Mei's review
The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn: Family Politics at the Court of Henry VIII (Canto)
by Retha M. Warnicke
Mei's review
The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn: Family Politics at the Court of Henry VIII (Canto) by Retha M. Warnicke
Mei's review
rating:
The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn got me interested in the Tudor court, and this book -- The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn -- was among the armful of books I subsequently checked out of the library in my quest for more information. I'd say that this author researched the subject matter well, but I couldn't really get behind most of her conclusions about the real reasons for Anne Boleyn's fall. Also, this historian came across too much as an apologist for Anne's actions. On the one hand, when it was Anne participating in the downfall of Catherine of Aragon or her daughter Mary, Anne couldn't be blamed because it was all Henry's doing, because of course she wielded no influence over him or responsibility whatsoever. But when it was *Anne's* turn to be the spurned, scorned wife -- when Henry and his courtiers were scrambling for ways to disgrace and kill her and de-legitimize the marriage -- then it was all a big tragedy. I mean, it *was* a big tragedy -- the woman was the focus of smea...more
