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A review by candacesiegle_greedyreader
Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait by Alison Weir
5.0
I was really looking forward to Alison Weir's Anne of Cleves novel in her Tudor series, and Anna of Kleve does not disappoint. Anna's story has an irresistible central mystery--why did Henry reject her and divorce her, yet have her named his sister and give her attractive properties along with nice chunks of money? The traditional story is that Henry found her ugly and refused to sleep with her and was able to annul the marriage. But the known portraits of Anna do not show her as ugly, and Henry's gifts show that he cared about her. So what happened?
No spoilers here. Alison Weir's Anna is based on her historical study of the woman based on what little was written about her. Anna was the daughter of Kleve, one of those cheerless German duchys where people do not dance or make music in public. She was betrothed to a French prince in young childhood but the engagement was broken off because the alliance was no longer important to either side. The alliance would be good for England, so Thomas Cromwell opened discussion of the marriage of Anna to Henry..
There are wonderful descriptions of the preparations for Anna's journey to England, the way she was greeted and the state in which she traveled. She's likable, kind. How will she fare in the Tudor court of high-stakes schemers?
I love these Tudor books, written by a historian who skillfully fills in the many blanks in the story with delectable possibilities. "Anna of Kleve" is all you were hoping for.
No spoilers here. Alison Weir's Anna is based on her historical study of the woman based on what little was written about her. Anna was the daughter of Kleve, one of those cheerless German duchys where people do not dance or make music in public. She was betrothed to a French prince in young childhood but the engagement was broken off because the alliance was no longer important to either side. The alliance would be good for England, so Thomas Cromwell opened discussion of the marriage of Anna to Henry..
There are wonderful descriptions of the preparations for Anna's journey to England, the way she was greeted and the state in which she traveled. She's likable, kind. How will she fare in the Tudor court of high-stakes schemers?
I love these Tudor books, written by a historian who skillfully fills in the many blanks in the story with delectable possibilities. "Anna of Kleve" is all you were hoping for.