The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn : 'the Most Happy'

This definitive biography of Anne Boleyn establishes her as a figure of considerable importance and influence in her own right. A full biography of Anne Boleyn, based on the latest scholarly research. Focusses on Anne’s life and legacy and establishes Anne as a figure of considerable importance and influence in her own right. Adulteress or innocent victim? Looks afresh at the issues at the heart of Anne's downfall. Pays attention to her importance as a patron of the arts, particularly in relation to Hans Holbein. Presents evidence about Anne’s spirituality and her interest in the intellectual debates of the period. Takes account of significant advances in knowledge in recent years. Title......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Titles and Offices......Page 17 Family Trees......Page 19 Part I Background and Beginnings......Page 22 1 A Courtier’s Daughter......Page 24 2 A European Education......Page 39 3 De ́but at the English Court......Page 58 4 Sources......Page 67 5 Passion and Courtly Love......Page 84 6 A Royal Suitor......Page 102 Part II A Difficult Engagement......Page 114 7 A Marriage Arranged......Page 116 8 Anne Boleyn and the Fall of Wolsey......Page 131 9 Stalemate, 1529–1532......Page 148 10 The Turning-point, 1532–1533......Page 169 11 Wedding Nerves......Page 183 12 A Coronation and a Christening......Page 193 Part III Anne the Queen......Page 208 13 A Royal Marriage......Page 210 14 Influence, Power and Wealth......Page 226 15 Image......Page 239 16 Art and Taste......Page 252 17 Life at Court......Page 267 18 The Advent of Reform......Page 281 19 Personal Religion......Page 298 Part IV A Marriage Destroyed......Page 310 20 The Rival, 1535–1536......Page 312 21 The Response, January–April 1536......Page 327 22 The Coup, April–May 1536......Page 340 23 Judgement......Page 359 24 Finale......Page 378 Epilogue......Page 386 Notes......Page 388 Bibliographical Abbreviations......Page 446 Index......Page 456 ColorPlate......Page 480 Anne Boleyn Is The Most Notorious Of England's Queens, But More Famous For Her Death As An Adulterer Than For Her Life. Henry's Second Wife And Mother Of Elizabeth I, Anne Was The First English Queen To Be Publicly Executed. Yet What Do We Know Of The Achievements And The Legacy Of Her Short Reign? N The Life And Death Of Anne Boleyn, Eric Ives Provides A Detailed Portrait Of The Queen. He Reveals A Person Of Intellect With A Passion For The New Culture Of The Renaissance, A Woman Who Made Her Way In A Man's World By Force Of Education And Personality. She Played A Powerful And Independent Role In The Faction-ridden Court Of Henry Viii And The Unceasing Struggle For Royal Favour That Was Tudor Politics. The Consequences Can Still Be Detected Today. Indeed, Ives Shows That It Was Precisely Because Anne Was A Powerful Figure In Her Own Right That It Needed A Coup To Bring Her Down. She Had To Be Stopped -- Even By A Lie. Background And Beginnings -- A Difficult Engagement -- Anne The Queen -- A Marriage Destroyed. Eric Ives. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Anne Boleyn is the most notorious of England's queens, but more famous for her death as an adulterer than for her life. Henry's second wife and mother of Elizabeth I, Anne was the first English queen to be publicly executed. Yet what do we know of the achievements and the legacy of her short reign?" "In The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn Eric Ives provides the most detailed and convincing portrait we have of the queen. He reveals a person of intellect with a passion for the new culture of the Renaissance, a woman who made her way in a man's world by force of education and personality. She played a powerful and independent role in the faction-ridden court of Henry VIII and the unceasing struggle for royal favour that was Tudor politics. The consequences can still be detected today. Indeed, Ives shows that it was precisely because Anne was a powerful figure in her own right that it needed a coup to bring her down. She had to be stopped - even by a lie."--BOOK JACKET.