The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception

by Helene Harrison

Explores Anne Boleyn’s life and legacy through 500 years of images, perceptions, and historical interpretations.

Mistress. Queen. Reformer. Traitor. Icon.

This book is not like any others you might have read on Anne Boleyn. It is not a biography of the life of Henry VIII’s second wife and queen. What this book does is to examine Anne Boleyn through images and perceptions of her. Through documents, letters, images, propaganda, films, novels and historical biographies, this book explores Anne Boleyn through more than 500 years of history. Explore how perceptions of her have changed and developed over time. Whether she is seen as a mistress, a queen, a mother, a reformer, a traitor, or a tragic heroine, Anne Boleyn continues to inspire so much exploration and even new discoveries today. See Anne through the eyes of people who knew her, loved her, hated her, and studied her. In the present day, Anne Boleyn has quite a devoted scholarship, honed through perceptions built over the last half a millennium. Her life, reign, and tragic death at the hands of the man who tore England apart to be with her have made Anne Boleyn one of the most divisive and exciting figures in English history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2025

About the author

Helene Harrison studied at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, achieving both a BA and MA in History before going on to complete an MSc in Library Management. Her passion for Tudor history started when studying for A Levels and completing a module on Tudor rebellions. Her master’s dissertation focused on portrayals of Anne Boleyn through the centuries, from contemporary letters to modern TV and film adaptations. Now she writes two blogs, one Tudor history and one book-related, and works in the university library of her alma mater. In her spare time, she loves visiting royal palaces and snuggling up with a book or embroidery project. Her books are ‘Elizabethan Rebellions: Conspiracy, Intrigue and Treason’ [2023] ‘Tudor Executions: From Nobility to the Block’ [2024], and 'The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception' [2025].

Reviews

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did her master's dissertation on depictions of Anne Boleyn throughout history. Each chapter of this book explores a topic focusing on Anne Boleyn where she offers up available documentation from various sources to hash out what is really the truth. Often times one can only speculate. One interesting aspect that was bandied around at the beginning was what she really looked like. There are a small handful of surviving paintings and drawings as well as a coin (as shown on the bookcover), and even a ring that her daughter Queen Elizabeth I used to wear that contained her picture. As I read these passages I found myself performing internet searches for these photos, wanting to scrutinize them as I was reading about it. Eventually I happened upon all the photos at the end of the book, rather than being inserted where referenced throughout the chapters. To my dismay, they were all in black and white. They would have looked so much nicer in color. The book proper ends around the 80% mark leading into an Epilogue, References/Sources/Index. Hats off to the author who obviously did a ton of research for this book. It's a good reference for accessing other authors of Tudor History (such as Eric Ives who wrote an excellent biography of Anne Boleyn).

Thank you to the publisher Pen & Sword for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

[Juliew. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful and easy to read resource on Anne Boleyn.I really appreciated all the viewpoints on Anne's character,relationships, religion,her actions as queen and her fall.Although I found her portrayals through the years on stage,film and the small screen pretty interesting at times, I felt as a long time follower of Tudor history,I could have totally skipped this section.I thought the synopsis of each play or program were overly long and slightly tedious.Overall though I will be keeping this as a future reference.

Much thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now normally I don't read ARC copies of nonfiction but since I have a deep love for Tudor History I would give this a try. What makes this this unique is that it isn't a biography of Anne Boleyn's life but more of an account of how she is viewed whether it be a portrait or even how she is portrayed in cinema. We also hear of accounts of people who knew her and had a good high opinion and then there were those who hated her. Now that is something that everyone will almost encounter in everyday life. Now in my opinion I think Anne Boleyn was a very refined person what with her time spent in the Netherlands with Margaret of Austria and her time in the French Court. Overall this was a very interesting take on the life of Anne Boleyn.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched in-depth analysis of the various facets related to Anne Boleyn’s life. This narrative addresses the royal biases around Anne and the way media has rewritten pivotal facts. This is a deep dive into the truest accounts to this date that we know of related to Anne. A narrative that demystifies centuries of rumors and a King’s attempt to write Anne out of history. Genuinely interesting read for those interested in the Tudors.
Each essay focuses on a central aspect related to Annes life or the way Anne’s life has been portrayed through various medias. Considerations are made for missing information, cultural context, and the current artifacts that remain from Anne’s reign as Queen. This is a great example of a non-fiction narrative that pulls the passion from their fingertips in riveting essays. Thank you Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this advanced digital copy!

Read more of my reviews on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘She moved from a gentlewoman to the daughter of an earl, a marquess in her own right, then a queen.’

Helene has done a marvellous job with this book, with over a decade of research!

I loved every second of it. Anne Boleyn is one of my favourites and after reading this, I just love her even more!

A must read for history readers.

‘He expected a more demure and less demanding woman as a wife. Anne bridled against this expectation, not changing as the king expected from the role of mistress to that of wife.’

[Shanequa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give Helene Harrison major kudos for writing an Anne Boleyn book that wasn't just a straight biography. I quite enjoyed her analysis, particularly the Anne on Stage, Film, and the small screen sections. I did find some parts a bit repetitive and it was giving "trying to reach a word count" vibes which brought the book down a bit for me. Overall, a really decent read and it gave me some additional resources that I plan to check out!

[Amanda Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take and extremely well researched. I went into this book only knowing the barest bones of Anne Boleyn’s story, mostly attributed to pop culture. The most surprising part of this book to me was actually how much we DON’T know. Nearly all surviving sources are biased, were written years after the fact, or have been lost to time itself. The portrait that most of us picture when we think of Anne isn’t even definitively her, most of her portraits were destroyed after her execution. Anne’s life was sensationalized from the start, continuing all the way into pop culture today, after reading this book I find it comforting to know that the truth likely lies somewhere in between fact and fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dense and interesting look at a character who has been maligned, pitied or exalted, depending on the source and the time in history since her death almost 500 years ago. The second wife of Henry VIII, who was a catalyst in his break with Rome and was a figure in the English Reformation, outlived her usefulness to Henry and the most convenient way to remove her so he could marry Jane Seymour, was to blacken her reputation and convict her of crimes that, in the fullness of history, few, if any, have come to believe.

She was a complex personality and the book with its myriad of source material looks at her from numerous vantage points. It is neither a quick nor easy read but academic books seldom are. But, if you are looking for a balanced representation of a real woman whose impact far exceeded the three years she was married to Henry, this will satisfy you. In fact, you may come away with extra respect that she was a woman who refused to be pigeon-holed into a role as “obedient wife” for which she was ill equipped. For that, she paid the price. Four purrs and two paws up.

[Jonathan Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn," Helene Harrison sets aside the conventions of traditional biography to ask a more revealing question: not simply who Anne Boleyn was, but who she has been made to be. Harrison reconstructs the evolution of Anne's image through thematic and interdisciplinary examination, tracing her transformation from early propaganda and foreign dispatches to television scripts and feminist reappraisals. The result traces Anne Boleyn's transformation from Tudor queen to cultural phenomenon, revealing how each generation has conscripted her story for its own purposes.

Rather than retelling Anne's rise and fall chronologically, Harrison organizes her work around the interpretive scaffolding that has grown around this figure across time. Each chapter examines a distinct facet of Anne's legacy—reformer, adulteress, tragic heroine, cultural icon—while portraits are analyzed alongside propaganda and scaffold speeches placed in dialogue with pop musicals. The book demonstrates that every version of Anne, from Shakespeare's cipher to Natalie Dormer's seductive tactician, reveals less about Anne herself than about the society doing the imagining.

Harrison proves especially effective at tracing how successive generations have retooled Anne's story to suit their ideological needs. Victorian writers cast her as a cautionary tale about unbridled ambition. Mid-century filmmakers transformed her into a romantic victim. More recently, feminist scholars have elevated Anne as a woman who briefly mastered a hostile court culture through sheer determination. Through all these interpretations, Harrison remains grounded in archival evidence while never losing sight of how those very records have been filtered through bias and agenda.

The book's scholarly rigor is evident, yet so too is its accessibility. Harrison presents competing interpretations side by side—Eric Ives' principled heroine against G.W. Bernard's culpable flirt—and invites readers to weigh the evidence and reach their own conclusions. She incorporates recent discoveries with care, including Kate McCaffrey's research revealing hidden inscriptions in Anne's Book of Hours, which exposes a network of women who preserved Anne's memory at considerable personal risk. Similarly, Lucy Churchill's reconstruction of the 1534 portrait medal offers the clearest glimpse we have of Anne's actual appearance.

What distinguishes "The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn" is not merely its scope but its refusal to reduce Anne to a single meaning. Harrison recognizes that historical figures, particularly women who challenge orthodoxy, are rarely remembered cleanly. This is not a book attempting to rescue Anne from misrepresentation so much as one that maps the terrain of those misrepresentations and examines why they persist. When she explores how Anne has been portrayed in everything from "SIX The Musical" to "The Tudors," Harrison is not simply cataloging popular culture but demonstrating how these portrayals shape public understanding in ways that historians must reckon with.

The strength of Harrison's approach lies in her recognition that perception itself has a history worth studying. Her analysis of how Anne's religious beliefs have been interpreted—from Catholic provocateur to Protestant martyr to pragmatic reformer—reveals as much about changing attitudes toward faith and power as it does about Anne herself. When she examines foreign ambassadors' accounts, particularly those of Eustace Chapuys, she carefully weighs their value while acknowledging their clear partisan bias.

Ultimately, Harrison reminds us that history is not merely what happened but what we continue to say about it and that these ongoing conversations shape how we understand both past and present. Her careful mapping of Anne Boleyn's cultural afterlife offers a template for approaching any historical figure whose story has been claimed by causes they never knew existed.

This review is based on an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Pen & Sword History.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helene Harrison, The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn Interpreting Image and Perception, Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History, July 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Helene Harrison’s forensic approach to discovering Anne Boleyn is a remarkable enterprise, and one that provides a welcome addition to the myriads of interpretations that have already been written. Harrison’s perceptiveness is an asset in considering the immense range of sources she investigates. These are primary and secondary sources, all of which she appraises with almost a gimlet eye. Her understanding of other writers’ and film/television makers’ interpretations is acute, critical at times, but recognising the importance of others’ contribution to creating an understanding of this elusive woman. That Anne Boleyn is elusive can, of course, be questioned. After all, she has been the subject of so many books, films, and television series. However, where so much has been partisan, it is useful to try to stand back, look at the material and, as Harrison has done, investigate.

These investigations are detailed and cover the following topics: portraiture and image; Anne as mistress, queen, mother, reformer, tragic heroine, and traitor; Anne through foreign eyes; and Anne on stage, in film and television series, and in books. The historiography, where Harrison considers the material available and acknowledges that new research is always likely to occur and will enhance what is known, is an excellent read. She refers to widely divergent accounts; exhibitions; and a summary of various interpretations of Anne: her impact, life, and legacy. Harrison’s introduction to the Epilogue refers to the fun she had in writing about Anne Boleyn. This permeates the work, making it fun to read while not undermining the value as an important and serious text.

There are notes for each at the end of the book, an index and the graphics are well presented and described. Readers of historical fiction will be pleased to see Alison Weir, Hilary Mantel and Phillipa Gregory in the index, under the subheading ‘in literature’, but there is more – letters and older texts such as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and Bacon’s Tragedy of Anne Boleyn; headings such as the chronology, personal aspects and relationships are helpful; and topics such as feminism appear.

While studying Tudor History at university in the 1970s the lecturer referred to Anne of A Thousand Days being a useful addition to the advised academic sources. Helene Harrison’s reference to this film, among other non-academic sources resonated with me. To capture the way in which Anne Boleyn’s image has been perceived requires a though investigation, one that is open to the wide variety of sources available, and one that is generous in acknowledging the validity of such sources. Helene Harrison’s, The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn Interpreting Image and Perception, has achieved this.

[Charlotte ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley , Pen and Sword Books and Helene Harrison for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this unique take on Anne Boleyn’s life and legacy.
Harrison not only uses primary sources from the Tudor period to analyse Anne’s personality and reputation, but also pulls from modern portrayals that unveil her from many different angles. These include adaptations like Six the Musical, art, films and television series that all analyse her impact on British history.

This was unlike any biography that you would usually read. Rather than being a chronological record of her life, Harrison uses sources from 500 years ago up until the present day to speak about the composer’s relation to Anne or how they were attempting to spin the narrative of this Queen’s abrupt rise and fall. I particularly enjoyed reading about the letters that foreign ambassadors sent abroad and how they contained information about ‘The Great Matter’ and the perceived relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

As a strong supporter of Anne myself, and a believer of her innocence, it was striking to me to read a book that was very balanced in opinion. The author is biased at moments, but ensures to include a balance of sources that are either for Anne or against her. This book was very cleverly composed into chapters that take us from sources of the time into the last few centuries and the adaptations that have come from this history. Whilst it was written in this way, Harrison ensures to bring primary evidence into the discussion of secondary adaptations in an effort to expand the debate. It flows seamlessly, and is easy to read (with very few sections that are dense in material).

At its heart, this book is a discussion of Anne’s ‘true’ personality - the values and thoughts behind her actions and the ongoing question of whether she was guilty of the crimes that led to her demise. As much of Anne has been destroyed from this World, we are left to analyse her from the works of others (such as letters or the small messages that she has left behind in prayer books).

I don’t often read non-fiction, but requested this as I have a long-term obsession with Tudor history (particularly with Henry VIII’s wives). This book was so well researched and I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading about this period of time. I learnt so much and came away with books and films that I definitely want to read. The title of the book is apt - we see many different faces of Anne throughout history and Harrison reflects this well. It is up to the reader to decide from Harrison‘s evidence and well written arguments as to whether she was indeed guilty, or an innocent pawn of volatile men with too much power.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Boleyn, a queen whose story has lived on for centuries. She was the woman who stood between Catherine of Aragon and King Henry VIII. Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, was her greatest legacy and her pride and joy. It was her untimely death due to charges that many believe were unfounded. We all have our image of the infamous queen, but how does that change when we switch the type of media we consume? Helen Harrison explores how our idea of Anne Boleyn changed over time in her latest book, “The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception.”

I would like to thank Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Helen Harrison’s previous books on Tudor Executions and Elizabethan Rebellions. When I heard that she was writing a book about Anne Boleyn, I was curious to see what new information she would add to Tudor studies, specifically Anne Boleyn.

So, how do you approach a book like this that is not a biography but tells how Anne Boleyn has been perceived throughout the centuries? Harrison has decided that the best way to show her readers how Anne has been portrayed throughout history is by breaking this book into sections, focusing on one source of media. We get to see Anne through portraiture/images, letters/poems, through foreign dignitaries, her views on religion, on stage and screen, both the movie and television screen, as well as historical fiction.

Harrison also includes a brief biography of Anne’s life so that we can refamiliarize ourselves with her tragic tale before taking the deep dive, which is important when it comes to understanding her legacy. My favorite part of this book is seeing the different takes historians and authors have taken towards it, including everyone’s favorite, the Victorians. It gives an overview of how different historians and authors interpret a single figure and gives us a unique take on the historiography of Anne Boleyn, including G.W. Bernard, who believed that Anne was guilty of some of the charges. The fact that Harrison decided to keep her feelings towards Anne relatively neutral allows the recent research about Anne to shine.

This book is unlike any other book about Anne Boleyn that I have read. It is a comprehensive deep dive into the research around the life of Anne Boleyn that any Tudor nerd will find a fascinating resource. If you are a Tudor nerd or a fan of Anne Boleyn, “The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn: Interpreting Image and Perception” by Helen Harrison is a must-read.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated this 4.5 out of 5.

This was an incredibly interesting book. Harrison clearly put years of extensive research into examining Anne Boleyn's life and how she influenced her own image, as well as how history remembers Boleyn.

Each chapter examines how Anne Boleyn's image has been created and shaped over time. I found the chapter examining the was that Anne actively took a role in creating her own image during her brief tenure as Queen of England particularly fascinating, as in some biographies it does feel as though Anne's agency does not shine through as much as admirers of her would like.

The sections of Anne on the stage and on the big and small screen were also very interesting. The way that she was depicted in plays during the Restoration Period was entirely new information, and I found it particularly fascinating to see how Anne's story was used as an analogy for the succession crisis that broke out around James II's potential accession after his brother Charles.

My biggest struggle with this book was actually the formatting. It felt a bit weighed down by thesis formatting, and as a result, felt repetitive at times. Having read some of Harrison's other work, I think that part of the strategy is so that the reader can pick up the book and flip to any chapter and understand what is going on. This strategy has value, but was not my favorite.

I really enjoyed that Harrison provided such a wealth of sources that you can continue to explore the ideas that she discusses throughout the book and obtain an even deeper understanding of the themes that she discusses in her work. Harrison also dives deeper into sources that lovers of Anne Boleyn will have heard about, but may not have learned much about previously, such as the poems of Thomas Wyatt.

This is a great book chalk-full of information for Anne Boleyn lovers, and I would recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder

[MoonlightCupOfCocoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pen and Sword and Netgalley for the advance copy! As always, all opinions shared here are 100% my own.

As someone who is still being introduced to Anne Boleyn (beyond the surface knowledge that I believe everyone knows of her by now), "The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn" by Helene Harrison was a great exploration of her legacy. This well-researched book is written by an author that did her master's on Anne Boleyn's image and perception throughout history!

In an academic, detail-oriented manner, we observe her through the eyes of her contemporaries all the way to modern historians and pop culture. Each chapter holds a magnifying glass to one facet of her life: her education, her childhood, her love life, her marriage life, her religious beliefs, etc. Through contemporary accounts and historical research, the reader is introduced to all information shared about her as well as why or why not a certain source or anecdote is plausible or was disproven. The book is very good at sharing all viewpoints, be it by those with a high opinion of her or otherwise.

After her death, the book turns our attention to her legacy leading up to the present day. Works that feature or depict Anne Boleyn are explored one by one sharing what they delivered accurately and wasn't. Works like SIX the musical, the Tudors (2007) as well as movies and books are all introduced to the reader. I've added several of the books especially to my ever-growing TBR.

The author's passion is clear on every page, while still providing an unbiased and comprehensive read for the reader. I learned a lot. If you're interested in Anne Boleyn and her life, this is a great book to add to your list.

You can also find me on: Instagram

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The Woman:* Anne Boleyn was a multilingual, musical, and fashionable woman who defied societal norms. She was a strong-willed and intelligent individual who played a crucial role in shaping England's spiritual and cultural identity.

*Skills and Achievements:*
- Multilingual (English, French, Italian, and Latin)
- Musical talents (block flute, harp, lute, and virginals)
- Fashion icon (introduced French styles to English court)
- Patron of scholars and reformers (William Tyndale, Thomas Cranmer)
- Influenced Henry VIII's break with Rome and the formation of the Church of England

*Perception Over Time:*
- *18th-19th centuries:* Portrayed as a romantic victim or tragic heroine
- *20th century:* Depicted as a feisty, rebellious, and intelligent woman
- *Modern era:* Celebrated as a feminist icon and a complex, multifaceted figure

*Legacy:*
- Mother of Elizabeth I, one of England's most renowned monarchs
- Cultural impact: inspired numerous books, movies, and TV series
- Reformation icon: paved the way for the emergence of Anglican identity

*Controversy and Criticism:*
- Accused of adultery, heresy, and manipulation
- Portrayed as a femme fatale or a threat to social order

Despite controversy, Anne Boleyn remains a fascinating figure in history, celebrated for her intelligence, strength, and influence on the English Reformation. She was neither saint nor villain, but simply human.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ 🧚‍♂️ Wishes do come true 🧚‍♀️ ❤️

The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn by Helene Harrison was a brilliant book and full pf so much information about Anne Boleyn. Helene the author did an excellent job on researching Anne Boleyn which took over a decade of research! WoW and I am so glad I had a chance to read and review it. I have always been interested in the Tudor times and especially about Anne Boleyn who was a Mistress. Queen. Reformer. Traitor. Icon, what a character she was. Plus, this book was so different from the other books I have read in the past.

This book examined Anne Boleyn through images and perceptions of her. which was also done through documents, letters, images, propaganda, films, novels and historical biographies. Which made this book excellent and so different!
The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn explores her through more than 500 years of history and explores how new perceptions of her have changed and developed over time.

Anne Boleyn has quite a devoted scholarship, who was honed through perceptions. Her life, reign, and tragic death at the hands of the man who tore England apart to be with her have made Anne Boleyn one of the most divisive and exciting figures in English history.

She was an incredible woman in her time. . . .Hats off to her . . . She was amazing!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and especially Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History for my ARC.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to the author, publishers Pen & Sword and NetGalley, for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a fascinating look at the life and legacy of one of England’s most famous queens. Not a typical biography, instead it looks at Anne Boleyn from a series of different vantage points and through a variety of different mediums.

The decade of the author’s research that went into this book is apparent in the level of detail it includes. What also becomes apparent throughout is how people’s perceptions of Anne are largely driven by ulterior motives, whether they be religious (stay or break from the Vatican) or personal (stay in favour with the current monarch, Henry VIII or later Elizabeth I). Despite her conviction and execution, it seemed to have been generally accepted by people at the time that the evidence against her was weak and circumstantial at best, while the later marriages of Henry VIII and how those wives were treated would also seem to support the notion that this tyrannical leader would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Regardless, what nobody can argue with is the importance of Anne Boleyn in the Tudor story, and the key part she played in the English Reformation. She also gave birth to Elizabeth I, who would go on to be a far more progressive monarch than her father was.

Overall this is a very interesting and informative read for anyone with an interest in Tudor times or Anne Boleyn in particular.

[Jennevieve Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a devoted Tudor fan, I’ve reached the point where I’ve read almost every biography of Anne Boleyn I could get my hands on. Luckily, this wasn’t one, which is why I jumped at the chance to review it. I found this book so refreshing; not another retelling of her rise and fall, but an exploration of how Anne has been seen through the eyes of others, whether they liked or loathed her.

Helene Harrison traces the many interpretations of Anne across time: from the reformer and religious figure some admired, to the apparent temptress and schemer condemned by her enemies, to the romantic heroine reclaimed by modern writers and filmmakers. The book shows how each generation has reshaped her image to reflect its own values and anxieties, which makes it as much about the storytellers as it is about Anne herself.

This approach gave me a new appreciation for how history is constructed, and how a figure like Anne Boleyn can never really be pinned down to one “truth.” Easy to read, this book was a clear labour of love. Overall this felt like a thoughtful and engaging study that stood out from the many biographies I’ve read before. An incredibly interesting read for fellow Tudor lovers looking for a little nuance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pen and Sword Publishing, and Helene Harrison for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this brilliant exploration of the representation of Anne Boleyn over nearly five centuries, Helene Harrison explores how she has been presented by third parties in historical documents, films, musicals, novels, biographies, and propaganda. Tracking the changes in her representation and the images she fits over time, Harrison offers fascinating insights into Anne Boleyn as a person and as a representation of larger images and ideas in ways which historians and literature and media scholars will really enjoy. Definitely unique and totally fascinating, this book is hard to put down and packed with incredible details and explorations of a variety of media types from over five centuries, and this is a great resource for Tudor scholars and Anne Boleyn fans. Packed with details and meticulously researched, this book is engaging, easy to read, and well-structured, and the research details are absolutely fantastic. Readers will love Harrison’s explanations and analysis as well as her organization of this book, and readers will really love the many insights and texts that she delves into in this brilliant read. Entertaining, fascinating, and immersive, readers will love this great addition to the current Tudor historiography for the incredible details, documents, and the media studies angle.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pen & Sword, and Pen & Sword History for the advance copy.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pretty much annihilated this book in two days flat as I couldn’t put it down. I think Anne Boleyn has captured the imagination of many (especially those with an interest in history and the Tudor era in general) so to read a book that analysed her many perceptions and faces through literature, letters and media was a super interesting take on it all.

I loved the whole make up of this book and how it was structured. It flowed easily and I had no problem consuming hours at a time of this book. My attention was utterly held and I learnt a lot from it too. It felt thorough yet also clear in what was going to be discussed and introduced this topic well. So it’s great for the history buff and casual reader alike.

I got a really good picture of Anne Boleyn’s character as what presented through the written letters and communications of the time but also really enjoyed an analysis of her presentation in media and the present day.

I could feel the authors extensive research and passion for the subject through the pages too. I absolutely love reading about this topic and it certainly fed my interest and curiosity. Enjoyable read!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Acantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tudors and Anne Boleyn in particular continue to have an enduring hold on people, and I am no different, so when I saw this book promised a different look at her, I was so excited to be able to get an ARC.

I really enjoyed the look at Anne Boleyn post her death - so many books on her tend to either stop following her death or at the latest, in the reign of Elizabeth. Instead, we have chapters that focus on how Anne is perceived on screen, stage, and in books - both in novels and non-fiction. Its a fascinating dive into how even today she can be such a polarising figure.

The author holds off sharing her own views too much, instead discussing what other people think, and I would have been interested to read more about where her research has lead her in regards to topics such as if any of the paintings are actually of her for example. It was still brilliant to see all the different views and the author has done an incredible job of drawing all these sources together into one readable book.

A skilful, engaging look at this most notorious of Queens.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[tash · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and pen and sword for providing me with this arc of helene harrison’s the many faces of anne boleyn

4.5 stars

i really enjoyed the book! i felt that harrison writes in a way that’s easy to digest for people who don’t know a lot about anne boleyn or the period during the tudors whilst anne boleyn was queen.

also i really liked how harrison used her own research alongside other historians, from more well known tudor historians like alison weir and elizabeth norton, to lesser known tudor historians like g. w. bernard and sylvia barbara soberton. adding onto this, i really like how harrison uses actual examples and goes into depth into the examples she uses. like, in chapter 9 (anne on film) for example, she includes examples of how anne boleyn is showcased in films and talks about not only how anne boleyn is portrayed but also tries to link historical context to each film

but this is a refreshing perspective on anne boleyn as opposed to the other biographies out there on her. overall, i think this is a really good starting point if you’re interested in learning about anne boleyn and how she was presented in tudor england

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read plenty of traditional biographies, I was looking for something different—and this book delivered. The author takes a unique approach by working with contemporary sources, including those written by people who actually knew Anne Boleyn. As the narrative progresses, it moves through centuries of evolving interpretations, ending with fictional portrayals in works many readers will already be familiar with.

While the content is quite scholarly, the book remains very accessible and engaging for general readers. I discovered many fascinating details—for example, the relationship Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had with the legacy of the Tudors. I also appreciated the summaries of various historians' views, especially since I was already familiar with some of their works.

Overall, this book offers an insightful and well-structured exploration of how Anne Boleyn has been remembered over time. It's a refreshing take for anyone who feels they've read it all when it comes to Tudor biographies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Swords for a free digital review copy. This is my honest review.

[Brigette · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn” is a a review of Anne through her portraits. No portraits exist from when she was actually alive; the famous ones are from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth’s time. So in this case, portraits has been broadened to ways she was depicted. It thus shows Anne through some portraits, letters, court documents, and even new musicals, television and movies.

The book is based on the authors dissertation - sometimes the writing is pedantic and other times overly simple but overly focused on a single idea. Having written long papers myself this may have been just to fluff out the story. Interesting way to view Anne’s story but not much new here.

[SelinaW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an unexpected surprise. I am a big fan Tudor era and devoured this impartial account of Anne Boleyn’s life and legacy through historical and artistic depictions. The author is eloquent and the narrative flows very smoothly. This tome is very well researched and the glimpse it affords of Queen Anne is unprecedented. So often she is depicted just a victim of circumstance, which she was, but so much more complexity is revealed in this book.

Big thank you to Net Galley and publisher for the ARC.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores Anne Boleyn not through a traditional biography, but by examining how perceptions of her have evolved over 500 years. From historical documents and portraits to modern novels and films, it reveals the multifaceted image of a woman who remains one of England’s most captivating and controversial figures. I love how this book reveals new perspectives on Anne Boleyn, especially her effect on her daughter.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still reading this book but so far I have found this a very good book. I am very interested in the history of Anne Boleyn and her portraits. History has put her as a great beauty but we don't actually know what she looks like! The author is obviously well researched and the book is very informative, but it isn't too dense. So far, it is very enjoyable and I highly recommend reading! Harrison examines the portraiture of Anne Boleyn well and has done so enjoyably and informatively.

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and unique look at Anne Boylen - not a biography, but rather how her image has changed over time including through art, literature, film and TV and how how understanding and intepretations of her are filtered through the cultural history and values of the society in which each retelling is done. Unfortunately, for a small book there was some repetition - not only between chapters but also within chapters.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book! The author dives deep into the ways our views of Anne Boleyn have been shaped. She clearly has a passion and thorough knowledge base of the subject. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Anne in film and television and the analysis of some of the well known biographies. Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in Anne Boleyn!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This,was a fascinating book the written has spent many days and hours researching and it shows the book is an attempt to discuss Anne Boleyn looking at various interpretations in written word and on screen both large and,small.
It has inspired me to investigate some of the authors she talks about so I can't wait to start

Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword for my arc copy