Rating: 
Summary: Overly Tendentious
Review: Despite the author's claim to base her account of the fall of Anne Boleyn on a scientific evaluation of the records, her analysis seems as speculative as any other. In the absence of any direct testimony from the principals: Henry VIII, Anne, Woolsey, or Cromwell, we will never know exactly what happened. Thus her book comes across as overly tendentious and solemn. The author is also prone to excessive name dropping and the book would have benefited from genealogy trees and a cast of characters. However, it is certainly worth reading; for a similar but more entertaining perspective check out "The Autobiography of Henry VIII".
Rating: 
Summary: Text book-like treatise
Review: Fantastic research, however, the book was rather academic.
Rating:
Summary: Superb and informative
Review: i am an a level student and this book was extremely helpful in my in depth study of sex and politics in the court of henry the eighth.
Rating:
Summary: Facinating! New and original spin on enigmatic tragedy
Review: I have read many books on Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. This book has given me a fresh understanding of the tragic and enigmatic story of Anne Boleyn's life. The whole adultery excuse for Anne's execution has never quite washed with me. The more I got into this book, the more Ms. Warnicke's reasoning made sense. Truly enlightening for any serious Tudor scholar!
Rating: 
Summary: Great new insights on Anne Boleyn!
Review: I loved this book and I've read everything out there on Henry VIII and his matrimonial adventures. This book pays close attention to the court intrigues surrounding Anne Boleyn and makes a plausible case for Anne's fall as the result of political infighting as opposed to the more popular view of Henry tiring of Anne and of Anne's failure to bear a son. A must-read for any Tudor fan.
Rating:
Summary: Text book-like treatise
Review: In a clear and concise manner, Dr. Warnicke develops a new view of the complex nature of Tudor court politics. She moves beyond a surface analysis of the written records, and convincingly discusses the veracity of the accounts about Anne Boleyn and her role at court. Warnicke also infuses her work with a discussion of sixteenth-century social and cultural mores that have been lacking in other books. By placing Anne in her cultural setting, Warnicke gives the reader a more realistic portrayal of Anne, going beyond the image of the silly flirt created by other historians. It should be noted, however, that this is not a true biography of Anne and readers may be disappointed with this book if they are looking for a fuller account of Anne's life. This book is more a view of court politics and Anne's position in that system.
Rating:
Summary: New Insights
Review: In a clear and concise manner, Dr. Warnicke develops a new view of the complex nature of Tudor court politics. She moves beyond a surface analysis of the written records, and convincingly discusses the veracity of the accounts about Anne Boleyn and her role at court. Warnicke also infuses her work with a discussion of sixteenth-century social and cultural mores that have been lacking in other books. By placing Anne in her cultural setting, Warnicke gives the reader a more realistic portrayal of Anne, going beyond the image of the silly flirt created by other historians. It should be noted, however, that this is not a true biography of Anne and readers may be disappointed with this book if they are looking for a fuller account of Anne's life. This book is more a view of court politics and Anne's position in that system.
Rating: 
Summary: Academics should not be permitted to write.
Review: Or rather, academics should only be permitted to write after a thorough course in technical writing. Then, they should have a 2 year stint writing for clients with very tight editing requirements. Only after they have been baptised in the fire of brevity, clarity and organization, might they then attempt to write about Anne Boleyn. Furthermore, these academics should be fined for each use of the word "extant," which in this instance appears at least once (often more) times per page, and within the photo captions. (The word does not enhance or change the meaning of any sentence within which it appears, and may be scratched out without harmful effect.)I say all this in frustration. I'm having to chart and virtually rewrite each paragraph in order to understand it or get any information out of it. I view this as a waste of my time. END
Rating:
Summary: Not for sissies
Review: Retha Warnicke has presented an old topic in a new way, and has done so admirably. Particularly useful in helping the student understand the ins-and-outs of sixteenth-century England are her chapters on family alliances and on the queen's patronage, both of which help to demonstrate the major role of children in the time period, which was to help the family move up the social ladder. A further plus to this work involves Warnicke's decision to abandon Chapuy's as a reliable source, a move that has long been overdue, thus forcing this work to be different than almost every other biography on Anne Boleyn. Admittedly, this is a tough read, and Warnicke's main argument does tend to depend on a great deal of speculation. However, Warnicke's approach, and depth of knowledge concerning religion, witchcraft, and childbirth does make her argument plausible. A worthwile read for those who want to stretch.
Rating:
Summary: Not for sissies
Review: Retha Warnicke has presented an old topic in a new way, and has done so admirably. Particularly useful in helping the student understand the ins-and-outs of sixteenth-century England are her chapters on family alliances and on the queen's patronage, both of which help to demonstrate the major role of children in the time period, which was to help the family move up the social ladder. A further plus to this work involves Warnicke's decision to abandon Chapuy's as a reliable source, a move that has long been overdue, thus forcing this work to be different than almost every other biography on Anne Boleyn. Admittedly, this is a tough read, and Warnicke's main argument does tend to depend on a great deal of speculation. However, Warnicke's approach, and depth of knowledge concerning religion, witchcraft, and childbirth does make her argument plausible. A worthwile read for those who want to stretch.
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