Judy C. (Drouzin) reviewed Anne Boleyn : A New Life of England's Tragic Queen on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After the first fifteen pages I knew I would not like this book. You get the idea that there is a mild dislike of Catholicism on the author's part which of course later in the books reveals itself to be more than mild. Denny also faults Katherine of Aragon for fighting for her marriage and for her daughter who was to be labeled a bastard. The author also seems to believe that Anne Boleyn was only following her religious beliefs when she hooked up with Henry, a married man.
The book is full of excuses for Anne's behavior and full of the author's dislike for Catholics and Katherine of Aragone. Denny neglects to hand over information that would make Anne seem less than saintly. For example, Anne's adopted motto. The author offers the reader the latin version, and claims that because it is a play on another woman's motto, it shows a sense of humor. What Denny doesn't say or do is translate the latin motto. Curious, I looked the incident up. The loose translation, "if you don't like it tough it's going to happen anyway," reveals Anne's, "humor." Anne is mocking Katherine and the entire court made voice of their disapproval. Denny, spins this as the people of the court not having a sense of humor. In reality it was done in bad form and meant to goad Katherine.
I didn't like that Denny pushes her religious intolerance of Catholicism in this book. I thought that she repeated the same thing over and over. How many times can someone insist that Anne was a virgin when she married Henry before it gets preachy and annoying? I'd say that after reading the same point at least 30 times I was ready to pull my eyes out. Then there was the religious campagin, the bash Katherine and Mary crusade, and the how much more Henry loved Anne when compared to Katherine litany. This book is just exhausting for me. I don't like being preached at and I don't like being hit over the head with the same ideas every three pages for a 350 page book. I suggest finding a much more unbiased book if you are looking to learn something about Anne and then if you need to read this icky thing come back to it later.
The book is full of excuses for Anne's behavior and full of the author's dislike for Catholics and Katherine of Aragone. Denny neglects to hand over information that would make Anne seem less than saintly. For example, Anne's adopted motto. The author offers the reader the latin version, and claims that because it is a play on another woman's motto, it shows a sense of humor. What Denny doesn't say or do is translate the latin motto. Curious, I looked the incident up. The loose translation, "if you don't like it tough it's going to happen anyway," reveals Anne's, "humor." Anne is mocking Katherine and the entire court made voice of their disapproval. Denny, spins this as the people of the court not having a sense of humor. In reality it was done in bad form and meant to goad Katherine.
I didn't like that Denny pushes her religious intolerance of Catholicism in this book. I thought that she repeated the same thing over and over. How many times can someone insist that Anne was a virgin when she married Henry before it gets preachy and annoying? I'd say that after reading the same point at least 30 times I was ready to pull my eyes out. Then there was the religious campagin, the bash Katherine and Mary crusade, and the how much more Henry loved Anne when compared to Katherine litany. This book is just exhausting for me. I don't like being preached at and I don't like being hit over the head with the same ideas every three pages for a 350 page book. I suggest finding a much more unbiased book if you are looking to learn something about Anne and then if you need to read this icky thing come back to it later.
