I recently finished my NetGalley copy of Alison Weir's fabulous new novel JANE SEYMOUR: THE HAUNTED QUEEN. Wow, what a fantastic story. I've always thought of Jane Seymour as a mousy, quiet woman. A woman who was the antithesis of Anne Boleyn. The calm after the storm. Well, this book throws all my preconceived ideas out the window. I have no doubt she was the calm after the storm that was Anne Boleyn, but she was no shrinking violet, either. The Jane Seymour portrayed by Alison Weir (one of THE BEST historical novelist I've ever read), is a calm, but highly intelligent young woman. One who happened to catch the eye of Henry. The only woman who was able to give him the son and heir he required and craved. She was full of life and joy, but the title tells it all. She was haunted. There is an element of the supernatural in this book. She is haunted by a dark figure; she feels partly responsible for the death of ...
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Kensington Publishing
Paperback; 272p
ISBN-10: 0758273363
From carefree young woman to disillusioned bride, the dazzling lady who would become mother and grandmother to two of history's most infamous queens, has a fascinating story all her own...
At sixteen, Elizabeth Howard envisions a glorious life for herself as lady-in-waiting to the future queen, Catherine of Aragon. But when she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner, Elizabeth is left to stagnate in the countryside while her detested husband pursues his ambitions. There, she raises golden girl Mary, moody George, and ugly duckling Anne--while staving off boredom with a string of admirers. Until Henry VIII takes the throne...
When Thomas finally brings his highborn wife to London, Elizabeth indulges in lavish diversions and dalliances--and catches the lusty king's eye. But those who enjoy Henry's fickle favor must also guard against his wrath. For while her husband's machinations bring Elizabeth and her children to the pinnacle of power, the distance to the scaffold is but a short one--and the Boleyn family's fortune may be turning...
About the Author
Brandy Purdy (Emily Purdy in the UK) is the author of the historical novels THE CONFESSION OF PIERS GAVESTON, THE BOLEYN WIFE (THE TUDOR WIFE), THE TUDOR THRONE (MARY & ELIZABETH), THE QUEEN’S PLEASURE (A COURT AFFAIR), and THE QUEEN’S RIVALS (THE FALLEN QUEEN). An ardent book lover since early childhood, she first became interested in history at the age of nine or ten years old when she read a book of ghost stories which contained a chapter about Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London. Visit her website at www.brandypurdy.com, you can also follow her, and her cat Tabby, via her blog at http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com where she posts updates about her work and weekly book reviews.
my thoughts
I enjoyed this book, however, I found it to be more about Anne's meteoric rise and cataclysmic downfall than about Elizabeth Howard.
What little we learned about Elizabeth was quite contradictory. For example, she claimed to be an unemotional mother, but she was destroyed when two of her children lost their heads..
Elizabeth Howard Bullen, excuse me...Boleyn...is not a likable person. She is vain, frivolous and just not a nice person. Some of this changes as she ages, but even with age, she is not a likable woman. We see a glimpse of her unhappy marriage to a man who thinks more of the king and his own position at court than he does of his family.
This is a well written book. Despite my lack of love for the main character, I was intrigued enough to finish the book. I will read more by Brandy Purdy, I enjoy her writing style.
I give this book 3.5/5 stars
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