Alison Weir is, of course, a household name among Tudor aficionados. Although it hardly seems possible that anything new can be said about the Tudor monarchs "Lady in the Tower" is rich in details that may not be generally known. Weir discusses at length, for instance, the personalities of Anne Boleyn's supposed five lovers. Anne's brother, Rochford, may have been a homosexual, a fact that was squelched at Anne's trial. Poor Mark Smeaton, the son of a carpenter and not a gentleman, gave himself airs and resented the fact he could not enter into courtly love dalliances with the Queen. William Brereton was almost fifty, a ruthless individual and a lecher who had caused the death of at least one innocent man and who apparently considered himself above the law. Francis Weston was an attractive young man of twenty five who routinely beat the king at cards. And poor Norris, Groom of the Stool, who may have been Henry's only true friend, was nevertheless discarded. All of these men were loyal to the King and he destroyed them to get rid of Anne, destroyed them without turning a hair.
There are many personality portraits of Anne's contemporaries revealed in the book. The peculiar character of Jane Rochford, Anne's sister -in-law, who was probably the most instrumental voice in bringing Anne down, is analyzed in detail. I've always thought Henry Percy, who was prevented from marrying Anne by Cardinal Wolsey on orders of the king had staggered away from her trial, distraught with grief. He staggered away, all right, but he was terminally ill with a malady that had nothing to do with Anne, and had in fact spread rumors among the aristocracy that Anne had tried to poison Princess Mary.
You'll see the Duke of Norfolk, Anne's nasty Uncle, you'll see the Earl of Wilshire, her ambitious and unloving father, who attempted to climb the greasy pole right back to favor following Anne's execution. You'll see the Duke of Suffolk and his wife Mary, Henry's sister, both of whom hated Anne. You'll see poor Princess Mary, who suffered profoundly at the hands of Anne as well as her father. (Anne however, regretted her treatment of Mary and tried to make amends from the Tower).You'll see Thomas Cromwell, the butcher's son, capable, ruthless and motivated to bring Anne down to save his own skin.
And of course you'll see Anne herself, the courageous religious reformer, the black eyed enchantress, the center of an avalanche of enemies. But Anne left a great legacy in her daughter Elizabeth. Alison Weir won't let you forget Anne. A fine read and a fine addition to the Boleyn saga.
