Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox

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(Hardcover)

  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Pub. Date: December 2007
  • ISBN-13: 9780345485410
  • Sales Rank: 52,310
  • 379pp
 
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Synopsis

In a life of extraordinary drama, Jane Boleyn was catapulted from relative obscurity to the inner circle of King Henry VIII. As powerful men and women around her became victims of Henry’s ruthless and absolute power, including her own husband and sister-in-law, Queen Anne Boleyn, Jane’s allegiance to the volatile monarchy was sustained and rewarded. But the price for her loyalty would eventually be her undoing and the ruination of her name. For centuries, little beyond rumor and scandal has been associated with “the infamous Lady Rochford.” But now historian Julia Fox sets the record straight and restores dignity to this much-maligned figure whose life and reputation were taken from her.

Born to aristocratic parents in the English countryside, young Jane Parker found a suitable match in George Boleyn, brother to Anne, the woman who would eventually be the touchstone of England’s greatest political and religious crisis. Once settled in the bustling, spectacular court of Henry VIII as the wife of a nobleman, Jane was privy to the regal festivities of masques and jousts, royal births and funerals, and she played an intimate part in the drama and gossip that swirled around the king’s court.

But it was Anne Boleyn’s descent from palace to prison that first thrust Jane into the spotlight. Impatient with Anne’s inability to produce a male heir, King Henry accused the queen of treason and adultery with a multitude of men, including her own brother, George. Jane was among those interrogated in the scandal, and following two swift strokes from the executioner’s blade, she lost her husband and her sister-in-law, herinheritance and her place in court society.

Now the thirty-year-old widow of a traitor, Jane had to ensure her survival and protect her own interests by securing land and income. With sheer determination, she navigated her way back into royal favor by becoming lady-in-waiting to Henry’s three subsequent brides, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and Catherine Howard. At last Jane’s future seemed secure–until an unwitting misstep involving the sexual intrigues of young Queen Catherine destroyed the life and reputation Jane worked so hard to rebuild.

Drawing upon her own deep knowledge and years of original research, Julia Fox brings us into the inner sanctum of court life, laced with intrigue and encumbered by disgrace. Through the eyes and ears of Jane Boleyn, we witness the myriad players of the stormy Tudor period. Jane emerges as a courageous spirit, a modern woman forced by circumstances to fend for herself in a privileged but vicious world.


Tonya Briggs - Library Journal

Historian Fox does an admirable job relating the life of Jane Boleyn (née Parker), sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn. Jane was expected to lead the usual life of a noble, but she too ended up a participant in extraordinary historical events. She began her time in Henry VIII's court as a lady-in-waiting to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and ultimately would be lady-in-waiting to five of Henry's wives. Fox's detailed descriptions of the extravagance, arrogance, and dangerous political maneuvers of the Tudor court help readers understand how Jane's "addiction" to court life began and led to her downfall. Her infamous reputation as the woman whose accusations aided the executions of her husband, George Boleyn, and his sister Anne is undeserved and was fabricated during the reign of Elizabeth I, according to Fox. But Fox confirms Jane's culpability in aiding Catherine Howard in her extramarital affair, which led to the execution of both women. Family trees of the Parkers, the Boleyns, and the Howards are included along with notes and a bibliography. This would make an exceptional reading group selection. Recommended for academic and public libraries. (Index not seen.) [The finished book will refer readers to a conversation with the author, posted online.-Ed.]

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Biography

After graduating from the University of London, Julia Fox taught history in both public and private schools for a number of years, specializing in the Tudors and in nineteenth-century Britain and Europe. She currently lives in London with her husband, the historian John Guy, and their two cats. Jane Boleyn is her first book.


Customer Reviews

Not Worth the Time or Moneyby Anonymous

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April 12, 2008: This book was a HUGE disappointment. Not only was it slow and tedious, but we already KNOW that there is little to nothing known about Jane parker. Everything in here is pure speculation, and ridiculous speculation, at that. The other thing I think that bothers me more, if that's possible, is that the cover of this book is Jane Seymour. WHY? Not worth it. Friends of mine have attempted to read it and have had to put it down. Ughh...Ms. Fox, sorry, but this as your debut book??? Disappointing.

A reviewerby Anonymous

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January 25, 2008: Although this book is a very well-researched historical account of Henry VIII's court during Jane Boleyn's lifetime, I bought this book hoping to find out more about, well, Jane. This is more of a general history of the time period rather than a biography. It contains few biographical details until the very end, although it does provide rich insight into the lives of Henry VIII's wives. In the afterword, Fox wrote that she started out writing a book about Henry's wives, and clearly, she had done a great amount of research, which she poured into her book about Jane Boleyn, essentially writing a book about the six wives despite her intention to write about Jane Boleyn. There is no characterization the Jane Boleyn of Fox's book is flat and unreadable. Fox claims to be writing a vindication of Jane's poor reputation, yet provides scant and weak research that leaves Jane's true character ambiguous. But the question that puzzles me most is: Why is Jane Seymour on the cover?


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