Thorns, Lust, and Glory : The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn

Paranque (Blood, Fire and Gold, 2022) explores Anne Boleyn's ties to the French court and the impact of that relationship on future events. As a young woman, Boleyn became a lady-in-waiting to the queen of France, and Paranque argues that this experience fostered connections which affected later affairs as Boleyn campaigned to become Henry VIII's second wife. Boleyn's position in France may have influenced Henry's desire for a more formal alliance with the French king, although diplomatic matters in Europe were complicated by Henry's desire to divorce his first wife. Paraque's account spans Boleyn's time in France through her death, with a focus on the political maneuverings between England, France, and Spain. Henry's request for a divorce and subsequent break with Rome is also prominently featured, and Paranque argues that Boleyn was blamed disproportionately for her role. As Boleyn's papers were destroyed after her death, Paranque is left to make informed suppositions about Boleyn's thoughts and motivations through the writings of others. A good addition to the large body of Tudor history.