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Product Description
Product Description
Adulteress? Sorceress? Immoral Temptress? No English Queen has been so persistently vilified as Anne Boleyn. Even after her execution in May 1536 - on trumped-up charges of adultery - the portrait that has come down to us is the one drawn by her enemies. Joanna Denny's compelling new biography of Anne presents a radically different picture of her - a highly literate, accomplished and intellectual woman, and a devout protagonist of the Protestant faith. It was Anne who played the key role in separating England from the Church of Rome. Her tragedy was that her looks and vivacious charm attracted the notice of a violent and paranoid King Henry - and trapped her in the vicious politics of the Tudor court. Joanna Denny's enthralling book plunges the reader into the fascinating, turbulent time that changed England forever.
About the Author
Joanna Denny was born near Hever Castle in Kent, Anne Boleyn's family home. Her interest in Tudor history was triggered by research into her ancestor, Sir Anthony Denny, one of Henry VIII's courtiers and she is the author of a fictional trilogy on the Tudors. She lives near Eastbourne.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book, it was well written and interesting, it is just a shame that Denny made it totally unconvincing and so one sided. Anne Boleyn was painted as some kind of Angel whilst everyone around her were evil villains. I think it is generally agreed that Anne wasn't guilty of what she was accused of and she had many admirable qualities-but neither can she have been that perfect. Joanna Denny lets herself down as an historian by giving such a biased view. There seems to be plenty of evidence to suggest that Anne was more than capable of being bad tempered, vindictive and malicious but she seemed to be ultimately a good person. It is not fair to villify everybody who didn't like her; for example Denny claims that Mary (Henrys sister) didn't like Anne because she disapproved of Mary's flirtatiousness whilst they were in france together. This may be true, but she leaves out the fact that Mary and Catherine of Aragon were close friends-so it follows she would side with her. Her attitude towards Catherine of Aragon is particularly unfair, she describes her as 'arragont and stubborn' for not submitting to divorce-I think Catherine's reaction was perfectly natural, the man who she had been married to for over 20 years and loved deeply was trying to shrug off their marriage for somebody else. Catherine was also fighting to prevent her daughter being made illegitamite thus losing her place as heir to the throne, and her religion forbade divorce. Denny accuses her of lying to the king about her miscarriage. Starkey offers the more plausabile view that Catherine didn't know enough about sex and pregnancy to realise she was no longer pregnant-she just went with what the Doctors told her at the time. Denny twists alot of events to put very unjust slants on peoples actions and characters and writes off as lies and mistruths anything that puts Anne in a bad light whilst also omitting alot of events that don't do Anne credit. The book gives alot of detailed insight into anne Boleyn but doesn't allow for the fact that at the end of the day she was only human.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"The very ink of history is written with fluid prejudice." Mark Twain
How very interesting it is that Ms. Denny starts her book with this quote. History indeed, in my opinion, is a very fluid study. Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as an evil seductress throughout history; however in this book, quite the opposite is portrayed.
I have always been of the opinion that Anne Boleyn has been mis-represented. Not much was known of her in common historical cirlces. I find Ms. Denny's research quite interesting and refreshing at times; however, that is where it ends for me.
I have always held the opinion that Anne Boleyn was a very educated,composed woman; no matter what history trys to portray her as being. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I was a lot like her mother in looks, demeanor and intelligence. Do I think Anne Boleyn was a saint as in my opinion, Ms. Denny portrays her to be? Absolutely not.
I quite honestly found her character assesments of Queen Catherine of Aragon, Mary and Jane Seymour quite disturbing. It seems to me that in order to make Anne Boleyn's case stronger, Ms. Denny attempts to historically assassinate other women who happen to have fallen prey to King Henry VIII's at times, religious views and violent temprament. In order to educate the masses about Anne Boleyn, must you revert to the same mis-leading doctrination? As you have quoted Mark Twain... Isn't your version of history written with the same fluid prejudice?
How very interesting it is that Ms. Denny starts her book with this quote. History indeed, in my opinion, is a very fluid study. Anne Boleyn has been portrayed as an evil seductress throughout history; however in this book, quite the opposite is portrayed.
I have always been of the opinion that Anne Boleyn has been mis-represented. Not much was known of her in common historical cirlces. I find Ms. Denny's research quite interesting and refreshing at times; however, that is where it ends for me.
I have always held the opinion that Anne Boleyn was a very educated,composed woman; no matter what history trys to portray her as being. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I was a lot like her mother in looks, demeanor and intelligence. Do I think Anne Boleyn was a saint as in my opinion, Ms. Denny portrays her to be? Absolutely not.
I quite honestly found her character assesments of Queen Catherine of Aragon, Mary and Jane Seymour quite disturbing. It seems to me that in order to make Anne Boleyn's case stronger, Ms. Denny attempts to historically assassinate other women who happen to have fallen prey to King Henry VIII's at times, religious views and violent temprament. In order to educate the masses about Anne Boleyn, must you revert to the same mis-leading doctrination? As you have quoted Mark Twain... Isn't your version of history written with the same fluid prejudice?
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been interested in the life of Anne Boleyn for many years now, and i was excited to read a book that portrayed Anne in a positive light. The book covered Anne's life from her birth to the aftermath after her death in great detail.
I found the book read almost like a novel, in the sense that i could not put it down, there were moments i laughed out loud and moments i cried..
I think any tudor fanatic should read this book. In response to opinions of Catherine of Aragon being shown in a negative light, i agree, but i feel it was justified. As the book explains (and Starkey touches on this too) at the time it was custom for a marriage consumation to be watched - so many reported Catherine and Arthur had consumated the marriage. Also, with Catherine's lies about her fake pregnancy, it's difficult to believe her when she claims against witness statements that she was a virgin when she married Henry VIII.
Overall, i found the book well written and riveting, taking a whole new perspective of Anne Boleyn. I highly recommend it :)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lost Your Head?
Denny has the admirable task of attempting to right a wrong - she believes (quite rightly as it happens) that Anne Boleyn has been unfairly villified for centuries. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kokino
Contains at least four cases of misrepresentation
I recently re-read this book, six years after first reading it. The first time I wasn't impressed, since I found it impassioned, and eager to cheer on its heroine and portray... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Judith Loriente
Anne Boleyn: A new life of Englands Tragic Queen
Over the years i,ve read many books about Anne Boleyn and expected this one to be much like all the others. Read more
Published 16 months ago by christine pryce
Fact or Fiction?
I enjoyed this book with reservstions. It was refreshing to read a book about Anne Boleyn that put her in a positive light. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dee
An important piece of work
Reading these other reviews, I understand completely where other reviewers are coming from regarding bias. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by Avid Reader
Anne Boleyn, by Joanna Denny
I have just finished reading this book, and i absolutely loved it.
It is historically accurate as far as i can tell, and is well referenced. Read more
It is historically accurate as far as i can tell, and is well referenced. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by Faye Chouings
Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Queen
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Anne Boleyn, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's the first biography that I have managed to read cover-to-cover. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by A. E. Frost
A riveting (if one-sided) read!
Despite receiving altogether not so flattering views, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
However like many biographies I have read regarding the Tudors, I agree with... Read more
However like many biographies I have read regarding the Tudors, I agree with... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2008 by Apocalyptic Queen
Inaccurate portrayal of Catherine and Anne
Overall I enjoyed this book however, the portraits the author painted of Catherine of Aragon and Mary were extremely biased to say the least. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2008 by J. V. Adcock
Disapointingly Biased
I was disappointed with this book as it was so biased it lacked credibilty. Joanna Denny attempts to portray Anne Boleyn as a saint is incredulous, when in fact she was a... Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2007 by Steven Leppard
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