Dates and facts are not the central part of modern history teaching, yet one fact that most English-speaking people know is that Henry VIII, England’s Tudor King, had six wives and that the six words ‘divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived’ summarise their fate.

Gazing from the best-seller shelves and newly published in paperback is Alison Weir’s far more detailed and very scholarly account of the brief period in the life of Anne Boleyn, the second wife from when she fell from favour to when she was beheaded.

Surprisingly, this is the first work of biography totally devoted to Anne Boleyn. The research is impressive and Alison Weir has used her sources to come to her own conclusions about Anne’s conduct and her fate.

We know that Anne had miscarried three male foetuses, as well as giving birth to the future Queen Elizabeth in the three years she was married to Henry. Weir discusses whether it was likely that, in such circumstances, Anne would seduce several men, including her own brother and a musician of lowly birth – the crimes she was accused and convicted of.

The narrative is compelling and convincing and there is a brief sortie into the effect of the beheading on the future Queen Elizabeth.  A great read!

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