Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
An easy read and enjoyable for anyone that is a fan of Anne Boleyn. However, it also feels as if the entire book was written to disqualify more reputable historian's findings.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I'm always torn between feeling bad for Anne Boleyn and hating her. In a way, she kind'a 'dug her own grave' in the way that she isolated herself from people who could have potentially used their influence to protect her. If she had not been so... high opinionated of herself then maybe she would not have alienated herself. People that had once thought of allying themselves to the Queen were chased away by her. It was pretty obvious that Anne was extremely tempermental, and the blatant disrespect that she showed King Henry--many times in public--also probably lead to some pent up resentment that her husband held for her.
So, in a way, I can see that she... 'had this coming'. I no longer idolize her as completely innocent when I have knowledge of her attitude and the ways that she could have possibly gone about preventing (or at least try to) her situation. She usurped a queen and did not outright contemplate that Henry VII could certainly do it to her.
But, then agan, she is as much a victim as she was a victimizer. Cromwell is obviously a big player in the game to bring the Queen down, and I believe that if he had not egged on the current situation at hand then perhaps Anne could have been given a more... benevolent end. Perhaps, she could have been away at a convent.
I was also pretty intrigued at the idea that all of Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers could have possibly had a history of homosexual behavior/tendencies. I also liked how the author didn't completely put away the idea that Anne may have been guilty of something or another, though not adultery not necessarily having to be the crime.
Overall, a very good and interesting read. It gave me a little bit more info then I already had on the Boleyn case. Not much, but enough to be pleased. I also liked the follow up about Elizabeth and how she was brought into the situation. I was interested to know that Henry VIII did not disown or ponder about the legitimacy of his child, as so many people assert. He was very sheltering and protective of his child in regards to the situation. However, is shown to be neglect in certain aspects of Elizaebth's life, such as providing her with clothing. He was not so forgetful towards her studies and his stress towards virtutous and aged teachers, though.
So, in a way, I can see that she... 'had this coming'. I no longer idolize her as completely innocent when I have knowledge of her attitude and the ways that she could have possibly gone about preventing (or at least try to) her situation. She usurped a queen and did not outright contemplate that Henry VII could certainly do it to her.
But, then agan, she is as much a victim as she was a victimizer. Cromwell is obviously a big player in the game to bring the Queen down, and I believe that if he had not egged on the current situation at hand then perhaps Anne could have been given a more... benevolent end. Perhaps, she could have been away at a convent.
I was also pretty intrigued at the idea that all of Anne Boleyn's alleged lovers could have possibly had a history of homosexual behavior/tendencies. I also liked how the author didn't completely put away the idea that Anne may have been guilty of something or another, though not adultery not necessarily having to be the crime.
Overall, a very good and interesting read. It gave me a little bit more info then I already had on the Boleyn case. Not much, but enough to be pleased. I also liked the follow up about Elizabeth and how she was brought into the situation. I was interested to know that Henry VIII did not disown or ponder about the legitimacy of his child, as so many people assert. He was very sheltering and protective of his child in regards to the situation. However, is shown to be neglect in certain aspects of Elizaebth's life, such as providing her with clothing. He was not so forgetful towards her studies and his stress towards virtutous and aged teachers, though.
As always, Weir is very thorough with her book. She makes sure to talk about everything and anything, even the sources she discounts as not credible. It's amazing to think about the exhaustive research she did and how she had to see the facts link up on certain areas. Really amazing. The book itself was very good. As I said, it went over every single bit of her last months on earth, starting at her miscarriage and ending with Elizabeth. Exhaustively researched by Weir to find out all that she could about Anne Boleyn, her last days, and what lasting things came from her death.
Wait, did I read this? I just read a sample chapter on the Kindle app for iPod Touch and have no recollection of reading it.
Well, now I have read it, and thumbs up. This is a fact-filled and (at times) exhaustive (in both senses of the word) close-up look at the last three months in the life of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England. Very readable and full of interesting information - and suggests that Cromwell was more involved and Henry VIII less so in the demise of Anne. (More political than personal, that is.)
Alison Weir takes on other historians and her own past works to try to correct and argue for this new and more definitive version of events. (Not that we will ever know the whole exact truth - documents in the historical record contradict each other and always will - but Weir tries hard to cite multiple sources and to suggest ideas based on conflicting information.
Well, now I have read it, and thumbs up. This is a fact-filled and (at times) exhaustive (in both senses of the word) close-up look at the last three months in the life of Anne Boleyn, Queen of England. Very readable and full of interesting information - and suggests that Cromwell was more involved and Henry VIII less so in the demise of Anne. (More political than personal, that is.)
Alison Weir takes on other historians and her own past works to try to correct and argue for this new and more definitive version of events. (Not that we will ever know the whole exact truth - documents in the historical record contradict each other and always will - but Weir tries hard to cite multiple sources and to suggest ideas based on conflicting information.
Alison Weir books are exhaustively detailed and frustrating, because Weir often loses sight of the real power of her subject--the stories involved. "Lady in the Tower" is no different; it yields little of surprise to me.