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The Queen of Subtleties (Paperback)

by Suzannah Dunn (Author)
2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
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The Queen of Subtleties + The Sixth Wife + The Queen's Sorrow
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Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: HarperPerennial; New edition edition (3 Jan 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007139381
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007139385
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 147,098 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'The Queen of Subtleties' offers a stunningly refreshing way of retelling an old story. I often abandon historical novels nowadays, but I really could not put this one down. It brings Anne Boleyn to life as never before, and, probably for the first time ever in fiction, Henry VIII emerges as a truly credible character in an authentic setting.' Alison Weir, author of The Six Wives of Henry VIII 'A remarkable writer, a lyricist of ordinary life and ordinary people transfigured by extreme emotions.' Daily Telegraph 'Suzannah Dunn is that rarity among contemporary novelists: a genuine stylist. Her prose is like truffles -- rich, rare, dark, but never cloying.' Wendy Perriam 'Her ear for the rhythms of speech is unerring, her feeling for the minutiae of experience acute. It takes a good deal of artistry to create the illusion of real life, and she has managed something more difficult still, which is to who us how strange real life can be.' The Times 'A remarkable writer, a lyricist of ordinary life and ordinary people transfigured by extreme emotions.' Christopher Hart, Daily Telegraph 'Suzannah Dunn is that rarity among contemporary novelists: a genuine stylist. Her prose is like truffles -- rich, rare, dark, but never cloying.' Wendy Perriam 'Her ear for the rhythms of speech is unerring, her feeling for the minutiae of experience acute. It takes a good deal of artistry to create the illusion of real life, and she has managed something more difficult still, which is to who us how strange real life can be.' Christina Koning, The Times


The Independent

'A boisterous historical recreation.'
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Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
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 (5)
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Average Customer Review
2.0 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing., 12 Aug 2007
This book follows two points of view (told in first person); Anne Boleyn, writing to Elizabeth the day before she is to be beheaded, and Lucy Cornwallis, the royal confectioner. Both are `Queens of Subtleties,' whether it be in social situations or in the delicacies they make. Lucy becomes friends with Mark the musician, who is eventually accused of having slept with the Queen and is held in the Tower and beheaded.

I wasn't very sure why the author decided to focus on both characters. I know she says at the start that she was interested in Lucy as the only woman on the kitchen payroll, but there doesn't seem to be any other reason. Or is it just as a contrast, or to show the impact Henry's decision had? I just wasn't really sure what the purpose of it was, especially as each one tells a slightly different period of time. For example, in Anne's account, she is beheaded way before Lucy's has even got to that point - I think if she had kept them more in sync, or had focused on just one character, I would have found the differences in points of view much more interesting. I didn't find Anne very believable, she seemed rather one-dimensional and it didn't feel like a real person was speaking to me.

And, like the others, I disliked the dumbing down of "declare, I dare not" to "no comment." That felt completely unnecessary. I suppose I expected another Philippa Gregory's 'The Other Boleyn Girl,' which was unfair, but even without having read her books first, I think I would have found this book bland. Definitely a disappointment, especially after its recommendation from Alison Weir on the cover (one of my favourite historians).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars A Crashing Disappointment, 1 Jul 2008
By J. Squires "Motorpen" (Yorkshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This novel promised an interesting viewpoint - a working woman, top of her craft in tudor England - and what did we get instead? Yet another book about the "fascinating" Anne Boleyn. The confectioner is built up only to be abandoned at the end of a plot line that goes nowhere, and the author chooses instead to climax the book with the shock revelation that Boleyn was beheaded. No, really. The language is modern, but a less "refreshing" style would be harder to imagine. It's frankly lazy, tricksy and jarring, the dialogue drifting about all over the place, and it's honestly infuriating. And I'll put up with a lot from a historical novel, so this is from the heart.
Don't bother. There are a lot of good novels about Tudor England out there, and this is simply not one of them.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Half good and half completely pointless, 1 Mar 2008
I have read the other reviews with interest on this book and have to say that I agree with most of what is said on the Lucy Cornwallis story. If you are looking for a true historical recount then you are in for a disappointment. If you are looking for a new slant, then the part of the book that tells the story of Ann Boleyn is quite interesting. I like the way the book has been written in a modern style i.e. Ann calls Catherine of Aragon 'Fat Cath' behind her back and the discussions and arguments between her and Henry use completely modern day expressions of speech. I appreciate the feelings of a lot of reviewers who state that no such language or slang expressions would have been used or tolerated in the King's court at that time, I think we all know that, but I feel that the author is simply giving the story an up to date slant and for me it works.
However I feel that the story of Lucy Cornwallis is totally pointless. The notes in the book state that nothing has been recorded about this woman apart from her name and the fact that Henry eventually gave her a house in recognition of her services. Therefore the story that is related by the author apart from the fact that she made the confectionary subtleties for the King's household is total fiction. The author has tried make a link between Lucy and Ann by showing a relationship between Lucy Cornwallis adopted son/nephew Richard and Mark Smeaton, the musician that Ann was accused of having a dalliance with. As there is no historical fact to back this up the author seems to have treaded carefully by only lightly touching on this link and this just made the Lucy Cornwallis story pointless, confusing and just a complete bore to read. I feel that if you are going to write an combined fictional and factual tale, then just go for it with the fictional part and give us somthing interesting to read!!
My feelings are that if you think that you will enjoy historical fact related in a modern way, you may enjoy this book as it portrays Ann as a devious hard headed woman who knows what she wants and tries her hardest to get it. I think however the Lucy Cornwallis story adds nothing to this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time
It's been said by other reviewers, but the book is just so badly written. I have to agree with those who have compared it unfavourably to Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kristin Annexstad

4.0 out of 5 stars I don't think it was disappointing! Read me!
I can't believe how depressing all these reviews are!! I really enjoyed this novel and though it was interesting how the two different characters stories worked slowly to converge... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ms. S. Edwrds

1.0 out of 5 stars Throw with great force!
I'm sorry, but any book set in Tudor times that includes the words 'You've got to be kidding' deserves to be hurled with VERY GREAT FORCE at the nearest wall!
Published 8 months ago by Elfwyn

3.0 out of 5 stars The Queen of Subtleties
This book makes interesting reading. The story and outcome will be known to most readers in advance, but the author gives it a fresh twist by using modern idiomatic language... Read more
Published 8 months ago by anchorite

2.0 out of 5 stars Oh dear ...
I've had a Tudor England obsession since the age of 14 (particularly Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I) so devour every book about it I can get my hands on - fictional or otherwise... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rachel

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete rubbish
Totally agree with all the points made by my fellow 1 star reviewers! DO NOT read this book if you have any love for the tudor period and know anything about it as it will only... Read more
Published 13 months ago by E. Ward

1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish it!
I try and avoid giving up on novels but I am currently about a quarter of the way through and have just been reading reviews to see if it is worth carrying on with this. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ms. A. L. Young

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing and ultimately unfinishable
I love historical fiction. However, this novel is a wet squib on just about every level.

My biggest criticism is for the writer's use of speech. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Hambletta-Maud

1.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction or poor chick-lit?
Dunn claims in her opening that she is changing names to avoid appearing "outdated", an odd concept when writing historical fiction. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Lex

1.0 out of 5 stars What a shame.
I was intrigued to read this book as it is the first of this author I have read and was hoping to find her to be another interesting historical fiction writer but unfortunately I... Read more
Published 21 months ago by ditzyems

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