Beautiful story, beautifully read

As an Anne Boleyn fan, I found this detailed and sympathetic account fascinating.

I was lucky enough to be given the Audible version of the book as well. I was very struck by the polished and sympathetic reading of Marnye Young. There is just the hint of a French accent, the accent suited to Anne and her early education abroad. This is sustained perfectly throughout. It is always very satisfying to listen to a good book read by someone who seems the natural choice to read it.

I enjoyed Gemma Lawrence’s take on Elizabeth the First, so was very pleased that she has turned to Anne Boleyn. Anne is a tricky subject for writers - she still arouses strong feelings, and film and television exacerbates this. How does one approach a much-covered subject?
In this book we are taken through Anne’s early years with expertise. Gemma Lawrence doesn’t just know her subject she is passionate about it, and in this first person narrative, Anne comes across as so charming, clever and carefree. Lawrence does not sugar-coat anything though. Anne describes a happy childhood with warmth and humour, and there is no doubt that she is much-loved, but she has no illusions about her ambitious father, for example. The characters and customs of the Tudor Court are expertly filleted by this very clear-seeing Anne.

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