the life and death of martyr by eric ives

While Anne is most often associated with France, her time in the Low Countries seems to have been her most formative according to Ives, she was polished in France but was shaped into a sophisticated continental courtier in Mechelen. His in-depth discussion of Anne’s adolescent years in the court of Margaret of Austria was particularly valuable. Based on his research, it’s a sure bet that she was born in 1501, not 1507. Ives begins by piecing together Anne’s earliest years from the sparse evidence remaining he makes clear that despite later claims to the contrary, she “was born a great lady” and “was better born than Henry VIII’s three other English wives.” He also definitively clears up the question of Anne’s age. His opinion of Henry VIII is quite low, but he does not pretend that his subject was a saint. It’s worth mentioning at the outset that Ives, while he admires and respects Anne a great deal, is as objective as one can hope for.

But one thing of which they will be certain: Anne Boleyn was “a remarkable woman,” deeply flawed and deeply wronged (by husband and history both) who did indeed “set whole country in a roar.” 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.

Length: 458 pages (includes image plates, notes, bibliography, and index)įrequently referred to as the “Anne Boleyn bible,” Dr.

The life and death of martyr by eric ives