MY LADY OF CLEVES

Author: Margaret Campbell Brown ISBN: 9781402214318 9/2008 HISTORICAL FICTION Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS

My Lady of Cleves reveals the mesmerizing story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, one of the rare women who matched wits successfully with the fiery king and lived to tell the tale. Written by world-renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, My Lady of Cleves gives readers an intimate portrait of the warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become Queen of England. Knowing the King’s ravenous desire for a son, and aware of the disastrous consequences of not bearing an heir, Anne of Cleves bravely took on the duty of weathering the Tudor King’s temper, whims, arrogance, and irresponsible passions—and won the hearts of his subjects in the process.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MY LADY OF CLEVES by Margaret Campbell Barnes is a wonderful historical novel that highlights the life of a very virtuous and kind woman who was horribly mistreated yet still retained her self respect. I was impressed with Anne of Cleves and with the way her story was told by Ms. Barnes.

Any woman able to tolerate the horrible King Henry VIII without losing her head would be a heroine in my opinion, but Anne is especially impressive because she retains her dignity and self respect as well. Not an easy thing to do when you marry a tyrant (which she didn't even really get any choice in either, by the way). First, Henry just HAS to marry her, then he just HAS to get rid of her (he falls for her replacement at their first meeting). She endures one humiliation after another in this story, and still manages to find her way to being a happy woman who lives a pretty full life, considering.

The story of Anne of Cleves was very well written, interesting, uplifting, encouraging, enraging, and at times sad, but it was not very romantic. I only add that last one because this is, after all, a romance review. I suppose romance can be tragic too, and in that case, this would be a tragedy. However, neither party actually loved the other, so it was not tragic in the romantic sense. It was a forced marriage where, after giving up everything for nothing, Anne eventually becomes friends with Henry (I did not feel he deserved even her friendship). But I guess for a tyrant king he could have been worse to her if he really wanted to.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a well told drama, a highly entertaining story that is a part of history as well. It is not for that lonely night when you are trying to get over your ex, but better on a cold wintry night when you are in the mood to be a little intrigued, agitated and outraged.

Joanne Shaeffer