Jane Boleyn: The Infamous Lady Rochford

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read about an oft mentioned, much vilified but still relatively obscure female member of the Tudor court and I found the entire book, overall, fascinating and really interesting to read as it did have a lot of period detail about the behind the scenes workings of Henry VIII's court.

However, and there is always a however, I was disappointed by the lack of emotional insight into Jane's life and especially her marriage to George Boleyn. I would have liked to have read more about their relationship and how well they got on and whether the author believed there was any truth in the rumours about George's promiscuity or homosexuality and how this may have impacted on his marriage. I never really got a feel for how they interacted as a couple or for the dynamics of their ill fated marriage. Were they unhappy or not? Was Jane really bitterly jealous of his closeness to his sister, Anne? Some discussion of this would have been welcome.

Also, I was surprised to find that there was no mention of the possibility that George and Jane may have had a son. This is not documented fact but I would have expected at least a brief discussion of this in the notes, if only to say that the future Dean of Lichfield was in all probability the son of an obscure Boleyn cousin and not George and Jane themselves. It felt like quite a glaring omission though.

The other problem was the constant repetition. Enough about Jane's masque stockings already! I appreciate that there was not much information to be going on with here but the continual 'Jane *may* have been here' and 'as daughter/wife/sister in law/aunt to XXX, Jane had every right to be there' really started to grate after a bit. I know that this wasn't the author's fault as she was just trying to wring as much drama out of the scant evidence on offer but it often came across as a bit grasping at straws and wishy washy.

I have to reiterate though that I *did* enjoy this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in Tudor history. It was engagingly written, interesting and dramatic which, after all, is what one wants from a cracking good history book isn't it? Or it is what I want at any rate.

Tudor Court Life Brought To Life (5/6 people found this helpful)

This is a remarkable book and I recommend it without reservation. It is not just that Julia Fox brings the Tudor Court to life or that she tells a story superbly; she also wears her very considerable scholarship lightly. I can think of no comparable work and certainly none that offers such insight into such dramatic and tragic affairs.

A great disappointment (2/7 people found this helpful)

Having read both factual and fictional books on this period, I was very disappointed with Julia Fox's book on Jane Boleyn. Nearly every page had a "could have"," might have", "possibly" "may have been there" etc. I found this very frustrating and the book did not add anything to that we already know.

Speculation isn't history. (2/6 people found this helpful)

I was really looking forward to this book, but the author is no historian. You cannot write a biography by saying " It is possible that" to go on to state that whatever it was is a fact. The author makes massive specualtions of this nature and it ruined the book and did not end up redeeming Lady Rochford.

New and interesting author (4/8 people found this helpful)

It is refreshing to find a new author who, while basing her ideas on excellent research, is also a fine storyteller. She has brought Jane Boleyn to life and has given an interesting and involving picture of her situation and the complexities of the court.

Jane Boleyn: The Infamous Lady Rochford

Julia Fox

Reader Reviews:

Interesting but ultimately disappointing (0/0 people found this helpful)

Tudor Court Life Brought To Life (5/6 people found this helpful)

A great disappointment (2/7 people found this helpful)

Speculation isn't history. (2/6 people found this helpful)

New and interesting author (4/8 people found this helpful)

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