TMSB Chapter 2: Murder at the Abbey

[Marie]

Comment with your thoughts on this chapter.

[Susie]

This was tragic to me!!! So pertinent to the time period, and Philippa does an amazing job describing the hanging monks. Henry the true dictator intimidation through horror, kind of like Marlan Brando's character in Apocalypse Now.

[MaryKatherine]

Wow, Henry is not even a character in this novel and I am afraid of him! The constant anxiety people felt during this time must have been unbearable. I'm not sure how I feel about Bruno yet. I can't figure out if he's arrogant and proud and refuses to believe where he came from because of that, or if he is truly convinced if his own holiness. I suppose he's young enough that he truly believed in his holiness. We'll see how things turn out!

[Marie]

I just finished the chapter.. And I really wasn't expecting so much .. Craziness!!!! I do feel so bad for the monks, & for Bruno. I think he may be a bit touched.. Raised by monks is very sheltering!

[[deleted user]]

Does anyone think that anyone living during this period actually thought, as Henry took Anne as his new wife, that there was a possibility that Anne would meet the end she did? I read a lot of HF where the characters in the book like to allude to the possibility that Anne might lose her head eventually (Carr is doing this here, too), but I find it difficult to believe anyone at that time could have predicted that end? What do you think?

[Marie]

You are right Michele.. there should have been no indication that Henry would ultimately become the man with so many wives. Anne had so much opposition, but with Henry's love she should have been safe and the 'commoners' should have recognized that. Especially since they apparently courted for seven years and Henry's admiration and love for her should have been formidable.
Great analysis, Michele!

[[deleted user]]

I like Susie's comparison of Henry to Brando (in their later years they probably even looked alike, ha ha!).

[MaryKatherine]

Michele, I completely agree with you. It's easy to read some novels and agree with some characters when they talk about Anne's imminent downfall, but how would they have predicted that at all? Especially, like Marie pointed out, with Henry's love and support behind Anne.

[[deleted user]]

Of course, they say that Anne of Cleves once made a comment about being lucky enough to escape with her head, but by that point, who could blame her? I've often wondered what Catherine Parr truly felt about marrying H? Was she scared out of her wits? I would think so, unless she truly believed she simply had to outlive the old tyrant at that point. Yes, I'm wandering here....sorry!