What do you think?
Rate this book
The Seymour Saga #1
Jane the Quene
All Jane Seymour wants is a husband; but when she catches the eye of a volatile king, she is pulled deep into the Tudor court's realm of plot and intrigue....
England. 1535. Jane Seymour is 27 years old and increasingly desperate to marry and secure her place in the world. When the court visits Wolf Hall, the Seymour ancestral manor, Jane has the perfect opportunity to shine: her diligence, efficiency, and newfound poise are sure to finally attract a suitor.
Meanwhile, King Henry VIII is 45 and increasingly desperate for an heir. He changed his country's religion to leave his first wife, a princess of Spain, for Anne Boleyn -- but she too has failed to provide a son. As Henry begins to fear he is cursed, Jane Seymour's honesty and innocence conjure in him the hope of redemption.
Thomas Cromwell, an ambitious clerk whose political prowess keeps the King's changing desires satisfied, sees in Jane the perfect answer to the unrest threatening England: he engineers the plot that ends with Jane becoming the King's third wife. For Jane, who believes herself virtuous and her actions justified, miscarriages early in her marriage shake her confidence. How can a woman who has committed no wrong bear the guilt of how she unseated her predecessor?
England. 1535. Jane Seymour is 27 years old and increasingly desperate to marry and secure her place in the world. When the court visits Wolf Hall, the Seymour ancestral manor, Jane has the perfect opportunity to shine: her diligence, efficiency, and newfound poise are sure to finally attract a suitor.
Meanwhile, King Henry VIII is 45 and increasingly desperate for an heir. He changed his country's religion to leave his first wife, a princess of Spain, for Anne Boleyn -- but she too has failed to provide a son. As Henry begins to fear he is cursed, Jane Seymour's honesty and innocence conjure in him the hope of redemption.
Thomas Cromwell, an ambitious clerk whose political prowess keeps the King's changing desires satisfied, sees in Jane the perfect answer to the unrest threatening England: he engineers the plot that ends with Jane becoming the King's third wife. For Jane, who believes herself virtuous and her actions justified, miscarriages early in her marriage shake her confidence. How can a woman who has committed no wrong bear the guilt of how she unseated her predecessor?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2016
117 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
Janet Ambrosi Wertman
6 books119 followersJanet Ambrosi Wertman grew up within walking distance of three bookstores and a library on Manhattan’s Upper West Side – and she visited all of them regularly. Her grandfather was an antiquarian bookdealer who taught her that there would always be a market for quirky, interesting books. He was the one who persuaded Janet’s parents to send her to the French school where she was taught to aspire to long (grammatically correct) sentences as the hallmark of a skillful writer. She lived that lesson until she got to Barnard College. Short sentences were the rule there. She complied. She reached a happy medium when she got to law school – complicated sentences alternating with short ones in a happy mix.
Janet spent fifteen years as a corporate lawyer in New York, she even got to do a little writing on the side (she co-authored The Executive Compensation Answer Book, which was published by Panel Publishers back in 1991). But when her first and second children were born, she decided to change her lifestyle. She and her husband transformed their lives in 1997, moving to Los Angeles and changing careers. Janet became a grantwriter (and will tell anyone who will listen that the grants she’s written have resulted in more than $38 million for the amazing non-profits she is proud to represent) and took up writing fiction.
There was never any question about the topic of the fiction: Janet has harbored a passion for the Tudor Kings and Queens since her parents let her stay up late to watch the televised Masterpiece Theatre series (both The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R) when she was *cough* eight years old. One of the highlights of Janet’s youth was being allowed to visit the Pierpont Morgan Library on a day when it was closed to the public and examine books from Queen Elizabeth’s personal library and actual letters that the young Princess Elizabeth (technically Lady Elizabeth…) had written.
With the Seymour Saga complete, Janet is deep into writing the first book of her next trilogy, which takes up where the Seymours left off to illustrate the life of Elizabeth I. And because you can never have too much Tudors in your life, Janet also attends book club meetings and participates in panels and discussions through History Talks!, a group of historical novelists from Southern California hosted by libraries around the state.
Janet spent fifteen years as a corporate lawyer in New York, she even got to do a little writing on the side (she co-authored The Executive Compensation Answer Book, which was published by Panel Publishers back in 1991). But when her first and second children were born, she decided to change her lifestyle. She and her husband transformed their lives in 1997, moving to Los Angeles and changing careers. Janet became a grantwriter (and will tell anyone who will listen that the grants she’s written have resulted in more than $38 million for the amazing non-profits she is proud to represent) and took up writing fiction.
There was never any question about the topic of the fiction: Janet has harbored a passion for the Tudor Kings and Queens since her parents let her stay up late to watch the televised Masterpiece Theatre series (both The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R) when she was *cough* eight years old. One of the highlights of Janet’s youth was being allowed to visit the Pierpont Morgan Library on a day when it was closed to the public and examine books from Queen Elizabeth’s personal library and actual letters that the young Princess Elizabeth (technically Lady Elizabeth…) had written.
With the Seymour Saga complete, Janet is deep into writing the first book of her next trilogy, which takes up where the Seymours left off to illustrate the life of Elizabeth I. And because you can never have too much Tudors in your life, Janet also attends book club meetings and participates in panels and discussions through History Talks!, a group of historical novelists from Southern California hosted by libraries around the state.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 30, 2016
I enjoy the story of an unsung hero (or heroine), and few people fit that bill better than Jane Seymour. Known chiefly for being the wife that managed to bear Henry VIII a son, I was intrigued to discover how an author would give us a more expansive picture of this quiet queen.
In addition to her short reign, Jane was and continues to be overshadowed by her scandalous predecessor. How exactly Jane felt about Anne Boleyn is not really known, but this novel dealt with their relationship in a believable way. Jane served her cousin Anne as lady in waiting after watching her displace Henry's first queen, Catherine of Aragon. There is little love lost between the women, yet Jane still feels a proper amount of guilt over the harsh way Anne is removed from the picture.
Jane is dutiful and submissive, the antithesis of Anne, which Henry craves deeply after the wearying years of chasing and coping with his second wife. Eager to gain any husband at all, Jane is shocked to discover that the king is drawn to her quiet piety (though one must question the piety of one who sets out to steal another's husband upon learning that he may be tempted). Their romance is slow and chaste, again in direct contrast of Henry's lust-driven courtship of Anne.
In order to see both sides of Henry VIII, the author splits scenes between Jane's point of view and that of Thomas Cromwell. With Jane, we see Henry's softer side, his desire for peace and devotion, and his need for a dependable wife like Jane. From Cromwell, we see a man who quickly turns on friend or spouse as soon as they have displeased him and the extent to which Henry is willing to go to rid himself of one he has grown tired of. Both Jane and Cromwell are portrayed in a believable way that demonstrates their strengths and weaknesses. No one in this story is all good or pure evil.
Important historical facts and events are woven seamlessly into this novel as testament to the author's tireless historical research and desire to create a story that is as realistic as possible while shedding light on an often overlooked queen of England. I look forward to reading the rest of Wertman's planned Seymour trilogy.
In addition to her short reign, Jane was and continues to be overshadowed by her scandalous predecessor. How exactly Jane felt about Anne Boleyn is not really known, but this novel dealt with their relationship in a believable way. Jane served her cousin Anne as lady in waiting after watching her displace Henry's first queen, Catherine of Aragon. There is little love lost between the women, yet Jane still feels a proper amount of guilt over the harsh way Anne is removed from the picture.
Jane is dutiful and submissive, the antithesis of Anne, which Henry craves deeply after the wearying years of chasing and coping with his second wife. Eager to gain any husband at all, Jane is shocked to discover that the king is drawn to her quiet piety (though one must question the piety of one who sets out to steal another's husband upon learning that he may be tempted). Their romance is slow and chaste, again in direct contrast of Henry's lust-driven courtship of Anne.
In order to see both sides of Henry VIII, the author splits scenes between Jane's point of view and that of Thomas Cromwell. With Jane, we see Henry's softer side, his desire for peace and devotion, and his need for a dependable wife like Jane. From Cromwell, we see a man who quickly turns on friend or spouse as soon as they have displeased him and the extent to which Henry is willing to go to rid himself of one he has grown tired of. Both Jane and Cromwell are portrayed in a believable way that demonstrates their strengths and weaknesses. No one in this story is all good or pure evil.
Important historical facts and events are woven seamlessly into this novel as testament to the author's tireless historical research and desire to create a story that is as realistic as possible while shedding light on an often overlooked queen of England. I look forward to reading the rest of Wertman's planned Seymour trilogy.
May 18, 2019
The third of Henry VIII's wives, very little is actually known about Jane Seymour. Even Elizabeth Norton's biography about Jane left so many gaps that it is impossible to get to know this woman well. She has been portrayed colourless and boring in pretty much every historical fiction or film or TV show. So it is refreshing to see events through the eyes of Jane for pretty much her entire adult life.
The book is told from two perspectives: Jane Seymour and Thomas Cromwell. I think this was a pretty wise choice as it stopped the book from concentrating solely on bedroom politics and managed to give the reader a wider perspective about the events unfolding around the characters. Jane actually acquires a character in this book as do both Henry and Cromwell. Everyone is depicted as having their own reasons for their actions and it's a pretty balanced portrayal. The story-telling also managed to keep my interest up and the author chose to cover the more interesting events of Henry's reign.
But I found the research quite mediocre and Wertman merely gives in to the same old tired clichés that mark Tudor fiction: Henry destined for the Church, Anne having six fingers, and so on. The Americanisms sink through in spite of the good flow of the story. And though the characters don't drink tea (thank goodness for that!), they do have mashed potatoes. But what irked me the most was the characters shouting "here, here!" instead of "hear, hear!". How uneducated can you be to make such a basic mistake? And was the editor sleeping? It happened twice too!
Despite these shortcomings, I found it easy to slip into the world and remain there. I needed a release and a comforting book to read and Wertman did provide that. Would I read the sequels? Maybe not. Maybe yes. But this book did its job, so giving it one star more than it deserves in terms of quality.
The book is told from two perspectives: Jane Seymour and Thomas Cromwell. I think this was a pretty wise choice as it stopped the book from concentrating solely on bedroom politics and managed to give the reader a wider perspective about the events unfolding around the characters. Jane actually acquires a character in this book as do both Henry and Cromwell. Everyone is depicted as having their own reasons for their actions and it's a pretty balanced portrayal. The story-telling also managed to keep my interest up and the author chose to cover the more interesting events of Henry's reign.
But I found the research quite mediocre and Wertman merely gives in to the same old tired clichés that mark Tudor fiction: Henry destined for the Church, Anne having six fingers, and so on. The Americanisms sink through in spite of the good flow of the story. And though the characters don't drink tea (thank goodness for that!), they do have mashed potatoes. But what irked me the most was the characters shouting "here, here!" instead of "hear, hear!". How uneducated can you be to make such a basic mistake? And was the editor sleeping? It happened twice too!
Despite these shortcomings, I found it easy to slip into the world and remain there. I needed a release and a comforting book to read and Wertman did provide that. Would I read the sequels? Maybe not. Maybe yes. But this book did its job, so giving it one star more than it deserves in terms of quality.
July 18, 2016
In this new book and part one of a Seymour trilogy, Janet Wergman has taken on the unenviable task of turning a “boring” woman into an interesting study. Did the name Plain Jane originally come from her? Any basic study of Henry VIIIs wives tend to give Jane short shrift as the antidote to the exciting and tempestuous Anny Boleyn. And of course, Henry loved her the rest of his life because he didn’t have the opportunity to get tired of her. Oh, and she gave birth to his heir.
But there were a lot of unanswered questions in the Jane Seymour story. How could a shy, unspoiled, sheltered girl find herself in the compromising position of wanton replacement for a pitiful queen about to be executed? And with such haste! There have been so many fictional assertions that Henry married her with a day or two of Anne’s beheading, that I had to go back and track the passage of time between Anne’s execution (May 10), Jane’s betrothal to Henry (May 20), and their formal wedding (May 30). The author helps us along by dating every section, including the time. Yes, it was hasty but Henry wasn’t sitting at her house waiting for the cannon to go off so he could marry her, which I remember from a long ago story. But still, it took some explaining to show how Jane got to this point, and Wergman has done a good job giving Jane a little ambition after all, and a rather sweet account of her early meetings with the King. It was all so innocent and comforting that I no trouble accepting it.
As things got more and more complicated, Jane’s ambitions (or love?) got the better of her and she seemed to lose focus. She seemed to be a little confused as to what she was expecting out of this relationship, but as usual Henry was in charge and she could just go along for the ride. It helped that Jane didn’t really like her cousin Queen Anne anyway, so it wasn’t all that difficult to see a tiny bit of vindictiveness in her actions. Throughout, Jane’s brothers were most annoying, and it was good to see her get the upper hand in the end, forcing them to admit that she wasn't such a nonentity after all. She didn’t particularly appreciate being used to further their aims; on the other hand, she bought into their conspiracy of manipulating the king’s affections. It’s interesting to wonder at what point it felt OK to hanker after the crown, and more than once Jane thought she might have overplayed her game. For by this point, it seemed more like maneuvering than naivete, and I lost a little respect for her.
Although there no surprises (and shouldn’t have been, I think), we do get a full three-dimensional depiction of this not uncomplicated woman. I didn’t find her overly likeable, but she is capable of capturing our sympathy. I found myself rooting for her, even though I like her predecessor. She had her own story to tell, after all, and secured a foothold in history.
But there were a lot of unanswered questions in the Jane Seymour story. How could a shy, unspoiled, sheltered girl find herself in the compromising position of wanton replacement for a pitiful queen about to be executed? And with such haste! There have been so many fictional assertions that Henry married her with a day or two of Anne’s beheading, that I had to go back and track the passage of time between Anne’s execution (May 10), Jane’s betrothal to Henry (May 20), and their formal wedding (May 30). The author helps us along by dating every section, including the time. Yes, it was hasty but Henry wasn’t sitting at her house waiting for the cannon to go off so he could marry her, which I remember from a long ago story. But still, it took some explaining to show how Jane got to this point, and Wergman has done a good job giving Jane a little ambition after all, and a rather sweet account of her early meetings with the King. It was all so innocent and comforting that I no trouble accepting it.
As things got more and more complicated, Jane’s ambitions (or love?) got the better of her and she seemed to lose focus. She seemed to be a little confused as to what she was expecting out of this relationship, but as usual Henry was in charge and she could just go along for the ride. It helped that Jane didn’t really like her cousin Queen Anne anyway, so it wasn’t all that difficult to see a tiny bit of vindictiveness in her actions. Throughout, Jane’s brothers were most annoying, and it was good to see her get the upper hand in the end, forcing them to admit that she wasn't such a nonentity after all. She didn’t particularly appreciate being used to further their aims; on the other hand, she bought into their conspiracy of manipulating the king’s affections. It’s interesting to wonder at what point it felt OK to hanker after the crown, and more than once Jane thought she might have overplayed her game. For by this point, it seemed more like maneuvering than naivete, and I lost a little respect for her.
Although there no surprises (and shouldn’t have been, I think), we do get a full three-dimensional depiction of this not uncomplicated woman. I didn’t find her overly likeable, but she is capable of capturing our sympathy. I found myself rooting for her, even though I like her predecessor. She had her own story to tell, after all, and secured a foothold in history.
April 29, 2016
This was a more personal look into Jane Seymour's rise to Queen of England.
Janet Wertman showed Jane Seymour's strengths, besides birthing a son! Janes expertise in household activities such as organizing her families estate Wulfhall brought her to the attention of the King. She was also sweet, and put the needs of others before herself. She reconciled the King and his daughter Mary after so many years of anger on both sides. These attributes showed just how different she was from Anne Boleyn. Anne was painted in rather a harsh light in this rendition, but we must remember we are looking at her through Jane Seymour's eyes.
The reader will see a more romanticized version of King Henry VIII. Throughout the progress of the novel you can see how attentive he was to Jane Seymour, and how he slowly fell in love with her. The King valued all her homely and domestic talents, as well as her sweet and giving nature. I find it ironic that the King was the one to raise Jane so high when her own family couldn't be bothered with her at all.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who thought of Jane as just a brood mare. There was Soooooo much more to her than that, and I believe Janet Wertmand captured Jane Seymour perfectly.
Janet Wertman showed Jane Seymour's strengths, besides birthing a son! Janes expertise in household activities such as organizing her families estate Wulfhall brought her to the attention of the King. She was also sweet, and put the needs of others before herself. She reconciled the King and his daughter Mary after so many years of anger on both sides. These attributes showed just how different she was from Anne Boleyn. Anne was painted in rather a harsh light in this rendition, but we must remember we are looking at her through Jane Seymour's eyes.
The reader will see a more romanticized version of King Henry VIII. Throughout the progress of the novel you can see how attentive he was to Jane Seymour, and how he slowly fell in love with her. The King valued all her homely and domestic talents, as well as her sweet and giving nature. I find it ironic that the King was the one to raise Jane so high when her own family couldn't be bothered with her at all.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who thought of Jane as just a brood mare. There was Soooooo much more to her than that, and I believe Janet Wertmand captured Jane Seymour perfectly.
July 3, 2020
An interesting look at Jane Seymour. Thought the author did an excellent job of sticking close to known history while inserting her take on what might have been. I did not come away liking any of the main characters, but a good read all the same.
July 11, 2016
LOVED this book. As a writer of historical faction myself, I couldn't but admire this writer's fascinating take on that old chestnut, the wives of King Henry VIII.
Jane the Quene is narrated largely from the point of view of Jane Seymour, though there are great characterizations of Cromwell, Anne Boleyn (The Great Whore) and the other Seymour siblings.
The depth of research Jane Wertman undertook boggles the mind, and the writing is excellent (though honestly, the book could be tightened up just a trace).
I am so disappointed to learn the second book of THE SEYMOUR SAGA, a trilogy, is not yet published.
Jane the Quene is narrated largely from the point of view of Jane Seymour, though there are great characterizations of Cromwell, Anne Boleyn (The Great Whore) and the other Seymour siblings.
The depth of research Jane Wertman undertook boggles the mind, and the writing is excellent (though honestly, the book could be tightened up just a trace).
I am so disappointed to learn the second book of THE SEYMOUR SAGA, a trilogy, is not yet published.
July 20, 2017
Jane The Quene by Janet Wertman has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
Jane The Quene was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
Were the characters strong and engaging? Was the book well written?
Did the plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
Would you tell your friends?
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
www.chillwithabook.com
Jane The Quene was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
Were the characters strong and engaging? Was the book well written?
Did the plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
Would you tell your friends?
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
January 23, 2021
Jane the Quene is, hands down, one of the best historical fiction books I have ever read! It is simply fantastic. I have always been interested in Jane Seymour, who is too often seen as post-Anne Boleyn and a footnote in history who gave birth to Henry VIII's much-desired but short-lived son. In most adaptions, she is merely an accessory character to Anne, and her personality is bland and naive. In this adaptation, Jane is one of my favorite characters I've met in fiction. She is dutiful, sober, and poised, and self-conscious, but she is also ambitious and self-important. Somehow Wertman makes all of these traits come together into a fascinating, cohesive persona. I loved the anecdote about how Jane always didn't drink her share of the wine reserved for Anne Boleyn's ladies, but she was frustrated that no one noticed her quiet act of selflessness: She is being kind but she also wants recognition and approval for it, so it can't be said to be 100% good or selfless. One of the highlights was watching Jane figure out with dawning horror that Anne Boleyn WAS innocent and knowing that she herself would meet the same fate if she didn't produce a son. Even as Edward Seymour and everyone else tried to convince her that she is different, she is the only one who understood how shaky her position is and it is great for suspense, like the only person in a horror movie who notices the hook-handed man following the group. Wonderful character growth, and although we all know how it would end, I felt afraid for her every time she had a miscarriage or triggered Henry's notorious temper, knowing how thin a rope she walked on until she gave birth to the all-important prince.
Wertman also inhabits the historical world of the Tudors perfectly. One of my favorite sections in the book is when Jane is preparing Wolf Hall for Henry's visit and takes down the bowl of oranges next to the bouquet of pink roses, because the oranges are from Catherine of Aragon's homeland and can be seen as an admission that she is the true queen if placed next to the Tudor red-and-white roses. This is the kind of detail a modern observer would never have noticed, so it was fascinating to be in Jane's mind. Jane's religious conviction that she was destined to be Queen is one of these historical notes. From my modern perspective, I'm skeptical of anyone who claims that they are divinely appointed to do a task that rewards them handsomely ("I'm destined to become Emperor, so cough up your gold!"), but Wertman made Jane's belief in her duty to restore the Church sound completely reasonable from her perspective. It was so sad when Jane swore to God that she would save the monasteries if only He gave her a son, and how Henry so cruelly rebuffed her when she begged him to save the monasteries.
That being said, I found Cromwell a less engaging character than Jane. Jane was an amazingly vivid, well-written character whom I felt completely engaged with. Cromwell was fine, but I wasn't that invested in his journey and I looked forward to his sections just to know what Henry was saying about Jane behind her back. I understand why Wertman had to introduce an additional perspective, but I was invested in him only as a walking camera to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that Jane couldn't see.
Overall, I 100% recommend, and I look forward to reading the next installation immediately.
Wertman also inhabits the historical world of the Tudors perfectly. One of my favorite sections in the book is when Jane is preparing Wolf Hall for Henry's visit and takes down the bowl of oranges next to the bouquet of pink roses, because the oranges are from Catherine of Aragon's homeland and can be seen as an admission that she is the true queen if placed next to the Tudor red-and-white roses. This is the kind of detail a modern observer would never have noticed, so it was fascinating to be in Jane's mind. Jane's religious conviction that she was destined to be Queen is one of these historical notes. From my modern perspective, I'm skeptical of anyone who claims that they are divinely appointed to do a task that rewards them handsomely ("I'm destined to become Emperor, so cough up your gold!"), but Wertman made Jane's belief in her duty to restore the Church sound completely reasonable from her perspective. It was so sad when Jane swore to God that she would save the monasteries if only He gave her a son, and how Henry so cruelly rebuffed her when she begged him to save the monasteries.
That being said, I found Cromwell a less engaging character than Jane. Jane was an amazingly vivid, well-written character whom I felt completely engaged with. Cromwell was fine, but I wasn't that invested in his journey and I looked forward to his sections just to know what Henry was saying about Jane behind her back. I understand why Wertman had to introduce an additional perspective, but I was invested in him only as a walking camera to see the behind-the-scenes stuff that Jane couldn't see.
Overall, I 100% recommend, and I look forward to reading the next installation immediately.
June 7, 2016
I recently carried out a survey on my website to find out who was the “Most Interesting Tudor Woman”. Anne Boleyn won the crown by a huge margin, proving that even in 2016, she was very much Queen of the Tudor women, definitely “The Most Happy”. This was a great contrast to her successor, Jane Seymour, who did not even get one vote. This result didn’t completely surprise me, especially in a survey where Anne Boleyn, often perceived as a direct rival to Jane, gained the most votes. From many observations I have made from comments others have written over the years on history websites, I would even suggest that Jane Seymour is probably the least popular of Henry VIII’s wives. However, whether she actually deserves that negativity is another argument. One thing that is certain though is that Jane is one of the most controversial women of the Tudor period.
Where does all this controversy come from? The main reason behind it is the alleged role Jane played in Anne Boleyn’s downfall. From what I have read about Jane in non-fiction, however, I do think that Jane’s alleged role has been blown out of proportion and an unrealistic caricature has been created. “Jane the Quene” is a very good attempt at helping people to forget what they already think they know about Jane and see all of the events of 1535 to 1537, the most extraordinary two years of her life, through her eyes. The novel shows two Janes – you see Jane as the courtier who eventually became Queen and you see Jane as a woman.
One thing that came across in the book when looking at Jane as a courtier and the events of 1536 was that Jane was definitely just one small piece in a massive Chess board. Historians to this day still squabble over why it all went so terribly wrong for Anne Boleyn in May 1536. Many of Anne’s sympathisers tend to point the finger of blame at Jane, accusing her of deliberately supplanting her mistress. There is a sense in the book that Jane is willingly going along with the plot to get rid of Anne, but I think the important thing to remember here is that I genuinely don’t believe Jane knew how far things would go. Jane probably thought that the King would just annul his marriage and put her in a convent. I don’t believe that Jane had any idea that Anne would be the first English Queen to be executed and I haven’t seen anything in non-fiction so far to suggest this and this is something that the book did convey quite well. Jane herself was being manoeuvred across this great Chess board by the King who she could not refuse, a court faction of Anne enemies and Jane’s own family the Seymours. When Jane did become Queen, her chosen motto was “Bound to Obey and Serve”; ironically, this also turns out to have been the motto of her life, to have been not just at the service of the King, but her own family and the powerful factions at court. Something greater than her was happening in the background and she had very little control over it.
The book also shows Jane as a woman. By 1535, she was in her late twenties, still childless and unmarried. In today’s society alone, once a woman gets past twenty-eight, she experiences pressure and guilt if she still hasn’t found “Mr. Right”, or still hasn’t got sprogged-up; in Jane’s time, this pressure would have been tenfold. Jane would have been seen as a complete failure, not fulfilling her role as a woman and you definitely feel her sense of failure and desperation in the book. You get the feeling that any man would have done our Jane. Fortunately, Jane does eventually catch someone’s eye – unfortunately, it is Henry VIII. Apart from the fact that she wouldn’t have been able to say no to him anyway, I think her own desperation alone was the motivation behind her willingness to be part of the plot to get rid of Anne – it was either this, or spinsterhood. Jane had spent far too long in the shadow of her own ambitious and successful siblings – for once, this was her chance to shine. Would she have been so willing, however, if she knew how things would truly have ended for Anne? When Jane does become Queen, we see in the story how she is constantly in fear of failing and meeting the same fate as her predecessor. Jane does finally fulfil the ideal of the 16th century woman – but at a price.
In the 16th century, religion dominated the mind-set of many and for Jane and Henry, this would have been no exception, as in the story they both see the marriage as putting to rights the wrongs created while Anne was Queen. Jane is perceived by Henry as bringing him back into the light after living in darkness. She even believes that she is God’s instrument in turning him back to Catholicism. Unfortunately, though Jane does not know Henry as well as she thought she did because as soon as she meddles in his politics, he quickly reminds her of the fate of her predecessor. So, again this helps to show how very little control Jane did have over the greater forces surrounding her and the King’s conflict with the Church was a very powerful force at the time.
Overall, I think “Jane the Quene” is a very realistic portrait of Jane in the most important period of her life. This book does for Jane Seymour what Hilary Mantel did for Thomas Cromwell.
Where does all this controversy come from? The main reason behind it is the alleged role Jane played in Anne Boleyn’s downfall. From what I have read about Jane in non-fiction, however, I do think that Jane’s alleged role has been blown out of proportion and an unrealistic caricature has been created. “Jane the Quene” is a very good attempt at helping people to forget what they already think they know about Jane and see all of the events of 1535 to 1537, the most extraordinary two years of her life, through her eyes. The novel shows two Janes – you see Jane as the courtier who eventually became Queen and you see Jane as a woman.
One thing that came across in the book when looking at Jane as a courtier and the events of 1536 was that Jane was definitely just one small piece in a massive Chess board. Historians to this day still squabble over why it all went so terribly wrong for Anne Boleyn in May 1536. Many of Anne’s sympathisers tend to point the finger of blame at Jane, accusing her of deliberately supplanting her mistress. There is a sense in the book that Jane is willingly going along with the plot to get rid of Anne, but I think the important thing to remember here is that I genuinely don’t believe Jane knew how far things would go. Jane probably thought that the King would just annul his marriage and put her in a convent. I don’t believe that Jane had any idea that Anne would be the first English Queen to be executed and I haven’t seen anything in non-fiction so far to suggest this and this is something that the book did convey quite well. Jane herself was being manoeuvred across this great Chess board by the King who she could not refuse, a court faction of Anne enemies and Jane’s own family the Seymours. When Jane did become Queen, her chosen motto was “Bound to Obey and Serve”; ironically, this also turns out to have been the motto of her life, to have been not just at the service of the King, but her own family and the powerful factions at court. Something greater than her was happening in the background and she had very little control over it.
The book also shows Jane as a woman. By 1535, she was in her late twenties, still childless and unmarried. In today’s society alone, once a woman gets past twenty-eight, she experiences pressure and guilt if she still hasn’t found “Mr. Right”, or still hasn’t got sprogged-up; in Jane’s time, this pressure would have been tenfold. Jane would have been seen as a complete failure, not fulfilling her role as a woman and you definitely feel her sense of failure and desperation in the book. You get the feeling that any man would have done our Jane. Fortunately, Jane does eventually catch someone’s eye – unfortunately, it is Henry VIII. Apart from the fact that she wouldn’t have been able to say no to him anyway, I think her own desperation alone was the motivation behind her willingness to be part of the plot to get rid of Anne – it was either this, or spinsterhood. Jane had spent far too long in the shadow of her own ambitious and successful siblings – for once, this was her chance to shine. Would she have been so willing, however, if she knew how things would truly have ended for Anne? When Jane does become Queen, we see in the story how she is constantly in fear of failing and meeting the same fate as her predecessor. Jane does finally fulfil the ideal of the 16th century woman – but at a price.
In the 16th century, religion dominated the mind-set of many and for Jane and Henry, this would have been no exception, as in the story they both see the marriage as putting to rights the wrongs created while Anne was Queen. Jane is perceived by Henry as bringing him back into the light after living in darkness. She even believes that she is God’s instrument in turning him back to Catholicism. Unfortunately, though Jane does not know Henry as well as she thought she did because as soon as she meddles in his politics, he quickly reminds her of the fate of her predecessor. So, again this helps to show how very little control Jane did have over the greater forces surrounding her and the King’s conflict with the Church was a very powerful force at the time.
Overall, I think “Jane the Quene” is a very realistic portrait of Jane in the most important period of her life. This book does for Jane Seymour what Hilary Mantel did for Thomas Cromwell.
June 19, 2016
First a new trilogy about the Seymour family. Very different view of Jane and I really liked it. She was not presented as a meek, passive, not-very-bright tool of her ambitious brothers, but as an intelligent, somewhat shy, determined young woman. She was trained to run a household, and did so.
The problem with historical novels is that you know how they're going to end. It's still heartbreaking when Jane dies, 12 days after her son is born.
The problem with historical novels is that you know how they're going to end. It's still heartbreaking when Jane dies, 12 days after her son is born.
October 20, 2020
[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]
This is my kind of historical novel and I loved every minute of it!
Firstly, I loved Jane from the get go. She grows up a lot in the story. I loved her journey as she goes from the timid shy girl to a strong woman who faces challenges from the people around her. I loved how she sets her goal to move ahead. Moreover, she has an amazing relationship with the King. This was the highlight of the tale for me. Both of them felt like star crossed lovers who want to be together, but circumstances do not allow them.
Similarly, the supporting characters also add beautifully to the plot. Although I loved Elizabeth, I was conflicted in the scene where she takes Anne’s side when shade is thrown on Jane. Moreover, I thought Cromwell was a very interesting character as he is so calculative. He manipulates the situation to his own benefits and you don’t know how far he will go. One of the memorable scenes is when he blackmails Smeaton. Anne is also interesting in how she reacts to Jane and the situation. Carew added a light touch as well.
Moreover, I adored the author’s style of writing. The story starts off a bit slow but it gets so good as it progresses. There are so many unexpected twists and situations that Jane goes through. Some of my favorite moments is the conversations that Jane has with the King. The author writes the story in such a delightful manner that you feel like you are actually in the Rose Garden or Wolf Hall with the characters.
I loved this book and its bitter sweet ending. I cannot wait to see how the series continues.
June 2, 2017
I loved, loved, loved "Jane the Quene"! Janet Wertman's wonderful writing style brings the Tudor era to life in a captivating and enthralling way. I literally found myself scheduling more and more time during my very busy days and nights to immerse myself in this fascinating world. Cannot wait to read her next installment!
May 10, 2016
Jane the Quene drew me in immediately with its vivid writing and fascinating multidimensional characters. Wertman clearly has a high level of expertise on the time period and provides remarkable insight into Jane Seymour's story. Highly recommended! Five enthusiastic stars!
September 20, 2017
We are proud to announce that JANE THE QUENE (THE SEYMOUR SAGA BOOK 1) by Janet Wertman is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
April 17, 2019
I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
A light piece of historical fiction that, on the whole, I liked. I was tentative at first, being very much 'Team Boleyn' as far as the six wives are concerned, but I was pleased to note that Jane Seymour was not portrayed as the meek angel of many a historical novel or TV drama, but every bit as calculating as her predecessor in her mission to capture the heart of Henry VIII; she was used as a tool by her ambitious family in exactly the same way.
The book is written in alternative third person POVs: that of Jane herself, and Thomas Cromwell. I liked that the author showed the downfall of Anne Boleyn to be a fiction carefully constructed by Cromwell, who knew that Henry needed to get rid of her so he could marry another who might give him a son, but that he could not afford to have another abandoned ex-wife who refused to disappear. Thus, a story had to be concocted to justify the murder of Anne. I also liked the explanation of the dissolution of the monasteries; it is clear, concise, and makes for a good understanding of the whys, hows and consequences. Janet Wertman writes factual detail in a fashion that is both easy to read and entertaining; thus, this book would be an excellent choice for someone who doesn't know much about the era; for instance, she even explains what a monarch's yearly Progress is. Now and again I was a little too aware of the research being translated into the narration, but on the whole it was executed well.
The author is American and, alas, I did come across some American English in dialogue, along with historical inconsistency and modern phraseology. Examples:
* 'Snuck' - the British English past tense of the verb 'sneak' is 'sneaked'.
* 'Snicker' - British English is 'snigger'.
* 'Gift' used as a verb and 'caring' used as a general adjective to describe someone - these have only crept into British English in more recent years.
* A reference to mashed potatoes - potatoes were not introduced into this country until some fifty years later, by Sir Walter Raleigh.
* The phrase 'in for a penny, in for a pound' - the first recorded use of this phrase was in a play, in the late 17th century.
* 'teenagers' - not in use until the latter half of the 20th century.
* Henry said, 'You center me, Jane'. So American and 21st century that it might as well have 'Gee' at the beginning and 'lol' at the end!
I also thought that, now and again, the dialogue between Kings, courtiers and Jane was too familiar, and doubted that Cromwell would have introduced the idea of Anne Boleyn's treason to the King while both were in the presence of Jane Seymour. I'm aware that writing historical fiction that takes place outside one's own country must be an incredibly hard thing to do, and I always feel sorry for authors whose editors have let them down. Google alone is a wonderful and easy-to-use tool.
Despite these 'dodgy' areas, though, I did enjoy reading it. The writing flows, Ms Wertman tells a story in a compelling fashion, and I believed in the characters; these three factors alone are much of what this writing thing is about, after all. With assistance from a more experienced editor (possibly an English one?), I imagine her work would get better and better. To sum up, I would say this is light fiction for the newer reader of the genre; perhaps lovers of programmes like Showtime's The Tudors series, or who enjoy an introduction to the period, rather than the serious history addict - avid readers of this genre are notoriously picky!
A light piece of historical fiction that, on the whole, I liked. I was tentative at first, being very much 'Team Boleyn' as far as the six wives are concerned, but I was pleased to note that Jane Seymour was not portrayed as the meek angel of many a historical novel or TV drama, but every bit as calculating as her predecessor in her mission to capture the heart of Henry VIII; she was used as a tool by her ambitious family in exactly the same way.
The book is written in alternative third person POVs: that of Jane herself, and Thomas Cromwell. I liked that the author showed the downfall of Anne Boleyn to be a fiction carefully constructed by Cromwell, who knew that Henry needed to get rid of her so he could marry another who might give him a son, but that he could not afford to have another abandoned ex-wife who refused to disappear. Thus, a story had to be concocted to justify the murder of Anne. I also liked the explanation of the dissolution of the monasteries; it is clear, concise, and makes for a good understanding of the whys, hows and consequences. Janet Wertman writes factual detail in a fashion that is both easy to read and entertaining; thus, this book would be an excellent choice for someone who doesn't know much about the era; for instance, she even explains what a monarch's yearly Progress is. Now and again I was a little too aware of the research being translated into the narration, but on the whole it was executed well.
The author is American and, alas, I did come across some American English in dialogue, along with historical inconsistency and modern phraseology. Examples:
* 'Snuck' - the British English past tense of the verb 'sneak' is 'sneaked'.
* 'Snicker' - British English is 'snigger'.
* 'Gift' used as a verb and 'caring' used as a general adjective to describe someone - these have only crept into British English in more recent years.
* A reference to mashed potatoes - potatoes were not introduced into this country until some fifty years later, by Sir Walter Raleigh.
* The phrase 'in for a penny, in for a pound' - the first recorded use of this phrase was in a play, in the late 17th century.
* 'teenagers' - not in use until the latter half of the 20th century.
* Henry said, 'You center me, Jane'. So American and 21st century that it might as well have 'Gee' at the beginning and 'lol' at the end!
I also thought that, now and again, the dialogue between Kings, courtiers and Jane was too familiar, and doubted that Cromwell would have introduced the idea of Anne Boleyn's treason to the King while both were in the presence of Jane Seymour. I'm aware that writing historical fiction that takes place outside one's own country must be an incredibly hard thing to do, and I always feel sorry for authors whose editors have let them down. Google alone is a wonderful and easy-to-use tool.
Despite these 'dodgy' areas, though, I did enjoy reading it. The writing flows, Ms Wertman tells a story in a compelling fashion, and I believed in the characters; these three factors alone are much of what this writing thing is about, after all. With assistance from a more experienced editor (possibly an English one?), I imagine her work would get better and better. To sum up, I would say this is light fiction for the newer reader of the genre; perhaps lovers of programmes like Showtime's The Tudors series, or who enjoy an introduction to the period, rather than the serious history addict - avid readers of this genre are notoriously picky!
September 7, 2016
The Tudors is the family in the historical fiction genre, and with good reason—Henry VIII and his many loves, Elizabeth I and her glorious victory against Spain as well as her many loves, Mary I and her fanatic obsession with religion and her husband, and the lengthy list only continues. Horrible Histories’ Tudor song sums it up best: “[The Tudors] may not have been fair, but [they] were never dull”. With so much gossip and speculation surrounding this family, it is no surprise that there is a plethora of fiction about them even centuries after their rule. And here’s another contribution to the Tudor genre that will probably not diminish in a good while.
The book here concentrates on the fall of Anne Boleyn as well as the rise of Jane Seymour until her ultimate death (no spoilers here I hope, since the device to remember the fate of all of Henry VIII’s wives is so well known) from Jane’s perspective, and to a larger extent, from the Seymour family’s and their allies’ perspective. I am fascinated by this time period and find it very interesting, as I always find the last few months of Anne Boleyn’s life to be absolutely thrilling and I have a (large) soft spot for Jane Seymour since she gets very little attention compared to her predecessor. My hopes for this book are that the usual Tudor tropes will not be rehashed again and a three dimensional portrayal of Jane Seymour. She definitely deserves one after all the attention all the other wives receive.
And I am not disappointed when it comes to becoming acquainted with a Jane Seymour who is more than the placid wife that gives birth to a son. Wertman is unafraid to give Jane a voice and highlight her domestic forte in sewing, organizing and running a household, and discretion are actually all strengths for the average Tudor noblewoman. While Jane does not have the sparkling wit or the eloquent ways of some of her counterparts, Wertman does make a convincing case in the story that Jane must have been talented enough in her own ways to hold onto her position as a one of the queen’s ladies for so many years. My favourite character development moment for Jane is at the beginning of the book, when Jane is feeling restless in her position, being still unmarried when she is much older than so many other ladies at Court that she is willing to take chances to rebuke her brother about her lack of marriage prospect. The other favourite character development moment is when Jane becomes comfortable making arrangements to ensure that Wolf Hall, her family home, is ready for the royal visit. As she captures the king’s attention and continues her spectacular rise as Queen of England, there are moments where I feel Jane is a hypocrite. Or at least she is not as convincing as she believes herself to be, as I sometimes roll my eyes at her strong conviction of how she believes the path that she is continuing down is the one blessed by God. However, I have to commend Wertman for acknowledging this by not blindly being in love with Jane and points out character flaws of Jane’s; it shows that she is a courtier after her many years at Court and it also shows that she is neither innocent or the sole instrument that caused Anne Boleyn’s downfall. As for becoming Queen Jane, it is an interesting transformation and I liked how Wertman plants the seeds that will eventually lead to the moment where Jane does defy her husband only to receive harsh words. However, some more of the more famous characterizations of Jane feels forced once she becomes queen, mostly because Wertman needs to follow what history has dictated.
The years 1535 to 1537 are like riding a rollercoaster in Henry’s Court, except one may never know if they will survive the next event. There are so many famous moments—the treason and death of Anne Boleyn, the Pilgrimage of Grace, the rise of Thomas Cromwell, the rise of the Seymour family—that it is hard to give them all equal attention in one book. Wertman definitely tries her best, and I appreciate how she weaves her ample research in the story without making the read seem like a textbook. Given all the important events, it is hard to see all of them solely from Jane’s perspective, so it is refreshing that Wertman also has other narrators including Thomas Cromwell. It is through his eyes that we get to see the political landscape and changes in England during the two years and how Jane Seymour fits into the grander scheme. I really enjoy his political pragmatism as well as his characterization, although I do wish that he is slightly more witty and eloquent as per Hilary’s Mantel series. Wertman actually focuses a lot of Cromwell’s characterization after Jane’s, and he is one of the male leads in this book even though he and Jane hardly cross paths. Given that he is also a firm Seymour ally in this book, it is a great read to see how his goals coincidentally align with the Seymour family while also foreshadowing the fates of the various players who have come to reap the benefits due to Jane Seymour’s elevation as queen.
This is definitely a solid Tudor read. However, this book is by no means perfect (although so few are). First of all, Wertman’s writing style is rather simplistic; one will hardly find any lavish descriptions of clothes or how the Court looks, but it flows along very nicely. For people who are trying to understand the psyche of how the historical personages you may find her writing slightly lacking since she does not spend pages trying to discuss a character’s feelings or their thinking patterns. I for one never had any problems and find her writing to be very entertaining. Another thing is the occasional anachronistic writing, where characters will use words like ‘Nah’ or describe people as ‘lust-driven teenagers’. Again, it is not the biggest problem but it can be jarring when reading something about the 16th century.
The other thing I find “off” is the characterization of Henry VIII. Due to the many biographies, history books, fiction, and other interpretations of this king it is not hard to come to the story with preconceived tropes or biases in mind. And while I am not expecting an ogre who literally eats people (although he certainly has metaphorically) there are instances where Henry seems softer than what historical evidence suggest during that period in his lifetime. Still, there is the explanation that his softer moments are viewed through Jane’s eyes and Henry VIII does seem much more like the megalomaniac and egotistical king when he is with Cromwell. However, I have problems reconciling the two very different parts of Henry’s personality and since he is not necessarily the focus of the book, I find it baffling as opposed to him being a complex and dangerous person that he is.
Still, I enjoy this book greatly and I look forward to the continuation of the saga as I wish to read more about the Seymour family—a family just as interesting as the Boleyn family but has not received as much attention from the historical community—in the near future. Also, bonus point for keeping the Tudor era still interesting because there is only so many ways the same story can be told!
The book here concentrates on the fall of Anne Boleyn as well as the rise of Jane Seymour until her ultimate death (no spoilers here I hope, since the device to remember the fate of all of Henry VIII’s wives is so well known) from Jane’s perspective, and to a larger extent, from the Seymour family’s and their allies’ perspective. I am fascinated by this time period and find it very interesting, as I always find the last few months of Anne Boleyn’s life to be absolutely thrilling and I have a (large) soft spot for Jane Seymour since she gets very little attention compared to her predecessor. My hopes for this book are that the usual Tudor tropes will not be rehashed again and a three dimensional portrayal of Jane Seymour. She definitely deserves one after all the attention all the other wives receive.
And I am not disappointed when it comes to becoming acquainted with a Jane Seymour who is more than the placid wife that gives birth to a son. Wertman is unafraid to give Jane a voice and highlight her domestic forte in sewing, organizing and running a household, and discretion are actually all strengths for the average Tudor noblewoman. While Jane does not have the sparkling wit or the eloquent ways of some of her counterparts, Wertman does make a convincing case in the story that Jane must have been talented enough in her own ways to hold onto her position as a one of the queen’s ladies for so many years. My favourite character development moment for Jane is at the beginning of the book, when Jane is feeling restless in her position, being still unmarried when she is much older than so many other ladies at Court that she is willing to take chances to rebuke her brother about her lack of marriage prospect. The other favourite character development moment is when Jane becomes comfortable making arrangements to ensure that Wolf Hall, her family home, is ready for the royal visit. As she captures the king’s attention and continues her spectacular rise as Queen of England, there are moments where I feel Jane is a hypocrite. Or at least she is not as convincing as she believes herself to be, as I sometimes roll my eyes at her strong conviction of how she believes the path that she is continuing down is the one blessed by God. However, I have to commend Wertman for acknowledging this by not blindly being in love with Jane and points out character flaws of Jane’s; it shows that she is a courtier after her many years at Court and it also shows that she is neither innocent or the sole instrument that caused Anne Boleyn’s downfall. As for becoming Queen Jane, it is an interesting transformation and I liked how Wertman plants the seeds that will eventually lead to the moment where Jane does defy her husband only to receive harsh words. However, some more of the more famous characterizations of Jane feels forced once she becomes queen, mostly because Wertman needs to follow what history has dictated.
The years 1535 to 1537 are like riding a rollercoaster in Henry’s Court, except one may never know if they will survive the next event. There are so many famous moments—the treason and death of Anne Boleyn, the Pilgrimage of Grace, the rise of Thomas Cromwell, the rise of the Seymour family—that it is hard to give them all equal attention in one book. Wertman definitely tries her best, and I appreciate how she weaves her ample research in the story without making the read seem like a textbook. Given all the important events, it is hard to see all of them solely from Jane’s perspective, so it is refreshing that Wertman also has other narrators including Thomas Cromwell. It is through his eyes that we get to see the political landscape and changes in England during the two years and how Jane Seymour fits into the grander scheme. I really enjoy his political pragmatism as well as his characterization, although I do wish that he is slightly more witty and eloquent as per Hilary’s Mantel series. Wertman actually focuses a lot of Cromwell’s characterization after Jane’s, and he is one of the male leads in this book even though he and Jane hardly cross paths. Given that he is also a firm Seymour ally in this book, it is a great read to see how his goals coincidentally align with the Seymour family while also foreshadowing the fates of the various players who have come to reap the benefits due to Jane Seymour’s elevation as queen.
This is definitely a solid Tudor read. However, this book is by no means perfect (although so few are). First of all, Wertman’s writing style is rather simplistic; one will hardly find any lavish descriptions of clothes or how the Court looks, but it flows along very nicely. For people who are trying to understand the psyche of how the historical personages you may find her writing slightly lacking since she does not spend pages trying to discuss a character’s feelings or their thinking patterns. I for one never had any problems and find her writing to be very entertaining. Another thing is the occasional anachronistic writing, where characters will use words like ‘Nah’ or describe people as ‘lust-driven teenagers’. Again, it is not the biggest problem but it can be jarring when reading something about the 16th century.
The other thing I find “off” is the characterization of Henry VIII. Due to the many biographies, history books, fiction, and other interpretations of this king it is not hard to come to the story with preconceived tropes or biases in mind. And while I am not expecting an ogre who literally eats people (although he certainly has metaphorically) there are instances where Henry seems softer than what historical evidence suggest during that period in his lifetime. Still, there is the explanation that his softer moments are viewed through Jane’s eyes and Henry VIII does seem much more like the megalomaniac and egotistical king when he is with Cromwell. However, I have problems reconciling the two very different parts of Henry’s personality and since he is not necessarily the focus of the book, I find it baffling as opposed to him being a complex and dangerous person that he is.
Still, I enjoy this book greatly and I look forward to the continuation of the saga as I wish to read more about the Seymour family—a family just as interesting as the Boleyn family but has not received as much attention from the historical community—in the near future. Also, bonus point for keeping the Tudor era still interesting because there is only so many ways the same story can be told!
February 7, 2022
I read this book for a book club that I run for the All Things Tudor Facebook page. I have read mostly nonfiction on this historical period, in fact I find most fiction books on Henry VIII's queens very, often wildly, historically inaccurate. I was very happy to find this book is not so.
The fact of the matter is that Jane Seymour is not a character we know a lot about. We know her family connections, her brothers Thomas and Edward served the king at court, that she served the two previous of Henry's queens as a maid-of-honor, and that she was intellegent, quiet, not especially pretty, but of spotless reputation - quite a feat at the Tudor court. Not much to go on to make a gripping book, and yet that is exactly what Janet Wertman does.
It begins in 1525 when Jane is presented to Queen Catherine of Aragon as a new maid-of-honor. She's quiet and rather terrified. We next meet Jane in the service of Anne Boleyn, who definitely does not like her. Jane and her eldest brother are in a dispute because he wants her to retire her position to her younger sister Dorothy, and Jane recognizes that her hopes of a marriage will be dashed if she leaves court. Here we see Jane as a woman who while unsure also possesses the ability to stand up for herself. She makes certain conditions before she will help Edward ready their family home of Wolf Hall for a week long visit by the king and queen during their summer progress. It will be this visit that changes the lives of everyone around them.
Most of us know the bittersweet love story of Jane Seymour and Henry VIII but what Wertman does so well is make the characters so human. Henry VIII and his wives are mostly portrayed in wide brush strokes by other authors - Henry the vindictive, cruel monster and the wives as harridans, or wontons, or victims. In this book they are people, at times foolish, unsure, stubborn, loving, caring, but real people with real and complicated lives. They are much more three dimensional and we can sympathize with them all.
This book is the first in Janet Wertman's Seymour Saga, and you can sure bet on it that I'll read the next two, and I highly recommend you do as well.
The fact of the matter is that Jane Seymour is not a character we know a lot about. We know her family connections, her brothers Thomas and Edward served the king at court, that she served the two previous of Henry's queens as a maid-of-honor, and that she was intellegent, quiet, not especially pretty, but of spotless reputation - quite a feat at the Tudor court. Not much to go on to make a gripping book, and yet that is exactly what Janet Wertman does.
It begins in 1525 when Jane is presented to Queen Catherine of Aragon as a new maid-of-honor. She's quiet and rather terrified. We next meet Jane in the service of Anne Boleyn, who definitely does not like her. Jane and her eldest brother are in a dispute because he wants her to retire her position to her younger sister Dorothy, and Jane recognizes that her hopes of a marriage will be dashed if she leaves court. Here we see Jane as a woman who while unsure also possesses the ability to stand up for herself. She makes certain conditions before she will help Edward ready their family home of Wolf Hall for a week long visit by the king and queen during their summer progress. It will be this visit that changes the lives of everyone around them.
Most of us know the bittersweet love story of Jane Seymour and Henry VIII but what Wertman does so well is make the characters so human. Henry VIII and his wives are mostly portrayed in wide brush strokes by other authors - Henry the vindictive, cruel monster and the wives as harridans, or wontons, or victims. In this book they are people, at times foolish, unsure, stubborn, loving, caring, but real people with real and complicated lives. They are much more three dimensional and we can sympathize with them all.
This book is the first in Janet Wertman's Seymour Saga, and you can sure bet on it that I'll read the next two, and I highly recommend you do as well.
October 2, 2020
This thoughtful and beautiful depiction of Jane Seymour gives readers a detailed, interesting, and captivating story about Jane Seymour, who is often the least liked queen among all of King Henry VIII’s wife due to her role (unintentional, as the author shows masterfully) in sending her predecessor to the scaffold. Many imagine Jane as a dull, plain, and undereducated woman, and it is true that compared to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, Jane’s education was not stellar. However, Jane was definitely not stupid and had a capable mind that needed to be made a little bit more sophisticated – we can see Jane as a clever woman starting from the Tudor court’s arrival in Wulfhall and ending with the tragic scene of her death after Edward VI is born.
There are a lot of unanswered questions how a shy, undereducated, simple-minded person could catch the eye of the lustful Henry VIII. The author provided us with answers to these questions, which are especially obvious in scenes when Anne loses her child and what Henry says later, in scenes when Henry courts Jane, and so on. The previously unknown story of Jane’s courtship with the monarch comes alive and, seemingly, true to history, portrayed in the most vibrant colors. As a fan of Anne Boleyn, I can say that it was painful for me to see her lose her son and know that she died because of the phone charges Cromwell leveled against her, but I am glad that Jane did have to deal with the guilt of what happened to her unfortunate predecessor. Jane does not come across as someone who stepped over the rivers of innocent blood just became she craved to be the Queen of England. This is possible thanks to the author’s writing skills!
There are a lot of unanswered questions how a shy, undereducated, simple-minded person could catch the eye of the lustful Henry VIII. The author provided us with answers to these questions, which are especially obvious in scenes when Anne loses her child and what Henry says later, in scenes when Henry courts Jane, and so on. The previously unknown story of Jane’s courtship with the monarch comes alive and, seemingly, true to history, portrayed in the most vibrant colors. As a fan of Anne Boleyn, I can say that it was painful for me to see her lose her son and know that she died because of the phone charges Cromwell leveled against her, but I am glad that Jane did have to deal with the guilt of what happened to her unfortunate predecessor. Jane does not come across as someone who stepped over the rivers of innocent blood just became she craved to be the Queen of England. This is possible thanks to the author’s writing skills!
May 21, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. A lot of history on the British royals - it kept my interest throughout.
March 9, 2019
Henry VIII may have had six wives, but only one could give him the desired son that he wanted. She was kind, demure and everything that Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn was not. Her name was Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife. Sadly, she is often remembered for the birth of her son and her death. However, there was a lot more to Jane’s story than the ending. What was her relationship with her family like? How did she fall in love with the King? And how was her relationship with her romantic rival, Anne Boleyn? These are just some of the questions that Janet Wertman strives to answer in her first novel of her new Seymour Saga called, “Jane the Quene”.
I would like to thank Janet Wertman for sending me a copy of “Jane the Quene”. This was a delightful read and a fantastic start to the Seymour Saga.
Wertman begins her book with a prologue of Jane Seymour entering the services of Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon. In this opening scene, we begin to see a rivalry bloom between Jane and her cousins Anne and Mary Boleyn. After Catherine and Henry divorce, Anne Boleyn becomes Queen and Jane Seymour is in the services of the new queen, hoping to help and serve while looking for a husband. Her brother Edward does not think that having Jane in court is really working to help her find a husband. He wants to send her home so that her younger sister can possibly find a husband, but things change when King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visit Wolf Hall. Wertman description of how the king and Jane become friends during this visit is rather charming and very natural. Jane tries to ignore the king’s interest in her, but Henry can’t forget the kind and demure nature of Jane and eventually, the two fall in love, even though Henry is still married to Anne.
In the middle of this tangled love mess is Thomas Cromwell, a clerk who wants to please his king in order to make his own career grow. Henry is not happy with his marriage to Anne Boleyn since she has not been able to give him a son, so he gives Cromwell the task of “getting rid of her”. However, Cromwell needs to find another wife who would be the opposite of Anne Boleyn. That is when he comes up with a plan to make Jane Seymour Henry’s next wife and queen, which does succeed.
Wertman’s Jane Seymour is a complex character who cares about her family and her husband. She is not just some plain wallflower who merely followed Anne Boleyn as Henry’s wife for a short time. With strong allies, like Cromwell and her brothers Edward and Thomas, Jane rises like a phoenix and survives all of the hate from Anne to become Henry’s beloved wife and queen. Wertman portrays Henry VIII as a man who is intelligent, caring and who struggles with how to reform the church.
Wertman breathes new life into the story of Jane Seymour. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, which is the first book in her Seymour Saga, as it balances the political intrigue of the Tudor court with the romance between Henry and Jane. Their love story is one that is often forgotten in the chaos of Henry’s marriage track record, but one that needs to be told. Jane will not be just the “third wife” or “the mother of Edward VI” after this book. She was a strong woman who truly loved Henry VIII. If you really want to read a novel about Jane Seymour, I highly recommend you read “Jane the Quene” by Janet Wertman.
I would like to thank Janet Wertman for sending me a copy of “Jane the Quene”. This was a delightful read and a fantastic start to the Seymour Saga.
Wertman begins her book with a prologue of Jane Seymour entering the services of Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon. In this opening scene, we begin to see a rivalry bloom between Jane and her cousins Anne and Mary Boleyn. After Catherine and Henry divorce, Anne Boleyn becomes Queen and Jane Seymour is in the services of the new queen, hoping to help and serve while looking for a husband. Her brother Edward does not think that having Jane in court is really working to help her find a husband. He wants to send her home so that her younger sister can possibly find a husband, but things change when King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visit Wolf Hall. Wertman description of how the king and Jane become friends during this visit is rather charming and very natural. Jane tries to ignore the king’s interest in her, but Henry can’t forget the kind and demure nature of Jane and eventually, the two fall in love, even though Henry is still married to Anne.
In the middle of this tangled love mess is Thomas Cromwell, a clerk who wants to please his king in order to make his own career grow. Henry is not happy with his marriage to Anne Boleyn since she has not been able to give him a son, so he gives Cromwell the task of “getting rid of her”. However, Cromwell needs to find another wife who would be the opposite of Anne Boleyn. That is when he comes up with a plan to make Jane Seymour Henry’s next wife and queen, which does succeed.
Wertman’s Jane Seymour is a complex character who cares about her family and her husband. She is not just some plain wallflower who merely followed Anne Boleyn as Henry’s wife for a short time. With strong allies, like Cromwell and her brothers Edward and Thomas, Jane rises like a phoenix and survives all of the hate from Anne to become Henry’s beloved wife and queen. Wertman portrays Henry VIII as a man who is intelligent, caring and who struggles with how to reform the church.
Wertman breathes new life into the story of Jane Seymour. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, which is the first book in her Seymour Saga, as it balances the political intrigue of the Tudor court with the romance between Henry and Jane. Their love story is one that is often forgotten in the chaos of Henry’s marriage track record, but one that needs to be told. Jane will not be just the “third wife” or “the mother of Edward VI” after this book. She was a strong woman who truly loved Henry VIII. If you really want to read a novel about Jane Seymour, I highly recommend you read “Jane the Quene” by Janet Wertman.
July 31, 2016
Author Janet Wertman gives readers an inside look at Henry VIII's court from the perspective of young and innocent Jane Seymour as she falls in love with the handsome and flirtatious King Henry while he is still married to the queen who will soon be dubbed a witch, Anne Boleyn. Wertman brings what I have always thought of as the 'dull and simple' queen to beautiful light, breathing personality, honour and duty to Jane's background and time in court.
Wertman is an ace with her descriptions of the deceit and court politics, taking us away from Jane's point of view when necessary, into Cromwell's where we get a firm grasp of behind-the-scenes plotting. I much preferred Jane's point of view where there are scenes where I had actual gooseflesh when reading, especially during the downfall of Boleyn and near Jane's own end. Jane's courtship with Henry was highly engaging and brought forth a gentler Henry without disregarding his dangerous side and Jane sees it all but humbly accepts what she is duty bound to be: the bearer of Henry's only legitimate male heir. I was kept intrigued, despite being already very familiar with the events, and found the narrative difficult to fault. There are a few modern phrases that make an appearance, but Wertman blended them into the text in such a way that they are not only forgiveable, but help the modern reader grasp the era feel without being limited to the archaic (but beautiful) and difficult language of the Tudor court (for anyone wanting to grasp a sample, please look up some of Anne Boleyn's letters to Henry, both during her courtship and her 'supposed' last letter to Henry during her time in the Tower).
This book is ideal for newcomers to the subject as Wertman takes the reader gently by the hand and helps them navigate through the intrigue, court politics, and Tudor mindset with ease, but as a lover of all things Tudor, I found myself still intrigued with this new Jane, who I feel Wertman brought to life in a way that makes me understand her as a woman and a queen of the era. A well researched and well presented read. If you have a love of history, read this book. If you enjoy the Tudor era, read this book. If you thought only Anne Boleyn was worth reading about, you'll know better after... well, you know. Just be warned – there are more books to follow, this is only the first of Wertman's literary gems.
Wertman is an ace with her descriptions of the deceit and court politics, taking us away from Jane's point of view when necessary, into Cromwell's where we get a firm grasp of behind-the-scenes plotting. I much preferred Jane's point of view where there are scenes where I had actual gooseflesh when reading, especially during the downfall of Boleyn and near Jane's own end. Jane's courtship with Henry was highly engaging and brought forth a gentler Henry without disregarding his dangerous side and Jane sees it all but humbly accepts what she is duty bound to be: the bearer of Henry's only legitimate male heir. I was kept intrigued, despite being already very familiar with the events, and found the narrative difficult to fault. There are a few modern phrases that make an appearance, but Wertman blended them into the text in such a way that they are not only forgiveable, but help the modern reader grasp the era feel without being limited to the archaic (but beautiful) and difficult language of the Tudor court (for anyone wanting to grasp a sample, please look up some of Anne Boleyn's letters to Henry, both during her courtship and her 'supposed' last letter to Henry during her time in the Tower).
This book is ideal for newcomers to the subject as Wertman takes the reader gently by the hand and helps them navigate through the intrigue, court politics, and Tudor mindset with ease, but as a lover of all things Tudor, I found myself still intrigued with this new Jane, who I feel Wertman brought to life in a way that makes me understand her as a woman and a queen of the era. A well researched and well presented read. If you have a love of history, read this book. If you enjoy the Tudor era, read this book. If you thought only Anne Boleyn was worth reading about, you'll know better after... well, you know. Just be warned – there are more books to follow, this is only the first of Wertman's literary gems.
May 24, 2016
Great escape to Tudor England
I gave this book 5 stars because from start to finish it kept me interested. I love the Tudor period but you can easily find yourself reading about the exact same events over and over. Jane the Quene stood out for me for several reasons. One was the fact Jane Seymour is our main subject. I have only read about Jane in the inclusion of another main character's story, usually Anne Boleyn. It was wonderful to see a possible story of where Jane was before she comes into the whole courts notice. Or what Jane might of been thinking while being courted by Henry VIII and when Anne was executed.
My only draw backs where when history and the storyline didn't match. I can't really give examples without giving spoilers. Then I realised that all these times were when history can only give a educated guess that has been absorbed more as fact. I would recommend to put what you think you know aside and just let the story take you. After all, what else can we do but imagine Jane Seymour's thoughts and feelings on the world around her.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Tudor period. A GREAT escape to Tudor England.
I gave this book 5 stars because from start to finish it kept me interested. I love the Tudor period but you can easily find yourself reading about the exact same events over and over. Jane the Quene stood out for me for several reasons. One was the fact Jane Seymour is our main subject. I have only read about Jane in the inclusion of another main character's story, usually Anne Boleyn. It was wonderful to see a possible story of where Jane was before she comes into the whole courts notice. Or what Jane might of been thinking while being courted by Henry VIII and when Anne was executed.
My only draw backs where when history and the storyline didn't match. I can't really give examples without giving spoilers. Then I realised that all these times were when history can only give a educated guess that has been absorbed more as fact. I would recommend to put what you think you know aside and just let the story take you. After all, what else can we do but imagine Jane Seymour's thoughts and feelings on the world around her.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Tudor period. A GREAT escape to Tudor England.
September 4, 2016
http://myainbookblog.blogspot.com/201...
4.5+ stars and a fine and enjoyable book. Moving between Jane and Thomas Cromwell was a bit distracting for me, as well as a tiny bit of a struggle making Jane vivid as a character. Her sharing a love of herbs with Henry was a tiny bit of a stretch, but the author made it work.
Jane the Quene was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be since I am, and always have been a Boleyn fan. Janet Wertman came very close, indeed, to making Jane likable if not lovable. It probably was difficult, as the Seymours are not that enjoyable all by themselves. (Well let me digress there, and say that Elizabeth Seymour was very interesting to me in her marriage to Gregory Cromwell.)
Jane became much more vital as a character, of course after her marriage and her death was definitely poignant. Henry is always Henry, but I am looking forward to some more glimpses into Elizabeth's marriage to Gregory Cromwell, as well as the other Seymours who will be spotlighted in the rest of the series.
Very enjoyable and recommended.
4.5+ stars and a fine and enjoyable book. Moving between Jane and Thomas Cromwell was a bit distracting for me, as well as a tiny bit of a struggle making Jane vivid as a character. Her sharing a love of herbs with Henry was a tiny bit of a stretch, but the author made it work.
Jane the Quene was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be since I am, and always have been a Boleyn fan. Janet Wertman came very close, indeed, to making Jane likable if not lovable. It probably was difficult, as the Seymours are not that enjoyable all by themselves. (Well let me digress there, and say that Elizabeth Seymour was very interesting to me in her marriage to Gregory Cromwell.)
Jane became much more vital as a character, of course after her marriage and her death was definitely poignant. Henry is always Henry, but I am looking forward to some more glimpses into Elizabeth's marriage to Gregory Cromwell, as well as the other Seymours who will be spotlighted in the rest of the series.
Very enjoyable and recommended.
March 4, 2017
Well done.
I enjoyed the story. I never thought of Jane as a little calculating but I imagine it would be hard not to be under the circumstances.
I enjoyed the story. I never thought of Jane as a little calculating but I imagine it would be hard not to be under the circumstances.
September 28, 2016
Jane the Quene
This was a really intriguing read. I really enjoyed finally hearing Jane Seymour's point of view. Yes the story is predictable because we all know what happened to Queen Anne Boleyn, but no one really knows why Jane Seymour was intrigued to be the next wife. I thought the author did an interesting view point on Jane being head over heels in love with the King and hopelessly attracted to him. I was under the impression that King Henry Viii was around 45yrs old or so when they married, over weight and didn't smell that pleasant due to the never healing ulcer on his leg. Due to these reasons it's hard to believe that Jane was so attracted to this King and overly eager to be in his bed. Other than that I thought the story held my attention and I will read the next story.
This was a really intriguing read. I really enjoyed finally hearing Jane Seymour's point of view. Yes the story is predictable because we all know what happened to Queen Anne Boleyn, but no one really knows why Jane Seymour was intrigued to be the next wife. I thought the author did an interesting view point on Jane being head over heels in love with the King and hopelessly attracted to him. I was under the impression that King Henry Viii was around 45yrs old or so when they married, over weight and didn't smell that pleasant due to the never healing ulcer on his leg. Due to these reasons it's hard to believe that Jane was so attracted to this King and overly eager to be in his bed. Other than that I thought the story held my attention and I will read the next story.
April 13, 2017
I was impressed by the author's ability to immerse the reader in the historic experience of the book. Though romance isn’t something that draws me, this book managed to keep me turning pages. I did not expect the ending, and the more I think about it, the more fitting it becomes. I did find myself frustrated at Jane from time to time, for her “innocent” self-righteous narrative. However, her character was consistent, and she did show some redemptive qualities in the end. I would definitely read the next book, to see where the plot goes. Not being a history buff, I do not feel that I am the right person to judge whether the story was told with the right amount of historical accuracy. However, uneducated as I am, I was completely drawn into the story, and found it believable. It appeared very well thought out and researched.
January 17, 2017
I love all things Tudor and I found this novel about Jane very interesting. This Jane was not all sweetness and innocent, she was very much human and I enjoyed reading about her. I didn't always like her, at times I felt she was not that naive about Henry and she seemed so callous in regard to Anne Boylen being put to death in order to pave the way for her marriage to Henry. Jane may have started out being infatuated with Henry but along the way she decided she wanted to be his wife. She didn't care that she was after someone's else's husband and she was defensive about her actions toward Anne and she seemed to think she was chosen to punish her. However this Is Jane's story and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 14, 2019
What a wonderful read and completed in two sittings ........just started book 2 in the series and it’s just as good
September 17, 2016
Not one of the best historical fictions I've read, but it is good enough to read to the end. I do think I will be reading the rest of the saga. An easy read (good for a break from a more dense book I'm currently trying to read), mostly historically accurate (I looked up potatoes. Yes, they were in the New World--just barely--in the timeline of the book. However, mashed? Not thinking that was so), a book about one of the less flamboyant wives of Henry VIII, and I liked it being written from Jane's viewpoint.
I'd recommend it for an easy read.
I'd recommend it for an easy read.
April 14, 2016
Ms. Wertman is a gifted writer who has mastered the voice and tone of the period with elegant simplicity and depth. I expected this to be somewhat difficult but found it to be a page turner that I couldn't put down. Not one negative. Read this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews