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mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
I have read many books about Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, so, while I always know how the story ends, I do still expect to be entertained. Upon starting this novel I was pleased, though one huge discrepancy really bothered me. I realize this is a fiction novel, and I've seen many authors tweak a story here and there to make it more exciting, or to change some dates around a bit, but I just could not figure out why Ms. Lofts decided to invent a Stepmother for the Boleyn children? Anne Boleyn's mother did NOT die when she was a child. Her father, Thomas Boleyn was married to only one woman in his life...the Lady Elizabeth Howard. Elizabeth Howard Boleyn was the mother of Anne, Mary, and George, and she did not die early. In fact, she outlived Anne and George by two years, dying in 1538. This is documented and very well known, so I just can't imagine why the author decided to make such a big change in Anne's family life.
This aside, I really enjoyed the story. As far as I could tell, the rest of the book appeared to be historically accurate, and Ms. Loft's portrayal of Anne was one of the most human and realistic that I've read. So many authors paint her to be a shrewd, power-hungry, social climber...and to some extend she WAS, but it wasn't ALL of her. Others take a more gossipy, tabloid-type approach to their telling of the story, which can be ridiculous at times. Reading this book actually had me feeling a little sympathy toward her, something I've never really felt. I still believe that, in the end, Karma got her. Her treatment of Catherine and Mary was terrible. While she may not have outwardly done anything to them, she was the one feeding her hateful ideas to Henry, who then implemented them. Spiteful ideas such as separating mother and daughter, leaving them both nearly destitute and poor, and the biggest slap-in-the-face...forcing Mary to serve the Princess Elizabeth.
Under her subtle cruelty though, Anne was just a wronged girl of gentle upbringing who was offered the moon and the stars. Who wouldn't take them? After being blocked from marrying the love of her life (a move the King himself ordered because Anne had caught his attention), Henry began pursuing Anne in earnest. Seeing how her sister was cast aside after giving in to Henry's lust, she chose to keep her dignity and do what no other women had done...tell King Henry VIII of England 'No'. It was Henry (at least as it was told here) who offered Anne the crown. That he'd put Catherine aside, and make Anne Queen of England. Well, after being told that she KNEW she had to continue to hold him off, otherwise, why bother making her Queen when he could keep her as his mistress? Little did either of them know Anne's journey to the throne would take NINE long years, and at the end of it, Henry would grow to hate her, which would ultimately lead to her death.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this. If you're new to the story of Henry and Anne, this is a great place to get your feet wet. If you've read a ton of books on the subject, adding this to your collection will not be a waste of time. While nothing new may be learned here, it was a fine portrayal of what the life of the Doomed Queen may have been like. I definitely look forward to reading some of Ms. Lofts other works of historical fiction.
This aside, I really enjoyed the story. As far as I could tell, the rest of the book appeared to be historically accurate, and Ms. Loft's portrayal of Anne was one of the most human and realistic that I've read. So many authors paint her to be a shrewd, power-hungry, social climber...and to some extend she WAS, but it wasn't ALL of her. Others take a more gossipy, tabloid-type approach to their telling of the story, which can be ridiculous at times. Reading this book actually had me feeling a little sympathy toward her, something I've never really felt. I still believe that, in the end, Karma got her. Her treatment of Catherine and Mary was terrible. While she may not have outwardly done anything to them, she was the one feeding her hateful ideas to Henry, who then implemented them. Spiteful ideas such as separating mother and daughter, leaving them both nearly destitute and poor, and the biggest slap-in-the-face...forcing Mary to serve the Princess Elizabeth.
Under her subtle cruelty though, Anne was just a wronged girl of gentle upbringing who was offered the moon and the stars. Who wouldn't take them? After being blocked from marrying the love of her life (a move the King himself ordered because Anne had caught his attention), Henry began pursuing Anne in earnest. Seeing how her sister was cast aside after giving in to Henry's lust, she chose to keep her dignity and do what no other women had done...tell King Henry VIII of England 'No'. It was Henry (at least as it was told here) who offered Anne the crown. That he'd put Catherine aside, and make Anne Queen of England. Well, after being told that she KNEW she had to continue to hold him off, otherwise, why bother making her Queen when he could keep her as his mistress? Little did either of them know Anne's journey to the throne would take NINE long years, and at the end of it, Henry would grow to hate her, which would ultimately lead to her death.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this. If you're new to the story of Henry and Anne, this is a great place to get your feet wet. If you've read a ton of books on the subject, adding this to your collection will not be a waste of time. While nothing new may be learned here, it was a fine portrayal of what the life of the Doomed Queen may have been like. I definitely look forward to reading some of Ms. Lofts other works of historical fiction.
cher_n_books's review
4.0
4 stars - It was great. I loved it.
The most intriguing novel I have ever read about Anne Boleyn. The author had a wonderful way of getting you inside the heads of multiple players/characters, presenting as thorough and accurate of a story as one could look to find in historical fiction. Kudos to the publisher for renewing the publication, as otherwise I would have most likely never found or heard of it.
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Favorite Quote: He was a young man again, in love for the first time and on his way to his wedding. All that he genuinely believed, for amongst many other things, he was a poet and possessed the poet’s ability to create his own world.
First Sentence: The serving woman went and knelt by the hearth and busied herself with the kindling of the fire.
The most intriguing novel I have ever read about Anne Boleyn. The author had a wonderful way of getting you inside the heads of multiple players/characters, presenting as thorough and accurate of a story as one could look to find in historical fiction. Kudos to the publisher for renewing the publication, as otherwise I would have most likely never found or heard of it.
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Favorite Quote: He was a young man again, in love for the first time and on his way to his wedding. All that he genuinely believed, for amongst many other things, he was a poet and possessed the poet’s ability to create his own world.
First Sentence: The serving woman went and knelt by the hearth and busied herself with the kindling of the fire.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
2.0
Review - I was disappointed in this novel. I much preferred [b:The King's Pleasure|426492|The King's Pleasure|Norah Lofts|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356130916s/426492.jpg|701882]. I felt that this one lacked historical accuracy - Anne's date of birth wasn't as late as 1507, and her mother didn't die when she was young. Perhaps it's just my historical background, but I didn't enjoy it as much because of this. I didn't think that Emma Arnett added as much to the story as she could have. Her role could have been expanded. I also don't think that, for the story of Anne Boleyn, there was enough Anne in it. And if it is suggested that she committed adultery, Lofts could at least tell us with whom.
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Anne Boleyn / Henry VIII / Henry Percy / Lady Bo / Thomas Boleyn / Mark Smeaton / Emma Arnett / Margaret Lee / Mary Boleyn / George Boleyn
Setting? - Hever, Blickling & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - No
Rating - 8/20
Genre? - Historical / Drama
Characters? - Anne Boleyn / Henry VIII / Henry Percy / Lady Bo / Thomas Boleyn / Mark Smeaton / Emma Arnett / Margaret Lee / Mary Boleyn / George Boleyn
Setting? - Hever, Blickling & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - No
Rating - 8/20
duckie7582's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, good, but I got really annoyed with the historical inaccuracies.
saucydoorhandles's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 It was alright. Not brilliant but not awful. There was a different take on certain things which I found refreshing. Before Anne's fall, Anne does something that I've never found in another tudor book. It obviously never happened but I found it an interesting idea neverless. The name 'Lady Bo' just made me cringe. There is some stuff that is presented as facts, which we know now are not true, but this book was written in the 60's so I think that it can be forgiven somewhat. But the whole 'she had a sixth finger' needs to just die. If she did, I think someone who actually knew her might have said something ;) People hated her. If she had a sixth finger, it would've been mentioned in her lifetime, not decades after her death. Also, I know in the past, we've always blamed mens cheating on the woman so it makes sense, but it was tiring to read about Katherine thinking Henry is perfect. Like no. I think it was a rather sympathetic take on Anne. Usually she can be occasionally cruel and her temper often flared but she's quite mellow in this book, even with her barbs.
The more Tudor fiction I read, the more I hate Henry VIII. I don't even want to think about the mental warping he must have done in his mind to still believe that he was a decent person. If there is any justice in the afterlife, he's hopefully in hell with people pointing out that it's his fault why he didn't have many sons, not the womens. That would be a fitting punishment for one who was obsessed with his own virility.
The more Tudor fiction I read, the more I hate Henry VIII. I don't even want to think about the mental warping he must have done in his mind to still believe that he was a decent person. If there is any justice in the afterlife, he's hopefully in hell with people pointing out that it's his fault why he didn't have many sons, not the womens. That would be a fitting punishment for one who was obsessed with his own virility.
nikkimcgee's review against another edition
5.0
This is my second Norah Lofts book and I will be reading more, although there are a few historical inaccuracies, reflecting the age of the book, this is a well written alternative look at the life of Anne Boleyn. I liked the omniscient narrator approach, which enabled you to see the story from many viewpoints and yet you still felt as if the key characters were developed. Cromwell is a very dark figure, very different from the man portrayed by Hilary Mantel, the scene with Smeaton is particularly chilling. In many ways Lofts take on the story of Boleyn made more sense than the traditional Phillipa Gregory approach.
infosifter's review against another edition
4.0
I've never been a fan of Anne Boleyn; I've always thought she was a schemer who reaped what she had sewn though her punishment exceeded her crime. I've never believed she was guilty of what she was accused of, but rather of thwarting Henry the eighth in various ways, some of which were not in her control such as not giving him an heir. This book made me rethink the situation a little.
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