THORNS, LUST, AND GLORY The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn

In this biography of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, British actor Anna Wilson-Jones brings a clipped tone to the complex story of the King's efforts to divorce his first wife, Catherine, so he can marry Anne. Though Henry succeeds, the repercussions eventually result in England's break with the Vatican. Soon, Henry, tiring of his wife, has her beheaded so he can marry his new paramour, Jane Seymour. While the period was a crucial turning point in British history, the author's claim that Anne was a major player on the international stage is weak, and her efforts to inflate Anne's role seem like padding. Wilson-Jones conveys the author's sympathy for her subject, but this listener's attention wandered as the narrative energy flagged. L.W.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]