Reviews

Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait by Alison Weir

bec_wheels's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Anne of Cleves is remembered as being the woman who Henry rejected as being the 'Flanders Mare'. This book portrays her as an intelligent and vivacious woman who was able to navigate her way through the deadly Tudor Court. It brings Anne to life as a woman in her own right, as well as some having some interesting theories on how Anne lived.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

silverselkie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I enjoyed this book, though I felt perhaps there was too much the book left after the annulment. Alot of those years could have been condensed -we didn't need to know about every single dinner Anne and Henry had together.
I deeply dislike the farcical

pregnancy

at the beginning. It is too far removed from what we know of Anne to be believable.  I also feel it is used as a way for the author to gloss over Henry's nastier traits, and almost defend that man.
It is however an interesting story with a woman at the centre who is not really spoken about much, and she was pleasant to be around.

ashleytalksbooks's review against another edition

Got bored. It just felt like her being married to Henry and concerned drug on too long lol 

livi_loves_reading's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rachelbernholtz's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lee25's review against another edition

3.0

I am a bit torn about [b:Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait|34212134|Anna of Kleve The Princess in the Portrait (Six Tudor Queens, #4)|Alison Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525691302l/34212134._SY75_.jpg|55259656], while I know it is historical FICTION, I'm uncomfortable with just how much fiction was involved in this particular novel.

I liked [a:Alison Weir|6583|Alison Weir|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1557954502p2/6583.jpg]'s Anna and, for the first time in this series, I liked Henry (sometimes). I also believe I would have really enjoyed the story if it involved fictional characters

Spoiler

, but Anna having two children in secret and creating a lifetime secret lover from one of her cousins was too much for me

.

I have (possibly incorrectly) accepted this series as being mostly historically accurate, so the liberties [a:Alison Weir|6583|Alison Weir|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1557954502p2/6583.jpg] took didn't work for me.

teklagyorgy's review against another edition

3.0

A Klevei ​Anna – A hercegnő a portréról egy kis német hercegségből származó hercegnő története, akinek az első bűne az volt, hogy Hans Holbein, VIII. Henrik szeretett festője nem tudta élethűen lefesteni a képmását. A király pedig az első pillanattól kezdve ellenszenvvel viseltetett Anna iránt, aki szerinte közel sem volt szép, mint ahogyan a portréja sugallta. A VIII. Henrik negyedik feleségéről szóló történetnek pedig talán az a legerősebb vonása, hogy Anna királyné mégis képes volt ezt az igen előnytelen helyzetet a legszerencsésebb kimenetellé változtatni.

Maga a regény jó is lehetett volna, viszont engem személy szerint iszonyan idegesítettek a vallásos nyavalygások, amivel a világból ki lehet kergetni. Ettől függetlenül, mivel Alison Weir a könyveit a történelmi kutatásokra alapozza, így mégis azt tudom mondani, hogy nagyszerű kutatómunka, és remek írói stílus van ebben a történetben. A saját olvasmányélményem viszont inkább negatív volt, így ezért a három csillag.

Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2024/01/alison-weir-klevei-anna-a-hercegno-a-portrerol/

anzelotte's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

The first half of the book was a struggle for me. As soon as Anna was divorced I was far more interested in how she spent her time, and new relationship with Henry. I understand the likelihood of being so anxious, I would be too if I was in her position, but it wasn't catching my attention the same way as the other books, but I'm glad I pushed myself to continue reading.

lisamshardlow's review against another edition

3.0

This is a fictional biography of Anna of Kleve - the fourth wife of King Henry VIII. The King is in love with a portrait, but the real Anna does not enchant him. She must win him over. Everyone knows that Henry won't stand for a problem queen. But rumours of Anna's past are rife at court - dangerous talk that could mark her downfall. Can this clever, spirited young woman reach out in friendship to the King and gain his love forever?

I really enjoyed the previous books in this series, and even though I liked this one, I felt that it was lacking and that the author took too many liberties. There was something quite shocking that happened at the beginning and kept making its way back into the story throughout, which I struggled with.

I like my historical fiction that is based on true events to be just that - to stick as closely to the historical records as possible. I’m not sure that this did. I really love Alison Weir, and I’m sure she had her reasons for portraying Anna as she did, but I just couldn’t get past it. There were some parts that I enjoyed, like how Anna did all she could to stay on Henry’s good side throughout their divorce and beyond, but I didn’t find the rest of it very realistic. It went against everything we know about Anne of Cleves from history.

I don’t think enough is known about Anne of Cleves to be able to put together a novel of this size and to make it interesting and believable. But something kept me reading until the end. Therefore, I give Six Tudor Queens - Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets 3 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is interested in Tudor history and strong, resilient women.

magbb's review against another edition

informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0