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tillybh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lupeerli's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vintonole's review against another edition
4.0
A good story however tragic. I somewhat knew the history going in but was still naively hopeful. Reading this I was often thinking how much like this Court was like bringing moths to flame. I know not all monarchs acted this way, but even the French king at the time was highly abusive with this power. Best to be little people and not live past 30. In the end I'd like to think Anne had the last laugh as her daughter becomes Queen Elizabeth I and reigns for a long period.
books_n_pickles's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite version of Anne Boleyn that I've read so far! Almost every other book I've read--especially the infamous [b:The Other Boleyn Girl|269793|The Other Boleyn Girl|Philippa Gregory|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386913379s/269793.jpg|3248536]--play up the smear campaign that accompanied and brought about her downfall. Jean Plaidy, however, lets Anne have our sympathy even as we cringe (along with her) at her forwardness.
Admittedly, I have read this book before. The first time it was lent to me by a friend in high school, and it's one of the few times that I can remember relating so strongly to some aspect of a fictional character.
I did notice some odd repetitions on this read-through, though I forgot to flag them. There were occasional turns of phrase that would be repeated a page or two after its first use, and in a similar situation. I also found the occasional use of historical (or nearly historical) phrases a bit jarring, since the language came out a bit more stilted--in large part, I think, because people rarely talk the way they write. For example, when Anne arrives at the Tower of London, she falls on her knees and says, "Oh Lord God, help me. Thou knowest I am guiltless of that whereof I am accused." It smacks of a contemporary written account, both because of the language and because Plaidy doesn't have Anne speak often of her faith as a personal matter.
But these are both small complaints for a book that I really do enjoy...so much so that I decided not to keep track of all the quotes I like, just a few choice ones. If you're a fan of Tudor history and historical novels, definitely give this one a go.
Quote Roundup
p. 193
-- "I had no hard feelings toward those who had thought it necessary to bring this case."
-- "You could not have been expected to have hard feelings against yourself," I reminded him.
-- [Henry] frowned. That was one thing I had to learn about him. In the midst of the most blatant hypocrisy he could delude himself into believing what he was trying to make others believe. It was extraordinary that a man of his intellect could do that. It showed an unusual dexterity of the mind.
p. 308
It was in my nature to assume an excess of gaiety when the future might be fraught with danger.
p. 341
It was not as if I loved him. I knew him too well for that--though sometimes I felt a kind of contemptuous affection for him. He was such a strange man that one could not help marveling at him. It was that cruelty and selfishness alongside the sentimentality, the conscience which did in truth plague him, even though he manipulated it and set it going in the direction best suited to his needs.
Admittedly, I have read this book before. The first time it was lent to me by a friend in high school, and it's one of the few times that I can remember relating so strongly to some aspect of a fictional character.
I did notice some odd repetitions on this read-through, though I forgot to flag them. There were occasional turns of phrase that would be repeated a page or two after its first use, and in a similar situation. I also found the occasional use of historical (or nearly historical) phrases a bit jarring, since the language came out a bit more stilted--in large part, I think, because people rarely talk the way they write. For example, when Anne arrives at the Tower of London, she falls on her knees and says, "Oh Lord God, help me. Thou knowest I am guiltless of that whereof I am accused." It smacks of a contemporary written account, both because of the language and because Plaidy doesn't have Anne speak often of her faith as a personal matter.
But these are both small complaints for a book that I really do enjoy...so much so that I decided not to keep track of all the quotes I like, just a few choice ones. If you're a fan of Tudor history and historical novels, definitely give this one a go.
Quote Roundup
p. 193
-- "I had no hard feelings toward those who had thought it necessary to bring this case."
-- "You could not have been expected to have hard feelings against yourself," I reminded him.
-- [Henry] frowned. That was one thing I had to learn about him. In the midst of the most blatant hypocrisy he could delude himself into believing what he was trying to make others believe. It was extraordinary that a man of his intellect could do that. It showed an unusual dexterity of the mind.
p. 308
It was in my nature to assume an excess of gaiety when the future might be fraught with danger.
p. 341
It was not as if I loved him. I knew him too well for that--though sometimes I felt a kind of contemptuous affection for him. He was such a strange man that one could not help marveling at him. It was that cruelty and selfishness alongside the sentimentality, the conscience which did in truth plague him, even though he manipulated it and set it going in the direction best suited to his needs.
notafraidofvirginiawoolf's review against another edition
5.0
Splendid, rich, delightful book! Wonderful to behold, lovely detail, and spectacular to see Anne Boleyn a real person instead of a Crazy Bitch. I adored this book, and hope to dig it up again so I can read it once more.
freeflyt's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. Compared with other books about Anne Boleyn, this one induced more feelings of compassion and empathy in me as a reader. I found treatment of Mary Boleyn was more harsh than I had expected, although I'm reading this after the emergence of the perspective of "The Other Boleyn Girl. " Mary was made to be quite the family embarrassment eith unquenchable lusty desires. There is no mention of any possibility that her Carey children were of the King. Many theories were lightly glossed over, or not mentioned. Overall, this was an interesting and satisfying read. I found it enjoyable and hastened to complete it due to interest, although I am well aware how this story ends. This author did a good job. I appreciated Anne's reflections on the treatment of Catherine of Aragon and her daughter Mary, and the defining parallels and contrasts.
vsobaka05's review against another edition
4.0
The Tudor Era, and specifically Anne Boleyn, is probably my favorite period in history, so this book appeals directly to my interests. This is my second time reading this and I really, really like the way the history and drama are woven together to give a well-rounded image of what Anne Boleyn may have been like. Admittedly, there are a few spots that feel like an info dump, which is why I only gave it four stars, but it is still definitely worth reading.
vlynnk89's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the new perspective of Anne Boleyn in this novel. Most people assume that Anne was a conniving girl that just wanted to be queen. In this telling, Anne is nothing like that. She falls in love and that match is prevented. She later learns that Henry had something to do with the match being prevented. Also, she attempts to flee Henry's sight by leaving court and he simply follows and promises to divorce the Queen to have Anne. We don't know if the King really did prevent the match for Anne, but good chance is that he was aware of it. Anne is hung up on being completely virtuous. Mary is portrayed as a very promiscuous girl in France and England. Anne sees that Mary is sent from France for being too promiscuous and vows to never be anything like Mary. This is what eventually prevents Anne from becoming Henry's mistress.
As much as I liked this different portrayal of Anne, I just don't see it being true to her. Anne is the woman that Henry turned England upside down for. Everyone refers to her as a passionate, spitfire type of person. I can't see such a passionate person being so completely hung up on virtue as she is.
As much as I liked this different portrayal of Anne, I just don't see it being true to her. Anne is the woman that Henry turned England upside down for. Everyone refers to her as a passionate, spitfire type of person. I can't see such a passionate person being so completely hung up on virtue as she is.