The Boleyn Bride

by Emily Purdy

Sixteen, of noble birth and stunningly beautiful, Elizabeth Howard envisions a glorious life for herself as lady-in-waiting to the future queen, Catherine of Aragon. But when she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner, Elizabeth is left to stagnate in the countryside while her detested husband pursues his ambitions. There, she raises golden girl Mary, moody George, and ugly duckling Anne - while staving off boredom with a string of admirers. Until Henry VIII takes the throne . . .

When Thomas finally brings his highborn wife to London, Elizabeth indulges in lavish diversions and dalliances - and catches the lusty king's eye. But those who enjoy Henry's fickle favor must also guard against his wrath. For while her husband's machinations bring Elizabeth and her children to the pinnacle of power, the distance to the scaffold is but a short one - and the Boleyn family's fortune may be turning...

Praise for Emily Purdy:
'[Purdy] succeeds in rendering Elizabeth both unforgettable and undeniably real.' Historical Novel Society

'It has been some time since I've been so captivated by a Tudor based historical novel. I have to admit to being somewhat burned out by the over saturation of the Tudors . . . however, The Boleyn Bride has renewed my interest. I highly recommend it.' The True Book Addict

'Classic story of a woman scorned, who is after revenge of the most bloody kind.' Closer Magazine

'A rollercoaster tale which gives a new and fascinating perspective on three young women who became hostages to fortune in a perilous and turbulent age.' Lancashire Evening Post

'Nicely written, and full of lust, greed and intrigue, this is a book sure to earn Emily Purdy many new fans.'Bookwormink.co.uk

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Tudor Period, Historical

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Pen name of Brandy Purdy.

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This flood of maternal grief was so great it took me completely by surprise. I had lost so many children before; I didn't expect to feel so much. Yet Anne and George, and Mary too, were different; these three had lived long enough to grow up and become people, individuals I could know and see as real human beings, unique in all their foibles and flaws, virtues and vices, passionate in their desires, needs, and convictions, their joys and sorrows not dead little blue babies I never knew. I brought them into this world: I should not have had to watch them leave it. I was old with rotting lungs; they were young, vital and vibrant - I should have been the one to go first.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. But before I go into that, I am slightly annoyed that Brandy Purdy had a different name printed on the cover! "Brandy" was printed all inside the book - so why did she have "Emily" on the cover? I dont judge author's names. That's really unfair. I don't know whose decision it was to do this, but I am annoyed.

+ So I loved the writing style! It's very, very flowery, which I know doesn't work for everyone, but I really liked it. I think it really suited the whole feel of the book, and I didnt find it dragging or slow. It had this really nice lilt to it which felt almost authentically Tudor. I love it when the writing feels like the book itself - it just shows how good the author is at setting a scene and creating a world, even if it is real.

+ I also really liked the character of Elizabeth. When I read fiction set in the Tudor era, I love reading about vain, often not 'good' characters - yet they have an action, or an emotion, or they learn a lesson that endears them to you, that kind of greys out their flaws and brings forward their humanity. An author who does this really well is Philippa Gregory, but I think that Emily/Brandy Purdy also did this really well with Elizabeth Boleyn. She's vain, and ambitious, but that makes her a woman of her time. And that is realistic.

- However, that said, I really cannot see why the author chose to write about Elizabeth Boleyn. She really doesnt do much. In fact, this was really, after a certain point, just a relay of Anne's life. Sometimes Elizabeth's opinions and thoughts weren't even there. It was "Anne did this" and "Anne did that". It could have simply been another Anne Boleyn story. Sometimes I found it hard to see how Elizabeth knew some of the things she did about Anne's affairs. Later on in the novel the author seems to almost abandon Elizabeth'spoint of view - its almost like she isn't there - its just a long chronological list of events about ANNE. And I would have loved to see more about Elizabeth herself.

- Also, I think the book was a little historically inaccurate. There were some things that happened that even I'm pretty sure were in the wrong order. Purdy also skipped out Elizabeth's older children - though please correct me if I'm wrong. It might just be me, but when writing about REAL people in REAL history, I think it's important to get it right.

So over all, I did really enjoy this book. It had all the components to be a really great book, I just think that the author didn't choose the most intereting thing to write about. However, I am definitely interested in reading more of her works. Her writing is beautiful, and I loved the ending of this book.

What a strange and frightened sight I must have presented, this frenzied and crazed, weeping and wailing woman - my behaviour at such a startling and sharp variance to my appearance, the epitome of courtly elegance and gracefully ageing beauty arrayed in silver-braided black satin embroidered with fanciful swirls of silver acanthus leaves; ropes of pearls and a diamond collar to artfully conceal the sagging skin of my throat; diamonds on my fingers and at my breast: and a pearl-bordered black gable hood (before the veil caught, and it fell away, and my silver-streaked black hair tumbled down to catch on and be torn out by the grasping thorns).

Anne accepted death with a goodly grace. Who taught my daughter how to do that? Who taught her how to die, and how to live, so bravely, so differently and defiantly? To dance to her own music instead of the same old staid rhythm everyone else did. Certainly not I. What did I, her own mother, ever teach her except to spend her life in proud defiance trying to prove to the world that she was indeed wothy of love, admiration and respect, that there is more to beauty than golden hair, a porcelain and roses complexion, and buxom, voluptuous curves. The things that I taught her were not very good lessons for a mother to teach her daughter.

[Annelies - In Another Era · Rating 2 out of 5]

At sixteen Elizabeth Howard hopes to become lady-in-waiting to the new Spanish queen, Catherine Of Aragon. But her ambitious father marries her to Thomas Boleyn, a low-born but rising star at court. Elizabeth loathes him but has no choice than to obey her family. The Howards are after all one of the most powerful noble families. The match will produce three children: beautiful Mary, beloved George and ugly duck Anne. All three of them will play a vital part in Engeland’s future, and Elizabeth herself will also catch king Henry’s eye.

I’ve set myself a goal to still write reviews of all the books I’ve read in the first half of 2020 (thus before I started this blog), with the exception of some last parts in a series. The Boleyn Bride was one of the oldest unread books sitting on my shelves. I bought it maybe 10 years ago at a book fair for 2 euros. There’s another edition of this book where the author’s name is Brandy Purdy instead of Emily by the way – it confused me also.

I had no high expectations of this book, knowing it would be another story about the dramatic rise and downfall of the Boleyn family. But I had hoped that the perspective of their mother Elizabeth Howard would provide an original point of view. Historians are still in doubt whether Elizabeth encouraged her daughters to enter the king’s bed or whether she was against it.

This is hard review to write because actually there is little I liked about ‘the Boleyn bride‘. The biggest problem is the characterization of Elizabeth herself. She’s a total bitch. Vain, selfish, ambitious and annoying. She has no love for her family or husband, not even for her children. Her constant hate of Thomas, whom she refers to as ‘Bullen, oh no Boleyn’ bored me to pieces.

The book covers her story all the way from her marriage to Thomas until Anne’s downfall, but the most important events are told in a few pages, a few lines even. The author finds it more interesting to talk about her love affair with Remi, a fictional character, or how Elizabeth tries to hide her wrinkles. Elizabeth complains about almost everything, except herself. She’s a very passive character and has no influence on what happens to first Mary, than Anne. As their mother she’s more a silent observer who just tells the reader what happens to her children. I found that most unconvincing.

I can see past a horrible main character, but the other characters are even worse. Thomas Boleyn is a devil, Anne ugly from the day she’s born, Mary is beautiful but stupid… There was nobody I cared for in this book. Only Catherine Of Aragon seems a good person, which is a bit strange as she and Elizabeth will not have been best friends if you know what happens…

Purdy also makes some serious historical errors or bad choices, especially with the timeline (Anne’s romance with Henry Percy for example is set wrong) or the whole thing about Anne having six fingers (for which there is no evidence whatsoever). I can understand why authors of historical fiction sometimes make changes to the timeline or choose to go with a certain story or legend, but in this novel it serves no purpose at all except making it more unbelievable.

I’m quite picky when it comes to Tudor fiction, since I’ve read a lot of novels about this period already and I am familiar with the historical facts. Especially with the Boleyns, I find it important to do them justice and I cringe with how some authors chose to represent them. So maybe you will enjoy a lighter story such as these and this book might work for you. But I won’t take up a next book from Emily/Brandy Purdy.

https://inanotherera.wordpress.com/20...
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Dutch review:
Elizabeth Howard is een verwende hertogin die op haar 16de hoopt hofdame te worden van Catherine Of Aragon. Maar haar vader regelt een huwelijk met Thomas Boleyn, een opkomende man aan het hof maar van lage komaf. Elizabeth haat haar echtgenoot en voelt ook geen enkele genegenheid voor haar drie kinderen: Mary, George en Anne. Toch zullen zij alle drie een belangrijke rol gaan spelen aan het hof. En zal de naam Boleyn ook eeuwen later nog niet vergeten zijn.

Dit was echt een vervelend boek. Het zou kunnen liggen aan het feit dat ik veel over de Boleyns weet en heel kritisch ben over hoe men ze neerzet. Maar waarschijnlijk nog meer omdat Elizabeth echt het meest vervelende hoofdpersonage ooit is.

Elizabeth is egoïstisch, ijdel en heeft een enorme haat tegenover haar man. Het constant afgeven op de naam Bullen, of nee Boleyn, werd enorm vervelend. Ook haar relatie met Remi boeide me totaal niet. Elizabeth doet het hele boek niets anders dan klagen over haar eigen situatie. Ocharme toch!

Ook de andere personages zijn totaal niet likeable. Thomas is een echte duivel. Anne wordt vanaf haar geboorte neergezet als een lelijke trut. Alleen over Catherine spreekt ze positief, maar haar loyaliteit tegenover de rivaal van haar familie is nogal met de haren getrokken. Oh en niet te vergeten hoe een karikaturen er van Jane Parker en Jane Seymour gemaakt worden. Het werd bijna lachwekkend!

De schrijfstijl was niet mijn ding. Het gaat allemaal zo snel. Bepaalde gebeurtenissen worden afgedaan in een paar zinnen, maar ze schrijft wel hele epistels over hoe Elizabeth haar rimpels probeert te verdoezelen. Serieus?

Historisch gezien zijn er ook heel wat zaken onjuist. Anne een zesde vinger? Komaan zeg, die theorie is allang afgedaan. Ook de afwezigheid van de Howardfamilie stoorde mij (er was nu eindelijk eens iemand van de Howards het hoofdpersonage), net zoals het feit dat zij als ouders precies geen vat hadden op de situatie? Ook het geval Henry Percy staat helemaal verkeerd op de tijdlijn....

Enfin slechte personagesetting, geen geweldige schrijfstijl en ook nog eens veel historische fouten, dan ben je voor mij als auteur afgeschreven.

Op naar het volgende boek uit de kast!

[Emi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the maternal raw emotion of this book and it felt so much more real than traditional retelling of Anne Boleyns story.

[tinalouisereadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Howard is sixteen and is looking forward to life as a lady in waiting. She however is forced into marriage to somebody who she doesn't really like, Thomas Bullen, I mean Boleyn. The rest is history.

This book is very mild compared to other books I have read by Emily / Brandy Purdy. Normally her books can be quite fun to read, perhaps not accurate, but definitely a right old Tudor romp. This book however was quite the opposite.

The story is told by Elizabeth Howard, mother of the three Boleyns, Mary, George and Anne. The story is just one long narrative with very little speech between characters. This can be tiresome at times as the reader only has the voice of Elizabeth and her observations.

I don't really know much about Elizabeth, only who she was. I have come away from the book not much wiser. The story quickly switches to Anne and again Anne takes over the story. Not that I mind reading about Anne but I thought the book was going to be about Elizabeth.

Elizabeth came across as not a very nice person. She wasn't a good mother to her three children and was wrapped up in her own sexual needs. She actually comes across as quite sluttish. However the people around her are not very likeable either, her husband, uncle and mother in law. So maybe she cant be blamed for her actions as perhaps she was only after attention.

The book was an ok read, but Anne cones to the forefront again. Not quite a Tudor romp but a run of the mill tale of the Tudor period.

[Kirsty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first historical fiction book I read and I am disappointed.
I have not read too much into women during tudor times but the main character in this book... just wow.
I don't know how true the main character is in this book to the real character or the characteristics of women of this time, but I could not stand her. Especially at the beginning when she starts of at the age of 16. To be honest she doesn't change much until she's much much older. She is a horrible person throughout this whole story.
The main events of the story involve sex and lovers.
It didn't start to get remotely interesting until about 100 pages in.
I will not be reading any more books from this author and I don't think I will read any more historical fiction books either.

[Aila Dominguez Ramonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aunque en un principio pensé que no me gustaría este libro, ya que el primer capitulo en mi opinión es muy pesado y cansado, a medida que iba entrando en la historia me iba gustando más y más.
Pensé que sería un libro mediocre al ya saber la historia de Ana Bolena, pero me ha sorprendido. El hecho de que esté narrado des de la perspectiva de Isabel Howard (su madre) es interesante y diferente, ya que vemos la historia de Ana des de dentro, pero también des de fuera.
La narración de la historia mejora por momentos y te hace sentir muchos sentimientos contradictorios.
Me ha sorprendido agradablemente.

[Chloe Lucey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an interesting read I love the Tudor period and have read many books on Anne Boleyn and this was an interesting read coming from the view of an outsider. I will say the first chapter is boring and annoying but after you get past that it is an interesting read.

[Ceri Twynam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than expected

I enjoyed reading about Elizabeth Boleyn as she was someone that I knew little about. It was interesting to read about the rise and downfall of Anne Boleyn from a different point of view.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that tells a well known story from a different perspective viewing the story through the eyes of Anne Boleyns mother.

[Iona · Rating 2 out of 5]

not sure whether the author wanted to write a historical novel - but she did write something tbe equates to mills and boone. And even uses italic writing to stress certain words!!-

[Tracey Terrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sad story of the Boleyn family from the mother Elizabeth to her children Mary, George and Anne

[Beki Laws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read historical novel about Ann Boleyn's mother

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start of this review by saying that I am a huge fan of the Tudor era. I watched The Tudors tv show up until the point where Anne Boleyn was beheaded (**spoiler, but if you didn't know that already, you've probably been living under a rock***). I was very excited to start this book and read about Anne Boleyn's story from a very unique point of view.

Elizabeth Howard is 16 years old and has a bright, rich future ahead of her. She dreams of having the perfect noble husband to give her beautiful self to, but her father ends up marrying her off to a Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner who she detests. Elizabeth is left to birth their children in the countryside, which include her gorgeous Mary, her brooding George, and her ugly duckling Anne. When her husband finally returns her to London, Elizabeth watches her children enter the court life and entrance the monarchy like no one ever has before.

Out of all of the retellings of the story of the Boleyns, I have never heard of one from their mother's point of view. It was so interesting learning about their mother and how she wasn't even that great of a mother and ultimately watched her children succumb to their own fate in the end (though how true these characteristics are is not known since not much of Elizabeth Boleyn is known at all). Elizabeth is definitely an interesting character with her intense vanity and hatred for her husband. When I first started the novel, I was a bit annoyed with how Elizabeth droned on and on for the first 30 pages in her prologue, but once the story actually started, I was extremely interested in the Boleyn story from before any of the infamous children were even born.

Since this story is told from the point of view of Elizabeth, she doesn't really do a whole lot except for watch the going-ons of the royal court and have affairs with various people. That being said, I didn't like the story for the invigorating, action-packed plot but rather for the impeccable look at the scandal and infamy of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. As a fan of the Tudors, I ate up every detail of how Anne captivated Henry and ultimately lost his interest to Jane Seymour. Also, I loved her close relationship with George, an aspect of her life that I don't really remember from the television show. I loved getting lost into this entrancing world of the Tudors and how lustful and adulterous everyone was. Seriously, was no one loyal to their spouses back then? It seems not! While I normally hate cheating in contemporary books, this historical look at real events was too intriguing to admonish for bad morals.

Overall, I think it was an interesting choice to tell this story from the point of view of Elizabeth Boleyn. After all, she is the one who created Mary and Anne Boleyn, two women who will forever be remembered in English history. If you're a fan of Tudor Era England and the scandals that rocked Henry VIII's reign, you will probably enjoy The Boleyn Bride and getting to know the mind of a character that has been lost in history.

[Kendall {Book Crazy} · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised with this book when the publisher sent me a paperback for review! I wasn't expecting it, but when I read the synopsis, it sounded really interesting! I have to admit though that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I was going too. It was very detailed, which I liked, and I loved that it was set in the Tudor time period, but it took me days, and I mean days, to get through! I have to say that I also found myself skipping some of the description because I could still follow the story without reading it all. The plot developed kinda slow as well, but quite a lot happened in it and it took place over quite a long space of time, which I enjoyed! I also don't normally read historical books, so I think that also contributed towards how I felt and the rating I gave this book. This book would be an awesome book for someone who loves historical books though! I found the plot interesting as it was set in Tudor times and I liked that it told the story of Anne Boleyn through the eyes of her mother! The plot developed nicely as well and had a lot in it! Overall, this book wasn't my typical kind of read, and I probably wouldn't have picked it up if the publisher hadn't sent me it, but I thought it was an okay read. The characters really surprised me! Elizabeth was the main character and my feelings about her were all over the place in this book! There were times where my heart went out to her, and then there were times when I sort of wanted to shake some sense into her! I mean, I could understand why she felt the way she did and she did the things she did, but sometimes I found her actions or the way she thought inexcusable. I had to keep reminding myself that Elizabeth's story was set in a different time to now though and that people thought differently back then. I also thought that Elizabeth was going to redeem herself in this book, and she did in a way, but it took a while! Elizabeth was also forced to marry Thomas in this book, and Thomas was only interested in himself and his success. The two of them put up a façade to portray that they were happy as a family, but they really despised each other and had no romantic feelings for each other whatsoever. This made me feel sorry for Elizabeth as her mind-set may have changed if she had been happy and fallen in love instead of being pushed into a forced marriage. I can completely understand why this book is a standalone! The ending was interesting and the plot was all wrapped up and didn't leave any unanswered questions! After reading this book though, I'm really sorry to say that I probably won't read this author's other books. I'll definitely check them out, but I don't read historical books, apart from one series, so this book was a new challenge for me. I'd definitely recommend this book to someone who loves historical books though! The UK cover for this book suits it perfectly! I love it! The model on the front makes a really good Elizabeth too! Big thank you to Piatkus for sending me a paperback of The Boleyn Bride for review!

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In ‘The Boleyn Bride’ we meet Elizabeth Howard. Elizabeth has big plans for herself. She wants a glorious life as a lady-in-waiting and she wants to become best friends with the future queen. But unfortunately for Elizabeth she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn. Thomas is a wealthy commoner and all he really seems to want from Elizabeth is the perfect marriage. He wants children and a woman who takes care of the household. Elizabeth is soon really bored with her life, that is until Henry VIII takes the throne.

What I really liked about this book was the way it was written. Emily Purdy writing style in this book is very easy to read and it makes this book a very nice one to read. Like I said before I haven’t read many historical novels so I really needed to adjust my reading expectations a little. But still I found this book really interesting. The way Elizabeth Howard life went and how she coped with all the remorse and quilt she felt. But also how someone so full of pride and beauty when she was young can change so much.

Although I liked this book and I think it definitely is well written and a nice change to reading all the romance and fantasy books this book was not one I would read again. It’s greatly written and I loved the historical lesson but it’s just not for me. I felt a little said at the end of book because of how cruel woman were treated back in the day. Forced marriage, only good for the household and baring children. I would have been a banned woman if I lived in that time.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed again by one of Emily Purdy’s novels. I’m not sure I’m going to read any more, to be honest. I had hoped for something more, as there aren’t many novels which really feature or explore the life of Elizabeth Boleyn, mother of Anne, George, and Mary Boleyn. But Elizabeth also wasn’t at the forefront of the story, considering it’s supposed to be about her! Like so many novels about the Boleyn family the focus is on Anne.

Elizabeth Boleyn comes across as vain and selfish, hated her husband, and almost uninterested in her children, whose portrayals are incredibly unsympathetic. You just couldn’t like her! I don’t believe that’s what Elizabeth Boleyn was like, and I don’t think that’s what the sources tell us either, though there is limited information available to us today. But when we have so little information about a person, it should be used accurately, and it wasn’t.

The writing style is quite flowery which doesn’t really suit good historical fiction in my opinion. It felt like the narrative was getting weighed down. It didn’t add to the descriptions, the scene-setting, or the story-telling – it seemed not to have a purpose. So, between the massive historical inaccuracies, the appalling characterisation, and the overly flowery language, I did struggle to finish this one.

[Jo Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Clara Diaz from The Little Brown Book Group for sending me a copy of this in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is the set around the story of Elizabeth Howard, the mother of Anne Boleyn. Once I started reading this I found I couldn’t put it down, when you first meet Elizabeth she is spiteful and vindictive, very hard to like at all, but once you read her story you can understand why and towards the end begin to feel sorry for her.

As not much is known about Anne Boleyns mother I found this really intriguing take on the story of Henry and Anne. The tudor period is one of my favourites and I watch and read anything I can around this time.

I was a little disappointed that the story switched from being about Elizabeth to Elizabeth’s take on Henry and Anne.

I found the story to be well paced and very descriptive in parts, this had me really imagining what the tudor period was really like, although I am aware that Emily has used artistic licence in parts.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book followed Elizabeth Howard who is the mother of Anne Boleyn. I found Elizabeth a really interesting character and it made a difference to read about her. I have never read a novel that has focused on Elizabeth Howard as usually books follow Anne or Mary.

Reading about Elizabeth's opinion of Anne was really interesting and hearing about her views of the relationship between Henry and Anne.

I thought the pacing was pretty good, I thought the prologue dragged a little bit as it focused on Elizabeth and her looks. She was an extremely vain character and complained a lot about how her looks were ruined by multiple pregnancies.

I really enjoyed this take on what is a really well-known story. I would recommend this book if you are a fan of historical fiction especially if you love the Tudor era.

[Diane Harold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book because it's a different point of view of Anne's story and enjoyed Elizabeth's story too, however I don't entirely agree with the author's portrayal of Anne's. Cried buckets as usual, even though I know the ending!!!!! If you like history and this period you will like this book!

[Beth Younge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book especially for those who are Phillipa Gregory fans!

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. I was hoping for an improvement in later chapters, but not only does the titular character persist in her selfishness she also admits it and seems almost proud of it.