Elizabeth Norton’s new book ‘Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII’s obsession’ is now available for pre-order on Amazon!
Here is the review featured on Amazon:
Doomed queen of Henry VIII, mother to Elizabeth I, the epic story of Anne Boleyn from an exceptional new writer. Anne Boleyn was the most controversial and scandalous woman ever to sit on the throne of England. From her early days at the imposing Hever Castle in Kent, to the glittering courts of Paris and London, Anne caused a stir wherever she went. Alluring but not beautiful, Anne’s wit and poise won her numerous admirers at the English court, and caught the roving eye of King Henry.
Anne was determined to shape her own destiny, first through a secret engagement to Henry Percy, the heir of the Earl of Northumberland, and later through her insistence on marriage with the king, after a long and tempestuous relationship as his mistress. Their love affair was as extreme as it was deadly, from Henry’s ‘mine own sweetheart’ to ‘cursed and poisoning whore’ her fall from grace was total.
Sounds like a very interesting read! So much to read and so little time…
NG
I’ve read a lot of Tudor historical fiction over the years, but the one I’m reading at the moment shines above the rest. Has anyone read Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel? This 600-plus page book, released this year, is extraordinary. My sister and I were musing that it is like the author has made a psychic/medium connection to the period, so authentic are the scenes and character portrayals. And the writing is exquisite! Wolf Hall goes a long way toward busting the myth that historical fiction is dumbed down or mass market.
Here’s a passage about Katherine of Aragon:
“He, Cromwell, admires Katherine: he likes to see her moving about the royal palaces, as wide as she is high, stitched into gowns so bristling with gemstones that they look as if they are designed less for beauty than to withstand blows from a sword. Her auburn hair is faded and streaked with grey, tucked back under her gable hood like the modest wings of a city sparrow.”