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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
informative
sad
slow-paced
Fascinating, Anne Boleyn's character is truly one of a kind. (o carte pe care am recitit-o pt lucrarea de licență) => o să îmi fie de mare folos
This is the story of the last four months of Anne Boleyn’s life. Historian Alison Weir concludes that Anne Boleyn was not guilty of the charges of adultery (which is a view shared by most historians apparently) and that her downfall was masterminded by Cromwell (although Henry VIII seemed easily persuadable re: Anne’s guilt since he was already set to marry Jane Seymour). I did get bogged down in trying to keep all the names and relationships straight especially since everybody had both a name and a title and they were all cousins to everybody else (“Elizabeth, Countess of Worcester, the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, was married to Henry, the second earl, the son of Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester, an illegitimate descendant of the Beauforts and, through them, cousin to the King”) and often just gave up. But I still enjoyed this book and learned a ton. I'm sorry for Anne who, in the words of Weir, was clearly "framed."
I attempted to finish the book but Weir just drones on and on. She jumps around during Anne's reign. I gave it the college try.
I like Alison Weir a lot, and may have given it a higher rating if I didn't already know most of what was in this book. It was quite interesting, even though it was material I was already pretty familiar with! I would definitely recommend Alison Weir to anyone interested in this period of history.
informative
slow-paced
This was my first book by Weir and one of the few historical non-fiction books I've read. Overall, I appreciated Weir's methodical research on such a short period of time in history--Anne's imprisonment, trial, and execution. Although most of the research was fascinating, there were a few slow parts for me (which is why I rarely read non-fiction). Probably the most fascinating idea that I came away with is the theory that Anne was RH positive and that was why all of her subsequent pregnancies ended in miscarriage or stillbirth. For whatever the reason, what a depressing fate to face as a woman to see so many babies die.
As for the book's negatives, I really wish that Weir had organized the book a bit differently. The chronology just wasn't there in parts and the book would have flowed much better had she adhered more strictly to following dates in order. Thank goodness there is an index in the back, because even after reading the book I wouldn't know where to begin to look up certain things. I also had a problem with Weir saying that so-and-so's account of Anne's downfall is questionable due to his/her personal motives and then the next thing you know she quotes that source as though they are telling the Gospel truth. I didn't buy Weir's take that Cromwell masterminded everything; I don't believe for a second that Anne would have been put to death had Henry also not been complicit. The "Legends" section at the end, which covers ghost stories about Anne, is both interesting and out-of-place...I'm still not sure what to make of it. I guess I'm glad Weir included the stories if only for entertainment value. I can crack open that part for re-read on Halloween, haha :P
In the end, I liked Weir's detail and the subject matter. It could have been a better book had it been organized a bit differently, but, as it stands, it's a solid 3 stars for me. I would definitely still recommend it for anyone interested in this short time of Anne's life.
As for the book's negatives, I really wish that Weir had organized the book a bit differently. The chronology just wasn't there in parts and the book would have flowed much better had she adhered more strictly to following dates in order. Thank goodness there is an index in the back, because even after reading the book I wouldn't know where to begin to look up certain things. I also had a problem with Weir saying that so-and-so's account of Anne's downfall is questionable due to his/her personal motives and then the next thing you know she quotes that source as though they are telling the Gospel truth. I didn't buy Weir's take that Cromwell masterminded everything; I don't believe for a second that Anne would have been put to death had Henry also not been complicit. The "Legends" section at the end, which covers ghost stories about Anne, is both interesting and out-of-place...I'm still not sure what to make of it. I guess I'm glad Weir included the stories if only for entertainment value. I can crack open that part for re-read on Halloween, haha :P
In the end, I liked Weir's detail and the subject matter. It could have been a better book had it been organized a bit differently, but, as it stands, it's a solid 3 stars for me. I would definitely still recommend it for anyone interested in this short time of Anne's life.
1 star (DNF)
Only made it about 25% of the way through this book. How could someone make a book about the last few months of Anne Boleyn's life so boring? Too many tangents and too much "info dumping" that took too many rabbit trails away from what should have been the main focus: Anne Boleyn and the last months of her life.
Only made it about 25% of the way through this book. How could someone make a book about the last few months of Anne Boleyn's life so boring? Too many tangents and too much "info dumping" that took too many rabbit trails away from what should have been the main focus: Anne Boleyn and the last months of her life.
informative
slow-paced
I'm so glad I picked this book up at the Tower of London! What a fascinating read