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The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #10
The Boleyn Inheritance
Three Women Who Share One Fate: The Boleyn Inheritance
Anne of Cleves
She runs from her tiny country, her hateful mother, and her abusive brother to a throne whose last three occupants are dead. King Henry VIII, her new husband, instantly dislikes her. Without friends, family, or even an understanding of the language being spoken around her, she must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king. Her Boleyn Inheritance: accusations and false witnesses.
Katherine Howard
She catches the king's eye within moments of arriving at court, setting in motion the dreadful machine of politics, intrigue, and treason that she does not understand. She only knows that she is beautiful, that men desire her, that she is young and in love -- but not with the diseased old man who made her queen, beds her night after night, and killed her cousin Anne. Her Boleyn Inheritance: the threat of the axe.
Jane Rochford
She is the Boleyn girl whose testimony sent her husband and sister-in-law to their deaths. She is the trusted friend of two threatened queens, the perfectly loyal spy for her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and a canny survivor in the murderous court of a most dangerous king. Throughout Europe, her name is a byword for malice, jealousy, and twisted lust. Her Boleyn Inheritance: a fortune and a title, in exchange for her soul.
The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel drawn tight as a lute string about a court ruled by the gallows and three women whose positions brought them wealth, admiration, and power as well as deceit, betrayal, and terror. Once again, Philippa Gregory has brought a vanished world to life - the whisper of a silk skirt on a stone stair, the yellow glow of candlelight illuminating a hastily written note, the murmurs of the crowd gathering on Tower Green below the newly built scaffold. In The Boleyn Inheritance Gregory is at her intelligent and page-turning best.
Anne of Cleves
She runs from her tiny country, her hateful mother, and her abusive brother to a throne whose last three occupants are dead. King Henry VIII, her new husband, instantly dislikes her. Without friends, family, or even an understanding of the language being spoken around her, she must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king. Her Boleyn Inheritance: accusations and false witnesses.
Katherine Howard
She catches the king's eye within moments of arriving at court, setting in motion the dreadful machine of politics, intrigue, and treason that she does not understand. She only knows that she is beautiful, that men desire her, that she is young and in love -- but not with the diseased old man who made her queen, beds her night after night, and killed her cousin Anne. Her Boleyn Inheritance: the threat of the axe.
Jane Rochford
She is the Boleyn girl whose testimony sent her husband and sister-in-law to their deaths. She is the trusted friend of two threatened queens, the perfectly loyal spy for her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and a canny survivor in the murderous court of a most dangerous king. Throughout Europe, her name is a byword for malice, jealousy, and twisted lust. Her Boleyn Inheritance: a fortune and a title, in exchange for her soul.
The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel drawn tight as a lute string about a court ruled by the gallows and three women whose positions brought them wealth, admiration, and power as well as deceit, betrayal, and terror. Once again, Philippa Gregory has brought a vanished world to life - the whisper of a silk skirt on a stone stair, the yellow glow of candlelight illuminating a hastily written note, the murmurs of the crowd gathering on Tower Green below the newly built scaffold. In The Boleyn Inheritance Gregory is at her intelligent and page-turning best.
518 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2006
About the author
Philippa Gregory
119 books34.6k followersPhilippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction.
Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.
Now a recognised authority on women’s history, Philippa graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London.
Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.
She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.
Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial
Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.
Now a recognised authority on women’s history, Philippa graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London.
Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.
She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com.
Philippa's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PhilippaGregoryOfficial
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May 21, 2022
The Boleyn Inheritance (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #10), Philippa Gregory
The book begins in 1539, after the death of King Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. Henry is looking for a new wife and chooses Anne of Cleves, daughter of John III, Duke of Cleves, whom he has only seen from portraits sent to him by her brother, a minor duke. Jane Rochford is summoned to court by the Duke of Norfolk to be a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Henry VIII. Jane has unpleasant memories of court, because she is the widow of George Boleyn and sister-in-law to Henry VIII's second wife, Anne. George and Anne Boleyn were both executed in 1536 for "adultery, incest and plotting to murder the King."
Katherine Howard is a fourteen-year-old girl (the cousin of Anne Boleyn) living with her grandmother at Lambeth Palace, where she has grown accustomed to a lax, licentious lifestyle. She has taken a lover, Francis Dereham, and the two have sworn to be married. Katherine's uncle informs her that she will go to court if she can behave herself and she swears to herself not to let anything, including Francis, get in her way of success of the throne.
Anne, who has heard of the fates of her predecessors, is not sure about being the queen of England but is eager to leave her family, as nobody really cares for her. Her arrival in England goes well until she is surprised by a drunken man (actually Henry VIII in disguise), who plants a sloppy kiss on her; she responds with an angry shove and curses him in German. Although she tries to make amends once she is aware of his identity, the King holds a grudge for the duration of their marriage because of this.
Henry is also put off by Anne's looks, since her German style of dress is bulky and unflattering, and she physically seems to appear nothing like her portrait. Despite his misgivings, Henry goes ahead with the marriage, but he is already looking for a way out. Anne is at a great disadvantage during the first months of her new life as she hardly speaks any English or Latin, the diplomatic language of the time. Due to her strict religious upbringing, she has not been taught how to play an instrument, sing or dance, and her mother has not made her aware of the facts of life. Despite this, Anne quickly befriends Jane Rochford, who is one of her ladies-in-waiting.
Jane is as surprised as anyone at Anne's plain appearance and ill proficiency at English, but Anne is an honest, sweet young woman who wins over the English people, if not her husband. She makes an effort to befriend Prince Edward, and the princesses Elizabeth and Mary, even when it enrages her husband, and makes a point to learn as much English as possible. A few months after their wedding, Henry decides to rid himself of his new wife. Fearing for her life, Anne agrees to sign an annulment saying that she was previously betrothed to Francis of Lorraine and that her wedding was not consummated. She is given the title "Princess" and receives land, money, and the treatment reserved for the king's own sister. ...
تاریخ خوانش روز چهاردهم ماه سپتامبر سال2019میلادی
عنوان: وراثت بولین کتاب دهم از سری داستانهای خاندان پلانتاژنه و تودور؛ نویسنده: فیلیپا گرگوری؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده21م
خاندان «پلانتاژنه» از تبار «فرانک»ها بودند، و از سده ی نهم میلادی، در «آنژه» حکومت داشتند؛ آنان از راه پیوند زناشویی، با پادشاهان «انگلستان» خویشاوندی یافتند، و از سال1154میلادی تا سال1485میلادی، یعنی از زمان پادشاهی «هنری دوم» تا «هنری هفتم» بر «انگلستان» فرمان راندند؛ در سده ی چهاردهم میلادی، آنان در «انگلستان» به دو شاخه ی خاندان «یورک» و خاندان «لنکستر» تقسیم شدند، و بر سر قدرت با یکدیگر جنگیدند، که این رویداد به جنگ «رز»ها نامور است؛ با درگذشت «ریچارد سوم» در نبرد «بازورث فیلد» در سال1485میلادی، دوره ی سیصد ساله ی فرمانروایی این دودمان، در «انگلستان» به سر آمد
آن بولین، دومین همسر، و شهبانوی «هنری هشتم» پادشاه «انگلستان» از تاریخ روز بیست و هشتم ماه می سال1533میلادی، تا روز هفدهم ماه می سال1536میلادی بودند، که ��ر برج «لندن» به اتهام زنای با محارم، و خیانت به همسر خود «هنری هشتم» گردن زده شد؛ گناهی که هیچگاه صحت آن اثبات نشد؛ وی مادر «الیزابت نخست» بوده است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 12/05/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 30/02/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
The book begins in 1539, after the death of King Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour. Henry is looking for a new wife and chooses Anne of Cleves, daughter of John III, Duke of Cleves, whom he has only seen from portraits sent to him by her brother, a minor duke. Jane Rochford is summoned to court by the Duke of Norfolk to be a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Henry VIII. Jane has unpleasant memories of court, because she is the widow of George Boleyn and sister-in-law to Henry VIII's second wife, Anne. George and Anne Boleyn were both executed in 1536 for "adultery, incest and plotting to murder the King."
Katherine Howard is a fourteen-year-old girl (the cousin of Anne Boleyn) living with her grandmother at Lambeth Palace, where she has grown accustomed to a lax, licentious lifestyle. She has taken a lover, Francis Dereham, and the two have sworn to be married. Katherine's uncle informs her that she will go to court if she can behave herself and she swears to herself not to let anything, including Francis, get in her way of success of the throne.
Anne, who has heard of the fates of her predecessors, is not sure about being the queen of England but is eager to leave her family, as nobody really cares for her. Her arrival in England goes well until she is surprised by a drunken man (actually Henry VIII in disguise), who plants a sloppy kiss on her; she responds with an angry shove and curses him in German. Although she tries to make amends once she is aware of his identity, the King holds a grudge for the duration of their marriage because of this.
Henry is also put off by Anne's looks, since her German style of dress is bulky and unflattering, and she physically seems to appear nothing like her portrait. Despite his misgivings, Henry goes ahead with the marriage, but he is already looking for a way out. Anne is at a great disadvantage during the first months of her new life as she hardly speaks any English or Latin, the diplomatic language of the time. Due to her strict religious upbringing, she has not been taught how to play an instrument, sing or dance, and her mother has not made her aware of the facts of life. Despite this, Anne quickly befriends Jane Rochford, who is one of her ladies-in-waiting.
Jane is as surprised as anyone at Anne's plain appearance and ill proficiency at English, but Anne is an honest, sweet young woman who wins over the English people, if not her husband. She makes an effort to befriend Prince Edward, and the princesses Elizabeth and Mary, even when it enrages her husband, and makes a point to learn as much English as possible. A few months after their wedding, Henry decides to rid himself of his new wife. Fearing for her life, Anne agrees to sign an annulment saying that she was previously betrothed to Francis of Lorraine and that her wedding was not consummated. She is given the title "Princess" and receives land, money, and the treatment reserved for the king's own sister. ...
تاریخ خوانش روز چهاردهم ماه سپتامبر سال2019میلادی
عنوان: وراثت بولین کتاب دهم از سری داستانهای خاندان پلانتاژنه و تودور؛ نویسنده: فیلیپا گرگوری؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده21م
خاندان «پلانتاژنه» از تبار «فرانک»ها بودند، و از سده ی نهم میلادی، در «آنژه» حکومت داشتند؛ آنان از راه پیوند زناشویی، با پادشاهان «انگلستان» خویشاوندی یافتند، و از سال1154میلادی تا سال1485میلادی، یعنی از زمان پادشاهی «هنری دوم» تا «هنری هفتم» بر «انگلستان» فرمان راندند؛ در سده ی چهاردهم میلادی، آنان در «انگلستان» به دو شاخه ی خاندان «یورک» و خاندان «لنکستر» تقسیم شدند، و بر سر قدرت با یکدیگر جنگیدند، که این رویداد به جنگ «رز»ها نامور است؛ با درگذشت «ریچارد سوم» در نبرد «بازورث فیلد» در سال1485میلادی، دوره ی سیصد ساله ی فرمانروایی این دودمان، در «انگلستان» به سر آمد
آن بولین، دومین همسر، و شهبانوی «هنری هشتم» پادشاه «انگلستان» از تاریخ روز بیست و هشتم ماه می سال1533میلادی، تا روز هفدهم ماه می سال1536میلادی بودند، که ��ر برج «لندن» به اتهام زنای با محارم، و خیانت به همسر خود «هنری هشتم» گردن زده شد؛ گناهی که هیچگاه صحت آن اثبات نشد؛ وی مادر «الیزابت نخست» بوده است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 12/05/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 30/02/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
August 21, 2015
The story of Henry the VIII’s less well known wives, Katherine Howard and Anne of Cleves, as told by themselves and Jane Boleyn, sister in law of the doomed Queen Anne. What Gregory does well is utilize the known history to augment her fiction. Her characters might well share the motives of the Tudors & Co, and if they don’t, well, they’re still highly plausible and enjoyably readable. Not a subtle book by any means-the phrase “the Boleyn Inheritance” is used no less than 2 million times-but totally immersive and admirably detailed.
Recommended for: fans of female centered historical fiction, those wishing wish ‘Game of Thrones’ was more gossip/court intrigue and less high stakes violence/despondency.
Recommended for: fans of female centered historical fiction, those wishing wish ‘Game of Thrones’ was more gossip/court intrigue and less high stakes violence/despondency.
February 27, 2009
You have to hand it to Philippa Gregory — she creates a lot of suspense out of a story everyone knows the ending to. Normally I don’t much go in for historical fiction, but this was available at the library on cd and I had a road trip coming up, so, in the words of Katherine Howard, “Voilà!” I was entertained, though not enthralled.
The novel spans Henry VIII’s marriages to Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, and is narrated by three women: Anne, Katherine, and Lady Rochford (Jane Boleyn, sister-in-law of beheaded Anne Boleyn). Anne of Cleves is both intelligent and honorable, and I felt for her as she slowly realizes that she’d exchanged the humiliations of her brother’s court for the life-threatening humiliations of Henry’s court. The only problem with Anne is her repetitive “realizations” of Henry’s insanity. “I think he must be mad!”; “I fear the king is mad!” “The country is ruled by a madman!” How many times can you be surprised by this? Anyway, it got a bit old, as did her droning on about her life being in danger, especially as we already know she doesn't end up beheaded. (Remember the rhyme: "Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.") And besides, Henry VIII wasn't insane, just selfish and corrupt.
The truly mad character is Lady Rochford, who yearns to return to the same court that had decimated her family a few years before. Even more unbelievably, she is shocked — shocked! — when her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, proves as duplicitously self-serving as ever. I mean, isn’t it obvious that if a man will throw one niece under the bus, he’d throw another one? Her machinations seem doomed from the start simply because of who she's taking orders from.
The real star of the show, however, is Katherine Howard, the endearingly materialistic, shallow, short-sighted teenage successor to Anne of Cleves. She’s not so much stupid as supremely unintellectual, with a genius for flirtation and blindness to danger. Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for this self-serving little hussy who didn't think twice about feigning ecstasy with a disgusting old man if it meant she'd get a new dress. There's something refreshing about a person who doesn't know you're supposed to hide your materialism.
In the audiobook the women are narrated by three different actresses, which adds immeasurably to the individual voice of each character —Katherine’s portrayal was spectacular. Fun to listen to on a drive, though I wouldn't waste the time to read it.
The novel spans Henry VIII’s marriages to Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, and is narrated by three women: Anne, Katherine, and Lady Rochford (Jane Boleyn, sister-in-law of beheaded Anne Boleyn). Anne of Cleves is both intelligent and honorable, and I felt for her as she slowly realizes that she’d exchanged the humiliations of her brother’s court for the life-threatening humiliations of Henry’s court. The only problem with Anne is her repetitive “realizations” of Henry’s insanity. “I think he must be mad!”; “I fear the king is mad!” “The country is ruled by a madman!” How many times can you be surprised by this? Anyway, it got a bit old, as did her droning on about her life being in danger, especially as we already know she doesn't end up beheaded. (Remember the rhyme: "Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.") And besides, Henry VIII wasn't insane, just selfish and corrupt.
The truly mad character is Lady Rochford, who yearns to return to the same court that had decimated her family a few years before. Even more unbelievably, she is shocked — shocked! — when her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, proves as duplicitously self-serving as ever. I mean, isn’t it obvious that if a man will throw one niece under the bus, he’d throw another one? Her machinations seem doomed from the start simply because of who she's taking orders from.
The real star of the show, however, is Katherine Howard, the endearingly materialistic, shallow, short-sighted teenage successor to Anne of Cleves. She’s not so much stupid as supremely unintellectual, with a genius for flirtation and blindness to danger. Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for this self-serving little hussy who didn't think twice about feigning ecstasy with a disgusting old man if it meant she'd get a new dress. There's something refreshing about a person who doesn't know you're supposed to hide your materialism.
In the audiobook the women are narrated by three different actresses, which adds immeasurably to the individual voice of each character —Katherine’s portrayal was spectacular. Fun to listen to on a drive, though I wouldn't waste the time to read it.
April 24, 2020
I truly believe Henry VIII's court should have a warning sign.
February 5, 2023
The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel in the Tudor and Plantagenet historical fiction series written by Philippa Gregory. The collection covers all the royal family members from the 14th and 15th centuries, mostly focusing on the key women who shaped the monarch when so much family friction led to war. I've been fascinated with the Tudors and Plantagenets since I was a teenager and at one point knew all the kings, queens, and their children--in order by throne ascension, marriage, and children's births. I've long forgotten some of it, but the magic among these troubled and complex personalities has stayed with me. Gregory is a wizard at retelling similar stories from different character point of views throughout the collection and even sometimes within the same book.
In this novel, the three women of focus are Queen Anne of Cleves & Queen Katherine Howard, the 4th and 5th wives of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, the sister-in-law of Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry's 2nd wife. Having just watched Six on Broadway, I scold myself for only referring to these women as the counterpart of an infamous man, but that is what sets the stage in these books and what we know from history... it's part of the way the story has been told for most. Except, in these books, Gregory always tells the tale from the women's perspective, and that's what makes them so great. Little is known about this Anne and Katherine, and in reality, Anne is deemed the ugly boring wife and Katherine is deemed the coquettish teenage girl. Neither are probably all that true, perhaps just one of their many traits that was made the focal point. That said, Gregory does capitalize on them as major plot points which helps give substance to the story in a surprising manner.
I enjoyed revisiting historical England. So much repeats itself in this time period because of changing alliances, and Gregory does an excellent job at conveying the history as much as she does weaving together romantic interludes and family drama. Parts move a little too slow and are repetitive; pieces are skipped over too quickly. But usually the story picks up somewhere else in a future book so readers ultimately learn the entire story. I'll order the next one in June... too much at once can be overkill, but I am excited to finish the last five in this series before the end of the calendar year.
In this novel, the three women of focus are Queen Anne of Cleves & Queen Katherine Howard, the 4th and 5th wives of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, the sister-in-law of Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry's 2nd wife. Having just watched Six on Broadway, I scold myself for only referring to these women as the counterpart of an infamous man, but that is what sets the stage in these books and what we know from history... it's part of the way the story has been told for most. Except, in these books, Gregory always tells the tale from the women's perspective, and that's what makes them so great. Little is known about this Anne and Katherine, and in reality, Anne is deemed the ugly boring wife and Katherine is deemed the coquettish teenage girl. Neither are probably all that true, perhaps just one of their many traits that was made the focal point. That said, Gregory does capitalize on them as major plot points which helps give substance to the story in a surprising manner.
I enjoyed revisiting historical England. So much repeats itself in this time period because of changing alliances, and Gregory does an excellent job at conveying the history as much as she does weaving together romantic interludes and family drama. Parts move a little too slow and are repetitive; pieces are skipped over too quickly. But usually the story picks up somewhere else in a future book so readers ultimately learn the entire story. I'll order the next one in June... too much at once can be overkill, but I am excited to finish the last five in this series before the end of the calendar year.
May 19, 2018
"Regele va hotărî ce anume e credință și ce e erezie, oamenii nu au căderea să stabilească lucrul ăsta. În lumea asta nouă și primejdioasă, nici măcar Biserica nu are căderea să stabilească lucrul ăsta. Regele va hotărî cine va trăi și cine va muri; căci are acum puterea Lui Dumnezeu."
"E o sentință dură pentru mine. Sunt o femeie tânără, am numai douăzeci și cinci de ani. N-am greșit cu nimic. Și totuși voi fi singură pe vecie: nedorită, stingheră și exilată. Într-adevăr, când un rege se consideră Dumnezeu și-și urmează propriile dorințe, suferința se abate asupra altora."
"E o sentință dură pentru mine. Sunt o femeie tânără, am numai douăzeci și cinci de ani. N-am greșit cu nimic. Și totuși voi fi singură pe vecie: nedorită, stingheră și exilată. Într-adevăr, când un rege se consideră Dumnezeu și-și urmează propriile dorințe, suferința se abate asupra altora."
June 4, 2008
I read The Other Boleyn Girl first and that book should bow down to this one. The books hardly compare. This one is by far the better book. Although I greatly enjoyed both, for me this one was told in such a unique way and by women I didn't know much about that it grabbed me from the beginning. It tells the story from three different perspectives. One unexpected and extremley interesting the wife of Anne Boleyn's brother, now a widow. Lady Rochford (Jane Boleyn) is now a bitter older women wanting to be kept involved in court life and is haunted by a past mistake. It then switches to Anne of Cleves. She is sitting and being painted. This portrait will be sent to the King. There he sends for her to become his wife. When he sees her he is disgusted by her. How can she handle such a situation with a hateful brother back home and a hateful husband in England? The third person is Henry's eventual fifth wife the young teenage Katherine Howard. She is young, foolish, and loose and has no idea that her fate will lead her to the King and her mistakes to her death. This story weaves three extrelmely interesting and entertaing stories into one. It is told in an engaging way and it makes you want to keep turning the pages. It is one of the best Elizabethean historical fiction I have read and defintley my favorite by this amazing author. It will captivate you and move you.
March 5, 2013
I'm a sucker for Tudor historicals. It never gets old reading about the six queens of Henry VIII, and it gives me a serious appreciation for my daily life after reading about the dangers of living in the past. Having a tendency to stick my foot in my mouth results in social ostracism these days for me, in the past, I could have been beheaded, raped, drawn, tortured, disemboweled, boiled alive.
And if I'm lucky, it would have been done in that order.
While it's no torture reading this book, I did find it drawn on and I am not a fan of the characterization. Besides Anne of Cleves, who is admittedly dull, the other two main characters in this book, the unfortunate Jane, Lady Boleyn and the infantile Queen Katherine, both seem like caricatures. Jane is a devious, desperate shrew unable to see the truth of her actions until the very end, and Katherine would make Cher of Clueless fame seem positively brilliant in comparison. I find it particularly grating that she keeps repeating "Now let me see, what do I have?" in the beginning of her sections. I understand that the author is trying to reinforce the fact that Katherine is empty-headed, materialistic, and vain, but there is a way of doing it correctly to gain the reader's sympathy; having her grate on the reader's nerves is not how it's done.
And if I'm lucky, it would have been done in that order.
While it's no torture reading this book, I did find it drawn on and I am not a fan of the characterization. Besides Anne of Cleves, who is admittedly dull, the other two main characters in this book, the unfortunate Jane, Lady Boleyn and the infantile Queen Katherine, both seem like caricatures. Jane is a devious, desperate shrew unable to see the truth of her actions until the very end, and Katherine would make Cher of Clueless fame seem positively brilliant in comparison. I find it particularly grating that she keeps repeating "Now let me see, what do I have?" in the beginning of her sections. I understand that the author is trying to reinforce the fact that Katherine is empty-headed, materialistic, and vain, but there is a way of doing it correctly to gain the reader's sympathy; having her grate on the reader's nerves is not how it's done.
November 22, 2023
Prolifica scriitoare britanica pasionata de istorie abordeaza si in aceasta carte epoca dinastiei Tudor. Este analizata domnia lui Henry al VIII-lea din perspectiva a 3 femei: Regina Anne de Cleves - ducesa de Cleves, Katherine Howard - domnisoara ei de companie si Jane Boleyn - lady Rochford, care le distruge intr-un final pe amandoua dar si pe sine. Autoarea se concentreaza pe portretele cat mai realiste si exacte ale acestor 3 femei din punct de vedere istoric. De asemenea avem o descriere detaliata a caracterului diabolic al unuia dintre cei mai cruzi oameni de la curtea lui Henry si anume Thomas Howard, ducele de Norfolk.
Naratiunea se face la persoana intai si alternativ aflam povestea si parerile celor 3 doamne asupra evenimentelor ce se desfasoara. E ca si cum le-am avea pe toate 3 in aceeasi camera si fiecare ar primi pe rand cuvantul pentru a intregi imaginea de ansamblu.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, ne aflam in anul 1539 dupa moartea reginei Jane Seymour, iar Anne de Cleves devine noua sotie a lui Henry al VIII-lea. Malefica Jane Boleyn, care si-a trimis atat cumnata, pe Anne Boleyn, cat si sotul la moarte printr-o simpla declaratie, este rechemata la curte de catre ducele de Norfolk, redevenind intriganta principala si mana lui dreapta. Katherine Howard, verisoara ei, o tanara frumoasa si usuratica, face si ea parte din suita doamnelor de onoare a reginei.
Anne de Cleves este timida si serioasa, deloc pe placul lui Henry, care se gandeste sa scape de ea, placandu-i mult mai mult de Katherine. Regina Anne este astfel repudiata intr-un mod groaznic si Katherine ajunge noua nevasta a lui Henry.
Noua regina isi gaseste curand un amant si in ciuda uneltirilor lui Jane Boleyn, barfele ajung la urechile lui Henry al VIII-lea, iar regina va fi decapitata impreuna cu aceasta. Machiavelicul duce de Norfolk scapa iar Anne de Cleves se poate numi norocoasa fiind una dintre putinele sotii care ramane in viata dupa mariajul cu regele Angliei.
Romanul mi-a placut si am ales cate un citat reprezentativ pentru fiecare dintre cele 3 femei:
- Anne:
"Voi invata sa fiu eleganta, voi invata sa fiu incantatoare, voi invata sa fiu regina."
- Jane Boleyn:
"Jur ca nu voi fi prima care sa rosteasca un cuvant impotriva acestei regine." (juramant incalcat, este printre doamnele care depun marturie impotriva ei)
- Katherine Howard:
"Inainte sa ma indrept, ridic incet ochii spre el, ca sa ma vada aproape in genunchi in fata lui, si il las o clipa sa se gandeasca la placerile lucrurilor pe care le-as putea face acolo jos, cu nasucul aproape lipit de pantalonii lui."
Va recomand romanul mai ales pentru portretele personajelor si pentru atmosfera, haosul si teroarea ce caracterizeaza domnia lui Henry, cruzimea sa fata de propriile neveste, paranoia ca ar putea fi uzurpat in orice moment, neincrederea in curtenii sai si persecutarea religioasa pe care o practica cu ajutorul ducelui de Norfolk, mana sa dreapta si calaul ideal.
Atasez in acest sens cateva citate relevante:
"Oamenii s-ar putea increde in mine, regele ar putea sa-mi incredinteze fara griji onoarea sa. Stiu cat de importanta e onoarea unui barbat si nu-mi doresc altceva decat sa fiu o fata buna, o regina buna."
"Pudoarea, Katherine. E cea mai mare comoara a unei femei."
"Multe femei stiu ce inseamna sa stea in cale, in timp ce treburile insemnate ale barbatilor merg inainte fara ele."
"Am invatat ca sunt in stare sa indur orice mi-ar putea face un baiat. Mai tarziu am invatat ca sunt in stare sa supravietuiesc oricarui lucru pe care mi l-ar putea face un barbat."
"Viata e lunga si, daca supravietuieste, femeia poate sa-si obtina placerile intr-un fel sau altul."
"Ma voi inalta ca un soim. Imi voi trai propria viata si-mi voi trai placerile. Voi fi o femeie libera. Iar libertatea nu e putin lucru pentru o femeie."
Naratiunea se face la persoana intai si alternativ aflam povestea si parerile celor 3 doamne asupra evenimentelor ce se desfasoara. E ca si cum le-am avea pe toate 3 in aceeasi camera si fiecare ar primi pe rand cuvantul pentru a intregi imaginea de ansamblu.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, ne aflam in anul 1539 dupa moartea reginei Jane Seymour, iar Anne de Cleves devine noua sotie a lui Henry al VIII-lea. Malefica Jane Boleyn, care si-a trimis atat cumnata, pe Anne Boleyn, cat si sotul la moarte printr-o simpla declaratie, este rechemata la curte de catre ducele de Norfolk, redevenind intriganta principala si mana lui dreapta. Katherine Howard, verisoara ei, o tanara frumoasa si usuratica, face si ea parte din suita doamnelor de onoare a reginei.
Anne de Cleves este timida si serioasa, deloc pe placul lui Henry, care se gandeste sa scape de ea, placandu-i mult mai mult de Katherine. Regina Anne este astfel repudiata intr-un mod groaznic si Katherine ajunge noua nevasta a lui Henry.
Noua regina isi gaseste curand un amant si in ciuda uneltirilor lui Jane Boleyn, barfele ajung la urechile lui Henry al VIII-lea, iar regina va fi decapitata impreuna cu aceasta. Machiavelicul duce de Norfolk scapa iar Anne de Cleves se poate numi norocoasa fiind una dintre putinele sotii care ramane in viata dupa mariajul cu regele Angliei.
Romanul mi-a placut si am ales cate un citat reprezentativ pentru fiecare dintre cele 3 femei:
- Anne:
"Voi invata sa fiu eleganta, voi invata sa fiu incantatoare, voi invata sa fiu regina."
- Jane Boleyn:
"Jur ca nu voi fi prima care sa rosteasca un cuvant impotriva acestei regine." (juramant incalcat, este printre doamnele care depun marturie impotriva ei)
- Katherine Howard:
"Inainte sa ma indrept, ridic incet ochii spre el, ca sa ma vada aproape in genunchi in fata lui, si il las o clipa sa se gandeasca la placerile lucrurilor pe care le-as putea face acolo jos, cu nasucul aproape lipit de pantalonii lui."
Va recomand romanul mai ales pentru portretele personajelor si pentru atmosfera, haosul si teroarea ce caracterizeaza domnia lui Henry, cruzimea sa fata de propriile neveste, paranoia ca ar putea fi uzurpat in orice moment, neincrederea in curtenii sai si persecutarea religioasa pe care o practica cu ajutorul ducelui de Norfolk, mana sa dreapta si calaul ideal.
Atasez in acest sens cateva citate relevante:
"Oamenii s-ar putea increde in mine, regele ar putea sa-mi incredinteze fara griji onoarea sa. Stiu cat de importanta e onoarea unui barbat si nu-mi doresc altceva decat sa fiu o fata buna, o regina buna."
"Pudoarea, Katherine. E cea mai mare comoara a unei femei."
"Multe femei stiu ce inseamna sa stea in cale, in timp ce treburile insemnate ale barbatilor merg inainte fara ele."
"Am invatat ca sunt in stare sa indur orice mi-ar putea face un baiat. Mai tarziu am invatat ca sunt in stare sa supravietuiesc oricarui lucru pe care mi l-ar putea face un barbat."
"Viata e lunga si, daca supravietuieste, femeia poate sa-si obtina placerile intr-un fel sau altul."
"Ma voi inalta ca un soim. Imi voi trai propria viata si-mi voi trai placerile. Voi fi o femeie libera. Iar libertatea nu e putin lucru pentru o femeie."
February 20, 2021
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Boleyn Inheritance is the tenth book in The Plantagenet and Tudor novels. It tells the story of two of King Henry VIII’s wives, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. In addition to the two queens, there is also Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford who was the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn. The story is told from the three women’s perspectives. This book covers the period in which Henry’s madness was getting out of control.
Like the other books in the series, the details that Gregory puts into the Tudors’ era and into the characters are magnificent. In this book, you have three totally different protagonists. Jane Boleyn has lots of remorse about her past and what she did to her husband and his sister yet she is still thirsty for wealth and decided to plot with her uncle to push another Howard girl in Henry’s way. Young Katherine Howard on the other hand is so naive and portrayed as childish and sometimes dumb. Still, one can’t help but feel sorry for the fate she was sent to. This shows Henry’s cruelty and how he did not spare this fifteen-year-old girl whom he used. Anne of Cleves must have ended being the luckiest and the most clever one of them as she recognized Henry’s madness and understood that it was better for her to get away from him. It is said that she outlived all Henry’s wives.
“I will own a cat and not fear being called a witch; I will dance and not fear being named a whore. I shall ride my horse and go where I please. I shall soar like a gyrfalcon. I shall live my own life and please myself. I shall be a free woman. It is no small thing, this, for a woman: freedom.”
You have three perspectives in this book but not once I felt confused or forgot who was narrating because the author has taken great care in shaping the three characters. They are very unique and a lot different from each other. So do not fear getting intimidated by the multiple narratives.
The novel is filled with all kinds of backstabbing and betrayals. Women are used by men for political reasons to gain wealth and position at court. Reading this novel after The Other Boleyn Girl makes perfect sense as the events in this one follows the events of the previous book. Once more Philippa Gregory has masterfully blended fiction with historical facts in such an amusing way. I loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
“We are two women who have recognised that we cannot control the world. We are players in this game but we do not choose our own moves. The men will play us for their own desires. All we can do is try to survive whatever happens next.”
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Boleyn Inheritance is the tenth book in The Plantagenet and Tudor novels. It tells the story of two of King Henry VIII’s wives, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. In addition to the two queens, there is also Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford who was the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn. The story is told from the three women’s perspectives. This book covers the period in which Henry’s madness was getting out of control.
Like the other books in the series, the details that Gregory puts into the Tudors’ era and into the characters are magnificent. In this book, you have three totally different protagonists. Jane Boleyn has lots of remorse about her past and what she did to her husband and his sister yet she is still thirsty for wealth and decided to plot with her uncle to push another Howard girl in Henry’s way. Young Katherine Howard on the other hand is so naive and portrayed as childish and sometimes dumb. Still, one can’t help but feel sorry for the fate she was sent to. This shows Henry’s cruelty and how he did not spare this fifteen-year-old girl whom he used. Anne of Cleves must have ended being the luckiest and the most clever one of them as she recognized Henry’s madness and understood that it was better for her to get away from him. It is said that she outlived all Henry’s wives.
“I will own a cat and not fear being called a witch; I will dance and not fear being named a whore. I shall ride my horse and go where I please. I shall soar like a gyrfalcon. I shall live my own life and please myself. I shall be a free woman. It is no small thing, this, for a woman: freedom.”
You have three perspectives in this book but not once I felt confused or forgot who was narrating because the author has taken great care in shaping the three characters. They are very unique and a lot different from each other. So do not fear getting intimidated by the multiple narratives.
The novel is filled with all kinds of backstabbing and betrayals. Women are used by men for political reasons to gain wealth and position at court. Reading this novel after The Other Boleyn Girl makes perfect sense as the events in this one follows the events of the previous book. Once more Philippa Gregory has masterfully blended fiction with historical facts in such an amusing way. I loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
“We are two women who have recognised that we cannot control the world. We are players in this game but we do not choose our own moves. The men will play us for their own desires. All we can do is try to survive whatever happens next.”
April 30, 2018
This installment in the Tudor series was Philippa Gregory at her best, giving life to some of the least known or understood characters of the Tudor era. Two queens, one perpetual lady-in-waiting and the ever cunning Duke of Norfolk make this story gripping and frightening.
First, there is Anne of Cleves, a twenty-four year old queen, who reigns some six months, but is savvy enough to survive being disposed of by Henry VIII, a feat that few of his wives could boast. Anyone familiar with her story must have wondered why she elected to stay in England after Henry set her aside for Katherine Howard and how she managed to become regarded as his “sister” after she had been his wife. We are mostly told by historians that he found her ugly, but Gregory’s explanations are far more believable and credible than that, and she gives this shadowy queen life.
Next, there is Katherine Howard, the fifteen year old, who is beheaded like her cousin Anne Boleyn, but with much less fanfare. Little is known in actuality about Katherine, with exception of an extant letter from her to her lover, Thomas Culpepper. Gregory makes her a pretty and foolish teenager, taken with the limelight and repulsed by the fetid old man, whom no one can deny Henry VIII had become. Again, there is no doubt that this is who she might have been, as plausible a portrait as anyone could draw without having more information to draw on.
The third woman we are allowed to see closely is Jane Boleyn. Ah, here much is known and even more imagined, but this is a portrait of Jane that is somehow removed from the cold and calculating portrait we normally see. Not that she is warm, or soft, or lovable, but she is, here, human and pitiable.
In fact, even Henry himself is different in this account than in any of the previous ones, but this incarnation seems to be the logical outgrowth of what has come before--a madman, and in many ways a monster. How else to explain a man who would bed a fifteen year old, thinking she desires him, or behead a seventeen year old girl because she does not.
I have three more installments in the Plantagenet/Tudor series and I am certain I will miss having another to look forward to when I have completed them all.
First, there is Anne of Cleves, a twenty-four year old queen, who reigns some six months, but is savvy enough to survive being disposed of by Henry VIII, a feat that few of his wives could boast. Anyone familiar with her story must have wondered why she elected to stay in England after Henry set her aside for Katherine Howard and how she managed to become regarded as his “sister” after she had been his wife. We are mostly told by historians that he found her ugly, but Gregory’s explanations are far more believable and credible than that, and she gives this shadowy queen life.
Next, there is Katherine Howard, the fifteen year old, who is beheaded like her cousin Anne Boleyn, but with much less fanfare. Little is known in actuality about Katherine, with exception of an extant letter from her to her lover, Thomas Culpepper. Gregory makes her a pretty and foolish teenager, taken with the limelight and repulsed by the fetid old man, whom no one can deny Henry VIII had become. Again, there is no doubt that this is who she might have been, as plausible a portrait as anyone could draw without having more information to draw on.
The third woman we are allowed to see closely is Jane Boleyn. Ah, here much is known and even more imagined, but this is a portrait of Jane that is somehow removed from the cold and calculating portrait we normally see. Not that she is warm, or soft, or lovable, but she is, here, human and pitiable.
In fact, even Henry himself is different in this account than in any of the previous ones, but this incarnation seems to be the logical outgrowth of what has come before--a madman, and in many ways a monster. How else to explain a man who would bed a fifteen year old, thinking she desires him, or behead a seventeen year old girl because she does not.
I have three more installments in the Plantagenet/Tudor series and I am certain I will miss having another to look forward to when I have completed them all.
February 8, 2018
Das war ein perfektes Buch. Spannend von vorne bis hinten, außergewöhnliche Charaktere und ein wundervoller, flüssiger und inspirierender Schreibstil.
Author’s Note:
Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard are the two wives of Henry VIII whom we know least; as is so often the case, we think we know them well. In this fictional account of the real facts I have tried to get past the convention that one wife was ugly and the other stupid, to consider the lives and circumstances of these two very young women who were, so briefly, the most important women of England, successive wives to a man on the brink of madness.
Author’s Note:
Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard are the two wives of Henry VIII whom we know least; as is so often the case, we think we know them well. In this fictional account of the real facts I have tried to get past the convention that one wife was ugly and the other stupid, to consider the lives and circumstances of these two very young women who were, so briefly, the most important women of England, successive wives to a man on the brink of madness.
November 29, 2007
Oh, bad historical fiction, how I love thee!! I must confess that I had a hard time putting this down, much like its prequel "The Other Boleyn Girl." To be fair, the historical research is impressive, with the author using the most up-to-date resources and theories available about the reign of Henry VIII, but still...the sex scenes! The maidens! The lack of discussion of politics and historical context! Never mind, it was a great read and I'm sure I'll reread both books in a couple of years. (Hah! I was already on the author's website yesterday to see if she is writing anything about Henry VIII's last wife, Catherine Parr.)
In short, this novel tells the stories of wives 4 and 5, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. Read it after "The Other Boleyn Girl," otherwise the third main character and narrator, Jane Boleyn (Anne's sister-in-law) will not make as much sense. Henry VIII is presented as a uniformly disgusting monster in this volume, as opposed to "The Other Boleyn Girl," which seems consistent with his aging in reality. Romps, beheadings and talk of gowns abound, and the novel is thoroughly enjoyable for its genre with surprisingly few truly awful dialogues/passages. Seriously, I couldn't put it down.
In short, this novel tells the stories of wives 4 and 5, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. Read it after "The Other Boleyn Girl," otherwise the third main character and narrator, Jane Boleyn (Anne's sister-in-law) will not make as much sense. Henry VIII is presented as a uniformly disgusting monster in this volume, as opposed to "The Other Boleyn Girl," which seems consistent with his aging in reality. Romps, beheadings and talk of gowns abound, and the novel is thoroughly enjoyable for its genre with surprisingly few truly awful dialogues/passages. Seriously, I couldn't put it down.
April 18, 2008
Hmm...do I recommend The Boleyn Inheritance?
NO.
Here's why:
1. It makes me acutely aware that if I enjoyed this series of Phillipa Gregory books in my youth, that when I get crumbly (read: old), I'll probably end up enjoying Harlequin Romance novels.
2. In The Boleyn Inheritance, as with The Other Boleyn Girl, Ms. Gregory writes with such myopic vision that I wanted to scream from the claustrophobic feeling. She writes around in circles, covering the same topic repeatedly with only slight variation. Granted, that is perhaps the entire feel of living at court in King Henry VIII's time, and so she's reconstructing the aura through her writing style. The only redemption for it, though, was her use of three perspectives. In TOBG, we only got to see Mary's view with editorializing, so this new usage of three narrators was the only fresh air readers get.
3. If you are my mother-in-law or my grandmother, stop reading here.
Okay, now that it's just us frivolous girls, this novel is full of intrigue, backstabbing, political gaming, greed, beheading. All of which make the perfect plot. And then there's the s-e-x. Lots of s-e-x. Ugh. It churns my stomach, quite honestly, how incredibly detailed they get, how up close and personal they get with a topic that should, imo, be only personal/private. I'm not a prude...obviously, since I finished reading it when I should have set it aside. I know, I know, it's historical fiction, and King Henry VIII was really flatulent, had a huge, open, stinking, puss-oozing wound and was impotent to boot. I get it. Really, I get it. Ms. Gregory kept hitting me in the face with it all, though, and eventually I got fed up.
So, three reasons I won't recommend this to anyone. And yet, I can't help imagining that if a friend told me she read it, I'd probably grin and say, "Is it good for you?"
It did wrap up nicely the loose ends she left in TOBG, like Jane's (George's wife) betrayal being totally bogus. I enjoyed seeing her get her just desserts.
Now, on the other hand, if Ms. Gregory chooses to novelize Princess/Queen Mary's and Queen Elizabeth's reign, I might run headlong into those. If I remember correctly, there was NO sex there.
NO.
Here's why:
1. It makes me acutely aware that if I enjoyed this series of Phillipa Gregory books in my youth, that when I get crumbly (read: old), I'll probably end up enjoying Harlequin Romance novels.
2. In The Boleyn Inheritance, as with The Other Boleyn Girl, Ms. Gregory writes with such myopic vision that I wanted to scream from the claustrophobic feeling. She writes around in circles, covering the same topic repeatedly with only slight variation. Granted, that is perhaps the entire feel of living at court in King Henry VIII's time, and so she's reconstructing the aura through her writing style. The only redemption for it, though, was her use of three perspectives. In TOBG, we only got to see Mary's view with editorializing, so this new usage of three narrators was the only fresh air readers get.
3. If you are my mother-in-law or my grandmother, stop reading here.
Okay, now that it's just us frivolous girls, this novel is full of intrigue, backstabbing, political gaming, greed, beheading. All of which make the perfect plot. And then there's the s-e-x. Lots of s-e-x. Ugh. It churns my stomach, quite honestly, how incredibly detailed they get, how up close and personal they get with a topic that should, imo, be only personal/private. I'm not a prude...obviously, since I finished reading it when I should have set it aside. I know, I know, it's historical fiction, and King Henry VIII was really flatulent, had a huge, open, stinking, puss-oozing wound and was impotent to boot. I get it. Really, I get it. Ms. Gregory kept hitting me in the face with it all, though, and eventually I got fed up.
So, three reasons I won't recommend this to anyone. And yet, I can't help imagining that if a friend told me she read it, I'd probably grin and say, "Is it good for you?"
It did wrap up nicely the loose ends she left in TOBG, like Jane's (George's wife) betrayal being totally bogus. I enjoyed seeing her get her just desserts.
Now, on the other hand, if Ms. Gregory chooses to novelize Princess/Queen Mary's and Queen Elizabeth's reign, I might run headlong into those. If I remember correctly, there was NO sex there.
March 21, 2017
So. This is where I admit defeat and accept that this author simply isn't for me. I tried listening to The Constant Princess and abandoned it because I disagree with the author's characterization of Catherine of Aragon and couldn't suspend my belief far enough to just go with her approach; I abandoned The King's Curse after the first chapter because I disliked the writing; tried this because I liked the idea of reading about Anne of Cleves; and abandoned The Taming of the Queen after the opening chapter because, again, the writing didn't appeal to me. I think it's safe to say that the author's writing just isn't for me. And I'm all for taking creative license (hello, I watched The Tudors and actually enjoyed it sometimes, despite all the historical inaccuracies), so it's all me - not the author.
I liked the beginning of the book, especially how Anne was portrayed. Lady Rochfort I never really cared for and mostly skimmed her chapters. But then, halfway through, little Katherine Howard takes over. I thought I hated the vapid, giggly little teenager on The Tudors. But then we'd need a whole new word for how I feel about this Kitty. Nine (I counted. NINE) of her chapters started with "Now, let me see, what do I have..." and then she would go on and list all the presents she got from the king. Point taken, the author wants to portray her as a materialistic little flirt who would do anything for a new trinket - even kiss a man she is so repulsed by that she has to fantasize about someone else whenever he's near. I started skipping her chapters early on. Most of them were only a few pages short, so I thought why bother with seeing what just happened through her eyes yet again. But once she became queen and her chapters got longer I just couldn't take it anymore and abandoned the book. I think that might have been my biggest problem with the book. The three women for the most part just take turns describing the exact same events from their point of view.
I liked the beginning of the book, especially how Anne was portrayed. Lady Rochfort I never really cared for and mostly skimmed her chapters. But then, halfway through, little Katherine Howard takes over. I thought I hated the vapid, giggly little teenager on The Tudors. But then we'd need a whole new word for how I feel about this Kitty. Nine (I counted. NINE) of her chapters started with "Now, let me see, what do I have..." and then she would go on and list all the presents she got from the king. Point taken, the author wants to portray her as a materialistic little flirt who would do anything for a new trinket - even kiss a man she is so repulsed by that she has to fantasize about someone else whenever he's near. I started skipping her chapters early on. Most of them were only a few pages short, so I thought why bother with seeing what just happened through her eyes yet again. But once she became queen and her chapters got longer I just couldn't take it anymore and abandoned the book. I think that might have been my biggest problem with the book. The three women for the most part just take turns describing the exact same events from their point of view.
November 19, 2020
La trampa dorada o cómo sobrevivir en la corte de Enrique VIII. Aunque el episodio más conocido de sus seis matrimonios es el acabó con la decapitación de su segunda esposa, Ana Bolena, casi todos sus lances matrimoniales fueron complicados y tenebrosos. En esta entrega de la estupenda serie de Philippa Gregory sobre la corte Tudor, seguimos la historia de la cuarta esposa, Ana de Cleves, con la que se casó después de la muerte - natural - de su tercera esposa, Jane Seymour.
El rey sólo la había conocido por un retrato y cuando la vio en persona no fue de su agrado. Con este arranque ya se puede uno preparar para lo peor... o no. Llena de intriga, como una novela negra, este relato histórico me ha resultado interesante y muy bien escrito.
El rey sólo la había conocido por un retrato y cuando la vio en persona no fue de su agrado. Con este arranque ya se puede uno preparar para lo peor... o no. Llena de intriga, como una novela negra, este relato histórico me ha resultado interesante y muy bien escrito.
January 17, 2021
I thought that the storyline was quite weak and found it a little cringeworthy in parts.
The writing wasn't up to the same standard as Philippa Gregory's other books.
The writing wasn't up to the same standard as Philippa Gregory's other books.
May 5, 2020
Για όσους εκτιμούν ένα πραγματικά καλογραμμένο ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που διαδραματίζεται στην περιβόητη αγγλική Αυλή στα χρόνια του Ερρίκου του 8ου, «Η αυλή των ψιθύρων» της Philippa Gregory αποτελεί μια εξαιρετική βιβλιοπρόταση.
Η ιστορική περίοδος που αφηγείται η συγγραφέας στο βιβλίο περιλαμβάνει τα έτη 1539-1542. Η διαβόητη Άννα Μπολέυν και ο αδελφός της, Τζορτζ, έχουν βρει φριχτό θάνατο κι ο βασιλιάς Ερρίκος βρίσκεται προς αναζήτηση νέας συζύγου. Τρεις εντελώς διαφορετικές μεταξύ τους γυναίκες αφηγούνται τη ζωή τους, αλλά και όσα διαδραματίζονται γύρω τους και αφορούν τις ίδιες και το βασίλειο, ιδωμένα μέσα από την προσωπική τους ματιά και τις εμπειρίες που τις έχουν στιγματίσει.
Η Τζέην Μπολέυν, η Άννα της Κλεβ και η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ. Τις χωρίζει η ηλικία, το παρελθόν και η κοινωνική τους κατάσταση. Η πρώτη, χήρα του Τζορτζ Μπολέυν, κουβαλάει το περιφρονημένο απ’ όλους επίθετό της και επιστρέφει στην Αυλή του Ερρίκου ώστε να υπηρετήσει μια ακόμα βασίλισσα ως κυρία επί των τιμών. Η Άννα της Κλεβ είναι αυτή που έχει επιλεγεί ως τέταρτη σύζυγος του βασιλιά και η ζωή της πρόκειται ν’ αλλάξει για πάντα. Ταξιδεύει σε μια εντελώς ξένη χώρα, δεν γνωρίζει τη γλώσσα ούτε ποιους μπορεί να εμπιστευτεί· μόνη ουσιαστικά στην πιο δολοπλόκα και ιντριγκαδόρικη Αυλή εκείνης της εποχής σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο. Η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ είναι ένα δεκατετράχρονο κορίτσι που ονειρεύεται φορέματα, χορούς, όμορφους νεαρούς, φλερτ και διασκεδάσεις. Η άφιξή της στην Αυλή του Ερρίκου, επίσης ως δεσποινίδα επί των τιμών της νέας βασίλισσας, φαίνεται να είναι το πρώτο βήμα ώστε να εκπληρώσει τα όνειρά της.
Όμως σπάνια τα πράγματα έρχονται έτσι όπως τα υπολογίζει κανείς. Ιδιαίτερα όταν είσαι γυναίκα, εντελώς ανήμπορη να επιβάλλεις τη βούλησή σου, έρμαιο των επιθυμιών ενός άντρα. Η Τζέην και η Αικατερίνη αναγκάζονται να συμμορφωθούν στις προσταγές του συγγενή τους, δούκα του Νόρφολκ, ενώ η Άννα της Κλεβ οφείλει να υποταχθεί στις επιθυμίες του Ερρίκου. Εκείνος φαίνεται να την αντιπαθεί από την πρώτη στιγμή της γνωριμίας τους και η νέα βασίλισσα δεν θα αργήσει να αντιληφθεί πως οι μέρες της στην Αυλή είναι μετρημένες. Κι ενώ η τυραννία του Ερρίκου γίνεται ολοένα πιο φανερή σε εχθρούς και φίλους, όπως επίσης και η τρέλα του, όλοι όσοι βρίσκονται στην Αυλή διαπιστώνουν πόσο επισφαλής είναι όχι μόνο η θέση τους, αλλά και η ίδια η ζωή τους…
Η συγγραφέας στηρίζεται σε πραγματικά ιστορικά στοιχεία, τα οποία φυσικά διανθίζει με μια συναρπαστική -και απόλυτα αληθοφανή- μυθιστορηματική αφήγηση. Χρησιμοποιεί δε ως αφηγήτριες τρία πρόσωπα άμεσα συνδεδεμένα με τον βασιλιά και την Αυλή του, καταφέρνοντας έτσι να προσδώσει ακόμα μεγαλύτερο ρεαλισμό και ζωντάνια στη γραφή της – κάτι που ενισχύεται επίσης από την πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση.
Η Gregory έχει σκιαγραφήσει με προσοχή το πορτρέτο της καθεμιάς εκ των τριών γυναικών, με τα χαρακτηριστικά τους να αποδίδονται σύμφωνα (και) με τις μαρτυρίες των ιστορικών πηγών. Η Τζέην Μπολέυν είναι ένας αδύναμος χαρακτήρας, που άγεται και φέρεται από τις ορέξεις του δούκα του Νόρφολκ· βυθίζεται συχνά στις αναμνήσεις και τις τύψεις για όλα όσα συνέβησαν στο παρελθόν, ενώ προσπαθεί να υπηρετήσει πιστά την εκάστοτε βασίλισσα· κατά βάθος, όμως, ενδιαφέρεται για τη δική της επιβίωση και ίσως ένα καλύτερο μέλλον, χωρίς να κατανοεί πως το μόνο που μπορεί να περιμένει είναι ατίμωση και θάνατος. Η Άννα της Κλεβ πιστεύει πως η ζωή της θα αλλάξει προς το καλύτερο μετά τον γάμο της με τον Ερρίκο, όμως η πραγματικότητα δεν θα αργήσει να τη διαψεύσει· ο σύζυγός της όχι μόνο δεν είναι αυτός που περίμενε, αλλά αποδεικνύεται επικίνδυνος ακόμα και για τη σωματική της ακεραιότητα. Η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ είναι ένα άμυαλο και φιλήδονο κοριτσόπουλο που δεν διστάζει μπροστά σε τίποτα, προκειμένου να αποκτήσει υλικά αγαθά και να διασκεδάζει. Κι όμως, οι ζωές των τριών αυτών γυναικών θα δεθούν άρρηκτα μεταξύ τους, καθώς θα βιώσουν μια πληθώρα συναισθημάτων και καταστάσεων που θα αλλάξουν την οπτική τους για τα πράγματα και θα κλονίσουν ακόμα και τα πιο βαθιά τους πιστεύω.
Πάνω και από τις τρεις, όπως και από ολόκληρη την Αυλή, πέφτει πάντοτε η σκιά του Ερρίκου του 8ου. Ενός βασιλιά που είναι πια κι ο ίδιος σκιά του εαυτού του· γέρος, χωλός, παχύσαρκος, άρρωστος, ανασφαλής. Ένας άντρας που μια γυναίκα θα έβλεπε μόνο ως πατέρα ή παππού της και οπωσδήποτε όχι σαν εραστή, κι όμως κρατά στα χέρια του τις τύχες όλων τους. Μα πάνω απ’ όλα, ο Ερρίκος φαίνεται πως έχει αρχίσει να χάνει τα λογικά του και να θεωρεί το θέλημά του ως το θέλημα του Θεού, κάτι που τον κάνει να φέρεται ασυλλόγιστα και τον καθιστά άκρως επικίνδυνο.
Μυστικά, ψέματα, ίντριγκες, δολοπλοκίες, συμμαχίες, προδοσίες, καχυποψία, αμφιβολίες και ισχυρά πάθη κυριαρχούν κι εναλλάσσονται σε κάθε σελίδα. Πρόκειται για ένα χορταστικό από κάθε άποψη μυθιστόρημα, που με τον πλούτο της γραφής και τη συναρπαστική πλοκή του διατηρεί το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον αμείωτο μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα. Ακόμα και εκείνοι που γνωρίζουν τα ιστορικά γεγονότα -επομένως και την κατάληξή τους- οπωσδήποτε θα απολαύσουν την «Αυλή των ψιθύρων», ένα από τα καλύτερα και πιο ολοκληρωμένα μυθιστορήματα του είδους του.
Η άποψή μου για το εξαιρετικό μυθιστόρημα της Philippa Gregory και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Η αυλή των ψιθύρων
Η ιστορική περίοδος που αφηγείται η συγγραφέας στο βιβλίο περιλαμβάνει τα έτη 1539-1542. Η διαβόητη Άννα Μπολέυν και ο αδελφός της, Τζορτζ, έχουν βρει φριχτό θάνατο κι ο βασιλιάς Ερρίκος βρίσκεται προς αναζήτηση νέας συζύγου. Τρεις εντελώς διαφορετικές μεταξύ τους γυναίκες αφηγούνται τη ζωή τους, αλλά και όσα διαδραματίζονται γύρω τους και αφορούν τις ίδιες και το βασίλειο, ιδωμένα μέσα από την προσωπική τους ματιά και τις εμπειρίες που τις έχουν στιγματίσει.
Η Τζέην Μπολέυν, η Άννα της Κλεβ και η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ. Τις χωρίζει η ηλικία, το παρελθόν και η κοινωνική τους κατάσταση. Η πρώτη, χήρα του Τζορτζ Μπολέυν, κουβαλάει το περιφρονημένο απ’ όλους επίθετό της και επιστρέφει στην Αυλή του Ερρίκου ώστε να υπηρετήσει μια ακόμα βασίλισσα ως κυρία επί των τιμών. Η Άννα της Κλεβ είναι αυτή που έχει επιλεγεί ως τέταρτη σύζυγος του βασιλιά και η ζωή της πρόκειται ν’ αλλάξει για πάντα. Ταξιδεύει σε μια εντελώς ξένη χώρα, δεν γνωρίζει τη γλώσσα ούτε ποιους μπορεί να εμπιστευτεί· μόνη ουσιαστικά στην πιο δολοπλόκα και ιντριγκαδόρικη Αυλή εκείνης της εποχής σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο. Η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ είναι ένα δεκατετράχρονο κορίτσι που ονειρεύεται φορέματα, χορούς, όμορφους νεαρούς, φλερτ και διασκεδάσεις. Η άφιξή της στην Αυλή του Ερρίκου, επίσης ως δεσποινίδα επί των τιμών της νέας βασίλισσας, φαίνεται να είναι το πρώτο βήμα ώστε να εκπληρώσει τα όνειρά της.
Όμως σπάνια τα πράγματα έρχονται έτσι όπως τα υπολογίζει κανείς. Ιδιαίτερα όταν είσαι γυναίκα, εντελώς ανήμπορη να επιβάλλεις τη βούλησή σου, έρμαιο των επιθυμιών ενός άντρα. Η Τζέην και η Αικατερίνη αναγκάζονται να συμμορφωθούν στις προσταγές του συγγενή τους, δούκα του Νόρφολκ, ενώ η Άννα της Κλεβ οφείλει να υποταχθεί στις επιθυμίες του Ερρίκου. Εκείνος φαίνεται να την αντιπαθεί από την πρώτη στιγμή της γνωριμίας τους και η νέα βασίλισσα δεν θα αργήσει να αντιληφθεί πως οι μέρες της στην Αυλή είναι μετρημένες. Κι ενώ η τυραννία του Ερρίκου γίνεται ολοένα πιο φανερή σε εχθρούς και φίλους, όπως επίσης και η τρέλα του, όλοι όσοι βρίσκονται στην Αυλή διαπιστώνουν πόσο επισφαλής είναι όχι μόνο η θέση τους, αλλά και η ίδια η ζωή τους…
Η συγγραφέας στηρίζεται σε πραγματικά ιστορικά στοιχεία, τα οποία φυσικά διανθίζει με μια συναρπαστική -και απόλυτα αληθοφανή- μυθιστορηματική αφήγηση. Χρησιμοποιεί δε ως αφηγήτριες τρία πρόσωπα άμεσα συνδεδεμένα με τον βασιλιά και την Αυλή του, καταφέρνοντας έτσι να προσδώσει ακόμα μεγαλύτερο ρεαλισμό και ζωντάνια στη γραφή της – κάτι που ενισχύεται επίσης από την πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση.
Η Gregory έχει σκιαγραφήσει με προσοχή το πορτρέτο της καθεμιάς εκ των τριών γυναικών, με τα χαρακτηριστικά τους να αποδίδονται σύμφωνα (και) με τις μαρτυρίες των ιστορικών πηγών. Η Τζέην Μπολέυν είναι ένας αδύναμος χαρακτήρας, που άγεται και φέρεται από τις ορέξεις του δούκα του Νόρφολκ· βυθίζεται συχνά στις αναμνήσεις και τις τύψεις για όλα όσα συνέβησαν στο παρελθόν, ενώ προσπαθεί να υπηρετήσει πιστά την εκάστοτε βασίλισσα· κατά βάθος, όμως, ενδιαφέρεται για τη δική της επιβίωση και ίσως ένα καλύτερο μέλλον, χωρίς να κατανοεί πως το μόνο που μπορεί να περιμένει είναι ατίμωση και θάνατος. Η Άννα της Κλεβ πιστεύει πως η ζωή της θα αλλάξει προς το καλύτερο μετά τον γάμο της με τον Ερρίκο, όμως η πραγματικότητα δεν θα αργήσει να τη διαψεύσει· ο σύζυγός της όχι μόνο δεν είναι αυτός που περίμενε, αλλά αποδεικνύεται επικίνδυνος ακόμα και για τη σωματική της ακεραιότητα. Η Αικατερίνη Χάουαρντ είναι ένα άμυαλο και φιλήδονο κοριτσόπουλο που δεν διστάζει μπροστά σε τίποτα, προκειμένου να αποκτήσει υλικά αγαθά και να διασκεδάζει. Κι όμως, οι ζωές των τριών αυτών γυναικών θα δεθούν άρρηκτα μεταξύ τους, καθώς θα βιώσουν μια πληθώρα συναισθημάτων και καταστάσεων που θα αλλάξουν την οπτική τους για τα πράγματα και θα κλονίσουν ακόμα και τα πιο βαθιά τους πιστεύω.
Πάνω και από τις τρεις, όπως και από ολόκληρη την Αυλή, πέφτει πάντοτε η σκιά του Ερρίκου του 8ου. Ενός βασιλιά που είναι πια κι ο ίδιος σκιά του εαυτού του· γέρος, χωλός, παχύσαρκος, άρρωστος, ανασφαλής. Ένας άντρας που μια γυναίκα θα έβλεπε μόνο ως πατέρα ή παππού της και οπωσδήποτε όχι σαν εραστή, κι όμως κρατά στα χέρια του τις τύχες όλων τους. Μα πάνω απ’ όλα, ο Ερρίκος φαίνεται πως έχει αρχίσει να χάνει τα λογικά του και να θεωρεί το θέλημά του ως το θέλημα του Θεού, κάτι που τον κάνει να φέρεται ασυλλόγιστα και τον καθιστά άκρως επικίνδυνο.
Μυστικά, ψέματα, ίντριγκες, δολοπλοκίες, συμμαχίες, προδοσίες, καχυποψία, αμφιβολίες και ισχυρά πάθη κυριαρχούν κι εναλλάσσονται σε κάθε σελίδα. Πρόκειται για ένα χορταστικό από κάθε άποψη μυθιστόρημα, που με τον πλούτο της γραφής και τη συναρπαστική πλοκή του διατηρεί το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον αμείωτο μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα. Ακόμα και εκείνοι που γνωρίζουν τα ιστορικά γεγονότα -επομένως και την κατάληξή τους- οπωσδήποτε θα απολαύσουν την «Αυλή των ψιθύρων», ένα από τα καλύτερα και πιο ολοκληρωμένα μυθιστορήματα του είδους του.
Η άποψή μου για το εξαιρετικό μυθιστόρημα της Philippa Gregory και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Η αυλή των ψιθύρων
July 28, 2015
I must confess, I was putting off reading this for ages and ages because having three main characters each with different viewpoints felt extremely intimidating and sounded very confusing. Ha! I needn't have worried. Each of these ladies' lives is so intertwined with each other that it makes for a REALLY easy read. Add the fact that the audiobook is abridged (elsewise I would NOT have finished this in a day, still trying to wrap my head around that one anyway), and this is an absolute breeze of a novel. Not so much for our leading ladies, but you get the idea.
This book picks up with Henry's fourth soon-to-be wife, Anne of Cleves, and takes us through his fourth and fifth marriages. I'm still a bit bummed Ms Gregory opted not to grace us with a novel that at least had Catherine Parr somewhat involved, but I suppose by then all the drama llamas that followed Henry VIII around had died off.
Sorry, that was bad. Like, really bad. Anyway...
After Katherine of Aragon, whom I ADORED reading about in The Constant Princess, I have to say Anne of Cleves is my next favorite of Henry's unfortunate wives. I do like Anne Boleyn, but she's the one with all the publicity, everyone knows her. And I feel like after reading the first three books in this series, binge-watching The Tudors on Netflix is required. And I always seem to mix the Tudors cast with the Other Boleyn Girl cast-- I like ScarJo for Mary Boleyn, but Natalie Dormer will ALWAYS be Anne and I like Jim Sturgess for George. And Jonathan for Henry, because yum. And Tamzin Merchant is perfect for Katherine Howard. I can feel myself digressing.
As I said, I like Anne of Cleves and I really feel bad for her because, like Katherine of Aragon, she never did anything to warrant what she got. Granted, it could've been a hell of a lot worse *side-eyes Anne B and Katherine H* but still, this poor girl. She gets dragged out of her home country into a place where she doesn't speak the language nearly at all, gets laughed at and treated with suspicion because of that, and is still excited to meet and marry her new husband. And then as soon as Henry meets her he decides he doesn't like her. What an ass. And throughout all of this, and then dumping her so he can marry a teenager (rape culture much?), Anne is never really angry or very jaded by the whole thing-- just bewildered as all get out. I just want to give her a hug.
The "Boleyn Inheritance" seems to be a whole lot of nothing, by the end of this book. Although, I suppose Anne of Cleves would beg to differ, seeing as she wound up with a nice house out of the whole deal. Other than that, both Katherine and Jane Rochford-Boleyn died, for gods' sake. Katherine I did feel a bit sorry for, because she's only a child really. She likes pretty things and would likely be far better off if this whole thing were make-believe and she could marry a handsome prince and go on like that; by the time she and Henry get together he's old enough to be her father and his leg is NASTY and (as evidenced with Anne of Cleves) he can't get it up anymore. Pity Viagra didn't exist.
Jane, on the other hand, is a real piece of work. Throughout my learning about her, she just comes across as a snake. In OBG, we hear George moaning about being married to her, which gives the impression that she's not a nice person, and then she stabs both him and Anne in the back, so it's not a good outlook for her at all through the eyes of the reader. But then come this book and she's all BOOHOO I LOST MY HUSBAND, HIS AND ANNE'S GHOSTS HAUNT ME, WAHHHH. Fuck off, bitch. She tries to paint herself all like she really did love him, and I just don't buy it. I don't know how things actually were, back in the 1500s, but I really don't buy it. I was SO glad to hear she died, because it's everything she deserved. Now if only Uncle Norfolk could have gone the same way...
Oh and a word about the audio-- great choice. I've loved Ruthie Henshall since she starred in Les Miserables back in the 1990s, and she plays Katherine Howard to the hilt. Very well done. Bianca Amato and Dagmara Dominczyk were also fantastic as Jane Boleyn and Anne of Cleves, respectively -- each of their voices helped keep me in touch with the story, I'll have to remember them when I reread this.
This book picks up with Henry's fourth soon-to-be wife, Anne of Cleves, and takes us through his fourth and fifth marriages. I'm still a bit bummed Ms Gregory opted not to grace us with a novel that at least had Catherine Parr somewhat involved, but I suppose by then all the drama llamas that followed Henry VIII around had died off.
Sorry, that was bad. Like, really bad. Anyway...
After Katherine of Aragon, whom I ADORED reading about in The Constant Princess, I have to say Anne of Cleves is my next favorite of Henry's unfortunate wives. I do like Anne Boleyn, but she's the one with all the publicity, everyone knows her. And I feel like after reading the first three books in this series, binge-watching The Tudors on Netflix is required. And I always seem to mix the Tudors cast with the Other Boleyn Girl cast-- I like ScarJo for Mary Boleyn, but Natalie Dormer will ALWAYS be Anne and I like Jim Sturgess for George. And Jonathan for Henry, because yum. And Tamzin Merchant is perfect for Katherine Howard. I can feel myself digressing.
As I said, I like Anne of Cleves and I really feel bad for her because, like Katherine of Aragon, she never did anything to warrant what she got. Granted, it could've been a hell of a lot worse *side-eyes Anne B and Katherine H* but still, this poor girl. She gets dragged out of her home country into a place where she doesn't speak the language nearly at all, gets laughed at and treated with suspicion because of that, and is still excited to meet and marry her new husband. And then as soon as Henry meets her he decides he doesn't like her. What an ass. And throughout all of this, and then dumping her so he can marry a teenager (rape culture much?), Anne is never really angry or very jaded by the whole thing-- just bewildered as all get out. I just want to give her a hug.
The "Boleyn Inheritance" seems to be a whole lot of nothing, by the end of this book. Although, I suppose Anne of Cleves would beg to differ, seeing as she wound up with a nice house out of the whole deal. Other than that, both Katherine and Jane Rochford-Boleyn died, for gods' sake. Katherine I did feel a bit sorry for, because she's only a child really. She likes pretty things and would likely be far better off if this whole thing were make-believe and she could marry a handsome prince and go on like that; by the time she and Henry get together he's old enough to be her father and his leg is NASTY and (as evidenced with Anne of Cleves) he can't get it up anymore. Pity Viagra didn't exist.
Jane, on the other hand, is a real piece of work. Throughout my learning about her, she just comes across as a snake. In OBG, we hear George moaning about being married to her, which gives the impression that she's not a nice person, and then she stabs both him and Anne in the back, so it's not a good outlook for her at all through the eyes of the reader. But then come this book and she's all BOOHOO I LOST MY HUSBAND, HIS AND ANNE'S GHOSTS HAUNT ME, WAHHHH. Fuck off, bitch. She tries to paint herself all like she really did love him, and I just don't buy it. I don't know how things actually were, back in the 1500s, but I really don't buy it. I was SO glad to hear she died, because it's everything she deserved. Now if only Uncle Norfolk could have gone the same way...
Oh and a word about the audio-- great choice. I've loved Ruthie Henshall since she starred in Les Miserables back in the 1990s, and she plays Katherine Howard to the hilt. Very well done. Bianca Amato and Dagmara Dominczyk were also fantastic as Jane Boleyn and Anne of Cleves, respectively -- each of their voices helped keep me in touch with the story, I'll have to remember them when I reread this.
May 25, 2014
Anne of Cleves is one gutsy lady; wedded to Henry VIII who is overweight, foul-breathed and has a putrid leg, she barely speaks English, about to lose her crown to the 'slutty' and silly little Katherine Howard, trapped in England and deserted by her family - does she cave in? No, not Anne.
"Anne Boleyn has been a shameful secret in our family for so long, it hardly matters whether she was innocent or not... It is not as if I have to follow in her footsteps, it is not as if there is a Boleyn inheritance of the scaffold and I am her heir..." A moment of clarity by Katherine Howard. Does she learn to curb her actions/thoughts/deeds? She's fifteen, beautiful, she thinks life will go all her way...
Jane Boleyn is, by all accounts, an evil woman; she sent both her husband and her sister-in-law to the scaffold for her own twisted reasons.
Philippa Gregory, once again, weaves a story which is compelling and real. 4★.
Now added to my tbr list is Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions by the notable British History Professor G.W. Bernard
September 1, 2021
This was not the sequel I wanted and completely different to the masterpiece that was the other Boleyn girl.
Beginning with Anne of Cleves and her impending marriage all the way through to Katherine Howard and her demise we follow it all through their eyes and Jane Boleyn.
This was a lot more melodramatic, shallow and disengaging. The only interesting one was Anne. And she’s the one portrayed as the most boring! Go figure.
Beginning with Anne of Cleves and her impending marriage all the way through to Katherine Howard and her demise we follow it all through their eyes and Jane Boleyn.
This was a lot more melodramatic, shallow and disengaging. The only interesting one was Anne. And she’s the one portrayed as the most boring! Go figure.
July 9, 2018
Συνεχίζοντας τη μυθιστορηματική περιήγηση μου στα παθήματα των βασιλισσών του Ερρίκου του 8ου έφτασα στο νούμερο 4 και στο νούμερο 5, δηλαδή στην Anne of Cleves και την Katherine Howard. Πρόκειται δηλαδή για ένα δύσκολο θέμα για κάθε συγγραφέα καθώς για αυτές τις δύο κυρίες γνωρίζουμε ελάχιστα πέρα από τους βασικούς χαρακτηρισμούς που τους αποδίδονται: η άσχημη και το τσουλάκι. Το θετικό πάντως είναι ότι η συγγραφέας κάνει μία φιλότιμη προσπάθεια για να παρουσιάσει μία πιο περίπλοκη εικόνα. Στα πλαίσια αυτής της προσπάθειας παράλληλα με την ιστορία αυτών των δύο παρακολουθούμε και αυτήν της Jane Boleyn, της χήρας του George Boleyn, του αδερφού της διαβόητης Anne Boleyn. Οπότε έχουμε τρεις ιστορίες που τις αφηγούνται αυτές οι τρεις κυρίες που προανέφερα και τρεις διαφορετικές ματιές στα γεγονότα. Ας πάρουμε όμως αυτές τις ιστορίες με τη σειρά.
Με την Anne of Cleves η συγγραφέας νομίζω ότι κάνει την καλύτερη δουλειά. Βασιζόμενη στο γεγονός ότι μετά το χωρισμό της με τον Ερρίκο δεν θέλησε να επιστρέψει στη χώρα της αλλά να μείνει για πάντα στην Αγγλία κάνει την υπόθεση ότι μάλλον μεγάλωσε ένα αρκετά καταπιεστικό περιβάλλον και για αυτό με χαρά προτίμησε να ζήσει πιο ελεύθερη. Με αυτό τον τρόπο η ιστορία μετατρέπεται σε μία πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα εξιστόρηση του αγώνα μιας γυναίκας για να αποκτήσει όση ελευθερία της επιτρεπόταν μέσα στα αυστηρά ήθη της εποχής. Αυτή την εκδοχή της ιστορίας μας την παρουσιάζει με πολύ ενδιαφέρον τρόπο η συγγραφέας προβάλλοντας έτσι την ιδέα ότι δεν ήταν κάποια υποταγμένη γυναίκα χαμηλής νοημοσύνης αλλά μία έξυπνη γυναίκα που διεκδικούσε τα δικαιώματά της και στο τέλος ήταν μάλλον η μόνη από τις έξι συζύγους του Ερρίκου που βγήκε κερδισμένη. Η μόνη μου ένσταση είναι ότι η συγγραφέας αφού μας μεταφέρει την ιστορία του γάμου της και του χωρισμού της μετά δεν έχει κάτι ενδιαφέρον να προσθέσει στα κεφάλαια που την αφορούν πέρα από την κριτική ματιά στο καθεστώς του Ερρίκου του 8ου.
Με την Katherine Howard μάλλον δεν τα καταφέρνει και τόσο καλά. Αν και κάνει προσπάθειες για να μην την παρουσιάσει με τα στερεότυπα που της αποδίδονται δείχνοντάς μας τον "επαγγελματισμό" με τον οποίο αντιμετώπισε τη σχέση της με τον Ερρίκο και το συναισθηματικό βάρος που αυτό της έφερνε η γενική εικόνα που αποκομίζουμε είναι πάλι αυτή του σαχλοκούδουνου που δεν μπορούσε να κρατήσει κλειστά τα πόδια της. Στο τέλος μάλιστα η συγγραφέας δεν καταφέρνει να αποδώσει με ιδιαίτερα συνταρακτικό τρόπο το τέλος της και αυτό νομίζω είναι και το μεγάλο μειονέκτημα.
Κάπως καλύτερα τα καταφέρνει με την Jane Boleyn, τον συνδετικό κρίκο δηλαδή αυτών των δύο ιστοριών. Η συγγραφέας την παρουσιάζει ως ένα ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκο άτομο που προσπαθεί να ξεφύγει από τις τύψεις που νιώθει για την προδοσία της απέναντι στο σύζυγό της και την αδερφή του, πότε αρνούμενη την πραγματικότητα και πότε προσπαθώντας να εξιλεωθεί βοηθώντας τις δύο βασίλισσες. Στο τέλος όμως αποδεικνύεται ξανά εντελώς αδύναμη απέναντι στις πιέσεις που τις ασκούνται και έτσι η ιστορία της προδοσίας επαναλαμβάνεται.
Αυτό όμως που στο τέλος μου αρέσει ιδιαίτερα σε αυτό εδώ το βιβλίο είναι ότι ρίχνει μία ιδιαίτερα κριτική ματιά απέναντι στην κατάσταση που επικρατούσε στη χώρα. Ο Ερρίκος ο 8ος παρουσιάζεται ως ένας παρανοϊκός τύραννος που βλέπει προδοσίες παντού και θεωρεί τον εαυτό του τον αποκλειστικό ερμηνευτή της θείας βούλησης. Γερασμένος, άρρωστος και ιδιαίτερα ανασφαλής δημιουργεί ένα καθεστώς όπου κανένας δεν μπορεί να νιώθει ασφαλής, όποια θρησκευτική τοποθέτηση και να έχει, όσο πιστός και να είναι στο βασιλιά. Οποιοσδήποτε μπορεί να κατηγορηθεί από τη μία στιγμή στην άλλη για προδοσία και να προστεθεί στα χιλιάδες θύματα.
Οπότε αυτό που θέλω να πω είναι ότι αν και διαβάζοντας το ενδιαφέρον μου αυξομειώνονταν από σελίδα σε σελίδα το βιβλίο είναι μία αρκετά καλή προσπάθεια να αποδοθεί μυθιστορηματικά ένα δύσκολο θέμα που εκ πρώτης όψεως δεν είναι η καλύτερη βάση για μία συναρπαστική ιστορία. Η συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να δημιουργήσει κάτι ξεχωριστό από αυτό σεβόμενη όπως πάντα την ιστορία.
Με την Anne of Cleves η συγγραφέας νομίζω ότι κάνει την καλύτερη δουλειά. Βασιζόμενη στο γεγονός ότι μετά το χωρισμό της με τον Ερρίκο δεν θέλησε να επιστρέψει στη χώρα της αλλά να μείνει για πάντα στην Αγγλία κάνει την υπόθεση ότι μάλλον μεγάλωσε ένα αρκετά καταπιεστικό περιβάλλον και για αυτό με χαρά προτίμησε να ζήσει πιο ελεύθερη. Με αυτό τον τρόπο η ιστορία μετατρέπεται σε μία πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα εξιστόρηση του αγώνα μιας γυναίκας για να αποκτήσει όση ελευθερία της επιτρεπόταν μέσα στα αυστηρά ήθη της εποχής. Αυτή την εκδοχή της ιστορίας μας την παρουσιάζει με πολύ ενδιαφέρον τρόπο η συγγραφέας προβάλλοντας έτσι την ιδέα ότι δεν ήταν κάποια υποταγμένη γυναίκα χαμηλής νοημοσύνης αλλά μία έξυπνη γυναίκα που διεκδικούσε τα δικαιώματά της και στο τέλος ήταν μάλλον η μόνη από τις έξι συζύγους του Ερρίκου που βγήκε κερδισμένη. Η μόνη μου ένσταση είναι ότι η συγγραφέας αφού μας μεταφέρει την ιστορία του γάμου της και του χωρισμού της μετά δεν έχει κάτι ενδιαφέρον να προσθέσει στα κεφάλαια που την αφορούν πέρα από την κριτική ματιά στο καθεστώς του Ερρίκου του 8ου.
Με την Katherine Howard μάλλον δεν τα καταφέρνει και τόσο καλά. Αν και κάνει προσπάθειες για να μην την παρουσιάσει με τα στερεότυπα που της αποδίδονται δείχνοντάς μας τον "επαγγελματισμό" με τον οποίο αντιμετώπισε τη σχέση της με τον Ερρίκο και το συναισθηματικό βάρος που αυτό της έφερνε η γενική εικόνα που αποκομίζουμε είναι πάλι αυτή του σαχλοκούδουνου που δεν μπορούσε να κρατήσει κλειστά τα πόδια της. Στο τέλος μάλιστα η συγγραφέας δεν καταφέρνει να αποδώσει με ιδιαίτερα συνταρακτικό τρόπο το τέλος της και αυτό νομίζω είναι και το μεγάλο μειονέκτημα.
Κάπως καλύτερα τα καταφέρνει με την Jane Boleyn, τον συνδετικό κρίκο δηλαδή αυτών των δύο ιστοριών. Η συγγραφέας την παρουσιάζει ως ένα ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκο άτομο που προσπαθεί να ξεφύγει από τις τύψεις που νιώθει για την προδοσία της απέναντι στο σύζυγό της και την αδερφή του, πότε αρνούμενη την πραγματικότητα και πότε προσπαθώντας να εξιλεωθεί βοηθώντας τις δύο βασίλισσες. Στο τέλος όμως αποδεικνύεται ξανά εντελώς αδύναμη απέναντι στις πιέσεις που τις ασκούνται και έτσι η ιστορία της προδοσίας επαναλαμβάνεται.
Αυτό όμως που στο τέλος μου αρέσει ιδιαίτερα σε αυτό εδώ το βιβλίο είναι ότι ρίχνει μία ιδιαίτερα κριτική ματιά απέναντι στην κατάσταση που επικρατούσε στη χώρα. Ο Ερρίκος ο 8ος παρουσιάζεται ως ένας παρανοϊκός τύραννος που βλέπει προδοσίες παντού και θεωρεί τον εαυτό του τον αποκλειστικό ερμηνευτή της θείας βούλησης. Γερασμένος, άρρωστος και ιδιαίτερα ανασφαλής δημιουργεί ένα καθεστώς όπου κανένας δεν μπορεί να νιώθει ασφαλής, όποια θρησκευτική τοποθέτηση και να έχει, όσο πιστός και να είναι στο βασιλιά. Οποιοσδήποτε μπορεί να κατηγορηθεί από τη μία στιγμή στην άλλη για προδοσία και να προστεθεί στα χιλιάδες θύματα.
Οπότε αυτό που θέλω να πω είναι ότι αν και διαβάζοντας το ενδιαφέρον μου αυξομειώνονταν από σελίδα σε σελίδα το βιβλίο είναι μία αρκετά καλή προσπάθεια να αποδοθεί μυθιστορηματικά ένα δύσκολο θέμα που εκ πρώτης όψεως δεν είναι η καλύτερη βάση για μία συναρπαστική ιστορία. Η συγγραφέας καταφέρνει να δημιουργήσει κάτι ξεχωριστό από αυτό σεβόμενη όπως πάντα την ιστορία.
February 10, 2008
I picked this up immediately after reading The Other Boleyn Girl, unable to slake my thirst for more of Henry VIII and his court. I was skeptical, as all should be when embarking on a sequel of any sort, but was pleasantly surprised. Divided between three narrators, the evil and half-mad Jane Boleyn, the ill-fated Katherine Howard, and the strong survivor, Anne of Cleves, the reader gets a new perspective on the fourth and fifth wives of Henry VIII. Indeed, though I always knew that Anne of Cleves was the wife who was put aside, I never knew that she stayed on in England. Though I knew that Katherine Howard was the youngest of Henry's wives, I never thought how that might have affected her fate. Gregory has taken the perspectives of the two wives that historically we know the least about and once again has written a novel that I just couldn't put down. Though we will never know the truth about these two women, I believe that Gregory has in some way vindicated these two ill-treated wives. Definitely an enthralling read, and as I said in my review of The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory certainly does her research. In both books she provides a bibliography.
February 19, 2017
Many years ago I read and enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and raced to the first next book by this author I could find, which was Wideacre. Oh dear, what a wrong choice that was. I HATED Wideacre , hated it with a passion, and vowed to never bother with a Phillippa Gregory book again. .
I have no great love for court dramas, all that bed hopping, backstabbing and scheming is sometimes exhausting to read so I never thought I would miss much by not continuing the Tudor Series. But a good and trusted friend kept on reading the series and telling me how much she enjoys it so I finally I decided to give this series another chance.
And now at the end of this audio book all I can say is WOW, what an audio production. Little vain and utterly vapid Katherine (Kitty) Howard was my favourite from a narration point of view but all 3 narrators did a brilliant job bringing this book to life.
For anyone who does not know the history after Anne Boleyn’s head was chopped off herewith a quick synopsis:
Anne of Cleve becomes wife nr 4 in a marriage arranged by Thomas Cromwell. This shy woman is brought to court with no understanding of English and completely unable to navigate the politics. I really felt sorry for her and was delighted as the story unfolded showing how she matured into a woman so much stronger than ever expected.
Jane Boleyn – the sister in law to Anne Boleyn brought back to court by her Uncle Howard to monitor, watch and spy on the queen. Jane is a bitter woman feeling entitled to be back at court and trying her best to block out the death of her husband and sister-in-law.
Katherine Howard is a pretty spoilt littleslut flirt of only 14 years old. She makes social errors and cause scandal again and again with an almost childlike innocence, measuring her happiness in the one thing she does understand, material things.
I actually felt sympathy for all 3 these women. Every one of them were nothing more than puppets on a mad master’s strings.
This novel is full of intrigue, backstabbing, political gaming, greed and beheading. All of which make the perfect plot. I have to commend the author for presenting history in such an entertaining yet informative way for readers like me who know little about the Tudor period.
The writing however is not flawless and if I had read it instead of listening to it I would probably have given it a slightly lower rating. There is quite a bit of repetition in the text. The words “He is so old he could be my Grandfather”, and “Boleyn Inheritance” were repeated a few times too many but the audio allows for more forgiveness in this regard when the narration is captivating.
So my advice is that if you can get this book in audio format, go for it. It was highly entertaining!
I have no great love for court dramas, all that bed hopping, backstabbing and scheming is sometimes exhausting to read so I never thought I would miss much by not continuing the Tudor Series. But a good and trusted friend kept on reading the series and telling me how much she enjoys it so I finally I decided to give this series another chance.
And now at the end of this audio book all I can say is WOW, what an audio production. Little vain and utterly vapid Katherine (Kitty) Howard was my favourite from a narration point of view but all 3 narrators did a brilliant job bringing this book to life.
For anyone who does not know the history after Anne Boleyn’s head was chopped off herewith a quick synopsis:
Anne of Cleve becomes wife nr 4 in a marriage arranged by Thomas Cromwell. This shy woman is brought to court with no understanding of English and completely unable to navigate the politics. I really felt sorry for her and was delighted as the story unfolded showing how she matured into a woman so much stronger than ever expected.
Jane Boleyn – the sister in law to Anne Boleyn brought back to court by her Uncle Howard to monitor, watch and spy on the queen. Jane is a bitter woman feeling entitled to be back at court and trying her best to block out the death of her husband and sister-in-law.
Katherine Howard is a pretty spoilt little
I actually felt sympathy for all 3 these women. Every one of them were nothing more than puppets on a mad master’s strings.
This novel is full of intrigue, backstabbing, political gaming, greed and beheading. All of which make the perfect plot. I have to commend the author for presenting history in such an entertaining yet informative way for readers like me who know little about the Tudor period.
The writing however is not flawless and if I had read it instead of listening to it I would probably have given it a slightly lower rating. There is quite a bit of repetition in the text. The words “He is so old he could be my Grandfather”, and “Boleyn Inheritance” were repeated a few times too many but the audio allows for more forgiveness in this regard when the narration is captivating.
So my advice is that if you can get this book in audio format, go for it. It was highly entertaining!
June 18, 2019
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
I liked the subject matter, two lesser known queens of HenryVIII, Anne of Cleve and Katharine Howard. We are given a (fictionalization) perspective from Anne, Katherine, and Jane Boleyn, and their relationships to, and with, each other. The traditional view of Howard being a tart that was not the brightest light, was given, and heck, she was executed at 16. Not that her choices or what she may or may not have done had anything to do with her death. Henry was a maniac. He was an obese and unpredictable maniac that had a leg with a festering wound that stunk so bad that it perfumed the air around him like a cat box. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have run towards THAT. By the way, his father was a maniac as well. They all were. Is that why we constantly revisit this horror story? Another good read by Philippa, not her best, but worth the read.
I liked the subject matter, two lesser known queens of HenryVIII, Anne of Cleve and Katharine Howard. We are given a (fictionalization) perspective from Anne, Katherine, and Jane Boleyn, and their relationships to, and with, each other. The traditional view of Howard being a tart that was not the brightest light, was given, and heck, she was executed at 16. Not that her choices or what she may or may not have done had anything to do with her death. Henry was a maniac. He was an obese and unpredictable maniac that had a leg with a festering wound that stunk so bad that it perfumed the air around him like a cat box. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have run towards THAT. By the way, his father was a maniac as well. They all were. Is that why we constantly revisit this horror story? Another good read by Philippa, not her best, but worth the read.
July 12, 2015
In this installment of the Tudor court saga Gregory has 3 different characters narrate the story from their own point of view. This has the potential to make for a very interesting story, but the book was so repetitive because each of the characters was so one dimensional. Allow me to save you the time.
Jane Boleyn: I've seen it all before. Doesn't anyone else remember George and Anne. I'm going to get back the power they used to have.
Anne of Cleaves: My brother is a crazy tyrant, the king is a crazy tyrant. I want to be free like a falcon.
Katherine Howard: I am a vapid teenage who likes boys, dresses, and being pretty.
The characters harp on these themes every time the narration shifts to them. The historical facts should have made this one of the more interesting reads as Henry grows more and more unstable, but instead this book is a tediously long read.
Jane Boleyn: I've seen it all before. Doesn't anyone else remember George and Anne. I'm going to get back the power they used to have.
Anne of Cleaves: My brother is a crazy tyrant, the king is a crazy tyrant. I want to be free like a falcon.
Katherine Howard: I am a vapid teenage who likes boys, dresses, and being pretty.
The characters harp on these themes every time the narration shifts to them. The historical facts should have made this one of the more interesting reads as Henry grows more and more unstable, but instead this book is a tediously long read.
August 5, 2019
I enjoy the history of this series more than I do the fictionalization, haha. The author does give a good view into what life would have been like in this time, and in the strata of society that these women move/live in, but I will say that the three narrators of this story could come across as whiny at times, especially Jane, and repetitive at times, but this is the tenth book in the Plantagenet/Tudor novels and I guess the author was getting a bit tired of it? Eh, still a good story, and shifting between the three perspectives kept things from getting too stale. 3.5/5 stars.
March 3, 2024
Maybe by the time I got to this one, I was tiring of Henry and his many wives. I didn't care for the main character, although I did like learning more about Anne of Cleves (since she got to keep her head).
(Reviewed 5/3/08)
(Reviewed 5/3/08)
June 6, 2018
Wie kann man Geschichte nur so großartig noch einmal erzählen? ❤️
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