"The young Anne Boleyn"

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, has been much maligned by history and unfairly so. Accused by Henry VIII of adultery, incest, treason, and other crimes, she was beheaded in 1536 still in her early thirties. Was this young woman really guilty of these crimes? One would wonder, given the character of Henry VIII. More likely she was executed because she could not bear Henry a male heir, and Henry needed to clear the way to acquire a new wife.

Robin Maxwell in "Mademoiselle Boleyn" tries to correct the maligned image of Anne Boleyn. The title "Mademoiselle Boleyn" indicates that this novel is about the young Anne, before she married Henry VIII. Maxwell does an effective job making the reader feel acquainted with the still young and innocent Anne. The novel begins when Anne is nine and her sister, Mary Boleyn, is twelve. They are sent to France along with Henry VIII's sister, Mary Tutor, who is betrothed to wed the aged French King Louis XII. Anne and Mary Boleyn are sent as part of the wedding entourage. King Louis dies shortly afterward.

When Francis I succeeds Louis XII as king of France, Thomas Boleyn, the girl's father, orders Mary Boleyn against her will, when she is around twenty, to become mistress to Francis I. Maxwell does an effective job depicting the environment these young Boleyn girls are immersed in. The reader cannot help but sympathize with the girls. Anne grieves for sister, who had earlier been betrothed to someone she loved. After the French King tires of Mary, he lets his friends have a turn with her. Mary is beautiful, and many men are eager. Soon Mary becomes referred to as the "English Mare."

Maxwell brings in some other famous historical characters like Leonardo da Vinci, whom Maxwell portrays as a compassionate man who becomes friend and mentor to Anne, Francis I's wife, Queen Claude, who is shown as a decent woman, who bore Francis seven children and died at age twenty-five, and Duchess Marguerite, aunt to Charles V and famous, even today, for her racy love stories. Maxwell also discusses playing cards, suggesting that "Queens" were not in the early decks. The ladies in court passed away some of their idle time playing cards.

"Mademoiselle Boleyn" ends with Anne seventeen and having returned to England along with her sister Mary. The novel dos not go into Anne's later years when she becomes Henry VIII's wife and Queen of England, and, eventually, is executed in 1536. If you are interested in historical fiction and curious about Tutor England, you will enjoy this excellent novel.

Maurice A. Williams Posted November 16, 2007

Reviewed by Maurice A. Williams
Posted February 3, 2008

Summary

When her father is assigned the task of spying on the French Court, the charming and sweetly innocent Anne Boleyn is delighted by the thought of a new adventure. And she is not to be disappointed, for her beautiful sister, Mary, has been handed a mission: to let herself be seduced by the King of France in order to uncover his secrets.

Mesmerized by the thrilling passion, intrigue, and betrayal that unfolds, Anne discovers the power of being a woman who catches the eye of a powerful king. And, as she grows into a beautiful young woman, she undergoes her own sexual awakening, each daring exploit taking her one step closer to the life that is her destiny.