The Lady in the Tower: The Wives of Henry VIII

by Jean Plaidy

Book Overview

One of history's most complex and alluring women comes to life in this classic novel by the legendary Jean Plaidy. Young Anne Boleyn was not beautiful but she was irresistible, capturing the hearts of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0739454005
• ISBN13: 9780739454008
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Clever, dazzling, and tempestuous

Overall, I highly recommend this Tudor novel about one of the most important women in Western history. It's a nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Anne Boleyn while also criticizing her more outlandish actions. Anne was far from perfect, but that doesn't mean, we as readers, won't stop sympathizing with her. Once she found herself at the mercy of the king, she became determined to make the best of her situation so that she came out on top. She almost succeeded. Should we begrudge her that because she was so proud? I don't.

Great book, another good one from Jean

I thoroughly enjoyed this Queens of England novel. Jean does a wonderful job of making you feel like you’re actually there experiencing the historical moments. Dramatic and fun, I highly recommend

A Great Persepctive

A great book that offers a different perspective on the life of Anne Boleyn.

Sympathy to a hated historical figure

I loved this work of historical fiction for its sympathetic portrayal of Anne Boleyn. Jean Plaidy makes the reader see reasons for Anne's behavior. This novel was infinitely better than Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, which I hated for its tawdriness. Plaidy's work is far more classy.

The tragedy of Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was the second and most famous of Henry VIII's six wives. Henry's determination to marry her, in part, led to the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Another reason was that Henry wanted the wealth of the Church in his own hands being a greedy grasping man. The book begins with Anne's incarceration in the Tower of London as she reflects on her life. We are taken back to when Anne was seven years old and traveled to France to serve in the household of Princess Mary, sister of Henry VIII, and wed to the King of France, Louis XII. We are given the colorful details Anne experiences and witnesses in the Royal French Court. Anne's beautiful sister Mary becomes mistress to the new king of France, Francois, but is sent back to England in disgrace , because of her lack of discretion at the French court. Mary was simply too trusting and simple to hide her indiscretions which were all too common in the French court, but were done in more secretive and hiding fashion, Mary Boleyn with her big beautiful blue eyes saw no evil, thought no evil and spoke no evil, but gave her love freely without considering the consequences. She was sent back to England and married to a poor nobleman, William Carey. Mary Boleyn later became mistress to King Henry VIII. She too was discarded by Henry who became infatuated with Anne, and became determined to make her his mistress despite her refusal. Anne's love with with a young and honest nobleman Henry Percy was destroyed by King Henry and Cardinal Wolsey. And eventually Anne enticed to marry King Henry in exchange for becoming Queen. Henry secretly married Anne in January, 1533. Henry's Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer pronounced Henry's first marriage null and void. Anne Boleyn was crowned queen in June and because of circumstances beyond her control was unpopular with the English people and had many enemies. Anne gave birth to Elizabeth in June. But Henry a cruel and selfish man had wanted a boy and soon tired of Anne. After she repeatedly failed to produce a male heir, Henry and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell had Anne framed for adultery and executed. Anne reflects in this book on all that passed and the target that could have been averted. She reflects that the way in which the king showed no compassion for his former mistress, Anne's sister Mary, after she was widowed and fell into dire poverty. He had discarded her and wished not to be reminded of her existence. Anne recounts how she should have had some insight into the nature of the King and what lay in store for her. She reflects that hypocrisy was second in nature to Henry and he used it so well because he believed it when he said it. Only just before her execution did she realize that behind his mask of geniality "bluff King Hal" was a selfish misogynistic monster and murderer. A tragic story of a woman who was chosen by Henry and stood no chance after he selected her as his paramour. Her great d

A humanizing portrait of Anne Boleyn

Jean Plaidy's The Lady in the Tower tells the story of the rise and fall of Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn, and charts her life from her beginnings at the French court until her execution for treason. Anne, who many consider to be Henry VIII's most fascinating queen, has been the subject of countless retellings. What I like about Plaidy's novel is that it is written in first person as a kind of memoir while Anne is imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tells her story from her own point of view. This creates a sympathetic portrait and helps in humanizing a historical figure who was greatly hated and villified in her own day. A very great and interesting read. I am so happy that many of Plaidy's other novels are being re-released for a new generation of readers to enjoy.

The Queen of a Thousand Days

Anne Boleyn is probably one of the most fascinating women in English history. Here, Jean Plaidy brings her to life with a spectacular first-person narrative about who Anne Boleyn really was. The book begins in the Tower of London; Anne has been convicted of adultery and treason and is waiting for her execution. She then revisits her days at the French and English courts, being courted by the King, and her eventual marriage to him and the birth of her daughter, Elizabeth. Anne tells her story with simplicity, recounting her life at a Court that was filled with seductions, intrigues, murder, and plotting. The story of the Queen of a Thousand Days is recounted here with unbelievable historical accuracy, as well as remarkable insight into those events which were to shape the course of history. Although it may seem that there is too much history infused into this book, it is necessary because it gives shape to all that these characters say and do. Anne grows from a frightened little girl in the retinue of Princess Marguerite to a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katharine, and finally to Queen of England, seemingly without effort on her part.

Honestly, now, boring? I don't think so!

I am having trouble understanding why people's complaints with this book are the fact that its "boring." I can name other Anne Boleyn novels that are so much more boring then this. While Jean Plaidy's work are aged, written over 50 years ago, the story of Anne Boleyn is ageless and a true drama even from the plain textbook. It's been a long time since I've read it, but it was the first Anne Boleyn novel, so maybe that is why I remember it so fondly. The novel opens with Anne in service to Queen Mary, then Queen Claude in France. Then countinues from playing a cruel game on Henry in the garden pretending not to know who he is and have a lengthy conversation with him criticising the English court and praising that of the French, to her end on May 19th, 1536. A novel that paints a vivid painting of Tudorian life, but a better picture of Anne Boleyn's true charcter. Passionate about everything, arragont and ambitious.