Thursday 28 July 2016

My Lady of Cleves - Margaret Campbell Barnes

Written by world-renouned 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.

A treat for readers of Tudor fiction and those fascinated by the complex relationships of Henry VIII and his wives, My Lady of Cleves leads readers into a world of high drama and courtly elegance. 

My thoughts:
She was a good writer and it showed, she did not try to put words in her characters mouths, words that did not belong. She did not make it too flighty or too much like a textbook. It made it interesting.

Anne of Cleves, well better to be divorced than beheaded. Though in this one you do get sad for her, since she could not leave even after her divorce. Maybe she wanted something more? But then again, she had her own household, no man to bother her, life must have been pretty good that way too.

So this book follows her from Cleves to her short marriage, and what happens afterward. Him marrying again, and again. I did like her, she seemed like a sensible woman. And she needs a story too, because gods, that Boleyn woman has TOO many books. I am so bored by her. Jane was a bit dull, the Howard kid was stupid. Catherine you always see in the background anyone and Parr, well eh, so yes Anne of Cleves has a good story to tell too.

Interesting story.

Paperback, 331 pages
Published September 1st 2008 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published 1946)
Historical fiction
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31 comments:

  1. You really make me want to try this author :O

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  2. oh this sounds good. I do like it when a author writes a well balanced story.

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  3. It would be interesting to read, I don't know much about her.

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  4. She's the luckiest among his wives. I read one biography that said she was so disgusted by how he smelled. His wound stank so bad. Eww!

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    1. I would not have wanted to be married to him, all those poor women

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  5. I agree, when it comes to Henry's wives, no other gets as much attention as Anne Boleyn. Glad to see Anne of Cleves get some attention, I hardly know anything about her. I'll have to look into this one.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    1. It sure is Anne this and Anne that, why are everyone so obsessed with her?
      I liked knowing about Cleves

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  6. Definitely better to be divorced than beheaded! What a dreadful man! Sounds like a good book.

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  7. I don't read a lot of historical fiction so thanks for putting this on my radar!

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  8. I should read this! There are SO few on her.

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  9. HA! You made me laugh - "that Boleyn woman has TOO many books" So true!

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  10. Not my type of book but thanks for the review.

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  11. Once upon a time, I'm a huge fan of the Tudor stories. And you're right. I know nothing about the Lady of Cleves. More should be written about her.

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  12. Glad you enjoyed, have a great weekend!!

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  13. I like it when you get a seldom seen character as the heroine of a book. I actually haven't read much in this time period because Boleyn does have so many books to peruse. LOL

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  14. Sounds like my kind of historical reading.

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  15. Ergs yes I'd opt for divorce over beheading, myself. lol

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