The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir

Apr 20, 2010 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Tudor history buffs

Shelves: historicals, 2010-reads, non-fiction

In this non-fiction book (her 5th on the Tudors), Weir zeros in on the last 3 months of the life of Anne Boleyn, arguably the most fascinating of Henry VIII's six wives. Anne, as most English history buffs know, was beheaded after failing to produce the one and only thing desired of a royal spouse - a living son - but there was much, much more to her story then her inability to bare an heir. Weir expands on the last days of Anne, and covers information not available in her former book, The Six W...more

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Sep 10, 2010 Madeline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history-nonfiction

The Part of the Review In Which the Reviewer Rambles About Herself and Not the Book She's Reviewing:
Lately, I like to insist that "I liked the Tudors before they were cool!" (yes, I am a history hipster.) This isn't true, of course; people have been fascinated by the Tudors since the Victorian Age. But it is true that I was obsessed with this messed-up family long before Philippa Gregory jumped on the bandwagon. Karen Cushman was my gateway author into historic fiction in 4th grade, and it must...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites

This book has a VERY special meaning to me as I bought this book from the gift shop at Hampton Court. Anne Boleyn, the amazing, incredible, life changing Anne Boleyn spent some of her royal life at Hampton Court. She graced those long decorative hallways with her spirit and elegance, holding her head up high and proud as Queen of England. It was also within these walls that she allegedly held some of her affairs (I say allegedly because most of the dates are so inaccurate and have been disproven...more This book has a VERY special meaning to me as I bought this book from the gift shop at Hampton Court. Anne Boleyn, the amazing, incredible, life changing Anne Boleyn spent some of her royal life at Hampton Court. She graced those long decorative hallways with her spirit and elegance, holding her head up high and proud as Queen of England. It was also within these walls that she allegedly held some of her affairs (I say allegedly because most of the dates are so inaccurate and have been disproven!)

The Lady in the Tower focuses on the fall of Anne Boleyn. This is an area in which I am extremely passionate and have read a great deal about. Not that I’m not passionate about all of Anne’s life, but the final six months would have to be my area of special interest. So to buy this incredible book from Hampton Court just added that special meaning for me. To hold the book as I strolled through the halls of the Palace, perhaps even where Anne walked, sat, witnessing the views (similar) to what she saw. Absolutely awe inspiring.

As always Weir commands the use of English literate to not just give the facts, but to weave and portray an emotional, gut wrenching story of the tragic downfall of Anne. There are a lot of reasons as to why Anne fell; many simply related to the woman that she was. And what I love about Weir is that she does not try and portray Anne as a holy, saintly, completely innocent woman. Anne was a proud, vivacious, spirited woman with a temper, there is certainly no denying that! She was cruel and she was kind. She was who she was and for seven years that captivated Henry VIII… until they got married. Upon marriage Anne was expected to fall into the submissive role that Katherine of Aragon played – unfortunately that is just not who Anne Boleyn was and ultimately she payed the price for that. Her refusal to submit to Henry, her outspokenness, her temper, her ultimate inability to provide England with a male heir all worked together to bring about her downfall.

But there were others involved; Cromwell for a start was a huge player in Anne’s ultimate fall and execution. She argued and fought with Cromwell over a huge range of issues, especially the distribution of the wealth from the fall of the monasteries. Anne wanted it to go to the poor, to the furtherment of the reformation, to the universities and charities – Cromwell wanted it to go to the King and his treasuries. There were those about court, The Duke of Suffolk, the Duke of Norfolk and many others who all saw Anne as a threat to themselves, as to loud, to overreaching of the role of a woman and Queen and they quickly joined the Anti Boleyn faction. Anne was a woman of spirit, she liked to laugh, to flirt, to play and those against her used all of this in evidence to bring her down.

What I love about this book is the emotion weaved into every page. I read this book on the flight home from London. Once I picked it up I simply could not stop, there is no way you can put this book down so I suggest you read it when you have a long stretch of time free! I cried throughout this book, but I especially wept at the last moments of Anne’s life. These intricately researched, beautifully written details were written with such weight full emotion that I felt as though my heart was being squeezed. I sat in my seat on the plane crying, weeping, tissues crushed in one hand as I tried not to let my tears hit the pages. I failed and my tears stain the many pages of this wonderful book.

There was one paragraph in the book that really stood out to me; made me shutter and gasp in shock….

In 1905, a French doctor observed that a decapitated criminal’s eyelids and lips worked for five seconds before the face relaxed and the eyes rolled back, at which point he called out the man’s name, only to see the eyes fixing themselves on him and the pupils focusing before the lids fell and the pupils glazed over. The whole process had taken twenty-five to thirty seconds. In 1989, the face of a man decapitated in a car accident registered shock, then terror, then grief, as the living eyes looked directly at the witness before dimming. In 1956, two French doctors concluded: ‘Death is not instantaneous: every element survives decapitation. It is a savage vivisection.’ In 1983, another medical study found that ‘no matter how efficient the method of execution, at least two to three seconds of intense pain cannot be avoided’. However, once the spine is severed, the perception of pain recedes. Some victims have not responded at all to stimuli, so it must therefore be concluded that they were knocked unconscious by the impact of the blow, or fainted due to the dramatic loss in blood pressure, and felt virtually nothing, while others – including perhaps Anne Boleyn – did experience a few dreadful moments of awareness of what was happening.

When reading this I had to stop. It was the middle of the night, sitting in a plane and I cried, I wept and wept and wept. I pray to God above upon everything that is good in this world that Anne did not feel any pain. That her final moments were quick and painless and she knew nothing but happy memories.

This book inspired me to write my own piece about Anne Boleyn and her final days. It was such a huge source of inspiration and I have credited it heavily in my own writing. This book gave me the strength and the courage and the pure desire to write about Anne’s final nineteen days about this earth. And thanks to this book I have my own piece of writing (all 45 pages and 22 000 words!!) to treasure as my own.

I still use this book as my constant resource. I purposely bought the hardcover version as I knew I would be referring back to it many, many times and I was right. Everything I read about Anne now I refer back to this book. Every tiny detail, to the clothing she was wearing on certain dates, to the path she walked from the Queen’s lodgings to the scaffold, to her final prayer. This book is one of the best, well in my opinion, the BEST resource for Anne Boleyn’s downfall. I re read small sections of it regularly and find myself staring at the images contained within the pages often.

The Lady in the Tower is my absolute favourite book in the entire world. It takes pride and joy on my Tudor bookshelf (which is now getting so crowded that I’m going to have to make another one!) I love it to pieces and I would recommend that anyone who can get a copy of it give it a read. It is beautifully written, just as all of Alison Weir’s books are. It is captivating and within the pages are woven such extreme emotions that I would challenge anyone not to feel heartache and pain for Anne Boleyn as they read. I would boldly say this is the most comprehensive, detailed and emotionally written book detailing the fall and execution of Anne Boleyn.(less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Bettie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: published-2009, summer-2011, tudor, biography, execution, history, medieval5c-16c, catholic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. blurbs - Nearly five hundred years after her violent death, Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, remains one of the world's most fascinating, controversial, and tragic heroines. Now acclaimed historian and bestselling author Alison Weir has drawn on myriad sources from the Tudor era to give us the first book that examines, in unprecedented depth, the gripping, dark, and chilling story of Anne Boleyn's final days.

The tempestuous love affair between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn scandalized Christ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, five-stars, non-fiction, all-time-favorites, 2010

Read this review and others on my blog, Shady Tree Reads

This is an intimate view of Anne Boleyn's final days, and as usual Alison Weir does a stunning job of presenting the facts to her readers. As I have mentioned before, I love Weir's writing because she presents all the information, then gives her opinion on which event in question most likely occurred and why she believes so. This lets the reader to come to their own conclusion.

This book is not just about Anne, it is also about the men exec...more

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Jan 30, 2013 James rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The fall of Anne Boleyn is without any doubt one of the most controversial periods in English history, a King who had gone out of his way to marry- split his country in two, separated from Rome, established the church of England ( with himself as the head), divorce his first wife Katherine of Aragon a Spanish Princess- risking war and invasion from Spain ( threatened but never came), had his daughter Mary declared illegitimate, only two have her executed on charges of adultery, incest, treason e...more The fall of Anne Boleyn is without any doubt one of the most controversial periods in English history, a King who had gone out of his way to marry- split his country in two, separated from Rome, established the church of England ( with himself as the head), divorce his first wife Katherine of Aragon a Spanish Princess- risking war and invasion from Spain ( threatened but never came), had his daughter Mary declared illegitimate, only two have her executed on charges of adultery, incest, treason etc just under three years after finally marrying her...

Weir wastes no time at all in leaping straight into the story, no piece of evidence is left un-searched, you almost begin to feel as though your in the trial yourself as it is so well brought to life. Weir also manages to remain rather impartial for the first part of the book, as another well respected historian David Loades said in his review "she could have gone either way with this", every single person involved in some way or another with Anne's fall at the time is analysed and their reasons and motives scrutinised, you pretty much get a day-by-day account of the proceedings, even at times going back to look at things as more evidence comes out.

By half way in the book at the latest ( if you have not thought so before), you can really be in no doubt whatsoever of Anne's innocence, the evidence that stood against her at her trial really was so slender that it really was a complete shambles. It is also made clear that there was no accusation of witchcraft at all during the trial (fiction writers take note!!), simply because there is no evidence of the deformed still born child at all.
What is clear is that the frightening speed in which Anne's downfall came about, the shoddiness of her trial and the lack of evidence to prove her definitely guilty, makes it clear that Anne was some sort of political threat and had to be removed quickly, especially as she still had some influence over the King, and the inclusion of all the males in her downfall meant that anyone who would stand up for her was done away with- she had alienated her powerful uncle by this point, Cranmer was too concerned about his own position, her sister was no longer at court, her sister in law's family where supporters of the lady Mary, her mother was unwell and her once ally Cromwell was conspiring to bring her down!! It is especially interesting to note that everyone included on the jury at her trial was either an old enemy of hers or a strong Catholic supporter of the lady Mary- a no brainer as to why she was found guilty!!
Weir makes no secret that she is not a great admirer of Anne's or the Boleyn faction, which helps to serve her impartialness throughout the book, i especially enjoyed the chapters after Anne's death on her exhumation- some very interesting points there, and on the Anne we think of today- again interesting points, and of course the ghost sightings is a welcome addition. I particularly enjoy how Weir examines Anne and Elizabeth's relationship, especially how she shows that Elizabeth's actions rather then words showed her belief in her mother. This book is full of research and notes, but it will not alienate anyone who has not academically studied history.(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, british-history-fiction

Just when you thought all the ins and outs of the fall of Anne Boleyn have been explored, something new appears.

Alison Weir shows she is the master of this era. She integrates her own scholarship and thoughts with what she has sifted through in the work of other Tudor historians. Weir must have read every Tudor related scrap of writing housed in the British Museum and every other collection. Her wide and deep knowledge of this period gives her the background to interpret all of it for the reader...more Just when you thought all the ins and outs of the fall of Anne Boleyn have been explored, something new appears.

Alison Weir shows she is the master of this era. She integrates her own scholarship and thoughts with what she has sifted through in the work of other Tudor historians. Weir must have read every Tudor related scrap of writing housed in the British Museum and every other collection. Her wide and deep knowledge of this period gives her the background to interpret all of it for the reader.

Writers like Weir take on a difficult task. They document their research for the historical record and then, work to make that record appealing to the general reader. Not all writers can succeed in both, but Weir excels. Her writing is a seamless blend of documenting and telling the story.

Weir poses that Henry VIII did not need to eliminate Anne Boleyn, but Thomas Cromwell had many reasons for doing so and pretty much said it out loud. She writes of the many others who stood to benefit from the demise of Anne and the faction of court politics she represented. Weir revisits the trumped up changes against Anne and her 5 supposed lovers.

Weir reminds the reader of the speed of events. Anne was Queen for less than 3 years. The time from her last miscarriage, of what would have been a son/heir (on the day Katherine of Aragon passed away), to her beheading (and Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour) was just about a month. That the trial would result in a conviction was not in doubt; an executioner was summoned from France before the trial's start. Had the miscarried child lived, history would have been much different.

Weir also does an excellent job in her discussion of the aftermath. Not all is rosy for the prosecution, karma catches up with Cromwell and others. Weir covers the reaction of the populace and leaders abroad, the distribution of Anne's assets, the known and potential effects on Elizabeth and how some of her actions, such as that the reluctance to convict Mary Queen of Scots might have resulted from this. There is a good analyis of the changing interpretations of this piece of history.

This is an excellent readable work of scholarship and a must read for anyone interested in the Tudors. (less)

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Nov 16, 2012 Conor Byrne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is arguably Alison Weir's most comprehensive, analytic and original research. I always enjoy returning to this highly readable study of Anne Boleyn's sudden downfall in 1536.
By and large, Weir agrees with Ives' theory that Anne fell in 1536 due to politics. She became alienated from Master Secretary Thomas Cromwell due to conflicting views about monasteries and religion in general; since religion and politics were intertwined in this period, Cromwell began to view her as an enemy, and in a...more This is arguably Alison Weir's most comprehensive, analytic and original research. I always enjoy returning to this highly readable study of Anne Boleyn's sudden downfall in 1536.
By and large, Weir agrees with Ives' theory that Anne fell in 1536 due to politics. She became alienated from Master Secretary Thomas Cromwell due to conflicting views about monasteries and religion in general; since religion and politics were intertwined in this period, Cromwell began to view her as an enemy, and in a sense, it was either him or her. Taking advantage of the king's flirtation with Jane Seymour, a grossly unfair and sensational coup was organised against the queen and five men associated with her "faction" (however dangerous a concept). In the space of little more than three weeks, these six - almost certainly - innocent people were executed brutally on charges of adultery and plotting regicide.
However, as R. Warnicke has suggested, this theory perhaps relies too much on interpretation of Spanish ambassador Chapuys' dispatches. Weir tends to disagree with Warnicke most of all historians in this study; however unbelievable Weir's views surrounding the queen's downfall are, I believe this theory is probably the most likely one. Certainly Warnicke's controversial theory that Anne fell for the 'sole reason' that she gave birth to a deformed foetus in January 1536, leading the king to identify homosexuals who could plausibly have fathered such a monster, led to her execution, is highly doubtful, as is Bernard's argument that these courtiers were actually guilty of the charges levied against them in the early summer of 1536.
However, one comes away from this study still none the wiser for the true reason why Queen Anne fell. I believe an impenetrable mystery will always surround the events which led to this brutal coup. Certainly Weir's study is highly enjoyable and compulsive reading, and it is similar to Ives' arguments by and large.
Debates about Anne's life, and her fall in particular, will continue to exist. This is why she is such an exciting, if controversial, historical figure.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Wayne marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: history, memoirs-biography, movie-seen-as-well, music, politics, tudor-history

Pre-Read :

Betook myself to the Globe Theatre, London, last Sunday.
(It was showing at a Local Cinema in Sydney!!!),
to see Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus".
Before the show, spotted this at a bargain price in hardback ($16.95)
and happily and weakly returned to purchase during the 15 min. break.

WHY???
Because of the fascination with the difference between
the dramatised version of telling a story and the historical documentary version.
Presently very much enjoying Hilary Mantel's factional versi...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Written with a very narrow focus of the last four months of Anne Boleyn's life, this is a deeply researched book. Using as many sources as still exist, she paints a picture of a woman who never fit into the role expected of her and paid for her intelligence and independence with her life. Looking past the sexual mores of the day, women, especially a Queen, had to live by an impossible double standard. Be intelligent enough to run my household of thousands of servants and multiple homes, but don...more Written with a very narrow focus of the last four months of Anne Boleyn's life, this is a deeply researched book. Using as many sources as still exist, she paints a picture of a woman who never fit into the role expected of her and paid for her intelligence and independence with her life. Looking past the sexual mores of the day, women, especially a Queen, had to live by an impossible double standard. Be intelligent enough to run my household of thousands of servants and multiple homes, but don't be intelligent enough to have an opinion on anything. Bear me as many children as possible and if there is any difficulty with this, it is your fault, while I go off with any and every woman I see and pay no consequences for this behavior. Support me in all I do, but do not expect the same in return.
After reading the results of Anne's and the men accused with her, trials, I see how our judicial system arose from one so blatantly and easily manipulated, with no rights for the accused. To not even allow any of them to have a lawyer represent them is the height of hypocrisy. The mere act of comparing dates of supposed trysts with records of where each party was or their medical condition, which Weir does so well, would show these charges to be as false as they were. Henry's request for more investigation into the allegations Cromwell brings is show on his part and he knows it. It is the ultimate power he feels is his, brought about in no small part by Anne herself and the quest for the crown, that brings her downfall. Anne's insistence on marriage began a dangerous precedent with this King.
Weir tries so very hard to try to pinpoint Henry's role in this matter, but really comes to no conclusion. She passes several theories around, never really settling on one. An excellent point that she does make is that if Anne was truly guilty, the bloodbath should have been bigger. As the Queen, her life is lived in public, as is the King's. His infidelities were only accomplished with the help of others, how is hers were not? Not one servant or member of Anne's household, man or woman, was complicit in the adultery that was going on. She managed to do what the King could not, indulge herself with five men and leave no one the wiser for a long time. Even in Tudor times, this strains credulity, but with the verdict a foregone conclusion, any lie has an element of truth in it somewhere to make it believable.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. For it to be enjoyed fully, some previous background knowledge is necessary or all the names would be too confusing. I did learn something from this book, I thought Henry's rush to marry Jane Seymour, while in undue haste, happened even faster than it did and that Jane was already pregnant when they married. This idea is due in most part to "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" on Masterpiece Theater many years ago. In fact, Jane was not pregnant, as she played a card from Anne's book and held out for marriage.(less)

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May 03, 2012 Ana Mardoll rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lady in the Tower / 9780345519788

I'm really beginning to like Weir's historical analyses, though they do seem to suffer from some of the same problems. Overall, though, I loved this book and though I initially borrowed it from the library, I ended up buying a copy of the audio book to listen along to as well as buying a copy of my own to keep on hand. So take that as the strong recommendation as it is.

This is a scholarly look at the last days of Anne Boleyn. Weir starts with the last time Anne s...more Lady in the Tower / 9780345519788

I'm really beginning to like Weir's historical analyses, though they do seem to suffer from some of the same problems. Overall, though, I loved this book and though I initially borrowed it from the library, I ended up buying a copy of the audio book to listen along to as well as buying a copy of my own to keep on hand. So take that as the strong recommendation as it is.

This is a scholarly look at the last days of Anne Boleyn. Weir starts with the last time Anne saw her husband Henry, follows the coup that brought down Anne and her faction at court so swiftly, analyzes the trial in close detail, explains the finer details of the execution, and ultimately follows with a quick overview of how Anne has been historically portrayed, depending on era and religious inclination.

One thing I really love about Weir's books is her use of source material. Everything presented to the reader is presented with context: this was written by so-and-so, writing during the reign of such-and-so (which greatly influenced what was safe to write about Anne Boleyn), with a religious bias of thus. Weir uses biased and hostile sources, but she uses them with discretion, noting whether or not she believes the source to be true or a fabrication. I like that, and I appreciate how she tries to provide a very broad-yet-clear view of the subject.

Some of the writing stumbles I noticed in her book "Mary Boleyn" are repeated here, though. There is a lot of repetition throughout the book, probably to help the reader follow along, but there is sometimes a strange sense of devja vu, as though you've accidentally flipped back a few dozen pages without meaning to. And the source material is sometimes sprinkled in so liberally that it threatens the flow of the reading -- this was why I ended up switching to the audio book, which handled the presentation much more smoothly. (And with really lovely accents on the part of the narrator; she cannot be praised enough.)

Then, too, the last chapter of the book (the one after Queen Elizabeth) should, in my opinion, be avoided entirely. The whole chapter embarks on a Golden Mean Fallacy intent on proving that the work you've just finished reading is unbiased and scholarly because it falls in the middling position of an analysis of Anne. It is extremely disconcerting as a reader to have just read how the jury was deliberately stacked against Anne, how an intended verdict may have been communicated to said jury in advance, how the king almost certainly must have sent for the executioner before the trial even began, and how Anne was very likely framed... only to have the author turn around and chide fellow historians for the "misconception" that Anne was "murdered". For Weir to assert that such a term is inappropriate because "she was executed in accordance with the law as it then stood" comes off as reaching, since it's entirely clear that she and the other historians are saying the same thing with different words: that Anne's death was deliberately engineered by others, and that the charges against her were spurious.

Having said all that, I strongly recommend this book, provided that you are good at following along over the copious quotes and sprinkled repetition (and, if you're not, check out the audio book which eases that almost entirely) and also provided that you take my advice and skip the last chapter.

~ Ana Mardoll (less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a brilliant book! Instead of the usual historical monograph, I found that I really got caught up in this book. As we all know, it's basically the last 19 days of Anne Boleyn's life, from the 1st May, Mayday joust where she Henry for the last time, through to her arrest a couple of days later, then subsequent imprisonment, trial and execution on 19 May. It also plot the demise of her 5 co-accused and their subsequent trials and executions. I could actually feel the tension rise as the days p...more

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May 17, 2011 Adriana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Forget all about the scandals and corruptions you have read in the headlines. The historical documents and evidence Alison Weir presents about the railroading of Henry VIII's second wife to be executed in front of the English on fictitious charges will make the hair on your arms stand up in alarm. Weir explains how the popular culture of the time and political factions in the royal courts throughout Europe made the accusations of Queen Anne Boleyn committing incest, promoting lechery, treason, a...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Brigette Feathers rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My appreciation for Alison Weir only grows with every book I read. She's a rare historian: one who can bridge the gap (sometimes a huge chasm) between the Historian and the history buff. This book is an academic analysis of the last months of Anne Boleyn's life, but it's by no means dry or stuffy. Weir's arguments and analysis of previous biographies of Anne Boleyn (including her own attempt in her book on the six wives of Henry VIII) are intertwined with an exciting story of the fall of a woman...more

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Nov 19, 2010 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like that for once, instead of the sweeping biography encompassing all the heaves and sighs of Anne's (admittedly dramatic)life, someone finally focused on the crucial last four months of her queenship and the political machinations that brought her to the scaffold. Although I have been known to disagree with Weir on many subjects, I like that she proposes (as so few do) that Henry, while certainly gulled by Thomas Cromwell and Anne's other enemies, did not directly orchestrate or order his qu...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ms. Weir is one of my favorite writers on the Tudor period and this book was certainly not a disappointment. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. Much of Anne Boleyn's life has been lost to history, save the last four months, and this is what Weir tackles in "The Lady in the Tower."

As usual, the author's research was exhaustive, but the fruit of her labor is one well-written, fact-driven book. What I like about Weir is that, in true journalistic and scholarly fashion, she always seeks...more Ms. Weir is one of my favorite writers on the Tudor period and this book was certainly not a disappointment. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. Much of Anne Boleyn's life has been lost to history, save the last four months, and this is what Weir tackles in "The Lady in the Tower."

As usual, the author's research was exhaustive, but the fruit of her labor is one well-written, fact-driven book. What I like about Weir is that, in true journalistic and scholarly fashion, she always seeks more than one source on any topic. When accounts conflict, she searches for others to see if a majority consensus can be reached. When no other source is available, she informs the reader of this and offers several conclusions based on the material available. This mad pursuit of truth is comforting and satisfying to the reader. It makes you feel that if anyone has gotten even close to the truth about the lives of these people, it is definitely Weir.

She does not paint Mistress Boleyn as a saint and this is another thing I like about the author's work: she presents her subject flaws and all. We all have them, and Anne was no exception. This allows the reader to see historical figures as the living breathing humans they were, not cardboard cut-outs of villains and victims.

The only point on which I disagree with Weir is her conclusion that Henry VIII played a more minor role in Anne's downfall than Cromwell and the anti-Boleyn faction. While she offers many facts to support her opinion (Henry was still referring to Anne as his "most beloved wife" in correspondence, etc.) it is difficult to ignore that he could have had another motive for this, i.e. so that no one could say later he was merely getting rid of Anne so he could marry Jane Seymour.

While it is certainly true that Henry must have convinced himself that Anne was guilty (even cold-blooded killers must somehow justify their actions to themselves, no?) this does not prove that he did not have a hand in the charges brought against her. And he certainly did not have to let her die. He could have stopped this at any time. Had this been the one stain on Henry's reputation as a ruler, Weir's opinion would be far more acceptable. However, throughout his reign he proved himself to be a ruthless individual, devoid of compassion for others.

Despite her rather sympathetic view toward the King, this book is a fascinating read for anyone who loves Tudor history, or who wants to add to their knowledge of Anne Boleyn.
(less)

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Jun 20, 2010 Selena McDevitt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have certainly read a lot of books on the subject of Henry VIII and his infamous wives, but I have to say that this one was rather thorough in compared with most. All conclusions that the author has come to are corraborated with numerous eye witness accounts and many contemporary sources (including some of her own works) are discredited in the process.

The only thing that I found somewhat annoying is the fact this this account only discusses the few weeks of Queen Anne's downfall, and no other...more

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Apr 23, 2010 Jeff added it · review of another edition

Shelves: european-history, biography-memoir

On May 19, 1536 Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second queen, was beheaded at the Tower of London on sensational charges of adultery; her destruction had been accomplished in less than a month. Anne's story has been told in many good biographies (and a few really bad historical novels), but this book is the first time her fall has been studied in depth as an isolated event in itself. The reliability of the surviving documentary sources varies wildly and constitutes something of a minefield, but Weir,...more

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Mar 26, 2010 Robyn Hawk added it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

In this latest offering in the stacks of books written about the Tudors, best selling author Alison Weir posits a new theory!!!

The commonly proffered "history" has it that the aging and randy King Henry VIII was feeling the pressure of not having an heir with his current wife Anne Boleyn and sought the assistance of his principal adviser Thomas Cromwell to find criminal grounds for executing the Queen.

In The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn Weir skillfully presents the argument that it...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Crystal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A coherent, detailed study of Anne Boleyn's final days. I do, however, take issue with a few of the author's theories, namely that Henry VIII was as much a victim to political machination as Anne.
Page 60, Weir states that "Henry VIII would warn Jane Seymour--after she in her turn spoke up for the religious houses--that she should 'attend to other things, [for:] the last queen had died in consequence of meddling to much in state affairs.' No fool, Henry knew exactly what had brought about Anne's...more

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Jan 31, 2010 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn is based around facts surrounding Queen Anne Boleyn’s fall from court. Author, Alison Weir tries to piece together the best she can what really happened to cause Anne Boleyn to land in the tower and eventually be beheaded.

At first I thought I wasn’t sure how much I would like this book. This is only because when I realized that this book was non fiction with some fiction mixed into it, I wasn’t looking for a book all about facts. I devoured this bo...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Elevate Difference rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having been drawn to the history of midwifery and peasants/working classes, I’ve always shied away from studying aristocrats. When I first picked up The Lady in the Tower, I was a bit apprehensive. Over 350 pages in length (not including the bibliography, source notes, or illustrations), it appeared to be a daunting reading task. Despite my worries, the work turned out to be thoroughly engaging and interesting.

From Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, Alison Weir examines the medieval...more Having been drawn to the history of midwifery and peasants/working classes, I’ve always shied away from studying aristocrats. When I first picked up The Lady in the Tower, I was a bit apprehensive. Over 350 pages in length (not including the bibliography, source notes, or illustrations), it appeared to be a daunting reading task. Despite my worries, the work turned out to be thoroughly engaging and interesting.

From Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, Alison Weir examines the medieval context that they existed in, handing over no prejudices, just facts (as well as omitted evidence). Whether Anne slept with five men behind Henry’s back, well, that is for the reader to interpret. Contrary to popular knowledge, Weir states that Henry was not behind Anne’s fall, since he clearly could have done away with her as he did his previous queen, Katherine.

On top of all the primary source investigation, Weir utilizes a historical methodology which covers interpretations in different eras down through the ages. She explains that yes, the masses saw Anne in a better light during her daughter Elizabeth I’s reign. Later in the Victorian era Anne’s image was romanticized, so Weir effectively notes the easy sway of public opinion.

Today, however, Weir observes past records and argues that it was near impossible for a queen in Anne’s time to find the privacy to take up with five different lovers (including her own brother). The role of modern science explains issues like miscarriages and Katherine’s death (cancer), which the superstitious and god-fearing people of sixteenth century England were not privy to. Weir’s work incorporates archaeological examination of the burial area where Anne’s beheaded body was approximately laid to rest.

Weir does a great job of keeping the context in focus, while keeping the narrative compelling. The only disappointment of the book, as an advance copy, was that the illustrations were not included. The only historical figure that I could not muster sympathy for was Thomas Cromwell (the man who spearheaded the king's disposal of Anne, and who also later faced his own execution), but don’t let me be the judge or hand-picked jury on the final verdict of Cromwell’s character.

This account of the Tudors has really piqued my curiosity to go beyond the surface of the occasional pedigree chart or Hollywood movie for Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII came alive in the pages.

Review by Nicolette Westfall(less)

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Jan 22, 2010 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story begins with a brief "Preface," in which Weir notes why she wrote the story of the rapid downfall of Anne Boleyn. She says (Page ix): "Yet never before--surprisingly--has there been a book devoted entirely to the fall of Anne Boleyn, and it has been a deeply satisfying experience having the scope to research in depth this most discussed and debated aspect of Anne's life."

Weir does her usual detective work, pulling together many different sources and trying to explain how the Queen could...more The story begins with a brief "Preface," in which Weir notes why she wrote the story of the rapid downfall of Anne Boleyn. She says (Page ix): "Yet never before--surprisingly--has there been a book devoted entirely to the fall of Anne Boleyn, and it has been a deeply satisfying experience having the scope to research in depth this most discussed and debated aspect of Anne's life."

Weir does her usual detective work, pulling together many different sources and trying to explain how the Queen could lose power so rapidly and end up being put to death. There are many issues addressed here, such as Anne's strong reformist religious views (which created enemies for her); her rather nasty treatment of Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; her hot temper; her tendency to say things aloud in public that ought to have been mentioned only in private. Too, the story of her inability to deliver a healthy male heir to Henry VIII was a key factor in her fall from power. By itself, it would not have been sufficient to have led to her death, so Weir looks beyond that to understand the dynamics. The loss of a fetus at the first of the year in 1536 began the descent, and her death came on May 19th.

Politics, too, must be understood. There was a Boleyn faction or party that had grown powerful. Other political figures, such as Thomas Cromwell, felt threatened by them. The story that Weir tells is of the determination by Cromwell and his colleagues (typically crazy quilt alliance, with people shifting their loyalties as tides changed) to undercut their opponents. The tool? To destroy the Queen herself. Much of the story is the set of tactics used to end the Queen's hold over Henry, which relationship had had its ups and downs. One key weapon? The claim that Anne had had trysts with others while married to Henry VIII (including her own brother) and that she was plotting to kill the King himself.

The Queen's end showed her going to her death with dignity and courage.

Weir does a fine job of separating fact from fiction, looking at the charges against the Queen and analyzing the extent to which they might be accurate or not. Was Anne Boleyn framed? Weir considers that question extensively.

There is a nice set of genealogies at the outset, which I find vital for keeping the players straight.

All in all, another fine historical volume by Alison Weir.
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Dec 17, 2009 Jennifer (JC-S) rated it 4 of 5 stars

‘If any person will meddle with my cause, I require them to judge the best.’

The imprisonment and execution of Queen Anne Boleyn in May 1536 was unprecedented in English history. Anne was imprisoned in the Tower of London on 2 May 1536, tried and found guilty of high treason on 15 May 1536 and executed on 19 May 1536. Her supposed crimes included adultery with five men, including her brother George Boleyn, and plotting the death of King Henry VIII. These are the facts, but there is considerable m...more

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Nov 27, 2009 Marie Z. Johansen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction-history

I always eagerly await the release of any book written by Alison Weir - both her fictional works as well as her historical, always well researched, books never fail to please. I am happy to be able to say that "The Lady In The Tower" has been no exception! I began to read it as soon as I got my hands on it and enjoyed this book all of the way through.

I have long believed that Henry VIII was a narcissistic megalomaniac - especially in the way that he treated Anne Boleyn. Despite whatever faults A...more

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May 22, 2011 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An exhaustive, and often exhausting, study of Queen Anne Boleyn's final days, this book goes much deeper than any other work I've ever encountered on the subject, and will educate you much more about the doomed Anne's final days than you may have ever believed possible.

It would seem that so much has been written on the subject that there cannot possibly be more, but, to Weir's credit, she does find archival sources and manages to keep her own assumptions relatively scarce. She also refutes the...more

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Feb 03, 2010 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history-tudors, history-english

I’ve been reading Weir for years. I’ve read almost all of her books. The two I haven’t read yet, I have, and they are in my TBR pile. I picked up The Lady in the Tower at my local BJs (which sometimes has the most wonderful books).
There is something about the Tudors, and it shouldn’t surprise that most of Weir’s non-fiction, and all of her fiction connects to this royal family. I first grew interested in the Tudors because I loved Renaissance English Literature. The Tudors are the ultimate soa...more I’ve been reading Weir for years. I’ve read almost all of her books. The two I haven’t read yet, I have, and they are in my TBR pile. I picked up The Lady in the Tower at my local BJs (which sometimes has the most wonderful books).
There is something about the Tudors, and it shouldn’t surprise that most of Weir’s non-fiction, and all of her fiction connects to this royal family. I first grew interested in the Tudors because I loved Renaissance English Literature. The Tudors are the ultimate soap opera, until Showtime made them a soap opera. No matter how good looking Rhys-Myers is, I can’t watch it. I keep clenching my teeth. The Tudors make soap opera because there are the stock characters, the stock myths. It isn’t surprising that both historians and readers keep returning to them.
This is Weir’s best book. Period.
It is one of the best books about Anne Boleyn. (Ives book is the best, but it is very dry).
Weir doesn’t focus on Anne’s whole life; instead she focuses on the events leading up and including Anne’s trial and execution. Because of this, if you are totally unfamiliar with Henry VIII and his wives, I would suggest reading any of the biographies about the monarch and his serial harem (Fraser, Starkey, and Weir have all written books).
Because the focus of the book is so narrow, the book is absolutely riveting. I have read plenty about Anne and about the Tudors. Weir presents the most riveting account of Anne’s death that I have seen anyway, all the more riveting because Weir relies on firsthand accounts. Even if you are a Katherine of Aragorn supporter, you have to admire Anne’s courage when facing beheading.
Another wonderful aspect of this book is that Weir is so even handed. In most biographies of Anne, she is either portrayed as a monster (Erickson) or as a saint (Denny). Weir portrays her as a human. The focus is more on politics, and while Henry VIII doesn’t look like a dove, the true villain, according to Weir’s thesis, is Cromwell, the motive more of politic power than anything else. And Weir makes a very convincing argument.
Weir not only closely examines Anne’s trial, but she deals with theories presented by other historians, showing the strengths and weakness of the theories. (She is very indebted to Ives. IF you haven’t read his book, read it). The only time she seems to get angry at a fellow historian is when discussing Strickland at one point, and that has to do with Strickland misrepresenting what Weir herself wrote. Weir is also very clear when stating fact, and when stating opinion.
Weir includes an appendix on the ghost legends surrounding Anne. More importantly, Weir includes an appendix where she discusses the merits and flaws of the historical sources
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Jun 20, 2010 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of British History

Shelves: books-about-england, non-fiction

I was looking for more of a "story" to read when I picked up this book and this one is more of a textbook about the Anne Boleyn era in
Tudor England, but I still found it interesting!. First let me say that I always find it sad to read about this time period and know that women who miscarried a child were believed to be a sinner or a witch and that is why the baby was lost - how sad for a woman going through such a traumatic time. Next, I have to wonder if Mary's status as a "bastard" and her tr...more I was looking for more of a "story" to read when I picked up this book and this one is more of a textbook about the Anne Boleyn era in
Tudor England, but I still found it interesting!. First let me say that I always find it sad to read about this time period and know that women who miscarried a child were believed to be a sinner or a witch and that is why the baby was lost - how sad for a woman going through such a traumatic time. Next, I have to wonder if Mary's status as a "bastard" and her treatment during this time affected her and how she chose to treat people when she ascended to the throne. Had she been treated more gently and lovingly as a child, would she have been gentler as a queen? I do feel sad for Anne Boleyn and her fall. I don't doubt that she was outspoken and a flirted a little too much but I do believe she was framed by Cromwell so that King Henry could marry his next conquest - Jane Seymour (what would have happened to her had she not died in childbirth so quickly after her marriage?!?) I loved the story of Anne Boleyn asking for some "marmalade" as a supposed key word for her lady to bring her one of her love affairs! Hee! Hee! I doubt this really happened but it is a hysterical story. As the author pointed out, Queen Anne was too closely watched to have truly been involved with all the lovers she is accused of having had during her reign as queen! I also had to shake my head that she was accused of having had an affair just days after having given birth - any women who has been through childbirth knows this is very UNLIKELY to have happened! Again, more speculation that Cromwell framed her because he wouldn't have thought about this detail when he was gathering "evidence" to discredit her! I do find it curious that Anne said she had never offended with "her body" just before being beheaded. Did she sin some other way against the king or was she just trying to defend herself specifically against the charges made to her? We'll never know! It does make me angry that while Anne was fighting for her life, Henry was already covorting with Jane and planning his wedding to her! Rather suspicious that they were married just 10 days after Anne's execution. In my book that makes Henry look guilty as heck! I was totally grossed out by the medical description of what a person might feel during beheading - pain probably lasting up to 13 seconds and that the person's eyes and facial muscles still move after their head is chopped off. That is the stuff of nightmares!!!! I also feel so sorry for Anne's daughter, Elizabeth and how all of this surely affected her. At least Elizabeth went on to rule England for 40 years and brought a little peace and tolerance to her country! I do not believe in ghost stories but did enjoy reading some of the legends that have survived over the years of Anne Boleyn still haunting various places in England!!!(less)

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Feb 04, 2011 Belinda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-bio

I have been a fan of Alison Weir's for a long time. I have enjoyed her historical bios and especially her work in the Tudor time period. This overall was an excellent book. It really went into detail about a time period that most books on Anne Boleyn start to drift off--her final days. Incredible descriptions and writings, excellent photos and illustrations of the main movers in the book and extremely careful research.
Having read Ms. Weir's other books (particularly on Anne Boleyn) I know her...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Bookmarks Magazine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mar-apr-2010

Weir certainly had her work cut out for her, given that the bulk of the court's evidence and accounts of Anne's last days emerged many years after her death. However, she adeptly sifts through contemporary sources, reveals inaccuracies, and paints as reliable a picture as possible of the queen's fall from grace. She treads a well-worn path, but most critics praised her meticulous period detail--particularly her ghoulishly fascinating description of Anne's beheading--and her ability to draw the r...more

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