The Anne Boleyn Collection - The Real Truth about the Tudors

It is rare that I leave a review for any purchase that I have made, but after reading some of the other reviews here I felt that I needed to set a few things straight.I am not your average Anne Boleyn fan--I have been studying Anne Boleyn intensely since I was 12 (I am now 29). I have made my pilgrimages to the important English and French locations and have even been in the British Library and allowed to hold her cherished book of hours. In that amount of time and effort you come to know which sources are objective, and which sources need to be taken with a bit of salt. In her writing, Claire informs the reader when the latter is the case and tells them why. She is not in any way bashing people who have spoken ill of Anne, she is informing you that the evidence comes from a source that had been entirely hostile toward Anne and that needs to be considered.Claire knows that Anne Boleyn was no saint. Those who reviewed this as being the work of someone who puts Anne on a pedestal must not have read up to page 12 where Claire mentions Anne's temper and some of the things that Anne had actually said. Claire is not saying that Anne was an angel--only that she wasn't the total monster that some have made her out to be.There is repetition in this book--it is a collection of articles and the same pieces of evidence can be used to make numerous points.I have never been interested in historical fiction, so maybe those who loved Philippa Gregory found this to be "boring" because it wasn't warped or what they expected...in my opinion, the real truth is a lot more interesting and Anne's life needs no added drama.With my almost 20 years of experience and learning I'm going to say that I really enjoyed this book. If you're here because you've just finished watching the Tudors, Wolf Hall, or the Other Boleyn Girl and you want more, I encourage you to read this, and also to go and check out the Anne Boleyn Files Website, as well as Claire's book The Fall of Anne Boleyn.

It seems a little of an oxymoron to mix the virtue of truth with the Tudors (or any other power-mad royal family), but in this first book in the collection (I have not read the second offering yet) she tackles a number of popular tales and misconceptions about the big names of the period. I'm not sure that all of the topics are the last word on the issues, but it is good, quick reading. There is a bit of cross-over between the articles, but it is a good read.Anne Boleyn is one of those famous historical characters for whom people either run hot or cold, and seldom change their perception. Was she an innocent victim of an older man's lust, or a heartless home wrecker? Was she a doctrinally devout Catholic or a wild-eyed evangelical? Was she as demure as her historical Age would require, or a vengeful enemy to those who opposed her?I personally doubt that any modern historian will be able to lay these stereotypes to rest. They are based on emotion and facts rarely have any influence over strong feelings. What I do hold to be incontrovertible, however, is that historical fiction does little to clarify such issues and does no justice to people who are no longer around to defend themselves. That should be the goal of a true historian. I, personally, wish that fiction writers would stick to truly made-up characters instead of bona fide historical men and women. Of course, that would mean that their imaginations would have to go into overdrive. With historical fiction, most of the work of character development has already been done for them.

I picked this book on amazon when it was first published. I'm a fan of the author's blog, though I don't always have time to read it. I knew some of the information would be repetitive, but I was expecting some new information as well.I wasn't expecting that within the book itself, there was a lot of repeat information. I got the impression she just gathered up all the articles on her blog with the same tag & put them together as a book, instead of actually editing the articles by hand to make sure they didn't mention the same info over & over again. A few beta readers probably would have helped, too.That being said - I do enjoy Ridgway's blog & I am a big Tudor buff - both the fiction stuff & the real actual historical facts & I do think this book is a great place to start, especially if you are new to her blog.

This afternoon, I was going to sit down and take a look at The Anne Boleyn Collection - The Real Truth by Claire Ridgway. To my surprise, I have devoured this book in a matter of hours. I enjoyed the story of how the author's dream, literally, lead her on her life's passion of finding the truth behind the Anne Boleyn mystique. Her no-nonsense approach to the various topics of controversy of Anne Boleyn's life is insightful. She presents topics, gives documented evidence for and against, then draws her conclusion based on the evidence she finds most credible. I recommend this book to students of Tudor history as well as any reader interested in this historical era.

The author repeats herself over and over. She tends to hammer in the fact that The Other Boleyn Girl is not how it really went during that time of Anne, of course we do not know how it really went as we were not around to see what actually happened. Philipa Gregory, Author of The Other Boleyn Girl, does a lot of research,reading documents that have survived through the ages, letters actually written from Henry to Anneshe has been studying the Tudors for a very long time, so yes I would believe her books before this one. This book was very dry

I have been an admirer of The Anne Boleyn Files for a long time now and am so happy to see that Claire has put some of her best work into this book. I will value it as a source I can go to when I am reading Tudor history and want to check something out. What I really like about Claire's writing is the research she puts into each piece. She really knows how to go to the original sources for information and has taught me a great deal about how you must be a detective and examine all available information before reaching a conclusion. This book is good for anyone interested in the Tudors, from the novice to those with more knowledge of this period of history.

I really loved this book. Claire Ridgway is gifted at being even handed with the source material, she does not seek to make Anne a plaster saint but neither does she accept her as the whore of Babylon. Claire has investigated all the available sources relating to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn and has produced a real woman with faults and has shown the myths about Anne to be disgraceful falsehoods put about by those with an axe to grind.

The thought of reading what sounded so much like my 'A' level paper made me smile. Ms Ridgway has challenged the conventions so often held concerning the relationship between siblings. She makes you look at your own preconceived pictures of the relationship between Anne and George Boleyn and place those pictures along side the questions she raises. It is probable that the reader comes to the end of this book with a new perspective. Along the way she a!so challenges commonly held ideas regarding others caught up in a tyrants web. Was Jane Boleyn the sour, jealous and vindictive woman we are normally presented with? Maybe not. Ultimately Henry VIII was the puppet master of all that occurred within his Court and realm. My existing picture of him is reinforced and if anything I now think his ultimately lonely life was entirely of his own making. So, thanks Ms Ridgway for broadening my view on this fascinating period of English history and I look forward to reading your next book on this subject and learning even more.

The collection is exactly what the author states it is, the best articles brought together from her excellent website, using both primary and secondary historical sources to back up her own arguments based on her own research over a number of years. It may or may not be the real truth about Anne Boleyn, that's a matter of personal belief as much as historical perspective. However, here we have an author who has a genuine rapour with her subject and attempts to go behind the myths in order to reveal a more realistic and believable Anne Boleyn.Too many authors present Anne either as saint or sinner witch or reforming heroine and in doing so lose sight of the real Anne, the flawed human being. In this series of essays and articles Claire Ridgeway brings us a woman that we can relate to, one with many human flaws, yes, but also one that is sincere, passionate, her own woman, alive, well educated, creative, charitable, but also a woman of ambition, someone who broke the mould, was often tactless and cruel, but a woman who in the end was herself the victim of a King that had TORN his kingdom in two to make her Queen, but in the end she had failed to give the son she had promisedWe see Anne in fiction and popular culture and how some writers claim to present the truth when they only invent theory and state it is factWe see Anne within the structure of her powerful family, and the formal settings of the the sophisticated French and Belgium courts, where she gained her great education, and we see her rise from sexy newby at the English courts, through the turbulent years of Henry divorce, to her glory days in her early queenship, and finally as she faces with what dignity she can her terrible execution at the hands of the man she loved.Yes from time to time the author gives more of her opinion than true academic assessment of events and sources, yes she is heavily critical of other authors, but where authors, often cited in her research deserve praise and positive feedback, she is not stinted in giving this generously either. The articles are well balanced and anyone interested in finding a more believable Anne will find something here for them, as they will in volume 2 also out now.

I found 'The Anne Boleyn Collection' a great read. Claire Ridgway does here best to stick to known facts about Anne Boleyn and all the other well known characters at the court of Henry VIII. This makes a refreshing change. The author avoids wishful thinking and does her best to present as much of the truth as it is possible to know. She has undertaken a great deal of painstaking research and gives the results in a clear and ordered way. She does give us her opinion, which makes the book extra enjoyable.'Wolf Hall' is currently being shown on British TV and interesting comparisons can be made with the way Anne Boleyn is portrayed in this amazingly filmed drama and the Anne of Claire Ridgway's book. The real Anne appears to have been a much more refined and interesting character than the fictional Anne of the TV series.I can highly recommend 'The Anne Boleyn Collection' for anyone interested in Anne and the Tudors in general. Thank you Claire Ridgway, well done!

I was really excited at downloading this, and it starts really well (and I do enjoy some Other Boleyn Girl bashing). However, I felt that the author was very quick - almost rude, in dismissing conclusions other historians have drawn. Ultimately, she did what she said she was trying to fight. It’s a real shame.

Have to say I really enjoyed this book, the way it was written and the way what can often be quite dry material flowed so well. For me you can always tell from an author how much they have a passion for what they are writing about, something which is a key differentiator from the author who is writing purely out of revenue terms or because their modus operandi is publishing volume. What Claire has achieved is an excellent reference book of material for this exciting period in English history, interspersed with her qualified and carefully considered views on key events. This is exactly what I expected for a book with this title, and I have not been disappointed.I would throughly recommend it.I have just seen Claire has released a new book on Anne Boleyn. I suspect this will be making its way in the direction of my Kindle shortly..!!The Anne Boleyn Collection - The Real Truth about the Tudors The Anne Boleyn Collection - The Real Truth about the Tudors

I feel too much time is taken up denigrating another author, who, actually does have a phd so, is not an enthusiastic amauter, which I feel possibly Miss Ridgeway is. Nevertheless, this does not detract from her research and obvious passion for the subject, however, I certainly would not use her work as a reference in an academic essay. People who use the writers of historical fiction as a basis for historical fact are just lazy and do not understand their subject. Whilst a lot of historical fiction has its roots in historical fact, sources should always be checked.

This book is different from others published about Anne Boleyn or any other subject for that matter in that Claire Ridgway has written it in a 'chatty' way which is refreshing it's as if she is sitting with you having a conversation about Anne and the other members of the court. I couldn't put it down and read it completely in 2 days. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Tudor History or Anne Boleyn. Claire has dedicated her life full time since 2009 into finding out the truth about Anne and dispelling the many myths that surround her. A most enjoyable and fascinating read.

Whenever a new book about Queen Anne Boleyn becomes available i am faced with a dilemma. To buy, or not to buy? Anne's story can never change, but her meteoric rise and catastrophic fall give rise to a whirl of speculation. What was she really like? Who was the real Anne Boleyn?In this book Claire Ridgway considers every aspect of Anne's world. The people she knew; their way of life. I fully agree with Claire's thoughts on Phillipa Gregory's 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. Phillipa has decimated the reputation of the Boleyn family, basing her novel upon the most negative and unlikely of original sources.It has been an eye opener for me to read about today's perceptions of the Tudors, e.g. that Catharine Howard was always naked! This idea began with her portrayal in 'The Tudors'! However, the sumptuous television show did include some little known facts along with its inaccuracies.In the chapter 'Should Anne Boleyn be pardoned and reburied?' Claire has written very movingly on Anne's final resting place. 'Those that have the same faith as Anne Boleyn believe that she is in paradise. She is with her Father in Heaven.'I like the fact that Claire is not scathing about Henry's other queens. She simply outlines their stories. There is no element of 'Team K versus Team A in this book, which could give the reader a biased viewpoint.At the conclusion of each chapter, Claire has given a list of books and sources from which she has researched her facts.I was almost sorry to finish this book, it was so enjoyable so I'll be keeping it at hand for future reference.

I love the Tudors so read anything I can about them. I liked the style of writing as it's more conversational, but I did find it a little frivolous at times and also I don't think the writing style helped me to take seriously some of the points raised (even though it was novel!). The real facts get muddied into the more ridiculous ones (such as, Is Anne Boleyn A Vampire!), and therefore lose some of their punch, so you end up not knowing which ones to take seriously. I didn't know what to make of it really. I think I'll stick to the likes of Alison Weir whose writing styles are more factual and less like I'm discussing the Tudors over coffee with a friend. Still entertaining though.

It has to be said that this book is an easy read. However it's all just the authors opinions. It's very repetitive and bits seem like angry rants. It's seems if the opinion of another author or historian differs from the author it must be wrong.

This book is like all the other books about Anne Boleyn, filled with facts from many sources trying to piece together the life of a woman who has been dragged through history. I would have enjoyed the book and its views, that Anne was not the evil woman we have been made to believe but actually a victim of her surroundings had it not felt like the author was attacking the works of Phillipa Gregoryand other authors who viewed Anne unfavourably. All historical novels are fact mixed with the own authors interpretation ,they would not sell many books if they simply said we don't know what happened. The books are based on research and the author had to decide whether to follow the evidence (of which there is plenty) that Anne was not a good person or, to follow the evidence (of which there is also plenty) that she was a victim.Attacking an author and blameing the books for making everyone view Anne Boleyn as awful woman is just ridiculous and ruined any credibility it had.The views put forward in this book are very interesting and shows a side that is not often shown of who Anne Boleyn might have been. However if you enjoyed " the other Boleyn girl" don't bother with this.

I don't normally leave feedback but having read the book I am amazed how this can be called "the real truth". It reads like a teenagers essay on a beloved pop star. Everyone who dares to criticize Anne is wrong. To constantly refer to The Tudors and the writings of Phillips Gregory is ridiculous-they are works of fiction. Yes my history teacher also told me to write essays using facts to prove any theory no matter how ridiculous but I wouldn't' call them the "the real truth". If you want facts to read buy a book by a real historian.

I love everything about the Tudor period, I've read so much, and it's brilliant to read a book about Anne Boleyn that's been written since The Tudors TV series aired. Much as I loved the series as historical fiction for giving colour and life to a period of history I've always been interested in, it's great to have the record set straight about things the series played fast and loose with. I'd recommend it very highly to anyone interested in the Tudor period, and especially to those who've enjoyed historical fiction based around Anne Boleyn and her life and want to know more about her.

I feel mean giving 3 stars because the author is obviously very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her subject. Her writing style is easy to read but several phrases are repeated and become quite annoying. However, I would give the Anne Boleyn Files website 5 stars because it's excellent. I will certainly be visiting it often in future.