Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait by Alison WeirMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Alison Weir does it again! I absolutely loved this book. Anna of Kleve is the 4th installment in Weir's Six Tudor Queens series. As with the others, this book does not disappoint.
Anna of Kleve (Kleve is in Germany) gives an account of her life starting from the age of 14. She is brought up as a staunch Catholic, despite the population being largely Lutheran, and is obedient to her brother Wilhelm. In the hopes of forming an alliance with England, Anna is offered as a bride to King Henry VIII.
Anna is the most intriguing of all of Henry's wives. Her marriage was short, only months, and after divorcing her, Henry regards her as a sister and provides her with a very comfortable life. This is in great contrast to his other wives and his propensity towards beheading. Also, very little is known about this particular queen. This book provides a portrayal of Anna that could have been. There were many imaginings in this book since not much is known about Anna. However, it is also important to note that there was still a great deal of historical accuracy based on the facts that are known. As for the liberties, I didn't mind them since it provided a fun and moving depiction of events in Anna's life.
As with all of Alison Weir's books, this is very well written. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between England and Kleve in terms of fashion and politics. I found this book fascinating in all aspects and cannot wait for the next installment on Katherine Howard.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment