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32nd out of 350 books
—
905 voters
The Lady in the Tower (Queens of England #4)
by
Jean Plaidy
One of history’s most complex and alluring women comes to life in this classic novel by the
legendary Jean Plaidy.
Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family’s fortu...more
legendary Jean Plaidy.
Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family’s fortu...more
Paperback, 393 pages
Published
June 24th 2003
by Broadway
(first published 1986)
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It's been almost 10 years since I read this. In the interim, I've read more current novels by countless authors about doomed Queen Anne Boleyn. However, re-reading this has solidified my belief that no one has blended with documented factual information a better fictional account of Anne's rise and fall then Plaidy.
This is a smooth and easy read with good characterizations and dialog. It's impossible for anyone to know how Anne really came off personality-wise, but novels written about her usual...more
This is a smooth and easy read with good characterizations and dialog. It's impossible for anyone to know how Anne really came off personality-wise, but novels written about her usual...more
I loved the new perspective of Anne Boleyn in this novel. Most people assume that Anne was a conniving girl that just wanted to be queen. In this telling, Anne is nothing like that. She falls in love and that match is prevented. She later learns that Henry had something to do with the match being prevented. Also, she attempts to flee Henry's sight by leaving court and he simply follows and promises to divorce the Queen to have Anne. We don't know if the King really did prevent the match for Anne...more
So often Anne Boleyn is painted the villian. This novel is fiction but I love the perspective the story is being told from. Anne is opinionated, educated, erudite and mysterious. I never believed she was an opportunist like her father, the Earl of Rochford. It is highly probably the rest of the Boleyn children were strongly encouraged to increase their status from parental pressure. In this depiction, Henry is the pursuer, and Anne holds him off, not only because she dislikes and blames him for...more
May 13, 2013
Sophie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-book,
2013-books
I used to love reading Victoria Holt's gothic novels; and although, I wasn't as fond of the historical novels written under her pen-name Jean Plaidy, I didn't remember them as being boring or poorly written in any way. So when I saw this title available for audio download, I quickly checked it out. Unfortunately, I found it both boring and poorly written. It didn't seem like historical fiction really--more like a history lesson that someone attempted to breathe life into. The story is supposed t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really wanted to give this book more than one star. It had the makings of good material, the story of Anne Boleyn from Anne Boleyn's point of view. However, there were major problems I saw with the story that made it one of the few books I read that have me severely questioning my policy of finishing a book I have started, no matter how painful it is.
1.) Repetitive: The story is horribly repetitive. It seems like entire paragraphs where Anne is describing her sixth finger, her admirers, her wo...more
1.) Repetitive: The story is horribly repetitive. It seems like entire paragraphs where Anne is describing her sixth finger, her admirers, her wo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I thought it was very good. I enjoyed how the story was told as a memory from the night before she died so throught the story she would give her own opinion on her past actions. It will absolutely keep me coming back for more Jean Plaidy.
As a young girl I discovered Jean Plaidy on the shelf of my public library one summer and read them voraciously. It was my first encounter with historical fiction. It was a thrill to see her revived by the publisher recently, with all new editions of her Queens series.
Today this genre is crowded with many great authors but Plaidy will always be a cornerstone. Her writing style if more staid and factual based than someone like Philippa Gregory (who loves a touch of dramatic authorial license wit...more
Today this genre is crowded with many great authors but Plaidy will always be a cornerstone. Her writing style if more staid and factual based than someone like Philippa Gregory (who loves a touch of dramatic authorial license wit...more
Fascinating and intuitive first person narrative of the life of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's take on Anne, especially the decision to write the novel as if Anne had written it while imprisoned in the tower before her execution. It is laid out in a chronological, conversational, and confessional manner; as a way of looking back over the span of her life, to determine where she made her fatal mistakes, and how she may have anticipate...more
One of history’s most complex and alluring women comes to life in this classic novel by the
legendary Jean Plaidy.
Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family’s fortunes. She soon surpassed even their greatest expectations. Although his queen was loving and loyal, King Henry VIII swore he wo...more
legendary Jean Plaidy.
Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to learn sophistication, and then to court to marry well and raise the family’s fortunes. She soon surpassed even their greatest expectations. Although his queen was loving and loyal, King Henry VIII swore he wo...more
This is the book that started my obsession with Jean Plaidy–the first of her novels I read and my absolute favorite characterization of Anne Boleyn. Eight years have passed, and reading it again I stand by my initial delight in finding an admirable protagonist in Anne–after having been introduced to her by Philippa Gregory, with her not-so-flattering portrayal of Anne as a great intriguer with temperamental dominance.
In The Lady in the Tower, Anne is imprisoned in the Tower of London, recounting...more
In The Lady in the Tower, Anne is imprisoned in the Tower of London, recounting...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I was disappointed that this novel wasn't more engaging. I didn't know much about Anne Boleyn (except what I knew from The Tudors) before I read this.
It started off pretty well, but by the time Anne has decided that she will accept Henry VII's advances, the story just dragged on. I understand that the author was trying to stay true to reality (-ish) but I think some events could have been fast-forwarded over.
And it was very confusing trying to remember who was whom and how they were related. At...more
It started off pretty well, but by the time Anne has decided that she will accept Henry VII's advances, the story just dragged on. I understand that the author was trying to stay true to reality (-ish) but I think some events could have been fast-forwarded over.
And it was very confusing trying to remember who was whom and how they were related. At...more
Una nueva perspectiva de la vida de Ana Bolena, definitivamente esta vez Jean me llevó otra vez a la corte de los Tudor de la manera más inesperada; el conocer también la vida en la corte francesa es algo que me interesó, también las pequeñas oportunidades de ver a María Tudor como un personaje principal al principio y de Margarita de Angulema y la fuerte influencia que tuvo en la vida de Ana, nuevos personajes y nuevas intrigas. Una manera demasiado diferente, pero no por eso, menos interesante...more
Honestly, I didn't care much for this novel by Plaidy. I love Anne Boleyn and read most everything I can about her. However this book was a bit of a slog for me. It really focused on how long she had to wait to be married to Henry. I could feel her frustration as I was reading it, because I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen as well.
Some people may feel different, however I feel this was not one of Plaidy's better works.
Some people may feel different, however I feel this was not one of Plaidy's better works.
Excellent!! One of the best Anne Boleyn books I've read to date. Jean Plaidy is an exceptional author who turned what could have been dry, boring history into a fantastic, page-turning novel! Very well researched and beautifully written.
Highly recommended!!
Audiobook: Anne Flosnick gave her best performance. Knowing her from historical romance novels, I found her narration of this story near perfect!!!
This was a great book! The way it was written in first person made it 1,000 times more interesting than just reading a historical account of her life. I was completely hooked and couldn't stop. In the end I was a bit melancholy to think that all this occurred a half-century ago in England. This stuff is so Medieval - and it's hard to believe that England was so backward.
Sep 25, 2009
Mary Campbell
is currently reading it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction-medieval-and-tud
I bought this book via Audible, having just finished listening to A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES in preparation for AN ECHO IN THE BONE. This is my fifth Anne Boleyn book -- the only one told in the first person, the only one beginning in her early childhood, and the second in which it is related that (1) her mother dies young, and (2) she has the nail of a sixth finger and a mole that her "B" pendant hides.
At this point in the book, Anne is lady to Queen Mary (Tudor) of France, Henry VIII's sister...more
At this point in the book, Anne is lady to Queen Mary (Tudor) of France, Henry VIII's sister...more
I love all of Jean Plaidy's books I have read up to this point. I feel she brings historical characters to life and makes you feel as though these could be anyone or that any person could go through the same pitfalls and triumphs as the historical figures featured in each book. Worth reading.
I have read several Anne Boleyn novels and other books about her and King Henry's wives. This is the first book I have read by Jean Plaidy. It is written in first person and for the most part I think she captured Anne's voice. It was a very interesting time full of many bigger than life people and Plaidy does a good job of introducing these people. Plaidy also gave a real feel for the time including some things about the Reformation. You come away sympathizing with Anne which is not a bad thing....more
I really like Jean Plaidy's books. This is the first one that I read and it got me hooked on her books and on Henry VIII! I cannot stop reading books about Henry VIII and I thank Jean Plaidy's Lady in the Tower for getting me hooked! Good book but honestly nothing absolutely amazing!
This book tells the story of Anne Boleyn's life. It is reminiscent of "I, Elizabeth" by Rosalind Miles. Both are told in first person. Both present intimate looks at the sordidness and excesses of court life. I would recommend it to anyone interested in European royal lineage.
This is one of my oldest non-kid-lit books; given to me by my grandmother - or at least loaned to me by her, and I kept it. This book is what got me interested in Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, and Tudor history.
This is my first reread in a long time; I find it holds up well.
This is my first reread in a long time; I find it holds up well.
I was glad to get a new to me perspective on Anne Boleyn. Everything I had read recently, even the book I, Elizabeth was kind of negative about Anne. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I consider her to be a really sympathetic character and I’ve always felt like everything that happened to her was a real shame. It amazes me when I realize how little so many people know about this woman who vastly changed the course of history. Her impact on what happened in England is ginormous – could any...more
Accurate historical fiction! This woman writes with clarity and understanding of the subject she is writing about and manages to mingle fictional stories with historical facts in a way that Phillipa Gregory does not! READ HER BOOKS!
Splendid, rich, delightful book! Wonderful to behold, lovely detail, and spectacular to see Anne Boleyn a real person instead of a Crazy Bitch. I adored this book, and hope to dig it up again so I can read it once more.
Because you enjoy historical fiction and also liked The Other Boleyn Girl, you might also want to read a similar story, this time focusing on Mary’s sister Anne’s life. Plaidy has a way of instantly drawing her readers to a past life.
Philippa Gregory fans might enjoy the works of Jean Plaidy. If you enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl , you might like The Lady in the Tower.
Jean Plaidy (Eleanor Hibbert) is well known for her accurate, detail-oriented portrayals on the crown heads of Europe. Under the P...more
Philippa Gregory fans might enjoy the works of Jean Plaidy. If you enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl , you might like The Lady in the Tower.
Jean Plaidy (Eleanor Hibbert) is well known for her accurate, detail-oriented portrayals on the crown heads of Europe. Under the P...more
I think what I enjoyed most is the fact Anne isn't the conniving manipulative woman who stole the King's desire if not his heart. Women were mostly powerless and she was a pawn as much as she tried not to be. You see the evil of King Henry VIII and how he had little regard for those around him.
Jean Plaidy es la Agatha Christie de las novelas históricas. Este libro muestra una historia bien narrada, con muchos datos históricos y una visión diferente de los hechgos que la historia oficial juzga en ocasiones con demasiados claro-oscuros.
Buen libro para quien le gusta la lectura como forma de conocer más la historia universal y para pasar un momento relajante. No busquen en él joyas poéticas, paradigmas filosóficos ni figuras retóricas muy dificiles de detectar. Al contrario, es sencillo...more
Buen libro para quien le gusta la lectura como forma de conocer más la historia universal y para pasar un momento relajante. No busquen en él joyas poéticas, paradigmas filosóficos ni figuras retóricas muy dificiles de detectar. Al contrario, es sencillo...more
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Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million)....more
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My other favourite is The Murder in t...more
Sep 08, 2011 08:25pm
My other favourite is...more
Sep 09, 2011 04:35am