May 19 is the anniversary of the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife to the notorious Henry VIII of England. Sent to the block on trumped-up charges of treason, she nonetheless made an impression that echoes down through the ages. First considered to be a gold-digging whore, later recognized as a pioneering reformer, she’s had dozens of books written about her and her brief reign as England’s queen. Today, I’m highlighting two fiction and two non-fiction books that feature this legendary lady.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
While Anne isn’t the main character of this book, her rise and fall feature prominently through both this book and the one that follows (Bring Up the Bodies). The trilogy centers on Thomas Cromwell, minister to Henry VIII and thought by many to be the originator of the plot that destroyed the queen. Most fiction portrays Cromwell as a cruel and Machiavellian man, but Mantel gives him much more humanity. In a way, it makes his actions regarding Anne Boleyn that much more disturbing, as the author makes clear that Cromwell has more to him than meanness.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
It’s an interesting trend that the most popular books about Anne Boleyn don’t have her as the main character. In this case, Gregory’s book focuses on Anne’s sister Mary, who was one of Henry’s mistresses before he turned his attention to Anne. Mary, like Cromwell, was at court for the majority of the events in Anne’s rise and fall, but she’s able to provide a more sympathetic portrait of the doomed queen. There were a few parts of this novel that I didn’t like, specifically the parts that give credence to some of the more salacious rumors about Anne’s behavior, but overall, this book is a good gateway to reading about this time period. It was the one that got me into Tudor history.
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir
Weir is a well-known Tudor historian and has written extensively about Henry and his queens. She doesn’t confine herself to non-fiction–she’s written a novel about each of the queen’s, Henry himself, and his eldest daughter Mary. In this factual account, Weir focuses on Anne’s final months before her execution, delving deep into contemporary documentation to paint a vivid picture of what happened that spring of 1536. For me, one of the most shocking things that I learned was that Henry sent for the French swordsman who would take Anne’s head before her trial had even been arranged. It’s irrefutable evidence that Anne never had a chance of being found innocent.
Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the Marriage That Shook Europe by John Guy and Julia Fox
With this recent addition to the library of Tudor history, two authors known for their books about Tudor times unite to take a fresh look at Henry and Anne. This book is an overview of the pair, not only during the relationship, but before it as well. One of the things I liked most about this book was that it did an excellent job of placing their courtship and marriage in context with the larger political landscape of Europe. So many books focus closely on events in England during this time, but the rest of the world had a stake in the fate of the English king’s marriage and were dealing with their own issues as well.
In the end, Anne Boleyn’s fate retains the power to draw our attention and gain our sympathy. She went to her death calmly and with courage. Her remains still lie in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula within the Tower of London. When I visited the Tower last year, I spent some time sitting the Chapel and thinking about Anne. I wondered what she might have accomplished had her life not been cut so short.
