I could not believe just how decadent the time was. Anne of Cleves was a political marriage, but Cromwell who arranged it suffered a political fall when Henry decided that Anne was not the beauty that he had been led to believe that she was. Katherine of Aragon, Jane Seymor and Katherine Parr come across as being kind and well meaning, but Anne Bolyen is shown to be scheming and manipulative, and is linked to a suspected poisoning. There was no comeback on his behaviour, even though he has his penultimate wife executed for adultery and treason. Henry was infatuated with women, and as well as marrying these ladies, also conducted numerous affairs. The book goes into detail on the character of the six ladies, and all the court intrigue and political posturing that went on during his region. Weir has gone into great depth, especially on the first two wives, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Bolyen. This is a well reasserted book, packed full of details and anecdotes about the martial affairs of Henry VIII. Which of course refers to the final outcome of each of Henry VIII wives. The rhyme that has stuck with me since school is divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |