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Mademoiselle Boleyn

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 2,368 ratings · 138 reviews

When her father is assigned the task of spying on the French Court, the charming and sweetly innocent Anne Boleyn is delighted by the thought of a new adventure. And she is not to be disappointed, for her beautiful sister, Mary, has been handed a mission: to let herself be seduced by the King of France in order to uncover his secrets.

Mesmerized by the thrilling passion, i...more

Paperback, 368 pages

Published October 17th 2007 by NAL Trade

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Dec 15, 2007 Farida rated it 4 of 5 stars

Historical fiction about Tudor England is one of my weaknesses. I especially appreciate it when it's historically accurate (unlike the novels of Philippa Gregory--they take liberties! Liberties, I tell you!), or at least attempts to be. Maxwell includes bibliographies in the backs of her novels, and at least in this one, explains where she did make up things for the sake of storyline. For example, there is no known record of Anne Boleyn having been friends with Leonardo Da Vinci, though it's pro...more

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May 11, 2010 Roniya rated it 3 of 5 stars

This novel showcases an intriguing snapshot of Anne's life, namely her largely unexplored childhood. While the plot and incidents are engaging enough ,in my opinion, to make for a worthwhile read,you would think that any story focusing on her childhood would point out how she became the calculating schemer she revealed herself to be in England. However,it is as if the novel assumes this part of her personality to be a spontaneous eruption. Throughought the duration,she is portrayed as a rather m...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Dawn (& Ron) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anne and Mary Boleyn and Tudor fans, Leonardo da Vinci

Shelves: tudor, historical-fiction, biographical-historical-fiction

I was reminded tonight of having read this book and it made me think about what it was that I liked about it. This tells of a different time period in Anne Boleyn's life, from when she is a little 9 year old girl and going over to the French court with her sister Mary, and finishes upon her return to England years later.

Their father is as manipulative and power hungry as he was in the tv series, with not much middle ground. Maxwell has Mary as the bed hopping sister with Anne learning from givi...more I was reminded tonight of having read this book and it made me think about what it was that I liked about it. This tells of a different time period in Anne Boleyn's life, from when she is a little 9 year old girl and going over to the French court with her sister Mary, and finishes upon her return to England years later.

Their father is as manipulative and power hungry as he was in the tv series, with not much middle ground. Maxwell has Mary as the bed hopping sister with Anne learning from giving in too soon. If you are looking for a sweet Mary or multilayers to their father's character, you will be disappointed. Anne is really too young to have formed a well rounded personality yet, but the innocence through a child's eye perspective is done with good affect.

What I truly enjoyed about this book was the glimpse into King Francois and Queen Claude's decadent court. For those looking for the English court, there is very little here. But you do get the politics between the countries with a unique insight. The relationship between Claude and Francois was fascinating to me and I wanted to know so much more. He and his philandering, flaunting ways, she in her quiet, steady resolve. Queen Claude comes across as a very sympathetic yet strong character, one I want to know more about.

The other is that we see the last years of Leonardo da Vinci's life when he was at the French court. Maxwell admits that there is no historical proof that Anne and da Vinci ever met, but they were at court at the same time and there is reason to believe that they met and certainly knew of each other. I doubt they had the relationship depicted here but I liked that it inserted him into the storyline and I like to think that that deck of cards did exist. Some of the other interaction between them seems too far fetched, but it isn't anything that really affects the direction of the storyline or actual historical events.

For those who are looking for a different perspective of the Boleyn girls, this book certainly will do that for you with the added bonus of learning about a King and Queen rarely seen in historical fiction.

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Jan 13, 2008 Missybw rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical fiction fans

Shelves: just-finished-this-one

Excellent! In a word, that's it, excellent. A very interesting viewpoint of the early years of one of British history's most misunderstood figures. Anne Boleyn is typically written off as a royal bimbo (more aptly that would be Catherine Howard) or worse, a royal maneater (ala Catherine the Great, but with less power). Truthfully, my take on Anne is that she was more modern than the times could allow and her power was only destroyed thru a rewrite of who she actually was. She had the misfortune...more

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Mar 18, 2008 Recynd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, anglophile, tudortastic

I really liked this book; Anne was portrayed in a positive light (for once), and accurate or not, it was sort of refreshing.

My knowledge of the Tudors is embarrassingly limited, I'm afraid; when I read fiction based on historical fact, I never know what's fact and what isn't...so I end up taking EVERYTHING with a grain of salt. I DO know that no one, famous or not, is all bad or all good; with that in mind, this book was a nice counter to all the negative portrayals about her I've read recently....more

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Nov 28, 2012 Jenny GB rated it 4 of 5 stars

Robin Maxwell takes on the early life of Anne Boleyn in this fascinating novel. The novel tells about Anne's years in the French court with her sister. While in the French court Anne really grows up and comes of age. She learns about men and women, politics, sexuality, and religion. Many formative experiences take place that shape her future life as queen of England.

I haven't read all the literature about Anne Boleyn, but I don't think this is a road usually traveled by authors. I usually read n...more

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Feb 03, 2012 M A rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Grade / Rating: 4.5 stars / B+

Disclaimer: I am not a professional reviewer, nor was I solicited for this review. I purchased my e-copy of "Mademoiselle Boleyn" from the Sony ebookstore sometime between 2008 and 2010.

Spoiler Warning: My reviews usually contain spoilers. I try to label them whenever possible.

I'm an unusual Anne Boleyn fan in the sense I like her, but I like her with my eyes wide open. True-blue groupies tend to venerate her as a feminist and a religious reformer. I see her as a s...more Grade / Rating: 4.5 stars / B+

Disclaimer: I am not a professional reviewer, nor was I solicited for this review. I purchased my e-copy of "Mademoiselle Boleyn" from the Sony ebookstore sometime between 2008 and 2010.

Spoiler Warning: My reviews usually contain spoilers. I try to label them whenever possible.

I'm an unusual Anne Boleyn fan in the sense I like her, but I like her with my eyes wide open. True-blue groupies tend to venerate her as a feminist and a religious reformer. I see her as a smart, savvy, ambitious woman who manipulated her way onto a throne and held it for a brief three years before her chickens came home to roost. She was known to be temperamental, narcissistic, and "high-maintenance." She was extraordinarily jealous of and abusive toward her step-daughter and may have even lobbied her husband, Henry VIII, to mistreat or even execute her. I doubt I'd like Anne personally if I knew her, but there's no denying she had style and nerve. Her greatest legacy to her country was one unwanted daughter who outlasted her siblings and governed England's golden age.

I liked "Mademoiselle Boleyn" because the narrative explored the era of Anne's life of which little is known, her childhood and young adult years lived briefly in the Netherlands and primarily in the lavish French court. It's amazing more authors haven't attempted to capture these years in fiction because Anne's childhood and young adulthood in France must have influenced the adult she became.

The narrative reads easily and quickly. Honestly, I wish the read had lasted a little longer. Anne (first-person POV) describes numerous experiences she has and fascinating historical figures she met who may have helped shape her political and religious views. I found her voice pretty credible as a young, intelligent female gentlewoman discovering herself intellectually, socially, and sexually.

One drawback affecting the book is that Anne's 1st person POV forced the author to contrive situations where Anne was constantly noticed, liked, and befriended by the most colorful members of the French Court. Francois I flirts with Anne even as he lusts after her sister, Mary. Anne is an especial favorite in Queen Claude's household, a helpful interpreter to Mary Tudor, an apt follower of Maguerite de Navarre's feminist teachings, girlfriends with a laundress, and somehow manages to find time to stand out and cultivate a special friendship with Leonardo da Vinci. While these relationships were nicely portrayed and enjoyable to read, it just seemed Anne was always at the right place and time to establish these important relationships. Just how lucky can one inconsequential young girl get?

Many events described in the book mirror historical events in Anne's adulthood and offer explanations for the kind of woman Anne became. I found this a bit heavy-handed at times, and I disliked how Anne seemed to be reacting to things others did instead of acting on her own initiative. It's impossible not to empathize with the adult Anne's decision to refuse a role as Henry VIII's mistress when adolescent Anne witnesses her sister Mary's shame and heartbreak as Francois I ends their affair and discards her. But Anne rarely, if ever, reached any decision without it somehow being introduced or okayed by some other character.

This is a story about an extraordinary young girl growing up into an extraordinary woman. It's coming-of-age quality makes it suitable for a YA read. However, there are a few sexual situations in the story, nothing particularly lengthy or detailed, but they are there and some may find them offensive. The book includes mention of Anne learning to masturbate and witnessing a lesbian orgy.

I recommend this to all readers interested in the subject matter, but it might be a refreshing change of pace for people who normally don't care for historical fiction, too. (less)

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May 15, 2008 Lisa Lap rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalfiction, historical

This is a time period I really love. All of the court conspiracies, the underlying strive for power at a time when women had very little recognized authority, all the behind the scenes machinations etc. Truly intriguing.

I admire the author's ability to portray Anne as a much more sympathetic character rather than the typical villification of her. I found this book a fascinating read and was really disappointed at the abrupt end.

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Jul 10, 2012 Anastacia Knits rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, england, historical-fiction, tudor

This book was published in 2007 & I am rather surprised that it took me this long to read it. I guess I'm rather late to the game.

This book is a rather decent historically accurate (and the biggest things that Maxwell takes liberties with, she tells you about in the back of the book) book about Anne Boleyn before she becomes infamous, told from her point of view. It's rather different than other Tudor stuff I've read, & I rather enjoy how different the tale is. Anne is seen first as a yo...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Bekah Porter-Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book did it. I have fallen helplessly in love with Robin Maxwell and her delightfully delicious historical fiction.
I just happened upon her "Jane" novel when browsing a local bookshop, and while I initially purchased the book for its subject matter, I found myself back at the bookstore looking for her other titles because I so much enjoyed her style and unique voice.
Fortunately, I was not disappointed, and both purchases have brought me nothing but satisfaction.
I enjoy her light touch, whic...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a historical fiction novel which focuses on the infamous Anne Boleyn. Robin Maxwell takes a different approach, focuses on Anne Boleyn's life in France before she moved back to England to later become Henry VIII's Queen. The book in fact ends with Anne Boleyn meeting Henry VIII.

This book shows in the beginning a young Anne Boleyn learning the ways of court as well as the ways of men and women. It shows a nicer, kinder, less manipulative side to the future Queen. The book is interes...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Cherry Chen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was obsessed with Anne Boleyn after watching the TV drama Tuduors features Natalie Dormer. After reading Robin's version of Anne's story in French court before going back to UK. I come to know the story behind this great woman, she was the translator to French King at the age of 9, witness the French Queen giving birth at 9, knew the wars and politics very well by the age of 10, became friends with the master Da Vinci at 10; apart from her own story, her sister Mary Boleyn was a complete tradg...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Adrienne rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: early-henry-viii

I thought this book was horrid. It's way too difficult for an author to write from Anne's POV in the first person, especially Anne as a child. Anne's character was so contradictory and I had no idea of her motives. The sex scenes were revolting and no fun to read at all. Anne is such a powerhouse of a character - it's hard to believe that her story is actually real, that she really ended up marrying Henry and then was executed. It's hard to find a good book about Anne, where she is the central c...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Beth Camp rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story intrigued me for the tightly woven historical backdrop and for the unique inner point of view that Ann Boleyn displays as she grows from a young girl to a woman. Robin Maxwell draws a poignant character study of a young woman caught between the cold rejection of her dominating father, the extreme sexuality of the French court, and her own implacable curiosity that defies the very rigid sex roles of the 17th Century. Not the least enchanting is her friendship with the aging Michelangel...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, owned-books

I read Maxwell's novel "The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn" and loved it so I was eager to pick up this novel. I have to say I was disappointed with this novel. I liked the depth of interest in Anne that is shown in this book and the ways that she learns to keep her reputation in tact. However, at times I felt like some scenes were simply written for shock factor. There were a few scenes that just left me shaking my head as it was hard to imagine anyone in that time period doing certain things and...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Heather Domin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable read, entertaining, well written, with a large cast of supporting characters I really liked. (Poor Mary Boleyn, I felt for her the most.) The history was well done, and it was interesting to look at the time period from a different direction. The only drawback was Anne herself. When you tell a story in first person POV, that person has to be present at all the important events; I don't mind that at all. But Anne's special-ness was laid on a little thick: every royal person...more

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May 01, 2013 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mademoiselle Boleyn is Robin Maxwell’s follow up to her debut novel, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn. Once again, Maxwell gives the reader an innovative, imaginative while plausible account of Anne Boleyn’s youth during her service at the French court. It was refreshing to delve into this period of Anne’s life that has been mostly overlooked. Certainly these were Anne’s, like most young girl’s, formative years and I believe that Anne’s personality was greatly shaped by her time in France. Also r...more Mademoiselle Boleyn is Robin Maxwell’s follow up to her debut novel, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn. Once again, Maxwell gives the reader an innovative, imaginative while plausible account of Anne Boleyn’s youth during her service at the French court. It was refreshing to delve into this period of Anne’s life that has been mostly overlooked. Certainly these were Anne’s, like most young girl’s, formative years and I believe that Anne’s personality was greatly shaped by her time in France. Also refreshingly Maxwell gives us a warmer relationship between Anne and her sister Mary. It has always perplexed me as to why these two women are cast as bitter rivals. Quite possibly, despite the enormous differences in their personalities, these two women found common ground as sisters and I think most would concur that Anne learned a valuable lesson from Mary, the importance of maintaining one’s virtue in a world controlled by men; indeed it seemed to be one of the few things that women could try to preserve. Maxwell also offers a different interpretation of Mary, not the sensual and promiscuous mistress to kings and courtiers, but a girl forced by own her father into seducing and bedding Francois I, to further his interests. Mary is then further humiliated when Francois offers her to his friend’s for their enjoyment.

While Mary is drawn in by the trappings of being a royal mistress and perhaps feels compensated by the gifts as well as the attention she receives at court. It is Anne who observes and learns and in time develops her own views on the world. Anne is deeply impacted by her relationship with Francois’ sister Marguerite. Marguerite encouraged Anne to step outside the traditional confines of woman and Catholic and to learn but more importantly interpret the world independently. Indeed, one could assume that Marguerite’s freedom to explore the ideas of the Reformation greatly impacted Anne as did Marguerite’s ability to defy the retrains placed on women and very much led her own life. In Marguerite, Anne had a wonderful and influential example of independence and freethinking, which certainly she nurtured for herself as she grew into a woman. Maxwell does insert a purely fictional relationship between Anne and Leonardo da Vinci. Nevertheless, I found the relationship comforting knowing that Anne who most certainly lacked for a loving and nurturing paternal figure and at least had this important influence in fiction at least.

Mademoiselle Boleyn is another wonderful and innovative look at Anne Boleyn from Robin Maxwell. While it completely stands alone from The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn it is just as wonderfully crafted and imaginative. I found that Maxwell’s fictional account of the formation of Anne Boleyn’s character to be not only enjoyable to read but historically plausible. If you are a fan of Anne’s strength, fearlessness, intelligence and allure then Mademoiselle Boleyn will not disappoint.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Novela histórica acerca de Ana Bolena y su vida en la corte francesa durante parte de su infancia y adolescencia. Como dama de compañia de la reina Claudia y luego de la princesa Margarita, Ana aprenderá y vivirá muchas cosas que la ayudarán a adquirir esa gran personalidad y determinación que son características de ella.
La novela también muestra a Ana entablando una amistad con Leonardo Da Vinci, quién la aconsejará en los momentos difíciles.
También es durante su estadía en Francia cuando Ana c...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, favorites

Anyone who is truly interested in Anne Boleyn will want to read this book, and I think be pleasantly surprised. Even enthusiasts of Boleyn or the Tudor period might want to consider Maxwell's take. The novel is a coming of age story that examines Anne's early life at about nine years old and her time in the Netherlands and then when her father, Thomas Boleyn sent her and elder sister Mary to the French court. Everything about this book was fascinating, especially as it was written in first perso...more Anyone who is truly interested in Anne Boleyn will want to read this book, and I think be pleasantly surprised. Even enthusiasts of Boleyn or the Tudor period might want to consider Maxwell's take. The novel is a coming of age story that examines Anne's early life at about nine years old and her time in the Netherlands and then when her father, Thomas Boleyn sent her and elder sister Mary to the French court. Everything about this book was fascinating, especially as it was written in first person, from Anne's point of view. The main thing that keeps this story going is the wide array of characters that all have an extraordinary relationship with the main character. We have Charles, the boy who is the future Holy Roman Emperor whom Anne meets as a child living in the Netherlands. Marguerite, a French duchess who resists the catholic church, and Anne at times lives in her household. One can argue perhaps marguerite would influence Anne's future, and steer her towards making the later decision to convince Henry to break with Rome.
There a lot of titillating scenes that will keep people interested too. The main thing that was so wonderful about this book is that this may be the only novel that shows Anne might not have been as scheming, ambitious and cut-throat as history says. History is written with a bias, especially by those who knew Anne Boleyn. The author paints the young Anne as a considerate, even sensitive girl who has a strong, moral code, but not a rigid one. It is believable as this Anne is well-read, intelligent, political, and still interested in her own advancement, just like history said she was. However, she appears a much nicer person than what history says, and this might actually be accurate.

The only thing that wasn't very good was some inconsistency in the characterization. For one thing Anne's father showed no depth of character. Maxwell just made him out as someone who completely did not care one iota for his daughter's, accept for how well they could further his own ambitions. I thought that one-dimensional, even during that time. Also, the French King Francois gets hurt in the story while hunting for a stag with the English king. Francois falls into a coma and suddenly changes in the story, losing some of his rabid lust and letting Anne go free, instead of making her his newest mistress. Maxwell has her characters saying that the King had a new personality since the coma. However, towards the end of the book Francois completely regains back this disturbing part of his personality.
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Jul 25, 2010 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This was a nice story set in Anne's childhood in the French court. I might have given it 5 stars, but at the end there was a Q&A with the author in which she complains about another book by a different author. ("One book actually claimed that a male child born to Mary, fathered by Henry while she was his mistress, was stolen by Anne and brought up by her at court as her own. That Anne brought up her sister's son at court, claiming it as Henry's and hers, is as far as I know, entirely fictiti...more

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May 24, 2008 Yosafbridg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-and-read

Robin Maxwell considers her Mademoiselle Boleyn to be a prequel to her previous (rather excellent) works as it tells of Anne’s youth (before she rather fatally catches the eye of the lecherous King Henry IVIII, much of it spent in the French court of King Francois and Queen Claude (daughter of King Louis XII). She befriends Leonardo da Vinci (not mentioned in the history books but imagined, i suppose reasonably, by Maxwell).

It's been quite some time since i read her earlier works and, memory be...more Robin Maxwell considers her Mademoiselle Boleyn to be a prequel to her previous (rather excellent) works as it tells of Anne’s youth (before she rather fatally catches the eye of the lecherous King Henry IVIII, much of it spent in the French court of King Francois and Queen Claude (daughter of King Louis XII). She befriends Leonardo da Vinci (not mentioned in the history books but imagined, i suppose reasonably, by Maxwell).

It's been quite some time since i read her earlier works and, memory being what it is, though i remember liking them, i don't remember many of the details (though i did recommend The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn to a costumer just the other day because of course i had Mademoiselle Boleyn checked out at home~i just hate having to recommend books to customers~even though it is a big part of my job when they are completely uncooperative in telling me about their personal likes and dislikes, "Well, what do you like?" they so unhelpfully ask, as if we would have the exact same tastes, anyway...)

I've been watching The Tudors lately on Showtime and Maxwell seems to have her historical accuracy down much better than the creators of that show (although i'm not quite so much up on Anne's upbringing or the peripheral figures of the Tudor court as i could be~history never was my strong point, much as i loathe to admit it). But the Showtime people seem to have confused Henry's sisters as well as a few other characters which bothers me just a tad and i wonder what else they got wrong~still and all it is a very interesting series and i would recommend for its entertainment value and for some of its historical value.

From what i know Maxwell got right i tend to trust her other details and she does have some interesting after notes. Overall, i can highly recommend this book and it gives a much better (and much more sympathetic~and i do see many of Henry's wives as quite sympathetic characters~they really were victims of there age~and the only one i would wish to be is Anne of Cleves~she had it the best of anyone of her time and all because she was judged to be ugly~go figure...) portrait (in my ever so humble opinion) than that, ahem, other, Boleyn, historical receiving so much attention of late
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Apr 02, 2008 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Caution to anyone who does not like to read raunchy books. Some sections made me blush! However, as anyone familiar with the Rennaissance court of Francois I knows, Francois got around. Further, women at that time period were used as pawns to advance the power of their families. Thus, while the virtual prostitution of Mary Boleyn is shocking for modern tastes, ambitious parents would often push their (young and presumably unwilling) daughters into the beds of kings. While there is no historical...more Caution to anyone who does not like to read raunchy books. Some sections made me blush! However, as anyone familiar with the Rennaissance court of Francois I knows, Francois got around. Further, women at that time period were used as pawns to advance the power of their families. Thus, while the virtual prostitution of Mary Boleyn is shocking for modern tastes, ambitious parents would often push their (young and presumably unwilling) daughters into the beds of kings. While there is no historical proof that Mary Boleyn was forced to be the kings mistress by her parents, we do know that Mary Boleyn was very promiscuous while in France and later became Henry VIII's mistress. I have read that Mary Boleyn's family forced her to return to England because of her promiscuous behavior, but this does not mean that the cause of the behavior was Mary herself. Indeed, she later became a lady in waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon in England in Henry VIII's sexually corrupt court, so it is plausible that her parents were not all that disappointed in her behavior and that she only left France because Francois had tired of her and her "job" was done.

The raunchiness of the novel is also necessary to explain the forces that shaped Anne Boleyn. Anne comes of age in this corrupt surrounding and sees how her sister is humiliated and degraded because of her promiscuity. Anne carries this knowledge with her to England and refuses to give herself to King Henry for 6 years. Most women in her position would have given herself to the King as his mistress, particularly since divorce was not a realistic option at the time.

Another important facet of the book is the influence of Princess Marguerite on Anne, which has an important impact, as we all know, on subsequent English history. This portrayal of Anne as a highly intelligent women (which we know she was) and one who garnered great respect in the French court is very important to understanding Anne in her most famous role as Henry's second queen.

Lastly, the picture Maxwell paints of the Boleyn family is very helpful in understanding how a woman such as Anne ended up as the wife of Henry VIII in the first place. While we cannot possibly know all of the internal thoughts and machinations of the Boleyn family, we do know that they were ambitious. Maxwell helps us understand what it was to be the daughter of such a family and how little autonomy Anne actually had over her body and herself.

In sum, I think this is a must read for anyone interested in the English Reformation and Tudor history. This is also a must read for anyone interested in King Francois I and the early part of his reign. (less)

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Feb 15, 2008 Meredith rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Philippa Gregory

Recommended to Meredith by: Deb

Summary from www.bn.com

When her father is assigned the task of spying on the French Court, the charming and sweetly innocent Anne Boleyn is delighted by the thought of a new adventure. And she is not to be disappointed, for her beautiful sister, Mary, has been handed a mission: to let herself be seduced by the King of France in order to uncover his secrets.

Mesmerized by the thrilling passion, intrigue, and betrayal that unfolds, Anne discovers the power of being a woman who catches the eye of a...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Melissa B rated it 4 of 5 stars

Almost an affectionate portrait of Anne Boleyn in her younger years as a member of the French Royal Court. Although I enjoyed the book, I am having a difficult time accepting this "Anne" with the other "Annes" I've read about, the one who convinces the King of England to annul his marriage so he can marry her. This Anne is too pure, too sweet and has too much integrity. The 'character' I felt the most pity for was Mary Boleyn. Thomas Boleyn is never portrayed as anything but pure evil, and he de...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

VERY interesting. I loved that this was more about Anne Boleyn before she met Henry instead of the story we've heard over and over. It ends around the time she met him, but the information before is pretty fascinating, especially about Parisian court life. I love reading that sort of thing though! I will admit that there was a bit of gratuitous sex on and off throughout. Nothing major but it did get graphic briefly in a few scenes. Overall, still a good read.

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Aug 07, 2010 Rebecca Huston rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, tudors

I found this one interesting, but I have become so burnt out on Tudor era historical fiction that it was hard to stay interested in it. Still, it's a different sort of book about Anne Boleyn, looking at her time in Flanders and France before she returned to England. Still, others new to the time and period might find this one worth reading.

For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_45894...

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May 20, 2010 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This historical novel covers Anne Boleyn's early life, from ages nine to seventeen, while she was a lady-in-waiting at the French court of Francois I. The court was a hotbed of both humanist intellectual activity and scandalous sexual licentiousness, and in the course of the novel, Anne learns a lot from observation and participation in both (although more of the former than the latter when it comes to the sexual liaisons). Maxwell does a very clever and subtle job of connecting Anne's experienc...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Kerry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historic-fiction, everything

For the most part, I found Mademoiselle Boleyn to be one of the better written pieces of historic fiction that I have read that deals with the life and history of Anne Boleyn. In some ways, it reminds me of Philippa Gregory’s The Constant Princess. Both M. Boleyn and The Constant Princess deal with the formative years of Henry VIII’s wives (Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn) long before their historic clash over a place as Henry’s wife and queen. In both cases, you could see hints of personali...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Margie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors

Great book about Mary and Anne Boleyn's 8 yrs. at the French court under King Francois. It was raunchy, naughty, racy. It told of how Thomas Boleyn used his daughters to further advance himself in Henry VIII's court. Mary became the French court's whore, while Anne was ordered to spy on the king and report back to her father. The book ends when Anne returns to England and I assume that's where Maxwell's other Anne Boleyn book picks up. Really liked her writing style.

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May 04, 2013 Dawn Stanton rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was enjoying this book in the beginning....it focuses on young Anne Boleyn and her life as part of King Francois's court....then it started reading like the first season of "The Tudor's"...right down to characters and scenarios....considering "The Tudor's" season began in 2006 and this book was first printed in 2007, I have to wonder how much research the author really did....or if she just TiVo'd.....

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European Literature > British Literature

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Romance

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Cultural > France

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Literature > 16th Century

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Romance > Historical Romance

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About Robin Maxwell

Robin Maxwell grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, graduated from Tufts University School of Occupational Therapy, and practiced in that field for several years before moving to Hollywood to become a parrot tamer, casting director and finally a screenwriter. Working for the major studios and networks she wrote comedy, drama and even feature animation for Disney. Her credits include "Passions", a CBS...more

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To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes

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