Anne is influenced by her progressive female employers. Encouraged to think for herself, and given access to literature penned by feminist author, Christine de Pizan, Anne adopts unconventional attitudes about the roles of men and women.
It was wrong, surely, that men had the right to make women take husbands against their will. She would never let anyone force her into marriage!
No, she would never let [a man take advantage of her]. No man would have the chance. In fact, she was resolved never to have anything to do with the perfidious, dangerous, bestial creatures.
In due time, Anne grows to be a sophisticated young woman. She becomes “aware of her budding figure and the admiring glances of the young men” and learns how to “flash her dark eyes, swish her skirt or sway her hips to effect.” As her body becomes more womanly, Anne is delighted to realize that she can enjoy “mastery over the opposite sex” by shrewdly employing her own sexual prowess to her advantage. Nonetheless, she carefully guards her virtue, determined to never “allow a man to make a fool of her.”
Try as she might to retain a sense of autonomy, Anne falls in love and, in giving her heart to another, inadvertently weakens her resolve. When her affections are twisted by another for the purpose of political gain, Anne’s heart is shattered and she is permanently hardened by the experience.
She wished, how she wished, that she had given a better account of herself, put in his place, exposed him for what he was. But her moment would come. She did not know when or how, but she and her family would see him brought down. She had vowed it. He would suffer, as he had made her suffer.
Anne’s broken heart is not yet mended when Henry VIII begins his advances, which she initially rejects: “Your wife I cannot be, both in respect of my unworthiness, and also because you have a wife already. Your mistress I will not be!” However, Henry is relentless and Anne eventually arrives at a shrewd conclusion:
Thus, Weir examines one of history’s greatest mysterious: Henry VIII loved Anne Boleyn (as is evident by his letters), but did Anne love Henry?
Though concern has been raised that Weir’s negative opinions of Anne Boleyn will taint the narrative, Anne is given a fair portrayal. In fact, after being accused in Katherine of Aragon of committing offensive acts, .
Much like in Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, this book slows at about the two-thirds mark, but it picks up again in Part Four when Anne finds herself accused of .
Anne’s story concludes with a final paragraph that is eloquent yet deeply unsettling – a memorable conclusion if ever there was one.
Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession is a skillfully crafted coming-of-age story that proves an engaging exploration of an enigmatic historical figure’s life (and death).
Anne Boleyn is eleven-years-old when she leaves her noble English family’s estate to serve at the royal court of the Netherlands. She is shuffled from one estate to another before her ambitious father arranges for Anne to work as a maiden to Queen Katherine, wife of Henry VIII. Before long, Anne inadvertently catches Henry’s eye, who begs her to be his mistress. Though she initially spurns his advances, he remains persistent and Anne soon realizes his affections could be worked to improve her status and that of her family. Anne decides to play along, unaware that her machinations will be the cause of her undoing.
Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession is the second book in the Six Tudor Queens series (in which each book is dedicated to recounting the life of one of King Henry VIII’s wives). Spanning from 1512 to 1536, Anne’s life is examined from the time when she is eleven years of age living in her family’s Hever Castle to the moment when the light of life leaves her eyes forever.
Because Henry VIII courts Anne Boleyn while he’s still married to Queen Katherine, some of Anne’s story overlaps with events from the first book in the series, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen . Having read books one and two back-to-back, the intermittent overlap was evident but caused minimal irritation, due in large part to the intrigue of the events being recounted from Anne’s perspective.
Based on decades of extensive research, Weir gives one interpretation of Anne Boleyn’s life, charting her transformation from a demure and obedient girl to an empowered, free-thinking adult woman. When Anne sets off for the Netherlands at the age of eleven, she is imbued with the understanding that her life will always be ruled by men.
Anne and her brothers and sister had been brought up to render unconditional obedience [to their father]. When she and [her sister] married, their husbands would take over this role. It had been drummed into them both that women were weak creatures and should always be subject to the wise dominion of men.
However, while working in the Netherlands, and later in France, Anne is influenced by her progressive female employers. Encouraged to think for herself, and given access to literature penned by feminist author, Christine de Pizan, Anne adopts unconventional attitudes about the roles of men and women.
It was wrong, surely, that men had the right to make women take husbands against their will. She would never let anyone force her into marriage!
No, she would never let [a man take advantage of her]. No man would have the chance. In fact, she was resolved never to have anything to do with the perfidious, dangerous, bestial creatures.
In due time, Anne grows to be a sophisticated young woman. She becomes “aware of her budding figure and the admiring glances of the young men” and learns how to “flash her dark eyes, swish her skirt or sway her hips to effect.” As her body becomes more womanly, Anne is delighted to realize that she can enjoy “mastery over the opposite sex” by shrewdly employing her own sexual prowess to her advantage. Nonetheless, she carefully guards her virtue, determined to never “allow a man to make a fool of her.”
Try as she might to retain a sense of autonomy, Anne falls in love and, in giving her heart to another, inadvertently weakens her resolve. When her affections are twisted by another for the purpose of political gain, Anne’s heart is shattered and she is permanently hardened by the experience.
She wished, how she wished, that she had given a better account of herself, put in his place, exposed him for what he was. But her moment would come. She did not know when or how, but she and her family would see him brought down. She had vowed it. He would suffer, as he had made her suffer.
Anne’s broken heart is not yet mended when Henry VIII begins his advances, which she initially rejects: “Your wife I cannot be, both in respect of my unworthiness, and also because you have a wife already. Your mistress I will not be!” However, Henry is relentless and Anne eventually arrives at a shrewd conclusion:
Thus, Weir examines one of history’s greatest mysterious: Henry VIII loved Anne Boleyn (as is evident by his letters), but did Anne love Henry?
Though concern has been raised that Weir’s negative opinions of Anne Boleyn will taint the narrative, Anne is given a fair portrayal. In fact, after being accused in Katherine of Aragon of committing offensive acts, .
Much like in Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, this book slows at about the two-thirds mark, but it picks up again in Part Four when Anne finds herself accused of .
Anne’s story concludes with a final paragraph that is eloquent yet deeply unsettling – a memorable conclusion if ever there was one.
Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession is a skillfully crafted coming-of-age story that proves an engaging exploration of an enigmatic historical figure’s life (and death).
January 16, 2024
Ich weiß nicht, wann genau es anfing, aber die Tudors interessieren mich schon seit meiner Jugend. Besonders die Geschichten von Heinrich VIII und seinen sechs Ehefrauen und allen voran Anne Boleyn.
Dieser Roman ist eben das - nur ein Roman, keine Biografie. Dennoch habe ich das Gefühl, Anne Boleyn noch einmal nähergekommen zu sein. Sie ist natürlich die Hauptfigur hier und wir Leser erfahren viel über ihre Gefühle, Gedanken und Motivation.
Es könnte so oder ähnlich gewesen sein, vielleicht auch ganz anders. Egal, ich konnte hier auf jeden Fall eintauchen in ihre Welt. Es war, als wäre ich dabei gewesen. Kopfkino pur.
Das Buch hat mich dazu inspiriert, mich wieder ein bisschen mehr mit dem Thema zu befassen.
Dieser Roman ist eben das - nur ein Roman, keine Biografie. Dennoch habe ich das Gefühl, Anne Boleyn noch einmal nähergekommen zu sein. Sie ist natürlich die Hauptfigur hier und wir Leser erfahren viel über ihre Gefühle, Gedanken und Motivation.
Es könnte so oder ähnlich gewesen sein, vielleicht auch ganz anders. Egal, ich konnte hier auf jeden Fall eintauchen in ihre Welt. Es war, als wäre ich dabei gewesen. Kopfkino pur.
Das Buch hat mich dazu inspiriert, mich wieder ein bisschen mehr mit dem Thema zu befassen.
June 1, 2017
I have long been a fan of things Tudor and the work of Alison Weir. That she can create such masterful biographies and historical pieces is one thing, but to transform all that research into a piece deemed fictional (likely because of the dialogue) and allow a larger reader base to enjoy and discuss her work adds to the awe surrounding her. In this, the second book in her newest series, Weir takes the reader into the life of Anne Boleyn, whose short life offered much to Tudor and English history. Anne appears to have lived much of her life in the shadow of others, as Weir exemplifies throughout. In the early chapters, the reader seems Anne casting her gaze towards her older sister, Mary, who held her parents' favour and made a name for herself at court. While following in her sister's footsteps, Anne served in two continental courts before she was called home to spend time as a lady-in waiting to Queen Katherine. While Weir purports that Anne paled in comparison to her sister's beauty, there were a few men who sought the younger Boleyn sister's affections, including Sir Henry Norris and the King of England, Henry VIII. Dismissing the affectionate advances of both while serving at court, Anne tried to serve her queen as effectively as possible. The latter Henry would not desist in his approaches, as history has helped us see seemed to be his modus operandi throughout his reign. While Anne stood firm, she was counselled not to rebuff the king for too long and eventually entered into an agreement with him, serving as his mistress but would not engage carnally until there was a dissolution of his marriage to Katherine. Weir spends much time weaving together the narrative of the multi-year journey, during which time Henry VIII tried to divorce the pious Katherine, finding roadblocks to success within both Canon Law and the Catholic Church. However, Anne never seems to have that passionate magnetism to Henry VIII that history presented (and television purported fuelled her desire to betray Queen Katherine), which might be one of the largest surprises to me in the entire novel. Weir portrays Anne as living in the shadow of Queen Katherine during this time, as Henry VIII could be seen to cower when it came to confronting his first wife. The eventual ruling by the Vatican led Henry VIII to create the Great Schism and birth of the Church of England (known as the Anglican or Episcopal Church). This break offers a natural divide in Anne's life, when she transformed from a simple woman into a dynastic member of history. Some may argue that it was less Anne than Henry's decision to part ways with Rome, but it came about because of her and for this reason, I feel Weir's elongated narrative about the lead-up is indicative to a great importance in the Anne Boleyn story.
With the dust still settling and the ink not yet dry on the new Royal Decrees, Anne agreed to marry Henry VIII with this impediment removed and soon bore him an heir, though it was not the son that had been sought. Still, Princess Elizabeth would be the apple of her father's eye, at least until a son was forthcoming. Like Katherine, Anne's attempts to have a son were troublesome, as each subsequent birth was either a stillborn or miscarriage. Fraught with concern, Anne was forced to battle with the others who held some confusing sway over Henry VIII, including his counsellors and Princess Mary, his daughter from Katherine. Anne was yet again forced to remain in the shadows, with the princess acting as pious as her mother in regards to the 'true' Queen of England. Add to this, the strain of the ongoing attempts to turn away from Rome and Henry VIII's temper was much shorter, which left Anne to face his wrath over minute concerns at court. After numerous failed attempts to bring forth a son, Anne's allure lessened in the eyes of King Henry and he sought pleasure elsewhere. With rumours swirling, Anne was forced to live in the shadow of these others, the new mistresses of Henry VIII. It was only when Anne pushed back and refused to allow other women to share Henry's affections that she found herself on the wrong side of a charge of treason. Weir supports this latter part of the narrative well, as Anne struggles to understand why she has been subjected to this charge and the apparent false accusations of her unions with the likes of the aforementioned Sir Henry Norris and her own brother, George, surface. Anne struggles to pronounce her innocence and lives in the shadow of the Tower of London, her eventual home as she awaits a verdict of beheading. Struggling throughout, Anne was forced to accept her fate, which came about through a set of purported lies and scandalous behaviour. All this because she upset a man that she likely did not love passionately. A powerful second book in the series, Weir does a masterful job at bringing Anne Boleyn to life, as well as adding depth to some of the struggles that are peppered throughout the history books. A must-read or Tudor fans who enjoy the intricacies of that time period, but would also be of interest to those who love history and all things royal.
I will admit that I have been significantly influenced in my views on Anne Boleyn by Natalie Dormer's portrayal of her during the television programme, THE TUDORS. Her beauty, her air, and even the general conniving nature of the young lady-in-waiting lweft me with a strong sentiment of a less than lovely Anne. Reading this book has given me a new outlook on Anne and has helped me piece together a better understanding of things at court during that time. It is impossible to understand the true story of Anne Boleyn without an understanding of numerous other actors who played various roles. Weir develops these characters so well and tied them together wonderfully, allowing the reader to bask in a richer and more complete narrative. While there are surely historical inaccuracies (that I know my buddy read companion will be able to recite), the story flows so seamlessly as Anne ages and changes from a naive girl into a woman who seeks to hold her own. Weir offers up a slow, but consistent, transformation of Anne throughout the piece, which is further exemplified by chapters whose focus is a particular period in time. As I mentioned above, I feel that the only thing pushing this novel into the realm of fiction would be its use of dialogue, which could not have been substantiated with complete accuracy. Still, the reader can get the sense that they are right in the middle of these historical events and conversations, which is surely a positive aspect of Weir's writing. The story is so rich and Anne has so much to offer, the reader will surely want to pace themselves, or at least pay special attention to the story, so as not to miss anything. Then, the eager reader (of which, I admit, I will not be one) can cross-reference things from the first novel and even into the third (when it is released) to see how Anne is portrayed as a minor figure there. The only major downside to the novel, in my humble opinion, is that the reader rides such a high when in the middle of it, that the crash thereafter and knowing that there is a waiting period stings even more. And don't get me started on trying to get the two short stories that accompany this series to date. UK fans should rejoice that they can easily be acquired.
Kudos, Madam Weir for bringing a key Tudor character to light in this novel. I am eager to see what else you have in store for us in the coming years.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
With the dust still settling and the ink not yet dry on the new Royal Decrees, Anne agreed to marry Henry VIII with this impediment removed and soon bore him an heir, though it was not the son that had been sought. Still, Princess Elizabeth would be the apple of her father's eye, at least until a son was forthcoming. Like Katherine, Anne's attempts to have a son were troublesome, as each subsequent birth was either a stillborn or miscarriage. Fraught with concern, Anne was forced to battle with the others who held some confusing sway over Henry VIII, including his counsellors and Princess Mary, his daughter from Katherine. Anne was yet again forced to remain in the shadows, with the princess acting as pious as her mother in regards to the 'true' Queen of England. Add to this, the strain of the ongoing attempts to turn away from Rome and Henry VIII's temper was much shorter, which left Anne to face his wrath over minute concerns at court. After numerous failed attempts to bring forth a son, Anne's allure lessened in the eyes of King Henry and he sought pleasure elsewhere. With rumours swirling, Anne was forced to live in the shadow of these others, the new mistresses of Henry VIII. It was only when Anne pushed back and refused to allow other women to share Henry's affections that she found herself on the wrong side of a charge of treason. Weir supports this latter part of the narrative well, as Anne struggles to understand why she has been subjected to this charge and the apparent false accusations of her unions with the likes of the aforementioned Sir Henry Norris and her own brother, George, surface. Anne struggles to pronounce her innocence and lives in the shadow of the Tower of London, her eventual home as she awaits a verdict of beheading. Struggling throughout, Anne was forced to accept her fate, which came about through a set of purported lies and scandalous behaviour. All this because she upset a man that she likely did not love passionately. A powerful second book in the series, Weir does a masterful job at bringing Anne Boleyn to life, as well as adding depth to some of the struggles that are peppered throughout the history books. A must-read or Tudor fans who enjoy the intricacies of that time period, but would also be of interest to those who love history and all things royal.
I will admit that I have been significantly influenced in my views on Anne Boleyn by Natalie Dormer's portrayal of her during the television programme, THE TUDORS. Her beauty, her air, and even the general conniving nature of the young lady-in-waiting lweft me with a strong sentiment of a less than lovely Anne. Reading this book has given me a new outlook on Anne and has helped me piece together a better understanding of things at court during that time. It is impossible to understand the true story of Anne Boleyn without an understanding of numerous other actors who played various roles. Weir develops these characters so well and tied them together wonderfully, allowing the reader to bask in a richer and more complete narrative. While there are surely historical inaccuracies (that I know my buddy read companion will be able to recite), the story flows so seamlessly as Anne ages and changes from a naive girl into a woman who seeks to hold her own. Weir offers up a slow, but consistent, transformation of Anne throughout the piece, which is further exemplified by chapters whose focus is a particular period in time. As I mentioned above, I feel that the only thing pushing this novel into the realm of fiction would be its use of dialogue, which could not have been substantiated with complete accuracy. Still, the reader can get the sense that they are right in the middle of these historical events and conversations, which is surely a positive aspect of Weir's writing. The story is so rich and Anne has so much to offer, the reader will surely want to pace themselves, or at least pay special attention to the story, so as not to miss anything. Then, the eager reader (of which, I admit, I will not be one) can cross-reference things from the first novel and even into the third (when it is released) to see how Anne is portrayed as a minor figure there. The only major downside to the novel, in my humble opinion, is that the reader rides such a high when in the middle of it, that the crash thereafter and knowing that there is a waiting period stings even more. And don't get me started on trying to get the two short stories that accompany this series to date. UK fans should rejoice that they can easily be acquired.
Kudos, Madam Weir for bringing a key Tudor character to light in this novel. I am eager to see what else you have in store for us in the coming years.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
February 17, 2017
This is the second book in Alison Weir’s new fiction series, following the stories of the Six Wives of Henry VIII. The first novel looked at Katherine of Aragon, concentrating on her as a young woman and wife. Of course, in this book, Katherine of Aragon appears too, as we are now looking at the story of Anne Boleyn; the woman who replaced Katherine – not as a mistress, but as a wife.
Like the previous novel, this is also very much a straightforward fictional biography. There is a real sense that Alison Weir is a master of her craft, and so knowledgeable of the time period that she easily makes you feel that you there, at Court, with the characters. This could bring new readers to historical fiction, in the way that, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” did when I first discovered the Tudors as a, much younger, reader.
Of all Henry’s wives, I personally find Anne Boleyn the most interesting. This takes her from a young girl of eleven years old, up to the end of her life. To many, Anne Boleyn is a feminist icon, to others, she is a scheming, ambitious woman, and many concentrate on her learning, intelligence and her religious reforms. I would say that Weir attempts to be fair in her writing – whether she is speaking of Katherine or Anne. She tells each novel from the point of view of the central character she is writing about and so gives us a fairly sympathetic portrayal of both. This is a difficult balance, but Weir is adept at balancing different characters and storylines.
We begin with Anne going to the court in the Netherlands as a young girl, and, later, France, before returning to England. She is always in competition with her sister, Mary, and closest to her youngest brother, George, This book is full of excellent characters – from George’s wife, Jane Rochford, to Wolsey, Cromwell and the Boleyn family; adept at advancing their place at King Henry’s court. Then, of course, there is Henry; capricious, difficult to read, changeable, emotional and unstable. The spider at the centre of a web that he knows he has ultimate control of.
Of course, you may not agree with all of Weir’s takes on events. Whether it is her early love for Henry Percy, her battles with Wolsey, the demands of her father and uncle or her feelings for Henry and Elizabeth. However, this is a fascinating, historical story and Weir tells it with flair. If you have not read the story of Anne Boleyn before, you are sure to learn a lot about a woman who gambled and, ultimately, lost. I look forward to reading the later books in this series and always enjoy Weir’s storytelling.
Like the previous novel, this is also very much a straightforward fictional biography. There is a real sense that Alison Weir is a master of her craft, and so knowledgeable of the time period that she easily makes you feel that you there, at Court, with the characters. This could bring new readers to historical fiction, in the way that, “The Other Boleyn Girl,” did when I first discovered the Tudors as a, much younger, reader.
Of all Henry’s wives, I personally find Anne Boleyn the most interesting. This takes her from a young girl of eleven years old, up to the end of her life. To many, Anne Boleyn is a feminist icon, to others, she is a scheming, ambitious woman, and many concentrate on her learning, intelligence and her religious reforms. I would say that Weir attempts to be fair in her writing – whether she is speaking of Katherine or Anne. She tells each novel from the point of view of the central character she is writing about and so gives us a fairly sympathetic portrayal of both. This is a difficult balance, but Weir is adept at balancing different characters and storylines.
We begin with Anne going to the court in the Netherlands as a young girl, and, later, France, before returning to England. She is always in competition with her sister, Mary, and closest to her youngest brother, George, This book is full of excellent characters – from George’s wife, Jane Rochford, to Wolsey, Cromwell and the Boleyn family; adept at advancing their place at King Henry’s court. Then, of course, there is Henry; capricious, difficult to read, changeable, emotional and unstable. The spider at the centre of a web that he knows he has ultimate control of.
Of course, you may not agree with all of Weir’s takes on events. Whether it is her early love for Henry Percy, her battles with Wolsey, the demands of her father and uncle or her feelings for Henry and Elizabeth. However, this is a fascinating, historical story and Weir tells it with flair. If you have not read the story of Anne Boleyn before, you are sure to learn a lot about a woman who gambled and, ultimately, lost. I look forward to reading the later books in this series and always enjoy Weir’s storytelling.
February 6, 2017
This is a very long and detailed fictional retelling of the life of Anne Boleyn: it's easy reading but at the same time is attentive to the historical sources. The problem is that Weir is not a natural fiction writer: she tends to the pedestrian ('whenever the Regent praised Anne's dancing skills, the songs she composed, or her skill with a lute, her cup ran over'), the simplistic ('she had given every appearance of being smitten with him'), and sometimes the hilariously mundane ('Madame Louise gave him a piece of her mind': that's Louise de Savoy and her son King Francois I!). Alongside that is an obsession with rape (poor Mary Boleyn is raped not once but twice by two separate kings) and murder, both of which would be positively libelous.
The backbone of the story in term of events and the re-use of sources such as Henry VIII's actual letters to Anne Boleyn seem to be somewhat at odds with the fictionalised characters, relationships and dialogue: there's a lot of Mills and Boon-esque descriptions ('pouting lips, and fair skin.. a tendril of flaming red hair') and while bodices are not actually ripped, all those rapes imply something similar. On top of that, we have a fictionalised calf-love between Anne and one of her courtiers where both of them gaze adoringly at each other for years, and we're expected to believe that during Henry's protracted courtship of Anne, not just does he not have sex with her but he doesn't have sex with anyone else either: '"You realise I have not bedded with a woman in years?" He looked at her in anguish, longing in his eyes'. But, then, on the other hand, another famous historical personage is a sex-addict: "It's as if I want to devour women; it's all I think about. day and night. I'm out of control, and powerless to change. I've - I've even forced widows and deflowered maidens".
As Weir says in her afterword, Anne Boleyn remains a historical enigma: we have few direct historical sources and many of those are themselves politically biased e.g. from Imperial ambassadors supporting Katherine of Aragon, the Emperor's aunt. Weir does, at least, know the sources and uses them in full, and also creates a young Anne Boleyn being educated at the courts of Margaret of Austria and the French court.
Ultimately, this fails to convince me that this *is* Anne: she's too petulant with her shrieking and her screaming and crying - from what we know, Anne was far more intelligent than this. Henry, too, is a weakened, emasculated figure, admiring 'her taste in furnishings' and crying when she's mean to him: "Really, you could be a little kinder. Katherine never in her life used such ill words to me." There were tears in his eyes'.
For all my giggles and misgivings, I romped through this in a couple of days' commuting: it may borrow imaginatively from chick-lit and romance, but the underlying bones of the story are based on the sources. I just wish the characters had had more stature and conviction about them: 3.5 stars.
Review from an ARC from Amazon Vine and NetGalley
The backbone of the story in term of events and the re-use of sources such as Henry VIII's actual letters to Anne Boleyn seem to be somewhat at odds with the fictionalised characters, relationships and dialogue: there's a lot of Mills and Boon-esque descriptions ('pouting lips, and fair skin.. a tendril of flaming red hair') and while bodices are not actually ripped, all those rapes imply something similar. On top of that, we have a fictionalised calf-love between Anne and one of her courtiers where both of them gaze adoringly at each other for years, and we're expected to believe that during Henry's protracted courtship of Anne, not just does he not have sex with her but he doesn't have sex with anyone else either: '"You realise I have not bedded with a woman in years?" He looked at her in anguish, longing in his eyes'. But, then, on the other hand, another famous historical personage is a sex-addict: "It's as if I want to devour women; it's all I think about. day and night. I'm out of control, and powerless to change. I've - I've even forced widows and deflowered maidens".
As Weir says in her afterword, Anne Boleyn remains a historical enigma: we have few direct historical sources and many of those are themselves politically biased e.g. from Imperial ambassadors supporting Katherine of Aragon, the Emperor's aunt. Weir does, at least, know the sources and uses them in full, and also creates a young Anne Boleyn being educated at the courts of Margaret of Austria and the French court.
Ultimately, this fails to convince me that this *is* Anne: she's too petulant with her shrieking and her screaming and crying - from what we know, Anne was far more intelligent than this. Henry, too, is a weakened, emasculated figure, admiring 'her taste in furnishings' and crying when she's mean to him: "Really, you could be a little kinder. Katherine never in her life used such ill words to me." There were tears in his eyes'.
For all my giggles and misgivings, I romped through this in a couple of days' commuting: it may borrow imaginatively from chick-lit and romance, but the underlying bones of the story are based on the sources. I just wish the characters had had more stature and conviction about them: 3.5 stars.
Review from an ARC from Amazon Vine and NetGalley
November 12, 2017
(This got long; buckle in, folks.)
First off, I have to say that this was the most thorough fictional portrayal of Anne I’ve yet read - as it should be, clocking in at almost 550 pages. As with most of Alison Weir’s novels it was an entertaining read that kept me engaged. And as with most of Alison Weir’s novels it also had things that annoyed the hell out of me. Disclaimer: I do have an advanced reader’s copy, so there’s a chance that some of these things will be fixed in the general publication.
The Good:
1. Weir definitely did her research with this one and it shows. The novel is chock-full of anecdotes, quotes and incidents Anne fans will recognize from her life, which really adds a sense of flavor and realism to the world. (Among my personal favorites: Anne’s meeting with Leonardo da Vinci and Henry informing Anne of Purkoy’s death.)
2. The Anne portrayal, while I keep going back and forth on it, felt pretty good. It was complex and layered and I do think it was ultimately meant to be sympathetic. Young Anne is surrounded by female role models, and therefore grows up with ambitions to be a respected female ruler herself - a force for religious reform in particular, which I liked. She is hot-tempered and sometimes vindictive but fundamentally kind, becoming increasingly volatile and high-strung as her marriage unravels. I especially liked the scenes of her imprisonment, trial and eventual execution; I thought her vacillating emotional state, as well as her ultimate strength and dignity, came across very well.
3. The beginnings of her relationship with Henry are portrayed as sexual harassment. Anne is horrified at Henry’s attention, as she has no feelings for him and is actually rather fond of Catherine. It’s an interesting case of ‘Anne as uncomfortable victim’ that eventually segues into ‘Anne as ambitious re: making the best of a bad situation to advance her reformist causes’, and I didn’t dislike it.
4. Weir does include authorial notes at the end of the book, explaining (some of) what was pulled from history versus made up and naming (some of) her sources. I do still have a few issues with the content - she notes that Chapuys loathed Anne but still considers him “well-informed” because he “cites his sources” - but I respect including these notes on principle.
The Groanworthy:
1. A caveat to the generally fair portrayal of Anne as outlined above: Anne is portrayed as being unable to bond with or love Elizabeth who, as a girl, is an irrevocable disappointment. Incredibly, Weir doesn’t ignore the evidence of the real Anne’s affection for her daughter; rather she justifies it in the novel as Anne’s way of trying to soothe her own conscience. What. Just what.
2. A disappointing number of the old cliches continue to rear their heads, such as: Anne having a sixth fingernail, Anne and Mary being rivals, Anne being an utterly loathed queen, and Jane Parker as an embittered and unpleasant woman trapped in a hated marriage. It’s 2017. Come on now.
3. The writing has some issues. The dialogue can feel uneven, sometimes veering into anachronistic territory and then veering the other way whenever historical quotes are used. There are places where repetitive word choice and phrasing become painfully apparent ("Darling” oh my goddd), especially during the long rigmarole of Henry’s attempt to get an annulment. By the time he and Anne have about the sixteenth variant of the exact same conversation it feels like the book is just spinning its wheels. Speaking of whom...
4. Henry. Holy shit, was this characterization annoying. I couldn’t stand him, I couldn’t stand his dialogue, and not even for the usual reasons. There is nothing to appreciate here; he’s not charming or charismatic, he’s not proactive, he’s not especially intelligent or politically savvy. What he is is obnoxious, whiny, ineffective, dominated first by Catherine and then Anne, easily manipulated by everyone around him, and overall just a pathetic figure. He is pitifully attached to Anne, so terrified of her leaving him that he does whatever she wants. His famous temper doesn’t even make an appearance to liven things up; his only redeeming feature is his enduring “fatherly love”. /vomit
Aside from the fact that this portrayal ignores nearly everything we know about the real Henry, it also makes his “partnership” with Anne unbearably one-sided and dull. There’s no dynamic and very little exchange of ideas - it’s just Anne and her family blatantly manipulating the king on one side, and figures like Wolsey and Cromwell doing the same on the other. As a result there’s no indication that Henry knows the charges against Anne are false; the whole coup is framed as Cromwell’s doing, and given that Henry has been shown to be a malleable idiot up to this point, there’s no reason to think he questions any of it. A thought: Stop trying to make women like COA and Anne look “strong” by making the men around them laughably weak. It doesn’t help anyone’s cause.
The Perplexing:
1. I’ve praised Weir’s research in putting together this book, but it occasionally fell victim to some bizarre Critical Research Failure. Why did Anne have two extra brothers, when a basic Google search could tell you Elizabeth Howard only had three children who lived to adulthood? Why do these characters exist when they add nothing to the story, don’t affect events and are killed off fairly quickly? There’s no reason for them to be there, and it’s distracting when most of the book seems well thought-out.
2. The treatment of Mary and George Boleyn was just...strange. There’s nothing really new about Mary’s characterization, but Weir puts forth the idea that she was violently raped by both Francis and Henry. Why is this here? At best it’s meant as an early reason for Anne to distrust men, but there were plenty of other (more tasteful) ways to do that. Anne even lampshades the fact that it “beggared belief” that Mary could be raped by both kings - you don’t say!
As for George...I really don’t know what Weir’s beef with him is, or how it served the story, but George Boleyn here is effectively Satan. He sexually humiliates his wife, sleeps with everyone (and is possibly bi, the shock, the horror!), admits to raping women of all ages, and - most bizarrely - is “revealed” as having poisoned Catherine of Aragon (and implied to be the source of Fisher’s assassination attempt as well). Again: why is any of this here? All it does is make Anne look terrible by association, as she learns these things about her brother and never changes her opinion of him for more than five minutes.
3. Anne and Henry Norris are in love. That’s...interesting, I suppose, though backed up by basically nothing. Even in the novel it’s utterly underdeveloped; Anne falls in love with Norris at first sight - from afar - and for the rest of the book we’re meant to accept that they have this great unspoken passion for each other. I don’t necessarily object to the idea of Anne having feelings for someone else during her marriage to Henry, as long as the author doesn’t toe the line of “she really was an adulteress” too closely. But this felt so random and gratuitous that their “emotional” scenes together became unintentionally funny.
4. Speaking of gratuitous! The choice to keep Anne conscious in the moments after her beheading was really weird, and frankly it pissed me off a little. Weir doesn’t totally pull this out of nowhere, granted, but once more: it didn’t need to be there. At this point the reader has spent over 500 pages watching Anne grow up, sympathizing with her and relating to her and liking her. The entire last section of the book is devoted to Anne’s mental anguish and terror over her circumstances, which is difficult enough to read. Ending the novel with a gory description of her experience post-decapitation, ending her story with nothing but more fear and physical agony, was unnecessary. It was cruel.
It was also, I might add, a marked contrast to the ending of the previous book in this series, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen. That novel ends with Catherine dying peacefully in her bed and being welcomed into heaven. Compare that to Anne’s horrific final moments before “merciful darkness descended” and tell me it doesn’t feel like authorial bias. Which is strange because, again, I think we’re supposed to root for Anne in this novel.
So, yes, this was an interesting and entertaining read. It did shed light on episodes of Anne’s life and facets of her personality that don’t get much in the way of popular attention. There are frustrating moments and confusing narrative choices, but I’d still recommend giving it a look.
First off, I have to say that this was the most thorough fictional portrayal of Anne I’ve yet read - as it should be, clocking in at almost 550 pages. As with most of Alison Weir’s novels it was an entertaining read that kept me engaged. And as with most of Alison Weir’s novels it also had things that annoyed the hell out of me. Disclaimer: I do have an advanced reader’s copy, so there’s a chance that some of these things will be fixed in the general publication.
The Good:
1. Weir definitely did her research with this one and it shows. The novel is chock-full of anecdotes, quotes and incidents Anne fans will recognize from her life, which really adds a sense of flavor and realism to the world. (Among my personal favorites: Anne’s meeting with Leonardo da Vinci and Henry informing Anne of Purkoy’s death.)
2. The Anne portrayal, while I keep going back and forth on it, felt pretty good. It was complex and layered and I do think it was ultimately meant to be sympathetic. Young Anne is surrounded by female role models, and therefore grows up with ambitions to be a respected female ruler herself - a force for religious reform in particular, which I liked. She is hot-tempered and sometimes vindictive but fundamentally kind, becoming increasingly volatile and high-strung as her marriage unravels. I especially liked the scenes of her imprisonment, trial and eventual execution; I thought her vacillating emotional state, as well as her ultimate strength and dignity, came across very well.
3. The beginnings of her relationship with Henry are portrayed as sexual harassment. Anne is horrified at Henry’s attention, as she has no feelings for him and is actually rather fond of Catherine. It’s an interesting case of ‘Anne as uncomfortable victim’ that eventually segues into ‘Anne as ambitious re: making the best of a bad situation to advance her reformist causes’, and I didn’t dislike it.
4. Weir does include authorial notes at the end of the book, explaining (some of) what was pulled from history versus made up and naming (some of) her sources. I do still have a few issues with the content - she notes that Chapuys loathed Anne but still considers him “well-informed” because he “cites his sources” - but I respect including these notes on principle.
The Groanworthy:
1. A caveat to the generally fair portrayal of Anne as outlined above: Anne is portrayed as being unable to bond with or love Elizabeth who, as a girl, is an irrevocable disappointment. Incredibly, Weir doesn’t ignore the evidence of the real Anne’s affection for her daughter; rather she justifies it in the novel as Anne’s way of trying to soothe her own conscience. What. Just what.
2. A disappointing number of the old cliches continue to rear their heads, such as: Anne having a sixth fingernail, Anne and Mary being rivals, Anne being an utterly loathed queen, and Jane Parker as an embittered and unpleasant woman trapped in a hated marriage. It’s 2017. Come on now.
3. The writing has some issues. The dialogue can feel uneven, sometimes veering into anachronistic territory and then veering the other way whenever historical quotes are used. There are places where repetitive word choice and phrasing become painfully apparent ("Darling” oh my goddd), especially during the long rigmarole of Henry’s attempt to get an annulment. By the time he and Anne have about the sixteenth variant of the exact same conversation it feels like the book is just spinning its wheels. Speaking of whom...
4. Henry. Holy shit, was this characterization annoying. I couldn’t stand him, I couldn’t stand his dialogue, and not even for the usual reasons. There is nothing to appreciate here; he’s not charming or charismatic, he’s not proactive, he’s not especially intelligent or politically savvy. What he is is obnoxious, whiny, ineffective, dominated first by Catherine and then Anne, easily manipulated by everyone around him, and overall just a pathetic figure. He is pitifully attached to Anne, so terrified of her leaving him that he does whatever she wants. His famous temper doesn’t even make an appearance to liven things up; his only redeeming feature is his enduring “fatherly love”. /vomit
Aside from the fact that this portrayal ignores nearly everything we know about the real Henry, it also makes his “partnership” with Anne unbearably one-sided and dull. There’s no dynamic and very little exchange of ideas - it’s just Anne and her family blatantly manipulating the king on one side, and figures like Wolsey and Cromwell doing the same on the other. As a result there’s no indication that Henry knows the charges against Anne are false; the whole coup is framed as Cromwell’s doing, and given that Henry has been shown to be a malleable idiot up to this point, there’s no reason to think he questions any of it. A thought: Stop trying to make women like COA and Anne look “strong” by making the men around them laughably weak. It doesn’t help anyone’s cause.
The Perplexing:
1. I’ve praised Weir’s research in putting together this book, but it occasionally fell victim to some bizarre Critical Research Failure. Why did Anne have two extra brothers, when a basic Google search could tell you Elizabeth Howard only had three children who lived to adulthood? Why do these characters exist when they add nothing to the story, don’t affect events and are killed off fairly quickly? There’s no reason for them to be there, and it’s distracting when most of the book seems well thought-out.
2. The treatment of Mary and George Boleyn was just...strange. There’s nothing really new about Mary’s characterization, but Weir puts forth the idea that she was violently raped by both Francis and Henry. Why is this here? At best it’s meant as an early reason for Anne to distrust men, but there were plenty of other (more tasteful) ways to do that. Anne even lampshades the fact that it “beggared belief” that Mary could be raped by both kings - you don’t say!
As for George...I really don’t know what Weir’s beef with him is, or how it served the story, but George Boleyn here is effectively Satan. He sexually humiliates his wife, sleeps with everyone (and is possibly bi, the shock, the horror!), admits to raping women of all ages, and - most bizarrely - is “revealed” as having poisoned Catherine of Aragon (and implied to be the source of Fisher’s assassination attempt as well). Again: why is any of this here? All it does is make Anne look terrible by association, as she learns these things about her brother and never changes her opinion of him for more than five minutes.
3. Anne and Henry Norris are in love. That’s...interesting, I suppose, though backed up by basically nothing. Even in the novel it’s utterly underdeveloped; Anne falls in love with Norris at first sight - from afar - and for the rest of the book we’re meant to accept that they have this great unspoken passion for each other. I don’t necessarily object to the idea of Anne having feelings for someone else during her marriage to Henry, as long as the author doesn’t toe the line of “she really was an adulteress” too closely. But this felt so random and gratuitous that their “emotional” scenes together became unintentionally funny.
4. Speaking of gratuitous! The choice to keep Anne conscious in the moments after her beheading was really weird, and frankly it pissed me off a little. Weir doesn’t totally pull this out of nowhere, granted, but once more: it didn’t need to be there. At this point the reader has spent over 500 pages watching Anne grow up, sympathizing with her and relating to her and liking her. The entire last section of the book is devoted to Anne’s mental anguish and terror over her circumstances, which is difficult enough to read. Ending the novel with a gory description of her experience post-decapitation, ending her story with nothing but more fear and physical agony, was unnecessary. It was cruel.
It was also, I might add, a marked contrast to the ending of the previous book in this series, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen. That novel ends with Catherine dying peacefully in her bed and being welcomed into heaven. Compare that to Anne’s horrific final moments before “merciful darkness descended” and tell me it doesn’t feel like authorial bias. Which is strange because, again, I think we’re supposed to root for Anne in this novel.
So, yes, this was an interesting and entertaining read. It did shed light on episodes of Anne’s life and facets of her personality that don’t get much in the way of popular attention. There are frustrating moments and confusing narrative choices, but I’d still recommend giving it a look.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2019
I have read many, many books about the Tudor era. It's an obsession on my part. Henry VIII, even almost 500 years after his death, is still larger than life. A bad king obsessed with the continuation of the Tudor line he made poor decision after poor decision and left England almost bankrupt. But when the dust settled after his death (and his other children died), Elizabeth was on the throne and ruled for 44 years. At least history got more than scandalous stories out of Henry's years on the throne. Elizabeth was one of the greatest monarchs in English history. All is well that ends well? Maybe?
But I digress.....Anne Boleyn:A King's Obsession is part of Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queens series. The series starts with Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife.....and continues with this book about Anne before proceeding to Wife #3, Jane Seymour.
I enjoyed this book, but it seems pretty evident that the author does not like Anne Boleyn....or at least has little sympathy for her. Anne is portrayed as a vengeful, jealous, often paranoid (sometimes rightfully so), emotional wreck. But, to quote Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones...."When you play the game of thrones, you win....or you die." Anne didn't win. So history paints her as a pawn...a schemer....a whore. And she might have been all of those things, but perhaps she was just a very strong, intelligent woman who got caught up in the business of kings and paid dearly for it. Women today often make the mistake of dallying with powerful, married men and pay a big price. At least they don't cut our heads off on a scaffold anymore! Divorce is much simpler these days.
Weir also takes a bit of creative license with history. This is historical fiction so a bit of that is expected. But some of the changes I found a bit cringe worthy....like Katherine of Aragon being murdered. It was rumored at the time that Anne had Katherine poisoned, but most likely it was a natural death from cancer or just years of stress and depression from The Kings Great Matter. There is no historical proof that Katherine was poisoned with herbs. It's difficult to fill in emotions, thoughts, and motivations for people who all died almost 500 years ago.....so the author filled in the blanks with the stuff of fiction. It makes for a good read.....but it's not historically accurate. In this case, that's ok....this is historical FICTION. She can do that.....for the most part she sticks true to actual events. I read a few reviews that totally attacked this book for being historically inaccurate. It's a fictionalized story about Anne Boleyn.....not a non-fiction reference book. Jumping off the main track for the purposes of drama is allowed when writing a fiction novel, even about real historical characters. Want pure history? Read non-fiction. Want to experience the drama of court and a bit of Henry VIII style naughtiness? Read historical fiction.
I listened to the audio book version of this story (Recorded Books, Inc) Narrated by Rosalyn Landor, the audio is just short of 20 hours long. I caught myself a few times talking back to my phone as I listened. When Anne waxed long about how it would be when she was queen and how much Henry loved her, etc etc....I just kept saying "No! Don't do it.....it isn't going to end well!'' But, offering advice to women who had their heads forcefully removed centuries in the past doesn't change the outcome. Messing with powerful, wealthy, married men didn't end well in the 1500's and it still doesn't end well today. Monica Lewinsky is a great example. Poor decision.....very public shaming. At least she didn't lose her head over it!
Enjoyable read. Since I have already read the 3rd book on Jane Seymour, I'm moving on to the fourth book in this series....Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait.
But I digress.....Anne Boleyn:A King's Obsession is part of Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queens series. The series starts with Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife.....and continues with this book about Anne before proceeding to Wife #3, Jane Seymour.
I enjoyed this book, but it seems pretty evident that the author does not like Anne Boleyn....or at least has little sympathy for her. Anne is portrayed as a vengeful, jealous, often paranoid (sometimes rightfully so), emotional wreck. But, to quote Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones...."When you play the game of thrones, you win....or you die." Anne didn't win. So history paints her as a pawn...a schemer....a whore. And she might have been all of those things, but perhaps she was just a very strong, intelligent woman who got caught up in the business of kings and paid dearly for it. Women today often make the mistake of dallying with powerful, married men and pay a big price. At least they don't cut our heads off on a scaffold anymore! Divorce is much simpler these days.
Weir also takes a bit of creative license with history. This is historical fiction so a bit of that is expected. But some of the changes I found a bit cringe worthy....like Katherine of Aragon being murdered. It was rumored at the time that Anne had Katherine poisoned, but most likely it was a natural death from cancer or just years of stress and depression from The Kings Great Matter. There is no historical proof that Katherine was poisoned with herbs. It's difficult to fill in emotions, thoughts, and motivations for people who all died almost 500 years ago.....so the author filled in the blanks with the stuff of fiction. It makes for a good read.....but it's not historically accurate. In this case, that's ok....this is historical FICTION. She can do that.....for the most part she sticks true to actual events. I read a few reviews that totally attacked this book for being historically inaccurate. It's a fictionalized story about Anne Boleyn.....not a non-fiction reference book. Jumping off the main track for the purposes of drama is allowed when writing a fiction novel, even about real historical characters. Want pure history? Read non-fiction. Want to experience the drama of court and a bit of Henry VIII style naughtiness? Read historical fiction.
I listened to the audio book version of this story (Recorded Books, Inc) Narrated by Rosalyn Landor, the audio is just short of 20 hours long. I caught myself a few times talking back to my phone as I listened. When Anne waxed long about how it would be when she was queen and how much Henry loved her, etc etc....I just kept saying "No! Don't do it.....it isn't going to end well!'' But, offering advice to women who had their heads forcefully removed centuries in the past doesn't change the outcome. Messing with powerful, wealthy, married men didn't end well in the 1500's and it still doesn't end well today. Monica Lewinsky is a great example. Poor decision.....very public shaming. At least she didn't lose her head over it!
Enjoyable read. Since I have already read the 3rd book on Jane Seymour, I'm moving on to the fourth book in this series....Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait.
March 30, 2017
Five *****Amazing Stars
I must admit that I love reading about historical queens! This one was AMAZING!
This is the second book in the six tudor queens series (of 6) and I intend to read all of them. The queens were all wives of Henry VIII. If you love historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book. I got totally immersed in the story and was taken back in history.
It begins when Anne Boleyn was a young girl and follows her life and how she became the obsession of the king. I was totally absorbed in this book by Alison Weir. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy.
Book to be published in May 2017
I must admit that I love reading about historical queens! This one was AMAZING!
This is the second book in the six tudor queens series (of 6) and I intend to read all of them. The queens were all wives of Henry VIII. If you love historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book. I got totally immersed in the story and was taken back in history.
It begins when Anne Boleyn was a young girl and follows her life and how she became the obsession of the king. I was totally absorbed in this book by Alison Weir. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy.
Book to be published in May 2017
May 14, 2017
My thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.
No better source than the author herself can perfectly describe the content of this historical novel and the story of Anne Boleyn: “I have tried to reconcile conflicting views of her, and to portray her as a flawed but very human heroine, a woman of great ambition, idealism and courage who found herself in an increasingly frightening situation.” I believe that Alison Weir successfully achieved this goal.
This second book in the Six Tudor Queens series is an insightful study of Anne Boleyn, the young girl who would see the path she could take and eventually become the Queen of England. Ms. Weir’s historical depiction of Henry VIII’s court provides an educational background, and her depiction of Henry’s second wife fits with my previous knowledge of Anne Boleyn. As there is little in Boleyn’s own words that has survived, the character traits Ms. Weir has wrapped around Anne seem appropriate.
The “Author’s Note” at the end of the book should not be skipped. Ms. Weir describes how the novel came together, identifying the issues that might arise in this sort of undertaking. Where evidence is lacking and there are scant clues to indicate what happened, the author informs us of the times when she interpreted facts or statements and inserted what she thinks happened in the book. This balance of being both an author and a good historian at the same time is delicate, especially since an author has more leeway to stretch truth into fiction. However, I feel Ms. Weir has performed admirably, adding only items that could be supported by what we do know to be factual.
Those readers who haven’t read the first book need not worry. Even though Katherine of Aragon is mentioned in this book, she is treated as a minor character as the focus is on Anne Boleyn. It will not matter if you read about Henry’s second wife before returning to the first.
Ms. Weir paints Anne Boleyn with fairness, exposing both her good and bad qualities. Her ruthless ambition and sometimes reckless behavior might be damaging character traits, or may be viewed as merely a reflection of the times she lived in. Highly recommended. Five stars.
No better source than the author herself can perfectly describe the content of this historical novel and the story of Anne Boleyn: “I have tried to reconcile conflicting views of her, and to portray her as a flawed but very human heroine, a woman of great ambition, idealism and courage who found herself in an increasingly frightening situation.” I believe that Alison Weir successfully achieved this goal.
This second book in the Six Tudor Queens series is an insightful study of Anne Boleyn, the young girl who would see the path she could take and eventually become the Queen of England. Ms. Weir’s historical depiction of Henry VIII’s court provides an educational background, and her depiction of Henry’s second wife fits with my previous knowledge of Anne Boleyn. As there is little in Boleyn’s own words that has survived, the character traits Ms. Weir has wrapped around Anne seem appropriate.
The “Author’s Note” at the end of the book should not be skipped. Ms. Weir describes how the novel came together, identifying the issues that might arise in this sort of undertaking. Where evidence is lacking and there are scant clues to indicate what happened, the author informs us of the times when she interpreted facts or statements and inserted what she thinks happened in the book. This balance of being both an author and a good historian at the same time is delicate, especially since an author has more leeway to stretch truth into fiction. However, I feel Ms. Weir has performed admirably, adding only items that could be supported by what we do know to be factual.
Those readers who haven’t read the first book need not worry. Even though Katherine of Aragon is mentioned in this book, she is treated as a minor character as the focus is on Anne Boleyn. It will not matter if you read about Henry’s second wife before returning to the first.
Ms. Weir paints Anne Boleyn with fairness, exposing both her good and bad qualities. Her ruthless ambition and sometimes reckless behavior might be damaging character traits, or may be viewed as merely a reflection of the times she lived in. Highly recommended. Five stars.
May 27, 2020
This book angered me so much that I had to stop thinking about it for months, so some of my recollections may be off. Feel free to correct me in the comments.
Where do I begin? How about here: Alison Weir doesn’t like Anne Boleyn. Alison Weir doesn’t like the Boleyns, full stop. Alison Weir has an axe to grind about the Boleyns and every person who isn’t Katharine of Aragon.
Weir, interestingly enough, seems to go against some of her own research from her biography of Mary Boleyn in order to make the Boleyns seem more dastardly. What research she does use is her usual brand of personal defamation. Thomas Boleyn, instead of the great diplomat and ambassador, is little more than a pimp and gets honors from Mary’s affair with the King. In her own work, Weir has rightly noted that both Thomas Boleyn and Mary’s husband William Carey were well respected and liked by the King, and likely came into most of their honors by their own diligence, but here she throws that out the window for a more scandalous story. Elizabeth Boleyn’s characterization is based on Weir’s interpretation of a single poem and she is written off as an adulteress, which caused a rift in the Boleyn marriage, something for which there is no evidence.
George, based on suppositions made in her non-fiction book on the six wives, is made into a lecherous fiend, a rapist, and a murderer. His wife, the poor and oft maligned Jane Parker, hates him and Anne, and the former rightly so, as he forcibly sodomizes her. Again, none of this is based on any evidence other than the hateful words of enemies of the Boleyns, or the scapegoating of Jane by a later Wyatt. Early on it is established that Anne hates rape, and finds it to be the most detestable of crimes, but when it is her brother who openly admits to being a serial rapist, she cannot turn her back on him.
Speaking of rape, which I hate to do, there are three names rapists in the novel, in order: François I, Henry VIII, and George Boleyn. Poor Mary Boleyn is victimized twice by both kings. There is no evidence to suggest that any of these men were rapists, and while the nature of the consent obtained by the kings can be analyzed under our modern feminist understanding of coercion, writing them as violent rapists seems to serve no purpose outside of the brutalization of women for the sake of sensationalism.
Then there is the issue of Anne. She stagnates throughout the whole book. Her voice remains unchanged from eleven to thirty-six, as does her attitude and perspective. Weir claims that she attempted to create a sympathetic portrait, but doesn’t give Anne any emotions outside that of anger, jealously, vengefulness, and the rare dots of superficial joy. There are very few moments of sincerity in the span of a decade. There’s nothing of the charming and alluring woman that enraptured a court and its King. Anne only shows love for her brother, George, which even then is written so poorly that one is not convinced of it.
Her relationship with Henry lacks complexity; it is fine and probably accurate for it to be primarily one sided, but as Eric Ives notes, it was a love-match to an extant—there’s no development of feeling between the two, which seems strange, especially when Weir writes Anne as extremely jealous. There’s no point where Anne even remotely enjoys Henry, which, sure, could be true—but Henry was a brilliantly educated and cultured renaissance prince, I have my doubts that Anne would have no fondness for him. Even if it was love born of convenience, Weir skirts complexity by making Anne’s feelings on Henry one-note. To speak from personal experience: survivors of abuse (whether emotional, psychological, or physical) often love our abusers, it in part can be one of the things that makes it hard to leave, added to the fact that many of us did not realize we were being abused until the relationship was over. If Anne and Henry’s relationship was abusive (which, considering its end, I’m tempted to agree), it would have these nuances and complexities that Anne is robbed of in the text.
Anne is also robbed of many of her good, even revolutionary qualities. The idea of separating from the Holy See is Henry’s idea which Anne is shocked to learn about. The credit for showing William Tyndale’s Obedience of a Christian Man to Henry is attributed to either Thomas or George Boleyn. Anne is sapped of her religious zeal. She also is said to not love Elizabeth, which is... something. Anne provided for Elizabeth extensively. If she was disappointed in her daughter’s sex, she did not show it. Even signs of intimacy are shown as being false, an attempt to make up for a lack of real affection, such as placing Elizabeth on a cushion near her. Also, maybe Weir didn’t get the message, but the vast majority of biological mothers get an absolute FLOOD of oxytocin when they first meet their newborn, which begins the lifelong bond that is a mother’s love. It should go without saying that Anne loved Elizabeth, and Weir’s denial of not just evidence, but basic emotional awareness, betrays a deep-seeded bias against Anne, and perhaps even a twinge of misogyny.
There is also almost NO development of Anne’s relationships outside of her family and Henry (and most of that is bad to begin with). Anne and Jane Parker are never shown to have a close relationship with the evidence suggests that they were very much in-league with each other. Her relationship to Cromwell starts sour, which does not make sense, as Cromwell and Anne had shared values, religious inclinations, and goals all the way up until 1536. In fact, this is a bother to me on many fronts, as in the most popular of fiction, Anne and Cromwell never have a true rapport, which just seems so unlikely, there’s nothing to suggest they disliked one another or had a particular conflict up until the very end. I don’t subscribe to the theory that Cromwell was the cause of Anne’s downfall. He may have been the architect, but he acted on Henry’s behalf. There’s also next to no interaction between her and Cranmer, and what we know suggests that Cranmer outright adored her.
Then there comes the outright inaccuracies. Anne has a vestigial nail that is written like an actual extra digit. She has two older brothers that die in their teenage years. The blame for Thomas More and Bishop Fischer’s deaths are placed at Anne’s feet, like this is the 1969 film adaptation of Anne of the Thousand Days. George Boleyn murdered Katharine of Aragon. Elizabeth has blue eyes (which is... so bizarre, we know she had her mother’s eyes). Jane Parker is falsely blamed for the charges of incest. Anne Boleyn is in love with Henry Norris, as based upon her falling for him just by looking at him. She has three miscarriages instead of two.
We also don’t see a clear crumble of Anne and Henry’s relationship, which, yes it was quite ambiguous as to its exact nature, but given Anne’s behavior in the book one is only surprised it didn’t happen earlier.
And the thing is, I could forgive almost all of this, if the book was well written. But it wasn’t. It was dry and clunky. It told when it should have showed. It reads like a recitation of a garbled version of the facts, with little imagination or zest or even passion for the period. It’s remarkably biased, and a great injustice towards actual people who once walked the face of this earth. The best parts of the book is the end, because Weir can’t find a way to make Anne the baddie when she’s about to be executed on trumped-up charges, so she is forced to actually give our lead some compassion. Huh, who knew treating a historical person like a person would affect the quality of a historical novel?
Writing this reminded me just how bad this book is. So I’m deducting a star from my rating. My god. This was bad.
Where do I begin? How about here: Alison Weir doesn’t like Anne Boleyn. Alison Weir doesn’t like the Boleyns, full stop. Alison Weir has an axe to grind about the Boleyns and every person who isn’t Katharine of Aragon.
Weir, interestingly enough, seems to go against some of her own research from her biography of Mary Boleyn in order to make the Boleyns seem more dastardly. What research she does use is her usual brand of personal defamation. Thomas Boleyn, instead of the great diplomat and ambassador, is little more than a pimp and gets honors from Mary’s affair with the King. In her own work, Weir has rightly noted that both Thomas Boleyn and Mary’s husband William Carey were well respected and liked by the King, and likely came into most of their honors by their own diligence, but here she throws that out the window for a more scandalous story. Elizabeth Boleyn’s characterization is based on Weir’s interpretation of a single poem and she is written off as an adulteress, which caused a rift in the Boleyn marriage, something for which there is no evidence.
George, based on suppositions made in her non-fiction book on the six wives, is made into a lecherous fiend, a rapist, and a murderer. His wife, the poor and oft maligned Jane Parker, hates him and Anne, and the former rightly so, as he forcibly sodomizes her. Again, none of this is based on any evidence other than the hateful words of enemies of the Boleyns, or the scapegoating of Jane by a later Wyatt. Early on it is established that Anne hates rape, and finds it to be the most detestable of crimes, but when it is her brother who openly admits to being a serial rapist, she cannot turn her back on him.
Speaking of rape, which I hate to do, there are three names rapists in the novel, in order: François I, Henry VIII, and George Boleyn. Poor Mary Boleyn is victimized twice by both kings. There is no evidence to suggest that any of these men were rapists, and while the nature of the consent obtained by the kings can be analyzed under our modern feminist understanding of coercion, writing them as violent rapists seems to serve no purpose outside of the brutalization of women for the sake of sensationalism.
Then there is the issue of Anne. She stagnates throughout the whole book. Her voice remains unchanged from eleven to thirty-six, as does her attitude and perspective. Weir claims that she attempted to create a sympathetic portrait, but doesn’t give Anne any emotions outside that of anger, jealously, vengefulness, and the rare dots of superficial joy. There are very few moments of sincerity in the span of a decade. There’s nothing of the charming and alluring woman that enraptured a court and its King. Anne only shows love for her brother, George, which even then is written so poorly that one is not convinced of it.
Her relationship with Henry lacks complexity; it is fine and probably accurate for it to be primarily one sided, but as Eric Ives notes, it was a love-match to an extant—there’s no development of feeling between the two, which seems strange, especially when Weir writes Anne as extremely jealous. There’s no point where Anne even remotely enjoys Henry, which, sure, could be true—but Henry was a brilliantly educated and cultured renaissance prince, I have my doubts that Anne would have no fondness for him. Even if it was love born of convenience, Weir skirts complexity by making Anne’s feelings on Henry one-note. To speak from personal experience: survivors of abuse (whether emotional, psychological, or physical) often love our abusers, it in part can be one of the things that makes it hard to leave, added to the fact that many of us did not realize we were being abused until the relationship was over. If Anne and Henry’s relationship was abusive (which, considering its end, I’m tempted to agree), it would have these nuances and complexities that Anne is robbed of in the text.
Anne is also robbed of many of her good, even revolutionary qualities. The idea of separating from the Holy See is Henry’s idea which Anne is shocked to learn about. The credit for showing William Tyndale’s Obedience of a Christian Man to Henry is attributed to either Thomas or George Boleyn. Anne is sapped of her religious zeal. She also is said to not love Elizabeth, which is... something. Anne provided for Elizabeth extensively. If she was disappointed in her daughter’s sex, she did not show it. Even signs of intimacy are shown as being false, an attempt to make up for a lack of real affection, such as placing Elizabeth on a cushion near her. Also, maybe Weir didn’t get the message, but the vast majority of biological mothers get an absolute FLOOD of oxytocin when they first meet their newborn, which begins the lifelong bond that is a mother’s love. It should go without saying that Anne loved Elizabeth, and Weir’s denial of not just evidence, but basic emotional awareness, betrays a deep-seeded bias against Anne, and perhaps even a twinge of misogyny.
There is also almost NO development of Anne’s relationships outside of her family and Henry (and most of that is bad to begin with). Anne and Jane Parker are never shown to have a close relationship with the evidence suggests that they were very much in-league with each other. Her relationship to Cromwell starts sour, which does not make sense, as Cromwell and Anne had shared values, religious inclinations, and goals all the way up until 1536. In fact, this is a bother to me on many fronts, as in the most popular of fiction, Anne and Cromwell never have a true rapport, which just seems so unlikely, there’s nothing to suggest they disliked one another or had a particular conflict up until the very end. I don’t subscribe to the theory that Cromwell was the cause of Anne’s downfall. He may have been the architect, but he acted on Henry’s behalf. There’s also next to no interaction between her and Cranmer, and what we know suggests that Cranmer outright adored her.
Then there comes the outright inaccuracies. Anne has a vestigial nail that is written like an actual extra digit. She has two older brothers that die in their teenage years. The blame for Thomas More and Bishop Fischer’s deaths are placed at Anne’s feet, like this is the 1969 film adaptation of Anne of the Thousand Days. George Boleyn murdered Katharine of Aragon. Elizabeth has blue eyes (which is... so bizarre, we know she had her mother’s eyes). Jane Parker is falsely blamed for the charges of incest. Anne Boleyn is in love with Henry Norris, as based upon her falling for him just by looking at him. She has three miscarriages instead of two.
We also don’t see a clear crumble of Anne and Henry’s relationship, which, yes it was quite ambiguous as to its exact nature, but given Anne’s behavior in the book one is only surprised it didn’t happen earlier.
And the thing is, I could forgive almost all of this, if the book was well written. But it wasn’t. It was dry and clunky. It told when it should have showed. It reads like a recitation of a garbled version of the facts, with little imagination or zest or even passion for the period. It’s remarkably biased, and a great injustice towards actual people who once walked the face of this earth. The best parts of the book is the end, because Weir can’t find a way to make Anne the baddie when she’s about to be executed on trumped-up charges, so she is forced to actually give our lead some compassion. Huh, who knew treating a historical person like a person would affect the quality of a historical novel?
Writing this reminded me just how bad this book is. So I’m deducting a star from my rating. My god. This was bad.
July 5, 2023
I really hyped up this series for myself and so far I'm not disappointed. Feel like a nice blend of historical facts and fiction. It was painful in parts knowing how things would end for Anne. The characters feel so realistic and its easy getting invested in it. Eager to read the next soon.
November 13, 2019
“When kingdoms are at stake, human feelings count for nothing.”
This is the story of Anne Boleyn, the much talked about second wife of Henry VIII, from her childhood up to her execution.
Written from Anne’s perspective, this excellent piece of work is a mixture of historical fiction and biography.
If you have an insatiable obsession with Henry VIII and his wives and are curious about the goings on at the court and can’t be bothered with a dry and boring history lesson, then pick up Alison Weir’s books. They are well researched and well written, vivid and brilliant.
This is the story of Anne Boleyn, the much talked about second wife of Henry VIII, from her childhood up to her execution.
Written from Anne’s perspective, this excellent piece of work is a mixture of historical fiction and biography.
If you have an insatiable obsession with Henry VIII and his wives and are curious about the goings on at the court and can’t be bothered with a dry and boring history lesson, then pick up Alison Weir’s books. They are well researched and well written, vivid and brilliant.
July 28, 2021
Anna nasce nel 1501 nel castello di famiglia di Hever, nella verde campagna del Kent, e qui trascorre l'infanzia con la sorella Mary e il fratello George. Cresciuta, Anna diventa La dama di compagnia di Caterina, la moglie di re Enrico VIII, la "buona" regina. Ma quando, nella primavera del 1526, il cardinale Wolsey la presenta il sovrano, Enrico è fulminato dalla sua bellezza insolita, dallo sguardo fiero e malizioso. Da quel momento Enrico è ossessionato da quella giovane donna, ma lei rifiuta le sue avances. Il re scalpita, non dorme più. Gli è chiaro: se la vuole, dovrà sposarla. Ma prima dovrà liberarsi della moglie, ricorrere a Roma, ottenere un annullamento. Nel giugno 1533, Anna è incoronata regina.
Conosciamo la storia di Anna Bolena come di un'arrivista e arrampicatrice sociale, che fa di tutto per sposare Enrico VIII e diventare regina. Ebbene, il ritratto che ne fa la Weir è quello di una ragazza dai saldi principi morali, che si dedica alla lettura e al ricamo, che pensa che gli uomini siano solo esseri violenti, interessati solo al sesso. I suoi principi cederanno quando, come dama di compagnia di Caterina, prima moglie di Enrico VIII, capirà di avere la possibilità di accumulare potere e influenza sugli altri. Anna non prova nessun sentimento per Enrico VIII e non parla mai di amore nei suoi confronti, né nei cinque anni di fidanzamento (in attesa di potersi sposare) né nei tre anni di matrimonio. Per lei Enrico VIII, è il mezzo per arrivare alla corona. Da questo romanzo la Weir ci delinea un personaggio diverso da quello che abbiamo conosciuto dai libri di storia: più amabile per certi versi, in altri momenti generosa e appassionata. La scrittura della Weir è sempre meravigliosa e incredibile (mi direte cosa ne pensate della scena di Anna sul patibolo).
Ve lo consiglio, come vi ho consigliato gli altri, e come vi consiglio l'autrice!
Conosciamo la storia di Anna Bolena come di un'arrivista e arrampicatrice sociale, che fa di tutto per sposare Enrico VIII e diventare regina. Ebbene, il ritratto che ne fa la Weir è quello di una ragazza dai saldi principi morali, che si dedica alla lettura e al ricamo, che pensa che gli uomini siano solo esseri violenti, interessati solo al sesso. I suoi principi cederanno quando, come dama di compagnia di Caterina, prima moglie di Enrico VIII, capirà di avere la possibilità di accumulare potere e influenza sugli altri. Anna non prova nessun sentimento per Enrico VIII e non parla mai di amore nei suoi confronti, né nei cinque anni di fidanzamento (in attesa di potersi sposare) né nei tre anni di matrimonio. Per lei Enrico VIII, è il mezzo per arrivare alla corona. Da questo romanzo la Weir ci delinea un personaggio diverso da quello che abbiamo conosciuto dai libri di storia: più amabile per certi versi, in altri momenti generosa e appassionata. La scrittura della Weir è sempre meravigliosa e incredibile (mi direte cosa ne pensate della scena di Anna sul patibolo).
Ve lo consiglio, come vi ho consigliato gli altri, e come vi consiglio l'autrice!
January 15, 2019
You think you know the story but you have no idea... The most detailed, best-researched, thoughtful and credible version I have ever read; such different outlook of the oft-told story of Anne Boleyn. Weir's work is simply the best. Recommended for every fan of Tudor England. Full review coming soon on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
September 29, 2017
Anne Boleyn surely is the subject of countless novels and I have read a few. One of my reading pleasures and truth be told watching pleasures is anything to do the the Tudors and especially people who surrounded Henry the Eighth. The times, the people, the intrigue, and oftentimes the wantonness of this age fascinates me.
In this telling Anne's point of view is presented. In the beginning, she is totally caught up in court life from her stay in France to the coming to court in England and the of course to the coming into Henry's sight. Many have tried to paint Anne as the wanton pursuer of Henry but in this telling the tables are turned and it is Henry who pursues her and stays true, well mostly true to her, for seven years. It is not until the middle of this novel that we begin to see Anne as she has been presented before. She is the married queen and will hold nothing back to get what she wants which is ultimately the demise of those she considers her enemies. She succeeds in getting her daughter Elizabeth to be first in the line of succession and eventually her desire for that comes to fruition.
Trough this story, one can feel sorrow for Anne. She gave up a lot to be queen and ultimately she gave up her life thinking that Henry would always protect and love her. Was she guilty? The scant evidence we have seems to say that she was not. However, Anne was no innocent and desired to death of the former queen and perhaps even of her daughter Mary. It is always amazing to read of the intrigues, the manipulations, and the lack of morals practiced in court. Amazing also was that while there was such much pageantry, so many rituals, and so much faith in the church and its tenets, that things went on in the court so much so that it seemed like a brothel. Propriety was often cast to the wind as Henry had a wandering eye and many fathers had the desire that their daughters catch it.
As always reading about this age and what followed it is the stuff of legends and half truths and facts built upon shaky knowledge. Suffice to say, Ann and Henry's story have filled many a book and perhaps at one time in the British Kingdom of old, they really did love one another. It is hard to know when your beloved lobs off your head!
In this telling Anne's point of view is presented. In the beginning, she is totally caught up in court life from her stay in France to the coming to court in England and the of course to the coming into Henry's sight. Many have tried to paint Anne as the wanton pursuer of Henry but in this telling the tables are turned and it is Henry who pursues her and stays true, well mostly true to her, for seven years. It is not until the middle of this novel that we begin to see Anne as she has been presented before. She is the married queen and will hold nothing back to get what she wants which is ultimately the demise of those she considers her enemies. She succeeds in getting her daughter Elizabeth to be first in the line of succession and eventually her desire for that comes to fruition.
Trough this story, one can feel sorrow for Anne. She gave up a lot to be queen and ultimately she gave up her life thinking that Henry would always protect and love her. Was she guilty? The scant evidence we have seems to say that she was not. However, Anne was no innocent and desired to death of the former queen and perhaps even of her daughter Mary. It is always amazing to read of the intrigues, the manipulations, and the lack of morals practiced in court. Amazing also was that while there was such much pageantry, so many rituals, and so much faith in the church and its tenets, that things went on in the court so much so that it seemed like a brothel. Propriety was often cast to the wind as Henry had a wandering eye and many fathers had the desire that their daughters catch it.
As always reading about this age and what followed it is the stuff of legends and half truths and facts built upon shaky knowledge. Suffice to say, Ann and Henry's story have filled many a book and perhaps at one time in the British Kingdom of old, they really did love one another. It is hard to know when your beloved lobs off your head!
November 19, 2017
If you're as passionate about the story of King Henry Tudor and his Six Wives as I am, reading strictly historical accounts can get repetitive and a bit boring. I have been collecting and reading books over the decades on this subject, many of which are by the same esteemed author who wrote this book. While works of historical fiction take poetic license with some details, they can often open up a whole new way to enjoy history. This was the case when I read a book called "The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn" by Robin Maxwell, and also "The Boleyn Inheritance" by famed British author Phillipa Gregory. This same method is employed here with this series of novels on each of Henry Tudor's Six Wives. I have only had the privilege to read this one on second wife Anne Boleyn, who just happens to be my favorite Tudor Queen to read about. I admire first wife Queen Katherine of Aragon the most, but find Anne far more interesting, beguiling and intriguing. Her story inspires so many emotions, from hating her, to a grudging respect for her nerve, to pitying her for her miscarriages and her probable trumped up charges that led to her execution.
Reading this book renewed my passion for experiencing one of the most dramatic and tragic moments in British history. Anne narrates the story and as a reader you can get inside her feelings, perceptions, motives...and even her bedroom. This was a most enchanting, engaging and fresh way to enjoy this history anew. What was most riveting was Anne's experience of her own beheading. My heart was in my mouth as I read it...tears welling up and the rest of the world had gone away. I was so wrapped up in this Tudor history after reading this book that it led me to purchase Alison Weir's first book in this series about Queen Katherine of Aragon. I can't wait to read it and experience this history through Katherine's point of view. The first two Tudor Wives are the only books out in this series at the moment, but I will definitely delve into all of them after such an enjoyable experience reading Anne Boleyn's.
I was graciously provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
Reading this book renewed my passion for experiencing one of the most dramatic and tragic moments in British history. Anne narrates the story and as a reader you can get inside her feelings, perceptions, motives...and even her bedroom. This was a most enchanting, engaging and fresh way to enjoy this history anew. What was most riveting was Anne's experience of her own beheading. My heart was in my mouth as I read it...tears welling up and the rest of the world had gone away. I was so wrapped up in this Tudor history after reading this book that it led me to purchase Alison Weir's first book in this series about Queen Katherine of Aragon. I can't wait to read it and experience this history through Katherine's point of view. The first two Tudor Wives are the only books out in this series at the moment, but I will definitely delve into all of them after such an enjoyable experience reading Anne Boleyn's.
I was graciously provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
October 4, 2017
I’M A LOVER OF ALL THINGS TUDOR!
My favorite movie of all-time is "Anne of the Thousand Days" (starring the unbelievably stunning Geneviève Bujold and the commanding Richard Burton) and what I loved about this book is the story played out much how it did in my beloved film adaptation and Anne’s character was much as it’s portrayed in that film.
I read “The Other Boleyn Girl” (by Philippa Gregory) when I was around 20 and it became one of my top favorite books, still unrivaled. As for this read…it doesn’t necessarily surpass my first love and didn’t quite live up to how much I devoured “The Other Boleyn Girl” but I still found myself desirous to jump back into the Tudor Court, as it’s one of my all-time favorite “worlds” to visit! I even listened to Renaissance music on my Echo Dot while reading and it just offered a deeper layer of absorption into the story—I especially appreciated it when Greensleeves came on (though I’m aware of the myth of that tale).
This book moved at a molasses pace, at times, compared to “The Other Boleyn Girl” but I truly read just to escape into a certain time or place so it didn’t deter me from returning to it…the pace almost felt intentional, at the author’s hand, due to the nature that was Henry pursuing Anne over a seven-year period and what all transpired during that time.
I think Anne gets a bad rap in history and so this book paints her in a much different light than even “The Other Boleyn Girl”—those two stories had some glaring differences but I always read anyone’s take on a historical figure (especially one so little has been preserved for) with an open mind and appreciate the work that went into spinning a tale with the minimum of facts and the maximum of artistic liberty. I daresay this book made me feel quite sorry for Anne…whereas I vaguely remember thinking more poorly of Anne upon completion of Gregory’s work.
I would definitely pick this tome up again in the future just because I love revisiting and being reminded of certain details that escape you over time. I thoroughly enjoyed this read in its own merit and I don’t think anyone who enjoys all things Tudor would be wasting their time picking this one up.
I did want to share an interesting tie to my ancesters…
On page 487 the excerpt reads:
“Those who had been chosen to attend her were waiting for her. She was dismayed to see that chief among them were four ladies she disliked. There was her Aunt Boleyn, the wife of her Uncle James, who had recently incurred Anne’s enmity by switching his allegiance to the Lady Mary. There too was Lady Shelton, who greeted Anne with undisguised venom.
Lady Kingston came forward and curtseyed. She too was a friend of Lady Mary, and had once served the Princess Dowager. Anne did not expect her to be sympathetic. Lastly, there was Mrs. Coffyn, the wife of her Master of Horse.”
So upon investigating my Ancestry.com family tree I was able to determine that Mrs. Coffyn is referring to (Lady) Margaret Dymoke who was married to my ancestor’s (direct descendent) brother William ‘Master of Horse’ Coffin (Coffyn). William and Margaret never had any children together. She did however have two children with her first husband, before William, and none with her third husband after William’s death. Margaret went on to become the lady-in-waiting of the King's third wife, Jane Seymour. So she's a very distant great-aunt...16th I believe.
My favorite movie of all-time is "Anne of the Thousand Days" (starring the unbelievably stunning Geneviève Bujold and the commanding Richard Burton) and what I loved about this book is the story played out much how it did in my beloved film adaptation and Anne’s character was much as it’s portrayed in that film.
I read “The Other Boleyn Girl” (by Philippa Gregory) when I was around 20 and it became one of my top favorite books, still unrivaled. As for this read…it doesn’t necessarily surpass my first love and didn’t quite live up to how much I devoured “The Other Boleyn Girl” but I still found myself desirous to jump back into the Tudor Court, as it’s one of my all-time favorite “worlds” to visit! I even listened to Renaissance music on my Echo Dot while reading and it just offered a deeper layer of absorption into the story—I especially appreciated it when Greensleeves came on (though I’m aware of the myth of that tale).
This book moved at a molasses pace, at times, compared to “The Other Boleyn Girl” but I truly read just to escape into a certain time or place so it didn’t deter me from returning to it…the pace almost felt intentional, at the author’s hand, due to the nature that was Henry pursuing Anne over a seven-year period and what all transpired during that time.
I think Anne gets a bad rap in history and so this book paints her in a much different light than even “The Other Boleyn Girl”—those two stories had some glaring differences but I always read anyone’s take on a historical figure (especially one so little has been preserved for) with an open mind and appreciate the work that went into spinning a tale with the minimum of facts and the maximum of artistic liberty. I daresay this book made me feel quite sorry for Anne…whereas I vaguely remember thinking more poorly of Anne upon completion of Gregory’s work.
I would definitely pick this tome up again in the future just because I love revisiting and being reminded of certain details that escape you over time. I thoroughly enjoyed this read in its own merit and I don’t think anyone who enjoys all things Tudor would be wasting their time picking this one up.
I did want to share an interesting tie to my ancesters…
On page 487 the excerpt reads:
“Those who had been chosen to attend her were waiting for her. She was dismayed to see that chief among them were four ladies she disliked. There was her Aunt Boleyn, the wife of her Uncle James, who had recently incurred Anne’s enmity by switching his allegiance to the Lady Mary. There too was Lady Shelton, who greeted Anne with undisguised venom.
Lady Kingston came forward and curtseyed. She too was a friend of Lady Mary, and had once served the Princess Dowager. Anne did not expect her to be sympathetic. Lastly, there was Mrs. Coffyn, the wife of her Master of Horse.”
So upon investigating my Ancestry.com family tree I was able to determine that Mrs. Coffyn is referring to (Lady) Margaret Dymoke who was married to my ancestor’s (direct descendent) brother William ‘Master of Horse’ Coffin (Coffyn). William and Margaret never had any children together. She did however have two children with her first husband, before William, and none with her third husband after William’s death. Margaret went on to become the lady-in-waiting of the King's third wife, Jane Seymour. So she's a very distant great-aunt...16th I believe.
May 19, 2017
Bravo!!!! All the stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Review to come once I can feel my head!
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Historical fiction is quickly becoming my favourite genre, particularly when I find a royal gem like this. I requested this from NetGalley, half expecting to be turned down, as Alison Weir is an established author. But, lo and behold, I got accepted, and I was delighted!
Anne Boleyn was Henry's second wife out of the six. Their relationship was an uphill struggle from the outset as Henry was still married to Katherine of Aragon for the best part of their courting, which caused controversy among the masses. This painted poor Anne as a harlot and whore. She was neither. In fact, she was a sassy, educated, well travelled woman who certainly knew what she wanted out of life. But back in the 1500's, women generally weren't to be seen as having an opinion to voice. They were there to help secure families' futures, the most important thing of course was to have a son, and in royalty, an all important heir.
Alison Weirs historical knowledge shines from page one. She portrays the era with pinpoint perfection, every minute detail brought to living colour with ease. What I found most satisfying was that the basis of the story was factual. The author achieved an in-depth history lesson that was fascinating because the characters actually existed. She gave them their own part to play, and added their personalities, reactions and mannerisms based on her fantastic knowledge as a historian. The vision she had as a fictional author brought together an accurate depiction of events with drama and passion to make for a truly memorable read.
I'll be honest in saying that it wasn't the easiest read for me at times. At around half way through I had to stop for a while, in fact, for well over a week, because it was getting heavy. Not to hold, as it was on my kindle, (the physical book is a satisfying 544 pages) but heavy on the politics and religion. That was by no means a bad thing, because during the Tudor period, England was going through some very tough times, and Henry Tudor was responsible for a huge amount of uproar and change, so it was necessary and relevant to the story. But in order for me to get full enjoyment from it, I really did need that break. I'm not the best at taking in political plots and religious intricacies, and on various occasions I found I wasn't connected to what I was reading. That, however, did not have any adverse effect on the story flow, it didn't make me enjoy it any less, if anything, it made me more determined to finish it.
On finishing, I discovered at the end a 'Timeline' and a 'Dramatis Personae' or character list which really helped fill in a few gaps due to me not quite connecting or understanding certain areas of the book.
All in all, this is a fantastic read which I recommend to any fan of British History, it's not the easiest, but it's well worth persevering with because Alison Weir is an incredible author whom I shall be reading much more of in the future.
I'd like to thank the author, Alison Weir, the publisher, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
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Historical fiction is quickly becoming my favourite genre, particularly when I find a royal gem like this. I requested this from NetGalley, half expecting to be turned down, as Alison Weir is an established author. But, lo and behold, I got accepted, and I was delighted!
Anne Boleyn was Henry's second wife out of the six. Their relationship was an uphill struggle from the outset as Henry was still married to Katherine of Aragon for the best part of their courting, which caused controversy among the masses. This painted poor Anne as a harlot and whore. She was neither. In fact, she was a sassy, educated, well travelled woman who certainly knew what she wanted out of life. But back in the 1500's, women generally weren't to be seen as having an opinion to voice. They were there to help secure families' futures, the most important thing of course was to have a son, and in royalty, an all important heir.
Alison Weirs historical knowledge shines from page one. She portrays the era with pinpoint perfection, every minute detail brought to living colour with ease. What I found most satisfying was that the basis of the story was factual. The author achieved an in-depth history lesson that was fascinating because the characters actually existed. She gave them their own part to play, and added their personalities, reactions and mannerisms based on her fantastic knowledge as a historian. The vision she had as a fictional author brought together an accurate depiction of events with drama and passion to make for a truly memorable read.
I'll be honest in saying that it wasn't the easiest read for me at times. At around half way through I had to stop for a while, in fact, for well over a week, because it was getting heavy. Not to hold, as it was on my kindle, (the physical book is a satisfying 544 pages) but heavy on the politics and religion. That was by no means a bad thing, because during the Tudor period, England was going through some very tough times, and Henry Tudor was responsible for a huge amount of uproar and change, so it was necessary and relevant to the story. But in order for me to get full enjoyment from it, I really did need that break. I'm not the best at taking in political plots and religious intricacies, and on various occasions I found I wasn't connected to what I was reading. That, however, did not have any adverse effect on the story flow, it didn't make me enjoy it any less, if anything, it made me more determined to finish it.
On finishing, I discovered at the end a 'Timeline' and a 'Dramatis Personae' or character list which really helped fill in a few gaps due to me not quite connecting or understanding certain areas of the book.
All in all, this is a fantastic read which I recommend to any fan of British History, it's not the easiest, but it's well worth persevering with because Alison Weir is an incredible author whom I shall be reading much more of in the future.
I'd like to thank the author, Alison Weir, the publisher, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2019
Have read a couple of Boleyn books in the past, before GR era and have a faint rememberance of what happened ... But what I remember is each book portrays Boleyn differently ..
Have seen an unsympathetic view point, a sympathetic view point and ... This one seems more pragmatic, though one would never know how the real Anne was.
But in each and every book ..Henry was the same-sex selfish, petulant, childish , with no empathy ... a womaniser who didn't want to acknowledge that he was one.
The book left me wondering about fickleness of human mind and how history can be changed by minor things.
What if Anne refused the King in the beginning itself , what if she had a male offspring ...
Would things have been different ? I guess so.
Have seen an unsympathetic view point, a sympathetic view point and ... This one seems more pragmatic, though one would never know how the real Anne was.
But in each and every book ..Henry was the same-sex selfish, petulant, childish , with no empathy ... a womaniser who didn't want to acknowledge that he was one.
The book left me wondering about fickleness of human mind and how history can be changed by minor things.
What if Anne refused the King in the beginning itself , what if she had a male offspring ...
Would things have been different ? I guess so.
January 3, 2018
Utterly superb - just as I knew it would be.
December 17, 2017
Wonderful book for me. I love historical novels and I am especially drawn to the English monarchy, Henry VIII being a favorite.
The author has taken liberty to tell this story from the view point of Anne Boleyn and will continue with Henry's other wives in order. I have read the first installment of this series with Katherine of Aragon and loved it.
I love that she has taken the story from the main characters POV. It makes you feel what what she felt, in this case Anne Boleyn. While you may know what is going to happen, because you know the history, you are taken by surprise when it does.
I was very impressed with how the author presented Anne's execution in the end. Very imppressive. The author's notes at the end of the book helps you understand how and why she tells the story the way she does.
I look forward to Jane Seymours' story, Henry VIII third wive. That book will be out in May 2018.
Highly recommended for historical novel buffs.
The author has taken liberty to tell this story from the view point of Anne Boleyn and will continue with Henry's other wives in order. I have read the first installment of this series with Katherine of Aragon and loved it.
I love that she has taken the story from the main characters POV. It makes you feel what what she felt, in this case Anne Boleyn. While you may know what is going to happen, because you know the history, you are taken by surprise when it does.
I was very impressed with how the author presented Anne's execution in the end. Very imppressive. The author's notes at the end of the book helps you understand how and why she tells the story the way she does.
I look forward to Jane Seymours' story, Henry VIII third wive. That book will be out in May 2018.
Highly recommended for historical novel buffs.
May 26, 2017
A big thank you to Alison Weir, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Weir is the Queen of British historical fiction. I've read many of her books through the years and enjoyed them all. Color me surprised that she has a new series! I dove right in.
Relying heavily on contemporary resources Weir weaves a magnificent tale of an independent feminist caught in a web of power and deceit. Reared in the courts of Burgundy and France, Anne learns to appreciate the significance of a ruling woman. She also explores reforms in religion. She's brought home in her late teens to be a lady-in-waiting for the queen of England, Katherine of Aragon, where she meets Henry VIII, a man who in no way impresses her no matter how forcefully he flatters her.
Anne's family includes many ambitious members. Soon she sees the advantages of being a celibate mistress of the king. Gifts and grants flow her way, but because of her experiences in the foreign courts she holds her virtue as the ultimate prize, which causes her to be most alluring. She has numerous admirers but none as dominating as the Great Hal. As we all know this all eventually leads to the great schism of the Church of England, the first beheading of a queen consort, and the continuation of Henry's wrathful rule.
Weir admits to playing with history a bit to assist the flow of the story. There are a few bits that conflict with what I've always believed about Anne's tale that I'm not certain come from this interpretation or if they are actually new facts coming to light. We don't have much documentation saved regarding Anne's personality or point-of-view. Weir presents a valid argument here. It's easy to believe from Weir's evidence that Anne eventually caved in to the pressure and sought out the crown and the possibility of being the mother the the heir to the throne. I agree there was no love in her heart for the king. He was a means to an end. Sadly, he was her end.
Bravo, Weir, on a painstakingly put-together work. Anne's spirit lived again in your words.
Weir is the Queen of British historical fiction. I've read many of her books through the years and enjoyed them all. Color me surprised that she has a new series! I dove right in.
Relying heavily on contemporary resources Weir weaves a magnificent tale of an independent feminist caught in a web of power and deceit. Reared in the courts of Burgundy and France, Anne learns to appreciate the significance of a ruling woman. She also explores reforms in religion. She's brought home in her late teens to be a lady-in-waiting for the queen of England, Katherine of Aragon, where she meets Henry VIII, a man who in no way impresses her no matter how forcefully he flatters her.
Anne's family includes many ambitious members. Soon she sees the advantages of being a celibate mistress of the king. Gifts and grants flow her way, but because of her experiences in the foreign courts she holds her virtue as the ultimate prize, which causes her to be most alluring. She has numerous admirers but none as dominating as the Great Hal. As we all know this all eventually leads to the great schism of the Church of England, the first beheading of a queen consort, and the continuation of Henry's wrathful rule.
Weir admits to playing with history a bit to assist the flow of the story. There are a few bits that conflict with what I've always believed about Anne's tale that I'm not certain come from this interpretation or if they are actually new facts coming to light. We don't have much documentation saved regarding Anne's personality or point-of-view. Weir presents a valid argument here. It's easy to believe from Weir's evidence that Anne eventually caved in to the pressure and sought out the crown and the possibility of being the mother the the heir to the throne. I agree there was no love in her heart for the king. He was a means to an end. Sadly, he was her end.
Bravo, Weir, on a painstakingly put-together work. Anne's spirit lived again in your words.
April 23, 2017
Better than the first book in the series on Katherine of Aragon, but this one moved just as slowly. Alison Weir details Anne's life beginning with her visit to the court of Margaret of Austria as a minor. She develops a strong sense of independence here that places her in direct contrast to obedient Katherine later on.
Weir presents Anne as an ambitious woman who never wanted the affections of Henry VIII, but longed for the powerful status of Queen. This is an interesting theory, and one which I think she argues well. Weir admits in her afterword that we don't know much about Anne because few contemporary documents exist, and most surviving records come from a hostile source, Eustace Chapuys.
My main gripe is that there was a lot of explaining in this novel. Henry often details to Anne the legal implications of his actions, like indicting Wolsey for praemunire, or what happens to those accused of treason. In many instances, it doesn't sound convincing. Many areas of this book feel like a nonfiction account with some dialogue thrown in...while other areas are so impassioned, I thought I was reading the transcript for a Lifetime movie.
While Weir's writing style grates on me, I'll keep reading her novels because I do think she continues to bring a unique perspective on the Tudors and what they may have thought or said.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley.
Weir presents Anne as an ambitious woman who never wanted the affections of Henry VIII, but longed for the powerful status of Queen. This is an interesting theory, and one which I think she argues well. Weir admits in her afterword that we don't know much about Anne because few contemporary documents exist, and most surviving records come from a hostile source, Eustace Chapuys.
My main gripe is that there was a lot of explaining in this novel. Henry often details to Anne the legal implications of his actions, like indicting Wolsey for praemunire, or what happens to those accused of treason. In many instances, it doesn't sound convincing. Many areas of this book feel like a nonfiction account with some dialogue thrown in...while other areas are so impassioned, I thought I was reading the transcript for a Lifetime movie.
While Weir's writing style grates on me, I'll keep reading her novels because I do think she continues to bring a unique perspective on the Tudors and what they may have thought or said.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley.
May 22, 2017
'ANNE BOLEYN. The second of Henry’s Queens. Her story.
History tells us why she died.
This powerful novel shows her as she lived.'
Anne Boleyn: A Kings Obsession is a novel by the UK’s top-selling female historian, Alison Weir.
Also entitled Six Tudor Queens : II, Alison Weir is following on from her novel Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen (Six Tudor Queens: I) which was the first in a series of novels about the wives of Henry VIII.
I am not a historian so my knowledge of Henry VIII and his marriages are purely based on my history lessons from school. I studied the Reformation but what I learnt was exam based and very factual. I never knew the ‘Real’ story….until now.
Alison Weir has written a tome of a book and at 544 pages this is not a book you would read in one sitting, but neither would you want to. We are transported very visually to a time and place, a different era indeed. 1512, Anne Boleyn is 11 years old and about to embark on an extraordinary life. Born into relative wealth, with Anne’s father already serving in the courts, Anne was granted a position in the court of Margaret of Austria, in Burgandy and in 1513, Anne sets sail on a voyage, one that would change the course of her life forever.
‘Anne gasped. They were in a vast rectangular courtyard surrounded by splendid facades on all sides, mostly built in the ubiquitous red brick of the Netherlands; there were graceful open arcades at ground level, tall mullioned windows and a steep pitched roof with dormer rooms. “I love it!” Anne breathed. ” I have never seen anything like it"'
As Anne soon discovers, mannerisms and poise are of high value to any looking to advance in this strange world she finds herself in. She becomes extremely aware of ‘the power of display’
‘What you wore sent out important messages to people who mattered…the watchword was magnificence’
What I found so fascinating, in these early introductions to Anne’s life, was her uncanny ability to transform herself to a coy, bashful young lady at 12 years old. With her childhood firmly planted in the past, Anne swiftly learned the ways of the court and it wasn’t long before she was heading to Paris and all the ostentatious characteristics we expect when we read about those days.
Anne’s joy to be in Paris soon turns to frustration.
‘It felt like being in prison, immured in the Queen’s lavishly painted and gilded rooms, which offered every luxury a woman might require but held no attraction for Anne. What good did it do to wear all her gorgeous court gowns, on which Father had outlaid so much money, if no one saw them?’
In time the political hostilities between England and France result in Anne’s banishment from French soil and after many years Anne finds herself back home with the family at Hever Castle. Restless with the parochial nature of family life Anne’s father secures her a position as maid of honour in Queen Katherine’s household at Greenwich.
Now approaching her twenties, Anne delights in this news. Queen Katherine may be Spanish, but to be back among royalty is where Anne feels she will thrive.
The one fact that stood out for me in reading this novel were the opportunities Anne was able to avail of. She had a very impatient relationship with her sister Mary and even though her father and herself may not have always seen eye-to-eye, he appeared to have great ambitions and hopes for her.
Obviously it’s no spoiler to mention Anne’s death, as we all know how her story ended, but it is Anne’s rise though the courts, her battle with Queen Katherine and her volatile relationship with King Henry VIII that Alison Weir explores so well throughout this novel.
I was very surprised to read how manipulative a person she was. She was forever expounding her views, not afraid of the predominance of men surrounding her daily in court life. Anne had very strong opinions on the reforms of the church and on how Henry should approach certain topics.
Henry clearly was infatuated with Anne. She was different. She was ambitious. Henry wanted her as his wife and literally moved hell and earth to get her. But as the years passed the one thing Anne could not give Henry was a male heir and this was to be her downfall.
A Kings Obsession is a very appropriate name for this novel about the short life of Anne Boleyn. Henry was truly obsessed, but in the end his obsession mattered not.
Alison Weir takes the reader on a journey that I feel could be aptly renamed ‘Walking with The Tudors.’ As I read each page and opened each new chapter I was walking back in time and along the corridors of the great courts.
For me I did struggle slightly with a lot of the historical figures who featured in the novel but that was just my own lack of knowledge more than anything else. At the back of the book there is a Dramatis Personae, with a mention of all the characters, so at any point the reader can do a quick check to re-establish where they are. Also there is a timeline included which I found to be very useful.
Epic is the only word I think that aptly describes this novel. Anne Boleyn:A King’s Obsession is a narrative that explores the shy young girl and her transformation into a very formidable woman. The writing is superb and the historical knowledge is evident in every page. It is a fascinating read. It is an engrossing read. It is an intriguing look at the life of a Queen, the life of Anne Boleyn.
History tells us why she died.
This powerful novel shows her as she lived.'
Anne Boleyn: A Kings Obsession is a novel by the UK’s top-selling female historian, Alison Weir.
Also entitled Six Tudor Queens : II, Alison Weir is following on from her novel Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen (Six Tudor Queens: I) which was the first in a series of novels about the wives of Henry VIII.
I am not a historian so my knowledge of Henry VIII and his marriages are purely based on my history lessons from school. I studied the Reformation but what I learnt was exam based and very factual. I never knew the ‘Real’ story….until now.
Alison Weir has written a tome of a book and at 544 pages this is not a book you would read in one sitting, but neither would you want to. We are transported very visually to a time and place, a different era indeed. 1512, Anne Boleyn is 11 years old and about to embark on an extraordinary life. Born into relative wealth, with Anne’s father already serving in the courts, Anne was granted a position in the court of Margaret of Austria, in Burgandy and in 1513, Anne sets sail on a voyage, one that would change the course of her life forever.
‘Anne gasped. They were in a vast rectangular courtyard surrounded by splendid facades on all sides, mostly built in the ubiquitous red brick of the Netherlands; there were graceful open arcades at ground level, tall mullioned windows and a steep pitched roof with dormer rooms. “I love it!” Anne breathed. ” I have never seen anything like it"'
As Anne soon discovers, mannerisms and poise are of high value to any looking to advance in this strange world she finds herself in. She becomes extremely aware of ‘the power of display’
‘What you wore sent out important messages to people who mattered…the watchword was magnificence’
What I found so fascinating, in these early introductions to Anne’s life, was her uncanny ability to transform herself to a coy, bashful young lady at 12 years old. With her childhood firmly planted in the past, Anne swiftly learned the ways of the court and it wasn’t long before she was heading to Paris and all the ostentatious characteristics we expect when we read about those days.
Anne’s joy to be in Paris soon turns to frustration.
‘It felt like being in prison, immured in the Queen’s lavishly painted and gilded rooms, which offered every luxury a woman might require but held no attraction for Anne. What good did it do to wear all her gorgeous court gowns, on which Father had outlaid so much money, if no one saw them?’
In time the political hostilities between England and France result in Anne’s banishment from French soil and after many years Anne finds herself back home with the family at Hever Castle. Restless with the parochial nature of family life Anne’s father secures her a position as maid of honour in Queen Katherine’s household at Greenwich.
Now approaching her twenties, Anne delights in this news. Queen Katherine may be Spanish, but to be back among royalty is where Anne feels she will thrive.
The one fact that stood out for me in reading this novel were the opportunities Anne was able to avail of. She had a very impatient relationship with her sister Mary and even though her father and herself may not have always seen eye-to-eye, he appeared to have great ambitions and hopes for her.
Obviously it’s no spoiler to mention Anne’s death, as we all know how her story ended, but it is Anne’s rise though the courts, her battle with Queen Katherine and her volatile relationship with King Henry VIII that Alison Weir explores so well throughout this novel.
I was very surprised to read how manipulative a person she was. She was forever expounding her views, not afraid of the predominance of men surrounding her daily in court life. Anne had very strong opinions on the reforms of the church and on how Henry should approach certain topics.
Henry clearly was infatuated with Anne. She was different. She was ambitious. Henry wanted her as his wife and literally moved hell and earth to get her. But as the years passed the one thing Anne could not give Henry was a male heir and this was to be her downfall.
A Kings Obsession is a very appropriate name for this novel about the short life of Anne Boleyn. Henry was truly obsessed, but in the end his obsession mattered not.
Alison Weir takes the reader on a journey that I feel could be aptly renamed ‘Walking with The Tudors.’ As I read each page and opened each new chapter I was walking back in time and along the corridors of the great courts.
For me I did struggle slightly with a lot of the historical figures who featured in the novel but that was just my own lack of knowledge more than anything else. At the back of the book there is a Dramatis Personae, with a mention of all the characters, so at any point the reader can do a quick check to re-establish where they are. Also there is a timeline included which I found to be very useful.
Epic is the only word I think that aptly describes this novel. Anne Boleyn:A King’s Obsession is a narrative that explores the shy young girl and her transformation into a very formidable woman. The writing is superb and the historical knowledge is evident in every page. It is a fascinating read. It is an engrossing read. It is an intriguing look at the life of a Queen, the life of Anne Boleyn.
April 16, 2017
Weir's Anne Boleyn is not as excellent as her book on on Katherine but just by a hair because both are wonderful. I won't give any spoilers though most people drawn to this book will have more than an outline of the events these queens endured both at Henry's horrible hands but sadly the angst they directed at one another and the other's child though Henry's part was by far the most despicable. It's hard to like any of them or respect their actions. It was a brutal time.
The last several chapter in Boleyn are extremely horrid and well writtenso bring your courage and have your tissues nearby. I loved Mantell's series as well but these first two books have their unique viewpoint and value. I'm glad I read them and look forward to the subsequent volumes, Jane Seymour good luck, maybe things will work out better for you this time.
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-copy.
PS
I don't know if the art work on the arc will be used but I hope so because I think is beautiful and evocative of the times, such beauty and majesty but horrors were occurring.
The last several chapter in Boleyn are extremely horrid and well writtenso bring your courage and have your tissues nearby. I loved Mantell's series as well but these first two books have their unique viewpoint and value. I'm glad I read them and look forward to the subsequent volumes, Jane Seymour good luck, maybe things will work out better for you this time.
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-copy.
PS
I don't know if the art work on the arc will be used but I hope so because I think is beautiful and evocative of the times, such beauty and majesty but horrors were occurring.
December 30, 2019
I'm just a tad bit Tudor obsessed. Ok, ok... Maybe more than a tad bit. I've only read one other book by Alison Weir and I find her to be a good historian without too much fluff but just enough to keep the story interesting. Weir's version of Anne Boleyn is much in line with the TV show, The Tudors, without all the sexiness that was thrown in the TV show. The movie Anne of a Thousand Days is also a similar portrayal of Weir's Anne Boleyn.
It was a bit long and could get tedious at times, but for the most part, overall, I did enjoy yet another Tudor book.
It was a bit long and could get tedious at times, but for the most part, overall, I did enjoy yet another Tudor book.
August 11, 2017
I can’t tell you how excited I was for this one in particular. Anne Boleyn is one of my favorite historical figures. I thought this would be a fantastic read.
My friends….I could not have been more wrong. I seldom give up on a book. But this one defeated me. For as much love as Ms. Weir has for Queen Catherine, her disdain for Anne was readily apparent from almost the first page. I understand she is writing about all six wives, but try to hide your dislike!
Some shy away from reviewing a book that they haven’t finished, but I think it’s worth sharing my thoughts. I do enjoy Ms. Weir’s books usually but not this time. It’s fair to say that I’m actually annoyed that such a renowned historian would be blatantly biased.
Let’s begin by saying, I did actually like reading about Anne’s years abroad, where she learned the manners and grace that made her so famed and sought after. There’s never really been a description of that in any books and so it was interesting to get a view of that and to know what her life was like abroad. Margaret of Austria wrote to Sir Thomas Boleyn of Anne, “so presentable and so pleasant, considering her youthful age, that I am more beholden to you for sending her to me, than you to me.” I enjoyed that greatly. It gave me more of an insight into Anne’s youth, which is something I’ve been left to wonder about. Beyond that, it went to hell quickly.
I was kind of in awe that rape is mentioned pretty willy-nilly in this. It’s insinuated that George Boleyn, Anne’s brother, is a rapist. (And even though he told Anne, she kind of brushed it aside as if it were nothing.) There is nothing in history to support this. Ms. Weir also brings up Mary Boleyn being raped. Twice! Once by King Francis I and the second by Henry VIII. Again, there is nothing to support this claim and it’s a shame that Ms. Weir fell into the ‘I don’t like you, so I will write terribly about you’ way of things. It was rather disgraceful, truth be told. Another strange thing is that Ms. Weir wrote of the Boleyn siblings having two elder brothers; it’s well documented that Elizabeth Howard only had three children who lived to adulthood: Anne, Mary and George.
I’m all for creative license. I really am; make it interesting. Make it fun. But if you are writing ‘historical fiction’–be mindful of history. Impressionable readers may take falsehoods as absolutely truth.
Most of us have an idea of what Henry VIII was like; his life is quite well documented. We know he could be charming as all get out and we also know how that could change as quickly as the wind blew. But in this, he was not at all the usual Henry. It’s an insult to his memory, truth be told. Henry is a love sick fool. Yes, he was in love with her–or lust–but he still tended to his everyday business and didn’t sit pining away like a besotted teenage girl. There’s no depth to him, he’s just the King and he wants Anne. He feels one dimensional and whether that changed as the book went on, I don’t know. If the beginning is any indication, then I’m glad I didn’t continue.
I suppose I’m spoiled by Margaret George’s book, ‘The Confessions of Henry VIII’, where Henry is so vividly described that he basically jumped out of the book. If you’re going to write about one of the most well known figures in British history, one would think that you’d really take him on and do him justice. He’s shown as being easily manipulated. Does Henry VIII look like a man who was easily manipulated?! And if you don’t go by his portrait, this is a man who signed death warrants on a regular basis. I don’t think so!
Ms. Weir also writes of Anne having a sixth finger and moles all over, which most seem to discredit. Henry was notoriously paranoid about these sort of things; if there was something unattractive about Anne, odds are he would not have been so besotted with her. Anne has been described as beautiful in a non-conventional way. Eustace Chapuys, one of Anne’s biggest detractors, would have jumped on the opportunity to write if Anne was deformed in anyway. Most of these rumors started long after Anne was dead; Nicholas Sander, a Catholic who had been exiled during Elizabeth I’s reign wrote that Anne “…had a projecting tooth under the upper lip, and on her right hand, six fingers.”
I could go on complaining about the bit I read, but I think you’ve gotten my drift. I did not enjoy much of this book and odds are, I’ll never pick it up again, even if it’s on discount when I head to Books-A-Million.
I don’t know if I’ll read the next one in the series, but I suppose we’ll see as time goes on.
My friends….I could not have been more wrong. I seldom give up on a book. But this one defeated me. For as much love as Ms. Weir has for Queen Catherine, her disdain for Anne was readily apparent from almost the first page. I understand she is writing about all six wives, but try to hide your dislike!
Some shy away from reviewing a book that they haven’t finished, but I think it’s worth sharing my thoughts. I do enjoy Ms. Weir’s books usually but not this time. It’s fair to say that I’m actually annoyed that such a renowned historian would be blatantly biased.
Let’s begin by saying, I did actually like reading about Anne’s years abroad, where she learned the manners and grace that made her so famed and sought after. There’s never really been a description of that in any books and so it was interesting to get a view of that and to know what her life was like abroad. Margaret of Austria wrote to Sir Thomas Boleyn of Anne, “so presentable and so pleasant, considering her youthful age, that I am more beholden to you for sending her to me, than you to me.” I enjoyed that greatly. It gave me more of an insight into Anne’s youth, which is something I’ve been left to wonder about. Beyond that, it went to hell quickly.
I was kind of in awe that rape is mentioned pretty willy-nilly in this. It’s insinuated that George Boleyn, Anne’s brother, is a rapist. (And even though he told Anne, she kind of brushed it aside as if it were nothing.) There is nothing in history to support this. Ms. Weir also brings up Mary Boleyn being raped. Twice! Once by King Francis I and the second by Henry VIII. Again, there is nothing to support this claim and it’s a shame that Ms. Weir fell into the ‘I don’t like you, so I will write terribly about you’ way of things. It was rather disgraceful, truth be told. Another strange thing is that Ms. Weir wrote of the Boleyn siblings having two elder brothers; it’s well documented that Elizabeth Howard only had three children who lived to adulthood: Anne, Mary and George.
I’m all for creative license. I really am; make it interesting. Make it fun. But if you are writing ‘historical fiction’–be mindful of history. Impressionable readers may take falsehoods as absolutely truth.
Most of us have an idea of what Henry VIII was like; his life is quite well documented. We know he could be charming as all get out and we also know how that could change as quickly as the wind blew. But in this, he was not at all the usual Henry. It’s an insult to his memory, truth be told. Henry is a love sick fool. Yes, he was in love with her–or lust–but he still tended to his everyday business and didn’t sit pining away like a besotted teenage girl. There’s no depth to him, he’s just the King and he wants Anne. He feels one dimensional and whether that changed as the book went on, I don’t know. If the beginning is any indication, then I’m glad I didn’t continue.
I suppose I’m spoiled by Margaret George’s book, ‘The Confessions of Henry VIII’, where Henry is so vividly described that he basically jumped out of the book. If you’re going to write about one of the most well known figures in British history, one would think that you’d really take him on and do him justice. He’s shown as being easily manipulated. Does Henry VIII look like a man who was easily manipulated?! And if you don’t go by his portrait, this is a man who signed death warrants on a regular basis. I don’t think so!
Ms. Weir also writes of Anne having a sixth finger and moles all over, which most seem to discredit. Henry was notoriously paranoid about these sort of things; if there was something unattractive about Anne, odds are he would not have been so besotted with her. Anne has been described as beautiful in a non-conventional way. Eustace Chapuys, one of Anne’s biggest detractors, would have jumped on the opportunity to write if Anne was deformed in anyway. Most of these rumors started long after Anne was dead; Nicholas Sander, a Catholic who had been exiled during Elizabeth I’s reign wrote that Anne “…had a projecting tooth under the upper lip, and on her right hand, six fingers.”
I could go on complaining about the bit I read, but I think you’ve gotten my drift. I did not enjoy much of this book and odds are, I’ll never pick it up again, even if it’s on discount when I head to Books-A-Million.
I don’t know if I’ll read the next one in the series, but I suppose we’ll see as time goes on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
Informed by her trademark impeccable research, Alison Weir gives us her fictionalised account of the life of Anne Boleyn from her childhood to her tragic death at the hands of Henry VIII. She details Henry’s pursuit of Anne, the political and religious consequences of his attempt to have his marriage to Katherine Aragon annulled and Anne’s eventual downfall. This is a long book and although I very much enjoyed the early sections covering Anne’s youth in the courts of Europe, I found the parts covering the “Great Matter” (Henry’s attempts to annul his marriage to Katherine) just a little too detailed. It felt almost as interminable to this reader as it must have done to Anne.
Although I have enjoyed Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, I’ve sometimes found them a little light on historical content. However, I found myself rather longing for some of Gregory’s sprightly inventiveness to enliven this book. I feel Weir redeemed herself in the final sections covering Anne’s downfall as these were much more enjoyable and the final pages recounting Anne’s execution were heartbreaking. Lovers of serious historical fiction will really enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Headline, in return for an honest review.
Although I have enjoyed Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, I’ve sometimes found them a little light on historical content. However, I found myself rather longing for some of Gregory’s sprightly inventiveness to enliven this book. I feel Weir redeemed herself in the final sections covering Anne’s downfall as these were much more enjoyable and the final pages recounting Anne’s execution were heartbreaking. Lovers of serious historical fiction will really enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Headline, in return for an honest review.
January 27, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book from Headline through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Ever since I first read Philippa Gregory's 'The Other Boleyn Girl' I became fascinated by the Tudors and in particular the Boleyns. I have now read many fiction and non fiction books on the subject and I'm aware of the discussions and disagreements of historians and the way that fiction authors have played with known and disputed facts and gossip to craft their own version of the story each time. It is these differences in each fiction novel that keep the subject interesting and entertaining to read about. This book certainly provided a new slant on this incredible story, something that I am always happy to see.
This book covers the entire Court life of Anne Boleyn, starting with her first Court service with the Archduchess Margaret of Austria where Anne first comes into contact with the new learning and the role that women can play in politics and religion. It opens her eyes to new thoughts and ideas and it is here that she first harbours her thirst for religious reform. I liked getting the chance to read about the Court of the woman who so inspired Anne as most books begin with Anne's life in France. This was a welcome addition, especially the story of Charles Brandon trying to seduce Margaret, which I have only seen briefly in a few books. Seeing it through Anne's eyes was interesting.
Next Anne rejoins her sister Mary to serve the Princess Mary, sister to King Henry and new wife to the King of France. It is here that the petty rivalry and jealousy between the sisters is explored further. Mary is less scholarly than Anne and was upset that her younger sister went to a Court before she did, but it is the beautiful Mary who catches the eye of the men wherever she goes. This novel differs from other books, having Mary claim to be raped by King Francis instead of being his willing mistress, and the Boleyn family being outraged by Mary being dishonoured. The sisters part ways with Mary returning to England in shame and Anne serving Queen Claude and ignoring most of the male advances she receives, while broadening her education.
When the story shifts to the English Court, the sisters are reunited but now Mary is trying to avoid the attentions of King Henry for fear of upsetting her new husband Will Carey. Varying books have Mary as willing mistress sanctioned by the Boleyns but I liked seeing her family initially being horrified by the prospect until it showers fortune on them. It makes it a more complex family problem-not wanting your daughter to be regarded as a whore yet not wishing to anger the King. Anne is trying avoid a husband in James Butler as it means living in Ireland and her eye falls on Henry Percy, which Cardinal Wolsey is determined to put an end to, to Anne's despair. George Boleyn is not thrilled to marry vile Jane Parker. The twisted love lives of the Boleyn siblings is fascinating and Anne is far from happy when King Henry turns his eye to her after discarding Mary. It also explores the paternity of Mary's two children, suggesting her daughter was the King's child.
The story of Anne trying to evade Henry is interesting in that she wants nothing to do with him, feeling guilt over the Queen and having feelings for the married Henry Norris. I liked the addition of this previously unexplored possibility that Anne and Henry Norris were interested in each other but his wife and the King's intentions meant that they could never even consider being together. It added interest to the story and we see so many different sides to Anne in her anguish and despair. It was also a chance to see the jealous Thomas Wyatt stirring up trouble. I was also fascinated by the relationship portrayed here of Anne and Henry as she grows to care for but not love him, thinking that being his Queen would provide her opportunity to go good and hold power. We see details on their shared frustrations over the divorce, the constant fights over the loyalty of Woolsey, Anne fearing her temper and dwindling childbearing years will turn Henry away from her, and Anne tempting Henry into the readings of the new learning. The detail provided goes beyond any other Tudor novel and gets you inside the heads of the characters.
The characters themselves are well developed. Anne loves her brother but is gradually discovering that he is doing some bad things in his treatment of wife Jane, his dealings with other women and what he is prepared to do for the good of his family. I liked seeing him as more of a monster than innocent victim. Her father Thomas Boleyn is ironically less of a monster in this book than usual which was also a change that I enjoyed. It is only in his treatment of Mary that we see his darker side. Henry Norris is usually a background figure so it was good to see plenty of him and Henry Percy featuring in Anne's story. The author does a good job of having Anne relate in different ways to all the men that she will be accused of cheating with and where the gossip comes from. I enjoyed seeing Jane Seymour portrayed as sly instead of naive, Jane Rochford causing trouble wherever she went and Anne's complex relationship with Cromwell.
I liked that most of the detail in the book is more centered on all the relationships and important developments in the plot, rather than endless descriptions of every room, dress and thing we see. I think that we get the perfect balance here, with the author describing what we need to imagine but not giving every single detail of the coronation celebrations, for example. It is very much focused on the characters and plot and that is exactly what I wanted to see in this book. It is the most in depth portrayal of Anne's life and certainly one of the best that I've read.
If you love the Tudors and especially if Anne Boleyn interests you, I certainly recommend this book. I will be buying my own copy at some point and definitely reading the other books in this series.
Ever since I first read Philippa Gregory's 'The Other Boleyn Girl' I became fascinated by the Tudors and in particular the Boleyns. I have now read many fiction and non fiction books on the subject and I'm aware of the discussions and disagreements of historians and the way that fiction authors have played with known and disputed facts and gossip to craft their own version of the story each time. It is these differences in each fiction novel that keep the subject interesting and entertaining to read about. This book certainly provided a new slant on this incredible story, something that I am always happy to see.
This book covers the entire Court life of Anne Boleyn, starting with her first Court service with the Archduchess Margaret of Austria where Anne first comes into contact with the new learning and the role that women can play in politics and religion. It opens her eyes to new thoughts and ideas and it is here that she first harbours her thirst for religious reform. I liked getting the chance to read about the Court of the woman who so inspired Anne as most books begin with Anne's life in France. This was a welcome addition, especially the story of Charles Brandon trying to seduce Margaret, which I have only seen briefly in a few books. Seeing it through Anne's eyes was interesting.
Next Anne rejoins her sister Mary to serve the Princess Mary, sister to King Henry and new wife to the King of France. It is here that the petty rivalry and jealousy between the sisters is explored further. Mary is less scholarly than Anne and was upset that her younger sister went to a Court before she did, but it is the beautiful Mary who catches the eye of the men wherever she goes. This novel differs from other books, having Mary claim to be raped by King Francis instead of being his willing mistress, and the Boleyn family being outraged by Mary being dishonoured. The sisters part ways with Mary returning to England in shame and Anne serving Queen Claude and ignoring most of the male advances she receives, while broadening her education.
When the story shifts to the English Court, the sisters are reunited but now Mary is trying to avoid the attentions of King Henry for fear of upsetting her new husband Will Carey. Varying books have Mary as willing mistress sanctioned by the Boleyns but I liked seeing her family initially being horrified by the prospect until it showers fortune on them. It makes it a more complex family problem-not wanting your daughter to be regarded as a whore yet not wishing to anger the King. Anne is trying avoid a husband in James Butler as it means living in Ireland and her eye falls on Henry Percy, which Cardinal Wolsey is determined to put an end to, to Anne's despair. George Boleyn is not thrilled to marry vile Jane Parker. The twisted love lives of the Boleyn siblings is fascinating and Anne is far from happy when King Henry turns his eye to her after discarding Mary. It also explores the paternity of Mary's two children, suggesting her daughter was the King's child.
The story of Anne trying to evade Henry is interesting in that she wants nothing to do with him, feeling guilt over the Queen and having feelings for the married Henry Norris. I liked the addition of this previously unexplored possibility that Anne and Henry Norris were interested in each other but his wife and the King's intentions meant that they could never even consider being together. It added interest to the story and we see so many different sides to Anne in her anguish and despair. It was also a chance to see the jealous Thomas Wyatt stirring up trouble. I was also fascinated by the relationship portrayed here of Anne and Henry as she grows to care for but not love him, thinking that being his Queen would provide her opportunity to go good and hold power. We see details on their shared frustrations over the divorce, the constant fights over the loyalty of Woolsey, Anne fearing her temper and dwindling childbearing years will turn Henry away from her, and Anne tempting Henry into the readings of the new learning. The detail provided goes beyond any other Tudor novel and gets you inside the heads of the characters.
The characters themselves are well developed. Anne loves her brother but is gradually discovering that he is doing some bad things in his treatment of wife Jane, his dealings with other women and what he is prepared to do for the good of his family. I liked seeing him as more of a monster than innocent victim. Her father Thomas Boleyn is ironically less of a monster in this book than usual which was also a change that I enjoyed. It is only in his treatment of Mary that we see his darker side. Henry Norris is usually a background figure so it was good to see plenty of him and Henry Percy featuring in Anne's story. The author does a good job of having Anne relate in different ways to all the men that she will be accused of cheating with and where the gossip comes from. I enjoyed seeing Jane Seymour portrayed as sly instead of naive, Jane Rochford causing trouble wherever she went and Anne's complex relationship with Cromwell.
I liked that most of the detail in the book is more centered on all the relationships and important developments in the plot, rather than endless descriptions of every room, dress and thing we see. I think that we get the perfect balance here, with the author describing what we need to imagine but not giving every single detail of the coronation celebrations, for example. It is very much focused on the characters and plot and that is exactly what I wanted to see in this book. It is the most in depth portrayal of Anne's life and certainly one of the best that I've read.
If you love the Tudors and especially if Anne Boleyn interests you, I certainly recommend this book. I will be buying my own copy at some point and definitely reading the other books in this series.
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