The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives

As a result, this biography–while fascinating, enlightening, and very often moving–differs from those of more modern historical figures in that readers won’t come away feeling as though they know Anne very well.

He argues that Anne is “the most influential and important queen consort has ever had” and makes a compelling case, though even his dedicated scholarship has difficulty resurrecting Anne’s personality. Ives’ book is the most extensive biographical work dealing with the second wife of King Henry VIII to date.

While this book is mainly aimed at Tudor fans, it’s also a fascinating read if you love biographies or even merely reading about strong historical women too.Length: 458 pages (includes image plates, notes, bibliography, and index)įrequently referred to as the “Anne Boleyn bible,” Dr. He credits her with helping to orchestrate the Protestant Reformation and also points out how her example shaped her daughter Elizabeth’s reign as well. Henry’s “monster” status is stripped away too, revealing the flawed human being and king underneath.įrom discussing what year Anne may have been born to her early career and, ultimately, the conditions that led to her downfall, Ives’s masterful research sheds new light on this much-maligned Queen. While he does allow that Henry and Anne did have strong feelings for one another, there’s also no glossing over of his negative traits or what led to his tyrannical behavior either. Under Ives’s careful but fair approach, Anne Boleyn is stripped of the stereotypes and emerges a very real and relatable figure.Īlso unlike Starkey, Ives doesn’t hero-worship Henry VIII either. While he praises Boleyn for her good qualities, he also doesn’t seek to gloss over her more negative traits either. Unlike Weir or Starkey, Ives clearly admires the Queen but does not attempt to cast her into the “home wrecker” or “ambitious social climber” roles. His non-fictional biography of the doomed Queen is perhaps the best research done to date on Anne Boleyn.Īlthough his writing may be a turn-off for those who are not used to a more academic style, it’s clear that Ives has performed meticulous research. Although Tudor scholars such as David Starkey and Allison Weir have discussed the life of Anne Boleyn in copious amounts, their work pales next to the late Professor Eric Ives. Thanks to hits such as Showtimes’ The Tudors and Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl, the infamous raven-haired second Queen of Henry VIII has been thrust into the literary spotlight. Eric Ives’s “The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn”

The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives