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There are few women in English history more famous or controversial
than Queen Anne Boleyn. She was the second wife of Henry VIII,
mother of Elizabeth I and the first English queen to be publicly
executed. Much of what we think we know about her is coloured by
myth and legend, and does not stand up to close scrutiny.
Reinvented by each new generation, Anne is buried beneath centuries
of labels: homewrecker, seductress, opportunist, witch, romantic
victim, Protestant martyr, feminist. In this vivid and engaging
account of the triumphant and harrowing final year of Queen Anne
Boleyn's life, the author reveals a very human portrait of a
brilliant, passionate and complex woman. The last twelve months of
Anne's life contained both joy and heartbreak. This telling period
bore witness to one of the longest and most politically significant
progresses of Henry VIII's reign, improved relations between the
royal couple, and Anne's longed-for pregnancy. With the dawning of
the new year, the pendulum swung. In late January 1536, Anne
received news that her husband had been thrown from his horse in
his tiltyard at Greenwich. Just days later, tragedy struck. As the
body of Anne's predecessor, Katherine of Aragon, was being prepared
for burial, Anne miscarried her son. The promise of a new beginning
dashed, the months that followed were a rollercoaster of anguish
and hope, marked by betrayal, brutality and rumour. What began with
so much promise, ended in silent dignity, amid a whirlwind of
scandal, on a scaffold at the Tower of London. Through close
examination of these intriguing events considered in their social
and historical context, readers will gain a fresh perspective into
the life and death of the woman behind the tantalising tale.
"Natalie Grueninger skilfully unravels the myths surrounding Anne
Boleyn's downfall, and presents the most compelling account of her
final months to date. A Triumph." - Dr Owen Emmerson, Historian and
Assistant Curator, Hever Castle "A heart-stirring account of Anne
Boleyn's last living year. Researched flawlessly, the events are
revealed in a compelling read; little-known facts adding to the
tension which builds toward an emotional end. A must-read for fans
and students of Tudor history." - Sandra Vasoli, author of Anne
Boleyn's Letter From the Tower: A New Assessment "Genuinely
ground-breaking, provocative yet sensitive, exquisitely
well-researched and fair - both to Anne's friends and enemies -
Natalie Grueninger's book shows us the complexities, and the
secrets, that wove together during Anne Boleyn's final twelve
months as queen. This is an exciting and important book of Tudor
history." - Gareth Russell, Historian and author of The Ship of
Dreams and Young and Damned and Fair "Astonishingly
well-researched, The Final Year of Anne Boleyn triumphantly
re-writes the fall of one of England's most famous queen consorts,
shedding new light on a well-known story. A riveting and emotional
read." - Kate McCaffrey, Assistant Curator, Hever Castle "The Final
Year of Anne Boleyn is proof that a thoughtful, serious, and
sensitive work of scholarship can also be entertainingly and
delightfully written. Grueninger grasps the nitty-gritty and gives
us a deeply considered, elegantly restrained, and often freshly
compelling interpretation of this thrilling, contested, and fatal
year." - Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, Historian, Author and
Broadcaster. "Meticulously researched: check, well-referenced:
check, a fascinating read: check, an engaging style: check. That's
what I look for in a history book! Thank you, Natalie, for meddling
in Anne's cause so delightfully well." - Claire Ridgway, Author and
Historian "From the scaffold, she asked that we 'judge the best',
but history has not been fair to Anne Boleyn. Finally, in this
engrossing and meticulously researched exploration of the final
year of the controversial queen's life, the real Anne leaps to life
in all her tangible humanity. Brilliant, loving, compassionate,
acerbic, resilient and breathtakingly bold, this is the Anne we've
never fully met. From her dedication to the most vulnerable in her
community, to her courage in fronting up to injustice, here was a
woman who was speaking truth to power centuries before the term
entered the lexicon. The prevailing patriarchy thought they'd
silenced her but her enduring popularity has proven them wrong.
Weaving primary sources and exhaustive contemporary research,
Natalie Grueninger masterfully places the reader front and centre
of one of the most portentous years in English history, untangling
the complex web of intrigue that ended in the sanctioned murder of
an English queen."- Karina Machado, Author and Podcaster
This unique and beautifully illustrated colouring book features
images and scenes inspired by the ever-fascinating Tudor dynasty.
It will provide hours of joy and relaxation, and is a great way to
unwind after a hectic day. Quiet your mind and colour your way to
peace, while nurturing your creativity and love of Tudor history.
Suitable for children.
Follow in the footsteps of Anne Boleyn from Hever Castle, to
Richmond Palace and ultimately to the Tower of London. On the
morning of 19 May 1536, a French blade stilled the heart of an
English queen. Her name was Anne Boleyn and her story has made an
indelible mark on history. This book will take you through stately
homes, castles, chapels and artefacts with a connection to Anne.
Explore Hever Castle, Anne's childhood home where two breathtaking
Books of Hours both signed and inscribed by Anne Boleyn herself are
housed; visit Thornbury Castle where Henry VIII and Anne stayed
during their 1535 royal progress and see the octagonal bedchamber
where they slept; stand in the very room in Windsor Castle where
Anne was made Marquis of Pembroke. Each location is covered by an
accessible and informative narrative, which unearths the untold
stories and documents the artefacts. Accompanied by an extensive
range of images, including photographs, floor plans and sketches,
this book brings the sixteenth century vividly to life - and takes
you on your own personal and compelling journey in the footsteps of
Anne Boleyn.
This book provides a fresh perspective on the lives of Henry VIII's
six wives by embarking on a journey through the manors, castles and
palaces in which their lives were played out. This journey traces
their steps to the Alhambra in Spain, childhood home of Katherine
of Aragon; to the very room at Acton Court where Anne Boleyn and
Henry VIII publicly dined; through the cobbled grounds of Hampton
Court Palace, which bore witness to both triumph and tragedy for
Jane Seymour; into the streets of Dusseldorf in Germany, birthplace
of Anne of Cleves; among the ruins and picturesque gardens of St
Mary's Abbey in York where Catherine Howard and Henry VIII rested
at the pinnacle of the 1541 progress; and to Gainsborough Old Hall
in Lincolnshire, where Katherine Parr lived as daughter-in-law of
the irascible Sir Thomas Brough. Each location is described in a
fascinating narrative that unearths the queens' lives in documents
and artefacts, as well as providing practical visitor information
based on the authors' first-hand knowledge of each site.
Accompanied by an extensive range of images including timelines,
maps, photographs and sketches, this book brings us closer than
ever to the women behind the legends, providing a personal and
illuminating journey in the footsteps of the six wives of Henry
VIII.
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