What do you think?
Rate this book
Though her path to the throne was long and paved with treachery, Jane Seymour would win the heart of her king—and heal her own.
Jane Seymour of Wiltshire is not meant to go to Court. Not a child like her, with her lack of beauty and no title. But family connections are enough to have her named to the bridal retinue of Mary Tudor. At the French Court, the plain and docile Jane meets the girl who will grow into her rival in years to the already charismatic and conniving Anne Boleyn.
Soon back home in the English countryside, Jane wants nothing more than peace and quiet—and the devotion of her childhood protector, William Dormer. But his family vows to keep them apart, and Jane is called back to Court to serve Katherine of Aragon, who is fighting for her life as Queen in the face of Anne Boleyn’s open seduction of King Henry VIII.
In those turbulent years, Jane will learn the value of loyalty and honesty, while holding fast to her convictions. And it is her unblemished soul that will slowly rise above the chaos—and turn a king’s head.
READERS GUIDE INCLUDED
Jane Seymour of Wiltshire is not meant to go to Court. Not a child like her, with her lack of beauty and no title. But family connections are enough to have her named to the bridal retinue of Mary Tudor. At the French Court, the plain and docile Jane meets the girl who will grow into her rival in years to the already charismatic and conniving Anne Boleyn.
Soon back home in the English countryside, Jane wants nothing more than peace and quiet—and the devotion of her childhood protector, William Dormer. But his family vows to keep them apart, and Jane is called back to Court to serve Katherine of Aragon, who is fighting for her life as Queen in the face of Anne Boleyn’s open seduction of King Henry VIII.
In those turbulent years, Jane will learn the value of loyalty and honesty, while holding fast to her convictions. And it is her unblemished soul that will slowly rise above the chaos—and turn a king’s head.
READERS GUIDE INCLUDED
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
12 people are currently reading
1737 people want to read
About the author
Diane Haeger
19 books332 followersDiane Haeger is the bestselling author of fifteen published novels, including Courtesan, The Ruby Ring and My Dearest Cecilia. Her work, to date, has been translated into 18 different languages and has been featured in the LA Times and Harper's Bazaar Magazine. She loves telling real stories from history. She lives in California with her husband and family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 4, 2012
History fans know that Haeger rewrites history with a flair of fluff. She can be a good storyteller and if you don't know the truth, you can emerge yourself into her stories. The problem that I have, is when authors take real people and rewrite their history. I know this is an ongoing GRs debate, but fiction or not, I hate to see the facts changed and real people turned into evil, abusive charcters. I know they are turning in their graves, all for the sake of trying to write a juicy book. I'll never understand why authors have to do that, when the real history was fascinating enough. I have no problem with authors telling a fictional story when something is not historical known and they write a "what if?" It's when they sell their story as true and many readers simply believe it. Now on to the review:
Jane's (Henry's 3rd wife known as plain Jane) story started out being abused by her evil Mother, who knew Jane's birth was a waste of good Seymour sperm. She might as well have been thrown out to the peasants. She miraculously makes her way into The King's sister Mary's French Court. This is where she was bullied by everyone, including the evil Anne Boleyn (with the typical cliches of being bewitching with that extra finger.) Jane returns home after The king of France wants Mary's court shrunk and Seductive Anne gets to stay instead of Plain Jane. Jane, back at Wolf Hall, realizes her childhood crush with William Dormer, could actually be something real. It's a miracle, since she is so plain why anyone would want her.. Of course the Gods and evil people don't find her worthy, so back to Henry's court. After being so boring her whole life, all of a sudden Henry and Charles Brandon notice her and Henry wanted her and we know the rest.
If I didn't know the history, I could have actually really enjoyed this story. Parts of it were great storytelling, then I'd turn the page and be reminded why I had been annoyed 30 pages back when the popular clichés came back or simply unbelievable parts where Jane's and William's mothers ran the show, not the fathers. It didn't fit with the times.
I actually read and finished the book, that means something, so I didn't hate it, I just get angry when author's don't actually research, but jump on Tudor Cliches.
Jane's (Henry's 3rd wife known as plain Jane) story started out being abused by her evil Mother, who knew Jane's birth was a waste of good Seymour sperm. She might as well have been thrown out to the peasants. She miraculously makes her way into The King's sister Mary's French Court. This is where she was bullied by everyone, including the evil Anne Boleyn (with the typical cliches of being bewitching with that extra finger.) Jane returns home after The king of France wants Mary's court shrunk and Seductive Anne gets to stay instead of Plain Jane. Jane, back at Wolf Hall, realizes her childhood crush with William Dormer, could actually be something real. It's a miracle, since she is so plain why anyone would want her.. Of course the Gods and evil people don't find her worthy, so back to Henry's court. After being so boring her whole life, all of a sudden Henry and Charles Brandon notice her and Henry wanted her and we know the rest.
If I didn't know the history, I could have actually really enjoyed this story. Parts of it were great storytelling, then I'd turn the page and be reminded why I had been annoyed 30 pages back when the popular clichés came back or simply unbelievable parts where Jane's and William's mothers ran the show, not the fathers. It didn't fit with the times.
I actually read and finished the book, that means something, so I didn't hate it, I just get angry when author's don't actually research, but jump on Tudor Cliches.
June 30, 2013
Incredibly fast summer poolside reading (I'm a fast reader anyway, but I finished this book in 24 hours). I had been wanting to read this series of Tudor fiction for quite some time, but didn't want to listen on audiobook as the reviews complained about the narration. I knew, going in, that the novel was pure conjecture. Any story about Jane Seymour really has to be. She is really only known in the context of her marriage, production of a male heir to Henry VIII and her brothers' later squabbles.
I enjoyed the storytelling. I enjoyed the creation of the long term conflict (almost certainly fictional) between Anne Boleyn and Jane. I like that a woman who is viewed by history as a nobody who produced a son is given an independent personality. Jane is viewed by history as the female pawn, used by her brothers and other Boleyn enemies, as a piece of sweet, stupid candy to dangle in front of the mercurial King Henry as a replacement for the woman who couldn't produce a male heir.
I have to note as an aside that I read with raised eyebrows several of the reviews below that refer to "Team Anne" or "Team Jane." I question the appropriateness of the terminology. This isn't the Twilight series; these were real women who lived and died. As an amateur Tudor historian, the "team" concept seems too much based in modern day tv and movie viewing. These six wives of Henry lived in a time period where women were regularly used as family pawns at every level -- not just Anne or Jane, but all women were subject to the whims of their male relations. As does any student of the time period and Tudor Era of England, I too have my favorites, but calling myself "Team Anyone" strikes me as being a bit disrespectful of real life women who were at the mercy of others.
My primary criticism of this novel is that, in focusing on Jane's life and only making Henry VIII a marginal character, the author loses a lot of the potential flavor that could highlight the environment in which Jane and the Seymours lived. What facts are included are misplaced in the Katherine/Anne/Jane timeline, but not so much that it was a distraction from the story.
Good novel. I'll read more of Ms. Haeger's work.
I enjoyed the storytelling. I enjoyed the creation of the long term conflict (almost certainly fictional) between Anne Boleyn and Jane. I like that a woman who is viewed by history as a nobody who produced a son is given an independent personality. Jane is viewed by history as the female pawn, used by her brothers and other Boleyn enemies, as a piece of sweet, stupid candy to dangle in front of the mercurial King Henry as a replacement for the woman who couldn't produce a male heir.
I have to note as an aside that I read with raised eyebrows several of the reviews below that refer to "Team Anne" or "Team Jane." I question the appropriateness of the terminology. This isn't the Twilight series; these were real women who lived and died. As an amateur Tudor historian, the "team" concept seems too much based in modern day tv and movie viewing. These six wives of Henry lived in a time period where women were regularly used as family pawns at every level -- not just Anne or Jane, but all women were subject to the whims of their male relations. As does any student of the time period and Tudor Era of England, I too have my favorites, but calling myself "Team Anyone" strikes me as being a bit disrespectful of real life women who were at the mercy of others.
My primary criticism of this novel is that, in focusing on Jane's life and only making Henry VIII a marginal character, the author loses a lot of the potential flavor that could highlight the environment in which Jane and the Seymours lived. What facts are included are misplaced in the Katherine/Anne/Jane timeline, but not so much that it was a distraction from the story.
Good novel. I'll read more of Ms. Haeger's work.
August 29, 2023
The author brings the characters to life with realistic and compassionate portrayals. While period dress and houses are described, it is Jane Seymour who captivates the reader. Full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com
November 22, 2020
*sigh* so, I tried really, really hard to like this book, but I couldn't, I just couldn't. It's a shame, really, given that there are so few historical fiction books dealings with Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. But I just couldn't overlook the historical inaccuracies, one-dimensional characters, and utterly absurd and ridiculous plot line. I was willing to suspend my disbelief over the whole Jane-went-to-France-as-part-of-Mary-Tudor's-entourage thing - who knows, it's not entirely improbable, but given that there were lists of the Englishwomen who went (that's how we know both Mary and Anne Boleyn were there), I'm skeptical. But misdating when the Chateau Vert pageant happened? Really?! It's a documented fact that it took place right before Lent in 1522 (NOT as part of the 1526 May Day celebrations, which is when Haeger has it occurring), shortly after Anne Boleyn came to court - and well before Henry began courting her (another fact which Haeger omits; in her misdated telling of Chateau Vert, Henry and Anne were already courting; at the real Chateau Vert, Henry was actually in the midst of an affair with Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister). Speaking of Anne: the characterization of her - and frankly just about every major character in the book, including Jane - is just so flat. There's no complexity. Haeger falls back on the old angel/devil and virgin/whore dichotomies to characterize Anne and Jane (I'll give you two guesses who is who). Katherine of Aragon comes off as the pious, jilted wife (as part of her also playing the angel/virgin in opposition to devil/whore Anne; sometimes it feels like she and Jane are the same character, or very nearly so); Henry an insensitive prick who only listens to his penis; Edward (Jane's brother) is nothing but ambition; even Mary Boleyn is just a moon-faced teenager moping over her lost love (aka Henry VIII) and racked with jealousy that he has moved on (and to her sister, no less). It's awful. Even the relationship between William Dormer and Jane can't save this book. For one thing, William has no personality save loving Jane. For another, it feels so forced. As Haeger herself admits in the author's note, the true nature of the relationship between William and Jane is unknown, which may be why this plot feels so forced. Also, Haeger's choice to make this the central narrative of the novel is killing me. If she wanted to write a forbidden love story set at the Tudor court so badly, why didn't she just make up the characters for one? Why did she have to transpose it onto the lives of real people - real people, I might add, who don't need some soppy, awful love story to make them interesting. Jane Seymour may have been Queen of England for only 17 months, but in that time she was instrumental in reconciling Henry with Mary, his daughter by Katherine of Aragon, and she gave birth to a son, the future Edward VI, not to mention she did in seven months what it took Anne Boleyn seven years to achieve. (I don't buy into the sappy Jane-really-loved Henry nonsense. You don't become Queen of England that quickly - and with one already on the throne, no matter how despised that queen is - without ambition. But whereas Anne was open about her ambition, Jane just hid hers under a veneer of modesty.) And Haeger ignores all of this in favor of some dumb love story that may or may not have even happened! Ugh. Just ugh.
July 3, 2017
I had actually forgotten that I had already read this till just a few moments ago! Only remembered that I didn't like it. I had to consult my reading journal from almost two years ago, to refresh my memory. I'd have preferred to stay oblivious, because now I remember how terrible this was.
Based on the notes I took:
The writing was mostly fine for a romantic historical novel. I usually don't expect much in this regard, but I do remember that I was disappointed that the rest of the book wasn't better. Wasted potential.
Jane is one of those historical figures we don't know much about, since her time of true importance aka her courtship and marriage was so short and mostly uncontroversal - especially compared to the women who came before and after her. So she's basically the perfect template for an author to make up a backstory... and yet we have eyerollworthy stuff like Jane somehow also being in France as a young girl, but because she was so PLAIN people totally didn't recognize her at all or simply forget about her (uhm, weren't there actual lists with names?).
Basically just an excuse to make it clear to the reader that Anne Boleyn was always rotten to the core even as a child (Why can't we ever have a book that portrays both of these women fairly?). The she-devil to out-devil them all! Looking down on everyone - especially poor angelic Jane, whom she hated from the get-go for some reason. Probably her plain-ness. Cause that seems to be the biggest problem in Jane's life. No one adores her, because she's plain. No one will want to marry her, cause she's plain. Not only she thinks so, but her whole family does.
I let my e-reader count: The word "plain" was used 52 times on the 308 pages my e-book has.
Everyone was basically one-dimensional. No character had any depth or development.
Also, I don't know what kind of love story you are looking for, but the main one is definitely not between Henry VIII and Jane. No, it's between her and William Dormer, her (former) fiancé and it was- except for their first meeting, which I actually found cute- pretty annoying.
Btw. I remember thinking that Henry himself wasn't even a complete trainwreck in this compared to other one-dimensional portrayals I've read and that I would have actually liked a romance between him and Jane in this.
One day I want to read an actually good book about Jane Seymour. I hope Alison Weir won't let me down.
Based on the notes I took:
The writing was mostly fine for a romantic historical novel. I usually don't expect much in this regard, but I do remember that I was disappointed that the rest of the book wasn't better. Wasted potential.
Jane is one of those historical figures we don't know much about, since her time of true importance aka her courtship and marriage was so short and mostly uncontroversal - especially compared to the women who came before and after her. So she's basically the perfect template for an author to make up a backstory... and yet we have eyerollworthy stuff like Jane somehow also being in France as a young girl, but because she was so PLAIN people totally didn't recognize her at all or simply forget about her (uhm, weren't there actual lists with names?).
Basically just an excuse to make it clear to the reader that Anne Boleyn was always rotten to the core even as a child (Why can't we ever have a book that portrays both of these women fairly?). The she-devil to out-devil them all! Looking down on everyone - especially poor angelic Jane, whom she hated from the get-go for some reason. Probably her plain-ness. Cause that seems to be the biggest problem in Jane's life. No one adores her, because she's plain. No one will want to marry her, cause she's plain. Not only she thinks so, but her whole family does.
I let my e-reader count: The word "plain" was used 52 times on the 308 pages my e-book has.
Everyone was basically one-dimensional. No character had any depth or development.
Also, I don't know what kind of love story you are looking for, but the main one is definitely not between Henry VIII and Jane. No, it's between her and William Dormer, her (former) fiancé and it was- except for their first meeting, which I actually found cute- pretty annoying.
Btw. I remember thinking that Henry himself wasn't even a complete trainwreck in this compared to other one-dimensional portrayals I've read and that I would have actually liked a romance between him and Jane in this.
One day I want to read an actually good book about Jane Seymour. I hope Alison Weir won't let me down.
July 30, 2013
This was an okay read with many problems.
Pros: Excellent prose, a keen understanding of Jane's possible feelings under the circumstances, and a true representation of Tudor sexual politics and hypocrisies. The writer recognizes that the court of Henry VIII was not that of Queen Victoria - I wish other writers would realize this. I also liked how she brought the tensions and hysteria of the court to life, and how accurately the Seymour mother and brothers are portrayed.
Cons - the characters are FAR too Americanized and far too modern. Many glaring factual inaccuracies: her birth dates for both Jane Seymour and Anne Boleyn are way out, for instance. Jane did not actually go to France - indeed, small children were not sent to foreign courts, it now seems - and it's unlikely she even met the man she was originally betrothed to. Saddest of all, we know that Jane's great passion was her brilliant embroidery work, yet in this book she never holds a needle!
One error is perhaps counterintuitive: the writer has Jane's mother quoting extensively from the Bible in English, and using Bible quotes to instruct and punish her children. This sounds plausible but it isn't: Bible translations at that point were very rare - there might have been one or two physical copies of translations in all of England - and even a wealthy family would not have owned a Bible in any language.
Also, the writer (or perhaps editor) does not know how to use English titles; one more Sir Surname (NO. NEVER.) and I would have screamed. If you're going to write about the knighthood, nobility, or royalty, you must get their titles and styles absolutely perfectly correct unless you are trying to show that your characters are either ignorant bumpkins or concerned with higher things.
Pros: Excellent prose, a keen understanding of Jane's possible feelings under the circumstances, and a true representation of Tudor sexual politics and hypocrisies. The writer recognizes that the court of Henry VIII was not that of Queen Victoria - I wish other writers would realize this. I also liked how she brought the tensions and hysteria of the court to life, and how accurately the Seymour mother and brothers are portrayed.
Cons - the characters are FAR too Americanized and far too modern. Many glaring factual inaccuracies: her birth dates for both Jane Seymour and Anne Boleyn are way out, for instance. Jane did not actually go to France - indeed, small children were not sent to foreign courts, it now seems - and it's unlikely she even met the man she was originally betrothed to. Saddest of all, we know that Jane's great passion was her brilliant embroidery work, yet in this book she never holds a needle!
One error is perhaps counterintuitive: the writer has Jane's mother quoting extensively from the Bible in English, and using Bible quotes to instruct and punish her children. This sounds plausible but it isn't: Bible translations at that point were very rare - there might have been one or two physical copies of translations in all of England - and even a wealthy family would not have owned a Bible in any language.
Also, the writer (or perhaps editor) does not know how to use English titles; one more Sir Surname (NO. NEVER.) and I would have screamed. If you're going to write about the knighthood, nobility, or royalty, you must get their titles and styles absolutely perfectly correct unless you are trying to show that your characters are either ignorant bumpkins or concerned with higher things.
December 25, 2013
If you're looking for an unofficial sequel to the book "The Other Boleyn Girl," look no further than "I, Jane," which showcases Jane Seymour's rise to the crown. Anne Boleyn is again depicted as a shrew here (why oh why can we not have one book with her and Jane where she's a human being too?), her followers are all idiots, Mary Boleyn is a mousy figure who still pines for the king, and Henry VIII is a flip-flopping fool of emotions. Jane Seymour is written to be very calculating and cunning here; after having her heart broken a few times, she uses the perception others have of her as an innocent to her advantage and more than manipulates the King of England to marry her. Of course, before all that we get the eye-rolling foreshadowing of Jane thinking and saying how she can't understand why any woman would want Henry, and so on and so forth. Gag.
Additionally, the author takes extreme liberties with the fact that not much is known about Jane until she came to court, and this is done by having her first meet Anne and Mary Boleyn on their way to France as maids to Queen Mary. This further sets up the rivalry between Anne and Jane, as they are 'lifelong enemies' here, or at least they are in Jane's mind.
Also: what was the cover designer thinking? Tudor dress was very different from the used illustration, plus Jane Seymour looks more like Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Stormborn in said picture. It's like the author said, "gimme a picture of an innocent blonde" and this was the result. Fine, aside from not matching up with the period in the book.
Tudor fans should give this a try, since there aren't a lot of novels out there about Jane Seymour (I've only found this and the book 'Plain Jane'), but don't expect a lot.
Additionally, the author takes extreme liberties with the fact that not much is known about Jane until she came to court, and this is done by having her first meet Anne and Mary Boleyn on their way to France as maids to Queen Mary. This further sets up the rivalry between Anne and Jane, as they are 'lifelong enemies' here, or at least they are in Jane's mind.
Also: what was the cover designer thinking? Tudor dress was very different from the used illustration, plus Jane Seymour looks more like Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Stormborn in said picture. It's like the author said, "gimme a picture of an innocent blonde" and this was the result. Fine, aside from not matching up with the period in the book.
Tudor fans should give this a try, since there aren't a lot of novels out there about Jane Seymour (I've only found this and the book 'Plain Jane'), but don't expect a lot.
June 19, 2019
Posted on my Blog First The Purple Booker
Diane Haeger is an Author I do really look forward to reading and I have enjoyed the first three books in this series. So I was very much looking forward to reading this installment of the King Henry VIII series. To me Jane is one of the more tragic figures in the ranks of the wives of Henry VIII, and one we really don't get to know much because she married him, gave him a son and died. Sadly, this book just for me fell flat.
It just didn't have the same feeling of being more then just a historical romance to me then the other installments. I tried to like it, because I wanted to. I even tried to read it more then once to see if it was my mood. It wasn't. The book was just not up to the same snuff as the other books were. Personally, something about the way Jane is written grated on my nerves.
I think it is because of just how cunning they make Jane in this telling. And while I am sure she was not as innocent as some think to turn the head of a King, I don't know if she was as much of a viper as this book makes her out to be. I was not a big fan of the sweeping liberties taken of her life before court either. I am sure others wouldn't mind as much because so little is known about her earlier life. For me however, it just was to much.
I will keep on reading the series and other works by this author, but this one was just not a solid win for me.
Diane Haeger is an Author I do really look forward to reading and I have enjoyed the first three books in this series. So I was very much looking forward to reading this installment of the King Henry VIII series. To me Jane is one of the more tragic figures in the ranks of the wives of Henry VIII, and one we really don't get to know much because she married him, gave him a son and died. Sadly, this book just for me fell flat.
It just didn't have the same feeling of being more then just a historical romance to me then the other installments. I tried to like it, because I wanted to. I even tried to read it more then once to see if it was my mood. It wasn't. The book was just not up to the same snuff as the other books were. Personally, something about the way Jane is written grated on my nerves.
I think it is because of just how cunning they make Jane in this telling. And while I am sure she was not as innocent as some think to turn the head of a King, I don't know if she was as much of a viper as this book makes her out to be. I was not a big fan of the sweeping liberties taken of her life before court either. I am sure others wouldn't mind as much because so little is known about her earlier life. For me however, it just was to much.
I will keep on reading the series and other works by this author, but this one was just not a solid win for me.
May 4, 2017
I read this book as soon as it hit the store! One of the best books I've read about Jane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII!
May 14, 2017
3.75. Too familiar of a story for me to give anything higher, yet the prose was superior to many other interpretations.
November 12, 2020
Yet another good read by Haeger. I found it interesting how Haeger wrote common characters in each of these books, how the perspective of each character would change depending on who the book was about. In this one, Jane's pespective of Anne Boleyn was such that Anne was a complete and total b*tch. And yet she wasn't written that way in The Queen's Rival (Bess Blount's perspective). Also I wasn't quite enthralled with how she wrote the character "development" for Jane - it was more character regression in how hard and calculating Jane became as she got older. I guess that happens when you live in the court of Henry VIII. Now that I've read this series, I need to do more reading about Henry VIII and his wives. Another thing that I experienced (and is something determines really good writing for me), any time I had to put the book down, it took me a couple of moments to reorient myself to being back in my world - I always felt like I was there in the midst of the action and not in 2020. Great series, definitely recommend.
February 28, 2018
I devoured this book. I have always been a fan of Haeger and this series. This book focused on life of Jane Seymour before she became queen- her childhood and eventually her time at court which directly led to her crowning. I loved the layout of this story because it made me so sympathetic to her journey to the crown- it felt very natural. The dialogue was my favorite part. It offered insight into the characters and made the story flow so easily. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in a less obvious telling of the life of this queen.
October 20, 2023
I like how Haeger presents jane as having been there the entire time, and, while being overlooked, she is very much taking notes. I enjoyed seeing Jane here with agency and imagination, very much making her own choices rather than just being pushed into the throne by her brothers. However, the timeline gets expanded at times, spending a long time in France, which was a stretch to put Jane there, then rapidly skipping over big events like the birth of Princess Elizabeth. Still, a good presentation of Jane Seymour and how she was possibly not as innocent as some would think.
March 16, 2024
Pretty good. Although I thought Jane's newer, more confident personality change felt a teeny bit abrupt, overall her actions were believable and understandable.
I also found it weirdly refreshing to read a Tudor fiction book in which Anne Boleyn was just a horrible person! I believe she was a nuanced person in real life, but it was actually pretty fun reading her coming off like some high school bully for once. (And there's of course the thing that we're seeing her from Jane's perspective, so perhaps came off much meaner than if it was someone else's perspective).
I also found it weirdly refreshing to read a Tudor fiction book in which Anne Boleyn was just a horrible person! I believe she was a nuanced person in real life, but it was actually pretty fun reading her coming off like some high school bully for once. (And there's of course the thing that we're seeing her from Jane's perspective, so perhaps came off much meaner than if it was someone else's perspective).
March 10, 2018
An okay book with at least an interesting historical fiction look at Jane Seymour.
April 7, 2018
I really enjoyed getting to read little bit more about Jane Seymour's past I often wonder what would have happened to her had she lived
April 7, 2020
2.5 stars
October 19, 2024
Lovely story
July 19, 2025
4 stars. Surprisingly good but definitely one of the more fictional historical fictions I have ever read.
April 14, 2020
I really, really enjoyed this book. I've read most of Ms. Haeger's books, and I've yet to be disappointed by anything she's written. Jane Seymour is by no means my favorite wife of Henry VIII, and calling her 'Little Mouse' is the perfect description of her. She just kind of fades into the background when compared to Henry's other 5 wives. It's not that I don't like her, I just didn't know much about her. She was Henry's wife for such a short time before her death.
Ms. Haeger has written a wonderfully vivid account of Jane's early years though. We meet her as a 9-year-old little girl living at her family's estate, Wolf Hall. We learn how she fell in love with local boy William Dormer but was destined to be kept apart from him...first due to a scheming servant, then by Will's ambitious mother, and finally by the love of a King.
Now, there are a few portrayals in this book that I don't agree with, and events that occurred that I believe happened differently, but what everyone needs to keep in mind is that this is Historical FICTION...the definition of the word FICTION being - "Invention or fabrication as opposed to fact".
Another reviewer mentioned that those unfamiliar with the Tudor saga may take what is in this book for fact. Well don't...in fact, don't do that with ANY Historical Fiction you read...ever. If you want facts, read an Encyclopedia or Non-Fiction book. This book (and others like it) are purely for entertainment purposes only, and Diane Haegar has done an excellent job entertaining here.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this book, especially for Tudor lovers. It's an interesting look at a Queen that most Tudor fans know very little about. Will you agree with everything written here? Probably not, but don't over-think it. Just enjoy the story and get swept back in time to the glittering court of Henry VIII, and the story of one plain little girl who blew everyone away by becoming Queen Jane of England.
Ms. Haeger has written a wonderfully vivid account of Jane's early years though. We meet her as a 9-year-old little girl living at her family's estate, Wolf Hall. We learn how she fell in love with local boy William Dormer but was destined to be kept apart from him...first due to a scheming servant, then by Will's ambitious mother, and finally by the love of a King.
Now, there are a few portrayals in this book that I don't agree with, and events that occurred that I believe happened differently, but what everyone needs to keep in mind is that this is Historical FICTION...the definition of the word FICTION being - "Invention or fabrication as opposed to fact".
Another reviewer mentioned that those unfamiliar with the Tudor saga may take what is in this book for fact. Well don't...in fact, don't do that with ANY Historical Fiction you read...ever. If you want facts, read an Encyclopedia or Non-Fiction book. This book (and others like it) are purely for entertainment purposes only, and Diane Haegar has done an excellent job entertaining here.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this book, especially for Tudor lovers. It's an interesting look at a Queen that most Tudor fans know very little about. Will you agree with everything written here? Probably not, but don't over-think it. Just enjoy the story and get swept back in time to the glittering court of Henry VIII, and the story of one plain little girl who blew everyone away by becoming Queen Jane of England.
November 1, 2012
This book proves that even the most ordinary lives can become extraordinary. Growing up as the plain daughter of an embarrassingly ambitious mother, Jane Seymour learns to fade into the background of life, a defense mechanism learned early at the hands of bullies. But far from being a boring character, Jane has a full and rich range of emotions and ideas that come to fruition, growing and changing as she is forced into court life in order to support the hope of her family, her eldest brother, Edward.
Jane goes to France at a young age as a lady companion to King Henry's sister Mary as she marries the King of France, where she renews a friendship with her neighbor and once champion, William Dormer. Their friendship proves unforgettable to both of them, even throughout the years as Jane waits on the exiled Queen Katherine, comes to know the reviled Anne Boleyn, and is eventually sent back home with no prospects for the future. William and Jane want to marry but are denied the chance by William's parents. Jane has given up hope when King Henry, tiring of Anne, comes by chance to her home after a hunting accident. There he comments on Jane's sweetness, which does not go unnoticed by her ambitious family, and Jane realizes there may be more to life than loneliness and boredom. The rest, as they say, is history.
I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked the story to go a bit further; it ends rather abruptly, as I suppose Jane's life did. I recommend this book to anyone interested in this unassuming but most important historical figure.
My review courtesy of the Historical Novel Society.
Jane goes to France at a young age as a lady companion to King Henry's sister Mary as she marries the King of France, where she renews a friendship with her neighbor and once champion, William Dormer. Their friendship proves unforgettable to both of them, even throughout the years as Jane waits on the exiled Queen Katherine, comes to know the reviled Anne Boleyn, and is eventually sent back home with no prospects for the future. William and Jane want to marry but are denied the chance by William's parents. Jane has given up hope when King Henry, tiring of Anne, comes by chance to her home after a hunting accident. There he comments on Jane's sweetness, which does not go unnoticed by her ambitious family, and Jane realizes there may be more to life than loneliness and boredom. The rest, as they say, is history.
I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked the story to go a bit further; it ends rather abruptly, as I suppose Jane's life did. I recommend this book to anyone interested in this unassuming but most important historical figure.
My review courtesy of the Historical Novel Society.
January 22, 2014
Diane Haeger takes on a journey into the Tudor world from a different perspective. One of Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. The novel originally starts from Jane on her deathbed after giving birth to Edward and then flashes back into her life growing up at Wolf Hall, her relationship with her parents, and the experiences she encountered that lead her up to eventually capturing the king's heart. You feel pity for Jane as she teased by other children, severely punished by her parents who demean her because of her "plain looks," and the embarrassing encounters she has at court with a young Anne Boleyn. She also feels pressure from her family in deciding her loyalty between Queen Katherine of Aragon and Boleyn. Of course, she eventually gets the upper hand by capturing the king's attention, but she feels inner turmoil as her heart belongs to another and she truly feels anguish over the eventual death of Boleyn.
The book is organized seamlessly and keeps you wanting to read more. For historical fiction fans and lovers of the Tudor history, this is a book that will keep you interested and give you another perspective in this English era.
The book is organized seamlessly and keeps you wanting to read more. For historical fiction fans and lovers of the Tudor history, this is a book that will keep you interested and give you another perspective in this English era.
September 24, 2012
This might be my new favorite Diane Haeger novel, though it's hard to say because all of her books are absolutely extraordinary. "I, Jane" was the perfect Jane Seymour story - being told in a way that's very different from any other Jane novel I've read. This novel gave her so much more substance than she is usually credited with. It gave her not one, but two love stories - one that was a little heartbreaking, but sweet and genuine, and one that was powerful, commanding, and unavoidable, but also had a sweet quality. I love that Diane makes Henry VIII seem so much more romantic than we usually read about. In her novels, this one included, it's hard not to like Henry. Likewise, it's hard not to like Jane in this book, because she is a sweet, pure, and genuine girl - so unlike the other women at court, especially her rival Anne Boleyn, whom Diane really makes into a villain in this book. Though I am a fan of both Jane and Anne, I was certainly taking Jane's side in this, and very happy with the way it was written. As with all of her books, it comes highly recommended from me!
April 24, 2013
I love historical fiction and was pleasantly surprised to see this particular book focus on Jane Seymour, one of the lesser-known Tudor queens. I was even more pleasantly surprised to see Diane Haeger's character development enliven the "plain Jane" to someone who, underneath a perfectly unremarkable exterior, was the quintessential observer/introvert. The characterization is instantly relatable, especially by anyone who had ever felt like Jane Seymor had felt: out of her league in an increasingly volatile game.
But far be it from Jane Seymour to ever be considered as docile as she looks. Haeger's Jane Seymor is a keen observer, and she grows into her observation skills quickly. Moreover, as we know history, she uses those observation skills to take the greatest prize: the throne of England, paying the price for ambition more than once.
Reminiscent of Philippa Gregory insofar as the engrossing style and vivid scenery, this is one of the more enjoyable Tudor fiction books I've read so far.
But far be it from Jane Seymour to ever be considered as docile as she looks. Haeger's Jane Seymor is a keen observer, and she grows into her observation skills quickly. Moreover, as we know history, she uses those observation skills to take the greatest prize: the throne of England, paying the price for ambition more than once.
Reminiscent of Philippa Gregory insofar as the engrossing style and vivid scenery, this is one of the more enjoyable Tudor fiction books I've read so far.
November 26, 2014
While i'm not a big fan of Jane's (Anne Boleyn is my favourite), I found this novel really wonderful. It gave me sympathy for Jane and all she had to deal with when it came to her family's ambition. I really feel bad for what happened between her and William. In those days though, when the king came calling, you had to obey. No freedom to say "no". Women are much luckier now to have a choice. Back then choices were made for you despite your own wishes. A really well done novel, I suggest everyone who has interest in the Tudor era or even Jane's life to pick up a copy. Thank you again Diane for sending me one. That was really kind of you and I enjoyed every moment reading it. I hope you continue to make more books from the Tudor era.
October 10, 2014
Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII. When compared to his second Queen, Anne Boleyn, Jane as a polar opposite. Plain, nice, simple, she drew the king to her by her calm, unassuming spirit.
Primarily focusing on Jane's earlier life, a difficult childhood spent at Wolf Hall with a conniving, cold-hearted, manipulative mother and a very passive father, she arrives in the circle of intrigue when Queen Katherine is in the process of being discarded for the alluring, volatile Anne.
Watching as Anne the shrew forced her way, gaining what she wanted by plotting and scheming, Jane remains in the background.
When Jane's court seasoned brothers Edward and Thomas placed her in the King's path, her life, as well as the history of England, was dramatically changed
Primarily focusing on Jane's earlier life, a difficult childhood spent at Wolf Hall with a conniving, cold-hearted, manipulative mother and a very passive father, she arrives in the circle of intrigue when Queen Katherine is in the process of being discarded for the alluring, volatile Anne.
Watching as Anne the shrew forced her way, gaining what she wanted by plotting and scheming, Jane remains in the background.
When Jane's court seasoned brothers Edward and Thomas placed her in the King's path, her life, as well as the history of England, was dramatically changed
December 19, 2014
'I, Jane' is the story of Jane Seymour. When one thinks about King Henry VIII's wives, the most popular ones spring to mind, usually first Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon. Not much is known about Jane Seymour, other than that she was the quiet, gentle woman that followed the fiery Anne.
This book takes what little facts are known of Jane's life, and weaves them into an interesting and relate-able story. There are some ideas in it which are very novel and surprising to me. Although they aren't wholly believable, there's nothing to say that they couldn't have happened either, and given that we know so little about Jane, I found it great fun to speculate on her motives.
All in all, a great read with some very touching scenes.
This book takes what little facts are known of Jane's life, and weaves them into an interesting and relate-able story. There are some ideas in it which are very novel and surprising to me. Although they aren't wholly believable, there's nothing to say that they couldn't have happened either, and given that we know so little about Jane, I found it great fun to speculate on her motives.
All in all, a great read with some very touching scenes.
July 26, 2015
Diane Haeger's Tudor novels may be historically inaccurate, but I sure do love them anyway.
Even though I don't buy that Jane was anything like she was in this book, I still liked this portrayal of her. She is so boring and one-note in every other historical fiction novel, but she was a real person in this one. I do think the portrayal of Anne Boleyn was way over the top, though.
I'm bummed that this is the last one in the series! I would love to see Diane take on more Tudors in the future.
Even though I don't buy that Jane was anything like she was in this book, I still liked this portrayal of her. She is so boring and one-note in every other historical fiction novel, but she was a real person in this one. I do think the portrayal of Anne Boleyn was way over the top, though.
I'm bummed that this is the last one in the series! I would love to see Diane take on more Tudors in the future.
August 16, 2013
This is the last book in Diane Haeger's series "In the Court of Henry VIII." I'm sad to see it end and would like to know even more about the women in Henry VIII's life. This novel follows Jane Seymour's life from a young girl until just before she becomes Henry VIII's wife. I found it very interesting that the story stops short of her actual time as Queen of England. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Diane Haeger's series - she is skilled at weaving an intriguing fictional story around the facts of history.
February 11, 2014
Poor Jane Seymour... she might have been Henry's favourite wife but she does tend to fade into the background of them all.
I didn't really like the book, mainly because I happen to like Anne Boleyn and she is absolutely vilified in this book, maybe Jane did hate Anne and the author did capture that, its not something I have ever come across before in Tudor Novels or Biographies.
Jane was ultimately brought to the King's attention by the Seymour's lust for wealth and power. I don't think it had anything to do with Jane's like or dislike for Anne.
I didn't really like the book, mainly because I happen to like Anne Boleyn and she is absolutely vilified in this book, maybe Jane did hate Anne and the author did capture that, its not something I have ever come across before in Tudor Novels or Biographies.
Jane was ultimately brought to the King's attention by the Seymour's lust for wealth and power. I don't think it had anything to do with Jane's like or dislike for Anne.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews