Author: Roland Hui
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography
Publisher: Pen & Sword History
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 212
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: If you remember my love in your prayers as strongly as I adore you, I shall hardly be forgotten, for I am yours,' - Henry Rex, forever Written by King Henry VIII to his sweetheart, the seductive and vivacious Anne Boleyn, his passion for her would be so great that Henry would make Anne his queen, and change the course of English history. But the woman whom Henry had promised to love for all time would go from palace to prison, charged with heinous crimes. Her life ended on a bloody scaffold in the Tower of London. Explore the incredible story of Anne Boleyn, the most famous and controversial of Henry VIII's six wives, in this exciting new account of her life told in words and pictures.
My Review: Anne Boleyn is one of King Henry VIII’s most notorious queens. She is famous for being a key player in England's break from the Catholic Church. In this new biography, it tells the story of Anne’s life through various illustrations. It also examines some of the controversy surrounding this famous queen.
This biography has given me some new pieces of information. This book states that Anne was most likely born in 1507. This was surprising to me because it has always been assumed that she was older. But it provides good evidence that she might have been younger. The book also suggests that Anne Boleyn’s mother was still alive while it is generally believed she died young. The author states that it was because of a typo from Agnes Strickland. The author also details Anne’s romance with King Henry VIII. I also liked how the author talks about her Protestant beliefs. He said that she believed in the sacredness of the Catholic mass. However, her beliefs that were Protestant were that she believed in the Bible being in English and having more scholars to interpret scripture. I also found it interesting that the author believes that with King Henry VIII’s permission, Cromwell was the main instigator in Anne’s downfall.
Overall, this was a concise and very comprehensive biography. I have read several recent biographies of Anne Boleyn. However, this one provided me with new information about her life. I did think that the illustrations in this book could have been better. There were not many illustrations of the queen in this book. The few illustrations that I have seen were from other biographies of her. Still, it was a very detailed and thorough biography. It was also a very short book that could be read in one sitting. I also liked the notes. The author tells exactly what page he found his information. Therefore, it was a scholarly researched biography. I recommend this book for fans of Alison Weir, Elizabeth Norton, and Eric Ives! Anne Boleyn, An Illustrated Life of Henry VIII’s Queen is definitely a must read for Anne Boleyn enthusiasts!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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