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The Kiss of the Concubine: The Story of Anne Boleyn
"A sympathetic and compelling account of Anne Boleyn’s story that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Superbly crafted." Claire Ridgway, The Anne Boleyn Files
1547.
Henry VIII is dying, haunted by a ghost from his past. Anne Boleyn.
On her return from France, Anne Boleyn takes the English court by storm. Her vibrant intelligence and ready wit instantly attracts the jaded eye of the king.
Henry is already tired of his ageing wife, Catherine of Aragon, and furious at her failure to provide him with a son. When he pleads with Anne to become his mistress, she refuses for her heart is already set on Harry Percy, heir to the mighty earldom of Northumberland.
But the king is determined and the courtship that follows scandalises Christendom.
During Henry’s long drawn-out struggle to be free of Catherine it becomes clear that the king intends to have Anne not just as his mistress but his wife.
Once Queen of England, Anne is expected to provide the illusive Tudor heir. But instead of the longed-for prince, she gives birth to a girl – Elizabeth - and a few years later, a dead son.
Anne’s days of triumph are over and Henry’s eye begins to roam - leaving Anne vulnerable as her enemies stir in the shadows and begin to work against her. She becomes a victim of both love and politics.
The Kiss of the Concubine traces the relationship between Henry and Anne from their first meeting to beyond the scaffold.
Recommended reading for fans of Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory and Sarah Gristwood.
Judith Arnopp is the author of numerous bestselling historical novels, including Intractable Heart, written from the perspective of Tudor women, from all walks of life.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2013
304 people are currently reading
1008 people want to read
About the author
Judith Arnopp
49 books227 followers.A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies.
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 20, 2014
I wasn't expecting much from this book until I read the first few pages. It is unique in that the whole book is written in the first person - Anne Boleyn's perspective of her story. The first few pages sucked me in because The book presents a much more sympathetic humanized Anne Boleyn which was very interesting. In the Author's Note at the end she talks about the research she did for the book and notes that most of Anne's story was written by her enemies and many modern day novelists have followed that path, even embellished the lurid details to make her worse. But despite their best efforts there is nothing in the existing record to suggest any of those things were true.
Well, Ms. Arnopp did a good job of making me believe this very well could be a more accurate portrait of the woman. She was still selfish at times and treated Catherine and Mary with no human kindness or mercy, but I haven't ever believed she was a witch, adulteress (you'd have to be a very stupid woman to cheat on a king...especially King Henry VIII - Catherine Howard may have been stupid, but Anne was certainly not) or incestuous.
Henry was also presented in a much gentler light. Also in her author's note Tyrants aren't born, they evolve, just as saints do, their characters slowly shaped over time, just as ours are. Early chronicles of Henry provide no hint of the embittered man he was to become. On his assumption of the throne, when his future stretched ahead of him in an unspotted landscape of graceful chivalry, he must have seemed the answer to the nation's prayers. While writing this book, I had to forget what was to come later, I had to regard 1536 as a wall beyond which it is impossible to see...so in [this book] you will find a gentler, more complex Henry; a man full of self-doubt, fearful of failure, his need for a son and heir all consuming.
I had to smirk at this quote by Anne when she gets hint at Jane Seymour's rise...They say he means to put me aside and marry Jane, although how he can put aside his legal wife is beyond my comprehension. Loved the irony of that and the ability most of us have to rationalize almost anything we do....
Another one from Anne's ghost as Henry dies, she talks about having been with him since her death and watched all he's done. And I have been with you every day since, my husband. I have seen you change from a prince to a monster. I've witnessed every cruelty, every sin, seen each small betrayal, each moment of joy, watched every discarded wife falter and fall. And I've wept for every one of them.
One more...I thought this said a lot about how the serving class was treated in the 16th century (and many other centuries)...Anne is sitting at Hever waiting for Henry and is complaining about being so bored. Her maid is in the room and she thinks this What can she know of the joys I am missing? She has never been anywhere but here. All her life has been spent as a servant at Hever, the heady joys of a royal court are impossible for her to imagine.
Well, Ms. Arnopp did a good job of making me believe this very well could be a more accurate portrait of the woman. She was still selfish at times and treated Catherine and Mary with no human kindness or mercy, but I haven't ever believed she was a witch, adulteress (you'd have to be a very stupid woman to cheat on a king...especially King Henry VIII - Catherine Howard may have been stupid, but Anne was certainly not) or incestuous.
Henry was also presented in a much gentler light. Also in her author's note Tyrants aren't born, they evolve, just as saints do, their characters slowly shaped over time, just as ours are. Early chronicles of Henry provide no hint of the embittered man he was to become. On his assumption of the throne, when his future stretched ahead of him in an unspotted landscape of graceful chivalry, he must have seemed the answer to the nation's prayers. While writing this book, I had to forget what was to come later, I had to regard 1536 as a wall beyond which it is impossible to see...so in [this book] you will find a gentler, more complex Henry; a man full of self-doubt, fearful of failure, his need for a son and heir all consuming.
I had to smirk at this quote by Anne when she gets hint at Jane Seymour's rise...They say he means to put me aside and marry Jane, although how he can put aside his legal wife is beyond my comprehension. Loved the irony of that and the ability most of us have to rationalize almost anything we do....
Another one from Anne's ghost as Henry dies, she talks about having been with him since her death and watched all he's done. And I have been with you every day since, my husband. I have seen you change from a prince to a monster. I've witnessed every cruelty, every sin, seen each small betrayal, each moment of joy, watched every discarded wife falter and fall. And I've wept for every one of them.
One more...I thought this said a lot about how the serving class was treated in the 16th century (and many other centuries)...Anne is sitting at Hever waiting for Henry and is complaining about being so bored. Her maid is in the room and she thinks this What can she know of the joys I am missing? She has never been anywhere but here. All her life has been spent as a servant at Hever, the heady joys of a royal court are impossible for her to imagine.
February 5, 2015
3.5 stars.
The Kiss of the Concubine is a pretty standard, unoriginal view on the story of Anne Boleyn, starting from her return from the French Court and ending with her death. There are, however, some points of interest, and a general strenght in the plot and the style which make the book very readable.
The novel has an uncommon beginning, which is one of the best characteristic of the book. The story starts, surprisingly, the day of Henry VIII's death. His most faithful servants are at his death bed, when suddenly the king is hit by a sudden terror. They think it is because of the approach of death, but it is not: it is because the ghost of Anne Boleyn, his second wife, has appeared to watch him die.
After this promising prologue, the first half of the book does not present many surprises. I was a little disappointed and I found myself bored in several points.
However, after Anne is crowned queen, the story began to improve considerably. The last three parts of the book, "Queen", "Mother" and "Traitor", were definitely the ones I enjoyed most.
The thing I liked most about the second half of the book was Henry and Anne's relationship. At first it seemed to come a little out of nowhere, but then their marriage was amazingly portrayed. They have a love/hate relationship, with a lot of quarrels but mostly a lot of passion, which is always palpable. Their feelings for each other, especially Anne's for Henry, felt very realistic and believable.
Another thing I liked was Anne's interest in the Reform, and the focus given to her involvment in political and religious affairs. Many books tend to minimize this aspect and show Henry's infatuation for Jane Seymour as the main reason for her fall, while Judith Arnopp gave a more historically accurate portrayal of her death. Similarly, I liked how earlier in the book it was shown that "the king's secret matter" was initially separated from Henry's desire for Anne.
Lastly, the story focuses vastly on Anne's relationship with her siblings, George and Mary. While the relationship with her brother is not unusual in books about Anne Boleyn, the relationship with her sister is often neglected, so it was great to see it here. The portrayal of Mary is pretty ordinary, but their relationship is realistically complicated yet a close one, not bereft of affection.
As for Anne herself, I generally liked how she was portrayed, even if, in the first half of the book, I found her to be too naive and not as witty and clever as I would have liked. However, her voice was convincing and, just like the plot, she does improve in the second half.
In the end, this is not a completely fresh and original take on Anne Boleyn, but an accurate and very readable one. Recommended.
The Kiss of the Concubine is a pretty standard, unoriginal view on the story of Anne Boleyn, starting from her return from the French Court and ending with her death. There are, however, some points of interest, and a general strenght in the plot and the style which make the book very readable.
The novel has an uncommon beginning, which is one of the best characteristic of the book. The story starts, surprisingly, the day of Henry VIII's death. His most faithful servants are at his death bed, when suddenly the king is hit by a sudden terror. They think it is because of the approach of death, but it is not: it is because the ghost of Anne Boleyn, his second wife, has appeared to watch him die.
After this promising prologue, the first half of the book does not present many surprises. I was a little disappointed and I found myself bored in several points.
However, after Anne is crowned queen, the story began to improve considerably. The last three parts of the book, "Queen", "Mother" and "Traitor", were definitely the ones I enjoyed most.
The thing I liked most about the second half of the book was Henry and Anne's relationship. At first it seemed to come a little out of nowhere, but then their marriage was amazingly portrayed. They have a love/hate relationship, with a lot of quarrels but mostly a lot of passion, which is always palpable. Their feelings for each other, especially Anne's for Henry, felt very realistic and believable.
Another thing I liked was Anne's interest in the Reform, and the focus given to her involvment in political and religious affairs. Many books tend to minimize this aspect and show Henry's infatuation for Jane Seymour as the main reason for her fall, while Judith Arnopp gave a more historically accurate portrayal of her death. Similarly, I liked how earlier in the book it was shown that "the king's secret matter" was initially separated from Henry's desire for Anne.
Lastly, the story focuses vastly on Anne's relationship with her siblings, George and Mary. While the relationship with her brother is not unusual in books about Anne Boleyn, the relationship with her sister is often neglected, so it was great to see it here. The portrayal of Mary is pretty ordinary, but their relationship is realistically complicated yet a close one, not bereft of affection.
As for Anne herself, I generally liked how she was portrayed, even if, in the first half of the book, I found her to be too naive and not as witty and clever as I would have liked. However, her voice was convincing and, just like the plot, she does improve in the second half.
In the end, this is not a completely fresh and original take on Anne Boleyn, but an accurate and very readable one. Recommended.
April 1, 2023
ROYALTY READS PROJECT
August 28, 2016
"Hey," George Boleyn says at one point, "don't shoot the emissary."
Only if you absolutely, positively have to read every novel ever written about Anne Boleyn.
Oh. And the sex scenes. Yowsah.
Only if you absolutely, positively have to read every novel ever written about Anne Boleyn.
Oh. And the sex scenes. Yowsah.
November 30, 2013
I'm so excited by this book, it's difficult to know where to start.
The Kiss of the Concubine is written in the first person, present tense - two things I normally consider a 'turn off' - and yet the author handles the narration so skillfully that it becomes natural voice of the novel. The reader is privy to Anne's innermost thoughts and feelings, and in so doing we gain a different insight into her motivation.
To start with Anne is insecure about her looks and only attracts Henry's attention in a case of mistaken identity - from that initial contact it is her intelligence and wit that attract him.
The version of Anne created by Ms Arnopp is believable, sympathetic and most importantly - totally plausible. We discover a woman who knows her own mind but is no harpie, a woman in love who desires a family of her own, who is pressured into producing princes. I loved the interpretation of Anne as being in love with Henry but also afraid of losing his love. Their famous spats and quarrels are wonderfully written, on Anne's part motivated by crippling jealousy that the man she loves has strayed. But Anne is no blind fool, she can reconcile the dissolution of the monasteries because of the corruption within them, and when Henry siphons the wealth into his own coffers his lack of humanitarianism triggers the fateful series of events leading to Anne's eventual downfall.
I am no history scholar, so I can't comment on the factual veracity within The Kiss of the Concubine, but I can heartily recommend the book as a thought-provoking and wonderfully engrossing read.
The Kiss of the Concubine is written in the first person, present tense - two things I normally consider a 'turn off' - and yet the author handles the narration so skillfully that it becomes natural voice of the novel. The reader is privy to Anne's innermost thoughts and feelings, and in so doing we gain a different insight into her motivation.
To start with Anne is insecure about her looks and only attracts Henry's attention in a case of mistaken identity - from that initial contact it is her intelligence and wit that attract him.
The version of Anne created by Ms Arnopp is believable, sympathetic and most importantly - totally plausible. We discover a woman who knows her own mind but is no harpie, a woman in love who desires a family of her own, who is pressured into producing princes. I loved the interpretation of Anne as being in love with Henry but also afraid of losing his love. Their famous spats and quarrels are wonderfully written, on Anne's part motivated by crippling jealousy that the man she loves has strayed. But Anne is no blind fool, she can reconcile the dissolution of the monasteries because of the corruption within them, and when Henry siphons the wealth into his own coffers his lack of humanitarianism triggers the fateful series of events leading to Anne's eventual downfall.
I am no history scholar, so I can't comment on the factual veracity within The Kiss of the Concubine, but I can heartily recommend the book as a thought-provoking and wonderfully engrossing read.
March 27, 2014
i loved this book. i loved the prologue, in which anne is present when henry is dying, and i loved how she tells her story - even if obviously i knew everything already.
the book is very fast-paced and i appreciated that very much -- i'm so tired of authors describing every single detail of a day in anne boleyn's life. let's get to the action, people!
i also loved anne's representation; she was smart, brilliant, a little careless maybe and very in love with henry. i loved that the author didn't make her unnecessarily mean towards people, as some do in their books.
i just wish the part in which anne's spirit (?) is sitting beside henry while is dying was longer because it was such a good idea from the author, i wish she talked more with him or she stayed when he died or whatever i don't even know what i wanted lol
whatever
amazing book, i loved it.
the book is very fast-paced and i appreciated that very much -- i'm so tired of authors describing every single detail of a day in anne boleyn's life. let's get to the action, people!
i also loved anne's representation; she was smart, brilliant, a little careless maybe and very in love with henry. i loved that the author didn't make her unnecessarily mean towards people, as some do in their books.
i just wish the part in which anne's spirit (?) is sitting beside henry while is dying was longer because it was such a good idea from the author, i wish she talked more with him or she stayed when he died or whatever i don't even know what i wanted lol
whatever
amazing book, i loved it.
December 20, 2021
I really liked 4 stars.
This book tells the story of Anne Boleyn told from her point of view, it is a short novel and not so detailed but it is a well accomplished story.
The story begins shortly before Henry VIII dies, Anne comes to him as a ghost to see him die, then the book goes to 1520 and Anne recounts her life as the youngest daughter of the Boleyns, her relationship with George is warm and very close, George thank God in this book is not gay, he is a womanizer whose love for Anne is between brotherly and platonic love, but there is never anything wrong between them, the relationship with Mary Boleyn is distant and sometimes difficult , but they are siblings and maintain a bond that unites them despite their differences. Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn have a somewhat long but not deep relationship, Mary is blatantly used by Henry, which helps Anne to learn what not to do, the years pass and Anne longs to have a family, to be a loved and married woman but that does not happen, she flirts with Henry Percy and try to marry but Percy is not brave enough to fight for Anne so nothing happened, Anne is not beautiful but she looks good and is quite ingenious which captures Henry's attention, although this happens gradually for several years, during that time he struggles to be free of Catherine his rightful queen and wife, Anne doesn't go to his bed what makes Henry desperate to have her, and this is also difficult for her who really wants to know how is to be loved by a man like Henry but she knows that the only way in which she can have the king and be respected as a woman is marrying him and to get that she needs to pretend be innocent, finally Anne and Henry can be wife and husband but the marriage It's not perfect, Anne learns to deal with her enemies and Henry's unfaithful character, the story continues as we know it and ends with Anne Boleyn's death in 1536.
The book has things that are worth highlighting, first despite the fact that Anne tells her story, George is a good connection between things as she sees them and how they are, the second thing is that no character in the novel is bad or good , and considering the POV that is a great achievement, Anne can recognize the virtues even of Mary Tudor and Catherine of Aragon, and when I say that all the characters are balanced I mean even Henry VIII who is surprisingly portrayed as someone not so bad, yes he is selfish and vain but also very religious and shows compassion to those he loves, the third great success of the book is that it portrays Anne Boleyn in a realistic way or at least that is how I imagine her, someone ambitious, calculating, and vengeful but she is also intelligent, kind and charitable, I hated her during some episodes but in others I loved her and in others I felt sorry for her, that is why it was so easy for her to make enemies especially because it was difficult for her to control herself, so it seemed to me a human representation, his relationship with Henry VIII has an interesting nuance, they share a love but nothing modern or too romantic, with ups and downs, Anne falls in love but intelligently while Henry is always Henry having lovers and being selfish but also a considerate, consenting and attentive husband ( when he wants to be), they have a sexual relationship that begins unsatisfactory for Anne but turns into pure sparks, in the end a different touch is that the last weeks of Anne's life the marriage is not a disaster as it is usually portrayed, rather it goes through hard times but it seems that it can recover, yes there are discussions and problems but nothing from another world, although an important factor is that with more than 36 years Anne's physique is not in her favor, and her wit does not surprise Henry any more, so Anne's downfall in this book is the sum of many factors: Jane Seymour's interest in Henry VIII, problems between e Anne and Cromwell, the lack of a son, Henry VIII's jealousy, Anne's unmodest (but not unfaithful) behavior with certain gentlemen, and of course Anne's other enemies, I liked that the book omitted Anne's violent episodes towards Jane Seymour, that for me is gossip and certainly does not correspond to the intelligent Anne that the book presented to me, so it is another success.
Anne's last days are more confusion than sadness and I understood it well, she wants to save herself but does not understand what is happening, I liked because in general her last months are of reflection, she managed to understand Catherine, even feel sorry for her and her daughter, especially because Anne ends up in her own shoes and learns to be empathetic although perhaps too late, shortly before dying Anne analyzes how her life was defined by her decisions and how it would have been if she had married Henry Percy, or had behaved like her sister Mary.
As I said it is a good book but there was something that subtracts 1 star.
* The story accelerates too much at times, especially at the beginning and it is not well understood where Henry's interest in Anne arises, nor when love arises, it is as if everything will happen from one day to the next without logical or plausible reasons, and that part of the story is something basic, on the other hand the burning scenes between Anne and Henry are a fundamental point in the story but honestly they did not seem to me to be highlighted in this novel, they stay between wanting to be explicit and demure, what that leaves them incomplete and a bit clumsy, here I would suggest the author to choose a path, another detail is that the vocabulary becomes very modern which some readers may not like but that does not bother me, something that I would had changed is that other important characters like thomas Boleyn are barely mentioned which I thought helps to cut the story short but leaves things incomplete
This book tells the story of Anne Boleyn told from her point of view, it is a short novel and not so detailed but it is a well accomplished story.
The story begins shortly before Henry VIII dies, Anne comes to him as a ghost to see him die, then the book goes to 1520 and Anne recounts her life as the youngest daughter of the Boleyns, her relationship with George is warm and very close, George thank God in this book is not gay, he is a womanizer whose love for Anne is between brotherly and platonic love, but there is never anything wrong between them, the relationship with Mary Boleyn is distant and sometimes difficult , but they are siblings and maintain a bond that unites them despite their differences. Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn have a somewhat long but not deep relationship, Mary is blatantly used by Henry, which helps Anne to learn what not to do, the years pass and Anne longs to have a family, to be a loved and married woman but that does not happen, she flirts with Henry Percy and try to marry but Percy is not brave enough to fight for Anne so nothing happened, Anne is not beautiful but she looks good and is quite ingenious which captures Henry's attention, although this happens gradually for several years, during that time he struggles to be free of Catherine his rightful queen and wife, Anne doesn't go to his bed what makes Henry desperate to have her, and this is also difficult for her who really wants to know how is to be loved by a man like Henry but she knows that the only way in which she can have the king and be respected as a woman is marrying him and to get that she needs to pretend be innocent, finally Anne and Henry can be wife and husband but the marriage It's not perfect, Anne learns to deal with her enemies and Henry's unfaithful character, the story continues as we know it and ends with Anne Boleyn's death in 1536.
The book has things that are worth highlighting, first despite the fact that Anne tells her story, George is a good connection between things as she sees them and how they are, the second thing is that no character in the novel is bad or good , and considering the POV that is a great achievement, Anne can recognize the virtues even of Mary Tudor and Catherine of Aragon, and when I say that all the characters are balanced I mean even Henry VIII who is surprisingly portrayed as someone not so bad, yes he is selfish and vain but also very religious and shows compassion to those he loves, the third great success of the book is that it portrays Anne Boleyn in a realistic way or at least that is how I imagine her, someone ambitious, calculating, and vengeful but she is also intelligent, kind and charitable, I hated her during some episodes but in others I loved her and in others I felt sorry for her, that is why it was so easy for her to make enemies especially because it was difficult for her to control herself, so it seemed to me a human representation, his relationship with Henry VIII has an interesting nuance, they share a love but nothing modern or too romantic, with ups and downs, Anne falls in love but intelligently while Henry is always Henry having lovers and being selfish but also a considerate, consenting and attentive husband ( when he wants to be), they have a sexual relationship that begins unsatisfactory for Anne but turns into pure sparks, in the end a different touch is that the last weeks of Anne's life the marriage is not a disaster as it is usually portrayed, rather it goes through hard times but it seems that it can recover, yes there are discussions and problems but nothing from another world, although an important factor is that with more than 36 years Anne's physique is not in her favor, and her wit does not surprise Henry any more, so Anne's downfall in this book is the sum of many factors: Jane Seymour's interest in Henry VIII, problems between e Anne and Cromwell, the lack of a son, Henry VIII's jealousy, Anne's unmodest (but not unfaithful) behavior with certain gentlemen, and of course Anne's other enemies, I liked that the book omitted Anne's violent episodes towards Jane Seymour, that for me is gossip and certainly does not correspond to the intelligent Anne that the book presented to me, so it is another success.
Anne's last days are more confusion than sadness and I understood it well, she wants to save herself but does not understand what is happening, I liked because in general her last months are of reflection, she managed to understand Catherine, even feel sorry for her and her daughter, especially because Anne ends up in her own shoes and learns to be empathetic although perhaps too late, shortly before dying Anne analyzes how her life was defined by her decisions and how it would have been if she had married Henry Percy, or had behaved like her sister Mary.
As I said it is a good book but there was something that subtracts 1 star.
* The story accelerates too much at times, especially at the beginning and it is not well understood where Henry's interest in Anne arises, nor when love arises, it is as if everything will happen from one day to the next without logical or plausible reasons, and that part of the story is something basic, on the other hand the burning scenes between Anne and Henry are a fundamental point in the story but honestly they did not seem to me to be highlighted in this novel, they stay between wanting to be explicit and demure, what that leaves them incomplete and a bit clumsy, here I would suggest the author to choose a path, another detail is that the vocabulary becomes very modern which some readers may not like but that does not bother me, something that I would had changed is that other important characters like thomas Boleyn are barely mentioned which I thought helps to cut the story short but leaves things incomplete
March 2, 2014
The Kiss of the Concubine: A Story of Anne Boleyn by Judith Arnopp
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4/5 stars
As with all who love the Tudor period of English history, I know Anne Boleyn’s story and know that there is likely never going to be any new or earth-shattering information that will change her story. So, why keep reading her story again and again? The answer is very simple, every now and again I run across a re-telling of Anne’s story that reignites my interest in her, her story and, her legacy. Judith Arnopp’s The Kiss of the Concubine has done just that for me.
The Kiss of the Concubine begins in 1521 when Anne is just a teenager living in her father’s home at Hever and her sister Mary is King Henry VIII’s mistress. Raised to prize and protect her virtue, Anne understands that her sister Mary is ruined and that she (Anne) will never place herself in such a position. To be any man’s whore is to be ruined and to have no future; to be the King’s whore is to be ruined entirely. At such a tender age, Anne Boleyn can’t even begin to imagine the course her life will take and just how completely ruined she will truly be when all is said and done.
As we all know, Anne Boleyn not only catches the eye of King Henry VIII but becomes intimately involved in a grand romance that is not consummated until just before Anne is married to the King and sitting beside him as the Queen of England. For seven long years, Henry courts Anne openly and fights the Church in Rome to set aside his marriage to Catherine of Aragon thus paving the way for his marriage to Anne. To say that the road to the throne was long and arduous doesn’t even come close: Anne and Henry, in their bid to be together not only piss off the Pope (more than one, in fact!) but alter the way the entire country worships. These two people, in an effort to be together (and satisfy their shared lust if we’re being fair) break with centuries of tradition in order to legitimize and justify their relationship. Setting aside and in some instances killing those who oppose them, Anne and Henry forge ahead in their endeavor and for a very brief moment in time, all is right with the world. Anne finally marries the man she has grown to love, Anne’s daughter is recognized as the heir to the throne and, England’s separation from Rome becomes official and complete. Did it never occur to the poor girl that once she had everything she wanted she would still have to fight to hold on to it all?
Though Arnopp certainly doesn’t introduce anything new in her version of Anne’s story she does allow Anne to tell her own story. The Kiss of Concubine is certainly based on the historical accounts of Anne and her life but is also a fine blend of that history and fiction. Arnopp has had to imagine how it is that Anne would have perceived the events in her life and then create a dialogue and interactions to match. While many authors have a tendency to portray Anne as a conniving and heartless woman bent only on achieving her own pleasures and goals, Arnopp has taken a different approach entirely. Arnopp has given Anne a voice that is strong and capable in many instances yet wholly uncertain and vulnerable in many, many other instances. Arnopp gives us an Anne that struggles for most of her life with the uncertainty of her situation, the uncertainty of her King’s love and, the uncertainty of the world around her. She relies heavily on her brother George, and trusts that the men who have fought for she and Henry’s cause will support her to the end. Unfortunately, for George, Anne and, many, many others, Anne’s trust is sadly misplaced at nearly every level and to her great disbelief she is replaced in Henry’s heart, his bed and, beside him. As Anne tells us in her “own” words she believes in Henry to the bitter end. Sadly, Anne goes to her death loving a feckless man who betrayed her mind, body and soul.
The Bottom Line: Arnopp has given us a unique perspective on the life of Anne Boleyn and for myself I found the voice given to Anne by Arnopp to be quite fascinating. Despite knowing Anne’s story and how it all turns out, I found her “voice” to be most convincing and throughout the read I found myself routing for her and hoping desperately for her success. But alas, even Arnopp cannot change the history nor save the head of the doomed Queen. Of particular note in this read is the demeanor and character of Henry VIII as seen through Anne’s eyes. Rather than a strong and confident man, Anne “tells” us that Henry was a man who constantly wavered in thoughts and opinions just as much as he wavered in his feelings toward his Queens. In many ways both Anne and Arnopp remind us that Henry’s quest to produce a male heir so consumed him that he treated his wives and Queens as nothing more than toys who, when they lost their luster or could not give Henry what he most desperately wanted, he tossed them aside. In all, a fine read with a perspective not often seen in this genre.
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4/5 stars
As with all who love the Tudor period of English history, I know Anne Boleyn’s story and know that there is likely never going to be any new or earth-shattering information that will change her story. So, why keep reading her story again and again? The answer is very simple, every now and again I run across a re-telling of Anne’s story that reignites my interest in her, her story and, her legacy. Judith Arnopp’s The Kiss of the Concubine has done just that for me.
The Kiss of the Concubine begins in 1521 when Anne is just a teenager living in her father’s home at Hever and her sister Mary is King Henry VIII’s mistress. Raised to prize and protect her virtue, Anne understands that her sister Mary is ruined and that she (Anne) will never place herself in such a position. To be any man’s whore is to be ruined and to have no future; to be the King’s whore is to be ruined entirely. At such a tender age, Anne Boleyn can’t even begin to imagine the course her life will take and just how completely ruined she will truly be when all is said and done.
As we all know, Anne Boleyn not only catches the eye of King Henry VIII but becomes intimately involved in a grand romance that is not consummated until just before Anne is married to the King and sitting beside him as the Queen of England. For seven long years, Henry courts Anne openly and fights the Church in Rome to set aside his marriage to Catherine of Aragon thus paving the way for his marriage to Anne. To say that the road to the throne was long and arduous doesn’t even come close: Anne and Henry, in their bid to be together not only piss off the Pope (more than one, in fact!) but alter the way the entire country worships. These two people, in an effort to be together (and satisfy their shared lust if we’re being fair) break with centuries of tradition in order to legitimize and justify their relationship. Setting aside and in some instances killing those who oppose them, Anne and Henry forge ahead in their endeavor and for a very brief moment in time, all is right with the world. Anne finally marries the man she has grown to love, Anne’s daughter is recognized as the heir to the throne and, England’s separation from Rome becomes official and complete. Did it never occur to the poor girl that once she had everything she wanted she would still have to fight to hold on to it all?
Though Arnopp certainly doesn’t introduce anything new in her version of Anne’s story she does allow Anne to tell her own story. The Kiss of Concubine is certainly based on the historical accounts of Anne and her life but is also a fine blend of that history and fiction. Arnopp has had to imagine how it is that Anne would have perceived the events in her life and then create a dialogue and interactions to match. While many authors have a tendency to portray Anne as a conniving and heartless woman bent only on achieving her own pleasures and goals, Arnopp has taken a different approach entirely. Arnopp has given Anne a voice that is strong and capable in many instances yet wholly uncertain and vulnerable in many, many other instances. Arnopp gives us an Anne that struggles for most of her life with the uncertainty of her situation, the uncertainty of her King’s love and, the uncertainty of the world around her. She relies heavily on her brother George, and trusts that the men who have fought for she and Henry’s cause will support her to the end. Unfortunately, for George, Anne and, many, many others, Anne’s trust is sadly misplaced at nearly every level and to her great disbelief she is replaced in Henry’s heart, his bed and, beside him. As Anne tells us in her “own” words she believes in Henry to the bitter end. Sadly, Anne goes to her death loving a feckless man who betrayed her mind, body and soul.
The Bottom Line: Arnopp has given us a unique perspective on the life of Anne Boleyn and for myself I found the voice given to Anne by Arnopp to be quite fascinating. Despite knowing Anne’s story and how it all turns out, I found her “voice” to be most convincing and throughout the read I found myself routing for her and hoping desperately for her success. But alas, even Arnopp cannot change the history nor save the head of the doomed Queen. Of particular note in this read is the demeanor and character of Henry VIII as seen through Anne’s eyes. Rather than a strong and confident man, Anne “tells” us that Henry was a man who constantly wavered in thoughts and opinions just as much as he wavered in his feelings toward his Queens. In many ways both Anne and Arnopp remind us that Henry’s quest to produce a male heir so consumed him that he treated his wives and Queens as nothing more than toys who, when they lost their luster or could not give Henry what he most desperately wanted, he tossed them aside. In all, a fine read with a perspective not often seen in this genre.
September 24, 2014
This well written book took me back to the Tudor court, bringing it to life brilliantly. Anne Boleyn, usually portrayed as manipulative and calculating, became a character I wanted to know more about, one I liked and empathised with. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down!
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February 20, 2014Great view of what might be the "real" Anne Boleyn. The only one I have found about her that doesn't make her look like a villian, and sees her as the real person she might have been
September 20, 2022
everything i could ever want from a retelling of the story of anne boleyn. it was amazing ! the only thing i didn't like was that the ending was rushed, but other than that it was perfect.
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June 26, 2016Pretty good book, though Anne wasn't my favorite Queen. I always thought she was just mean to Mary.
July 4, 2016
This story is wonderfully written. Overall very good. I saw Anne in a completely different light and at the end I cried for her.
January 11, 2015
Excellent, fast paced, historically based novel. Enjoyed a very well written book!
January 5, 2020
I don't think I shall ever tire of hearing or reading about Anne Boleyn. Like so many people faded into the rich tapestry of British history, she is an enigma, and yet we know so much about her. Judith Arnopp's version of events is fascinating, enlightening, and so enjoyable.
I loved the first person pov. It worked so well and from the very first page, I was paying attention to Anne Boleyn. This novel is impeccably researched, beautifully written & highly emotive.
The rise and fall of King Henry VIII & Anne's relationship is vividly re-told and is effective and realistic.
I love it when a story makes you think deeply about the characters, especially the real people from our historical past, and that is exactly what the author's writing has done here. There are so many stories and opinions of Anne Boleyn, and here, the author allows us to consider many facts, offering the opportunity to view the doomed queen in a new light.
Overall, an accurate portrayal & a most recommended novel.
I loved the first person pov. It worked so well and from the very first page, I was paying attention to Anne Boleyn. This novel is impeccably researched, beautifully written & highly emotive.
The rise and fall of King Henry VIII & Anne's relationship is vividly re-told and is effective and realistic.
I love it when a story makes you think deeply about the characters, especially the real people from our historical past, and that is exactly what the author's writing has done here. There are so many stories and opinions of Anne Boleyn, and here, the author allows us to consider many facts, offering the opportunity to view the doomed queen in a new light.
Overall, an accurate portrayal & a most recommended novel.
November 22, 2024
I've read many books about "my Anne", and this is top tier. The fiction blends seamlessly with the history, and the author does a beautiful job of creating multifaceted characters. Anne wasn't a saint or a devil, and this book balances her qualities and creates an empathetic narrative.
May 1, 2014
Like Stepping into Anne Boleyn's Shoes
I've held an interest in Anne Boleyn and Tudor England for 30 years now. These days I read more history and fewer historical fiction novels as the novels began to seem repetitive; pick a version of Anne, pick a reason for her downfall, fill in with dialogue, and voila - you have a novel. I've read so many novels that it seemed there was no point in reading another.
The Kiss of the Concubine proved me wrong. Arnopp writes in first person present, which is a feat in itself and rarely done well over the course of an entire book. This results in the reader being entirely embraced by Anne and ensnared in her every moment as if it were happening right here, right now, to the reader personally. I do not think I have felt - no, experienced - a book as thoroughly as this since Susan Kay's Legacy.
Here we live in Anne's skin, we live in the moment as she moves through life, and we go through each experience with her without stopping for long periods of reflection and review such as drags us down in other narratives. After all, we the reader already know the big picture if we've read much about our subject. We don't need Anne to explain how the King's Great Matter or Anne's own religious views helped shape the English church from the 1530s onward. Instead we see Anne's happiness and frustration, her hopes and her despair as she felt each emotion in the rollercoaster that was her life.
Arnopp presents a view of Anne and Henry's life that often gets lost in the shuffle of the differing opinions about motives and goals: the view of two people who fell in love when they didn't expect to, with someone with whom marriage was at the onset entirely out of the question. So often in novels we see Henry's love for Anne treated as pure obsession and Anne's love for Henry treated as pure ambition (or on occasion we see Anne presented as a hapless victim of powerful men who had no say in her destiny whatsoever). Arnopp shows us a couple of real people who were in real love. Their love is not pure and perfect, but it is real, right up until they were parted.
This is the Henry and Anne that have been lost to us in pursuit of the answers to "more important" questions of history. But this is the couple who first stirred my interest when I was 13, and who made me want to learn more about them and the times they lived in. Over time, what is written of them has been clouded by a jaundiced, more cynical view. Whether they truly loved one another is considered almost as an afterthought, something not necessary to their story. But what would be the point of turning the world upside down to be together if not for love?
Thank you, Judith Arnopp, for putting the love back into this love story.
I've held an interest in Anne Boleyn and Tudor England for 30 years now. These days I read more history and fewer historical fiction novels as the novels began to seem repetitive; pick a version of Anne, pick a reason for her downfall, fill in with dialogue, and voila - you have a novel. I've read so many novels that it seemed there was no point in reading another.
The Kiss of the Concubine proved me wrong. Arnopp writes in first person present, which is a feat in itself and rarely done well over the course of an entire book. This results in the reader being entirely embraced by Anne and ensnared in her every moment as if it were happening right here, right now, to the reader personally. I do not think I have felt - no, experienced - a book as thoroughly as this since Susan Kay's Legacy.
Here we live in Anne's skin, we live in the moment as she moves through life, and we go through each experience with her without stopping for long periods of reflection and review such as drags us down in other narratives. After all, we the reader already know the big picture if we've read much about our subject. We don't need Anne to explain how the King's Great Matter or Anne's own religious views helped shape the English church from the 1530s onward. Instead we see Anne's happiness and frustration, her hopes and her despair as she felt each emotion in the rollercoaster that was her life.
Arnopp presents a view of Anne and Henry's life that often gets lost in the shuffle of the differing opinions about motives and goals: the view of two people who fell in love when they didn't expect to, with someone with whom marriage was at the onset entirely out of the question. So often in novels we see Henry's love for Anne treated as pure obsession and Anne's love for Henry treated as pure ambition (or on occasion we see Anne presented as a hapless victim of powerful men who had no say in her destiny whatsoever). Arnopp shows us a couple of real people who were in real love. Their love is not pure and perfect, but it is real, right up until they were parted.
This is the Henry and Anne that have been lost to us in pursuit of the answers to "more important" questions of history. But this is the couple who first stirred my interest when I was 13, and who made me want to learn more about them and the times they lived in. Over time, what is written of them has been clouded by a jaundiced, more cynical view. Whether they truly loved one another is considered almost as an afterthought, something not necessary to their story. But what would be the point of turning the world upside down to be together if not for love?
Thank you, Judith Arnopp, for putting the love back into this love story.
January 24, 2015
As always, Judith gave us a novel that is easy and fun to read. There's a lot to like about this Anne Boleyn, and she is very sympathetic. The author writes from the perspective that Anne's reputation has been blackened by her all-too-numerous detractors; who would possibly speak up in her defense? So this is an attempt to set the record straight, so to speak, told by Anne herself.
The first person point-of-view is always interesting, but in many ways it's confining as well. After all, Anne isn't likely to say bad things about herself; like most of us, she probably doesn't see herself the way the world sees her. She might not think that she is peevish, or hot-tempered, or vindictive. As a result, she comes across as a nice gal who didn't know what hit her. Unfortunately, I think she was too nice; we didn't really see that feisty fiery vixen that must have exuded some strange sort of sex appeal. What was it about her that made King Henry turn the country upside-down in order to have her? We don't experience her exotic Frenchified behavior that raised so many eyebrows. Nor did it seem that she had any excessive antagonism toward Cardinal Wolsey, or even her predecessor Queen Katherine. She didn't celebrate Katherine's death; her actions were misinterpreted, as well as her yellow dress.
I'm sure this toned-down behavior is intentional, but I think it takes much of the spice out of the story. If Anne was sweet and even-tempered, why did Henry go to such lengths to get rid of her? The explanation has much to do with her opposition to Cromwell's policy of dissolution; apparently Cromwell's one-man crusade against the Queen entangled the King in her ruin. Her fall was swift and inexorable. I'm just not sure it was convincing.
Nonetheless, it's refreshing to read yet another Anne Boleyn story from a different angle. Perhaps the author is right and Anne has been misjudged by centuries of credulous historians. It's easy to perpetuate a fascinating myth. It's not so easy to dismantle it, and Judith shows us an entertaining alternative.
The first person point-of-view is always interesting, but in many ways it's confining as well. After all, Anne isn't likely to say bad things about herself; like most of us, she probably doesn't see herself the way the world sees her. She might not think that she is peevish, or hot-tempered, or vindictive. As a result, she comes across as a nice gal who didn't know what hit her. Unfortunately, I think she was too nice; we didn't really see that feisty fiery vixen that must have exuded some strange sort of sex appeal. What was it about her that made King Henry turn the country upside-down in order to have her? We don't experience her exotic Frenchified behavior that raised so many eyebrows. Nor did it seem that she had any excessive antagonism toward Cardinal Wolsey, or even her predecessor Queen Katherine. She didn't celebrate Katherine's death; her actions were misinterpreted, as well as her yellow dress.
I'm sure this toned-down behavior is intentional, but I think it takes much of the spice out of the story. If Anne was sweet and even-tempered, why did Henry go to such lengths to get rid of her? The explanation has much to do with her opposition to Cromwell's policy of dissolution; apparently Cromwell's one-man crusade against the Queen entangled the King in her ruin. Her fall was swift and inexorable. I'm just not sure it was convincing.
Nonetheless, it's refreshing to read yet another Anne Boleyn story from a different angle. Perhaps the author is right and Anne has been misjudged by centuries of credulous historians. It's easy to perpetuate a fascinating myth. It's not so easy to dismantle it, and Judith shows us an entertaining alternative.
July 26, 2016
I've read a gazillion Tudor novels over the years, so I was very familiar with the story going into this book. I think Ms. Arnopp did a great job with her interpretation of Henry and Anne's relationship. While this book doesn't offer anything new or different to make it stand out among all the other Historical Fiction Tudor novels out there, I did appreciate the more realistic and human version of Anne that was portrayed here.
Many authors do one of two things to Anne Boleyn...they make her a calculating monster with no feelings other than impatience and rage...or they make her a saint who was just a pawn caught up in the whims of the larger-than-life Henry VIII. Personally, I don't believe she was either of those, but was somewhere in the middle. Was she a cunning witch who turned down Henry's advances because she thought she could get a crown out of it? Or was she just a young woman who refused to be treated like her used and discarded sister (mistress to two Kings) and hold on to her virginity until marriage, even if it meant denying the King of England? We'll never truly know, but I like to think she was in real life much like the way she's portrayed here in this novel.
Overall, this was a really good story, and I absolutely recommend it...especially to Tudor fans (obviously). It moved along quickly and was very well written. Everything is told from Anne's point of view, so you won't read much about what's going on elsewhere in the court, but I didn't mind. Some Tudor books try and take on too much and it becomes overwhelming. Not the case with this novel.
Many authors do one of two things to Anne Boleyn...they make her a calculating monster with no feelings other than impatience and rage...or they make her a saint who was just a pawn caught up in the whims of the larger-than-life Henry VIII. Personally, I don't believe she was either of those, but was somewhere in the middle. Was she a cunning witch who turned down Henry's advances because she thought she could get a crown out of it? Or was she just a young woman who refused to be treated like her used and discarded sister (mistress to two Kings) and hold on to her virginity until marriage, even if it meant denying the King of England? We'll never truly know, but I like to think she was in real life much like the way she's portrayed here in this novel.
Overall, this was a really good story, and I absolutely recommend it...especially to Tudor fans (obviously). It moved along quickly and was very well written. Everything is told from Anne's point of view, so you won't read much about what's going on elsewhere in the court, but I didn't mind. Some Tudor books try and take on too much and it becomes overwhelming. Not the case with this novel.
October 1, 2014
After reading The Kiss of the Concubine by Judith Arnopp, I felt I had a different view of what Anne Boleyn’s life must have been like. The story of Anne Boleyn has fascinated me since school history lessons and Judith tells this beautifully evocative story in the first person, weaving Anne’s thoughts skilfully with known facts from the time.
It is a wonderful chance to imagine what it must have been like at the Tudor court and how she might have felt about her family and the then very dashing King Henry. Her daughter, Elizabeth, who went on to be one of England’s greatest queens, is much loved in this story, but the marriage was always about a son, an heir and a future king.
From Anne’s viewpoint in this story I feel she must have loved Henry and was terribly saddened about not being able to give him what he wanted most. A son.
Of course the story doesn’t have a happy ending, but Judith leads us up to those last days and shows a very calm woman, accepting of her fate. I could imagine how she must have felt as she returned to The Tower, to the rooms she’d occupied prior to her coronation, but this time through Traitors Gate.
I felt her unease as she lived in comfort, but watched the scaffold being erected for her own execution? Only last week I stood looking down on the green where the execution was believed to have taken place and The Kiss of the Concubine was very much in my mind.
Despite the known unhappy ending of this story, Judith created one which leaves the reader with hope that Anne was at last at peace and is well worth reading.
It is a wonderful chance to imagine what it must have been like at the Tudor court and how she might have felt about her family and the then very dashing King Henry. Her daughter, Elizabeth, who went on to be one of England’s greatest queens, is much loved in this story, but the marriage was always about a son, an heir and a future king.
From Anne’s viewpoint in this story I feel she must have loved Henry and was terribly saddened about not being able to give him what he wanted most. A son.
Of course the story doesn’t have a happy ending, but Judith leads us up to those last days and shows a very calm woman, accepting of her fate. I could imagine how she must have felt as she returned to The Tower, to the rooms she’d occupied prior to her coronation, but this time through Traitors Gate.
I felt her unease as she lived in comfort, but watched the scaffold being erected for her own execution? Only last week I stood looking down on the green where the execution was believed to have taken place and The Kiss of the Concubine was very much in my mind.
Despite the known unhappy ending of this story, Judith created one which leaves the reader with hope that Anne was at last at peace and is well worth reading.
September 29, 2014
Told in the first person, this is the story of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII. We relive Anne's life through her own eyes, from the happy, privileged daughter, playing with her siblings Mary and George in the grounds at Hever Castle to her last lonely months in the royal apartments at the Tower of London.
Though this story is fiction, the book is well researched and the historical figures we knew from history lessons about the Tudors at school, are vividly portrayed and brought to life as real and rounded people.
Henry is first portrayed as the dashing, fit and brave young horseman, his duty foremost in his mind, to produce a male heir to rule after him. We watch him age, his obsession with duty mixed with a desire for ultimate power over his people and his advisers push for the changes to please the king, all in the name of God. His desire for Anne becomes an obsession to marry her and the rest, as they say, is history.
This book is a page turner that kept me reading late into the night. If you like historical fiction, you'll love this book.
Though this story is fiction, the book is well researched and the historical figures we knew from history lessons about the Tudors at school, are vividly portrayed and brought to life as real and rounded people.
Henry is first portrayed as the dashing, fit and brave young horseman, his duty foremost in his mind, to produce a male heir to rule after him. We watch him age, his obsession with duty mixed with a desire for ultimate power over his people and his advisers push for the changes to please the king, all in the name of God. His desire for Anne becomes an obsession to marry her and the rest, as they say, is history.
This book is a page turner that kept me reading late into the night. If you like historical fiction, you'll love this book.
January 9, 2016
Even though I know how Anne's story ends, I enjoyed the fresh take on it through the use of first- person narrative. I've often read historical accounts of Anne Boleyn and wondered what she must have felt as her family encouraged her to captivate Henry, as she miscarried her sons, and as her husband abandoned her and allowed her to die, leaving behind a two year old baby. Although we have no way of knowing for sure, this novel captures a woman's emotions and fears. I do love that Arnopp chose to include Anne's intentions for the reform of the English Church and how it came in direct conflict with Cromwell's need to please Henry at all costs. There is not enough literature out there about Anne Boleyn that touches on this. Recommend this book to fans of Tudor fiction who are looking for an entertaining read.
January 19, 2014
A riveting and revealing interpretation of what is known about Anne Boleyn's downfall, by a masterful writer. Judith Arnopp always puts her all into her research and her characters and Anne Boleyn's story was no exception. I was delighted with her early years and the glimpses of her family life and horrified at her last days.
This week-end I was able to view an original oil painting from 1593 of Elizabeth I and it brought the Boleyns to life even more for me. How Elizabeth looked in the portrait and what the presenter had to say about HER life was impressive.
I always recommend Arnopp's novels whole heartedly and this one excels even more than the others. Cannot recommend it enough to all Tudor, historical novel and history fans.
This week-end I was able to view an original oil painting from 1593 of Elizabeth I and it brought the Boleyns to life even more for me. How Elizabeth looked in the portrait and what the presenter had to say about HER life was impressive.
I always recommend Arnopp's novels whole heartedly and this one excels even more than the others. Cannot recommend it enough to all Tudor, historical novel and history fans.
March 20, 2016
This was a fascinating version of the journey of Anne Boleyn from innocent teenager to older woman and eventually to queen of England- after Henry VIII succeeded in removing his first wife via the divorce that rocked the nation. Hearing it all from Anne Boleyn’s voice was interesting, though at times almost irritating when she was first pursued by Henry. However, the use of first person brings to life the motivations put forward by the author giving justification for Anne’s reasoning during the long 7 year wooing by King Henry VIII. The passage of time isn’t laboured in the story yet, when the inevitable end comes it seems almost too early.
October 25, 2014
I've read countless books about Anne Boleyn, and this is unquestionably one of the best.
The version of Anne depicted here is so relatable, so human, and I love that the author handled her with such compassion. She's not sensationalized or reduced to either sinner or saint. She's just a person, with as many flaws and virtues as anyone else.
The same is true for Henry, for that matter… he's handled with unusual sensitivity, making their relationship a pleasure to read even though we all know how it ends.
Brilliant. I can't wait to read other works by this author!
The version of Anne depicted here is so relatable, so human, and I love that the author handled her with such compassion. She's not sensationalized or reduced to either sinner or saint. She's just a person, with as many flaws and virtues as anyone else.
The same is true for Henry, for that matter… he's handled with unusual sensitivity, making their relationship a pleasure to read even though we all know how it ends.
Brilliant. I can't wait to read other works by this author!
February 13, 2016
In this novel Judith Arnopp tells the story of Anne Boleyn as Anne herself might have told it and she does so in the first person. It eliminates much of the usual villainous traits one reads in other Anne Boleyn stories and really makes her out to be quite the victim. Whether she was or not having the story told in the first person was interesting and her seemingly true love of Henry VIII surprising. I enjoyed the book very much but wondered about a loose end that was not addressed at the end.
January 20, 2014
A unique view of Anne Boleyn. There's not a lot of the tale we don't already know, but looking at the story from a different angle was enjoyable, and I couldn't put the book down. I don't know what it is about these characters that intrigues us so, but Judith Arnopp fulfilled our desire to know more. Thoughts, yearnings, and motivations are brought to a new light as Ms. Arnopp relates the tale of King Henry's court from Anne Boleyn's point of view. Bravo!
January 4, 2014
This was just ok for me. I've read extensively on the whole Tudor era and just didn't feel this added anything fresh to what I've already seen out there. I felt like I was waiting for something more insightful or thought provoking than what it ended up being. Someone who is just getting started reading in this area would probably enjoy this much more.
February 8, 2014
There are hundreds of different renditions of Anne Boleyn's story, and this one can probably be counted as one of the better ones. I love it. An Anne Boleyn who isn't an over-confident bitch from the get-go, but is in fact a human being, a young woman with fears and insecurities just like the rest of us.
An excellent read!
An excellent read!
July 31, 2014
The Anne we wished for
The Anne we wished for
The very first page of this book grabs you and doesn't let go. Henry VIII in the throes of death and Anne is whispering from the beyond. But this is a gentler kinder more caring Anne. The Anne we wished for, the Anne we wished that could have been spared.
The Anne we wished for
The very first page of this book grabs you and doesn't let go. Henry VIII in the throes of death and Anne is whispering from the beyond. But this is a gentler kinder more caring Anne. The Anne we wished for, the Anne we wished that could have been spared.
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