Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession, by Alison Weir
Series: Six Tudor Queens #2
Published by Headline Review, 11th January 2018
Genres: Historical fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased (new)
Trigger warnings: miscarriage, sexual assault, executions
Synopsis
History tells us why she died. This powerful novel shows her as she lived.
The story of Anne Boleyn is well known. After spending time at the courts of Burgundy and France, she returns to England and becomes involved with King Henry VIII. This relationship would change the course of history in England and turn Christendom on its head. But what exactly happened between King Henry and young Anne Boleyn? Was it really the passionate relationship that history tells us?
My thoughts
A new and interesting perspective on Anne Boleyn! As a fan of Philippa Gregory and also The Tudors TV series, I started this book with a certain impression of Anne already in mind. But this meticulously researched work delves deeper into her character and what might have been her motivations.
Usually portrayed as the wily seductress who tempted Henry and led him to destroy his marriage and reform the Church of England. But Alison Weir puts forth the idea that rather than being desperately in love with the King, Anne Boleyn was in fact seduced by the idea of being Queen and the power this would give her. There is some evidence to suggest that she actually resisted Henry’s advances for a long time, and did not really love him.
I am becoming a really big fan of Alison Weir’s writing and I am so enjoying this series. I thought the ending was really well written. It cannot have been easy to write, and it certainly wasn’t easy to read. Anne Boleyn’s fate is legend, but Weir tells it so well, it gave me shivers!
My rating: 4/5