Anne Boleyn Comes to Life - an Editorial Review of "A Heretic's Gift"

"The Heretic's Gift" book cover

Book Blurb:

1521

Anne Boleyn returns home from the liberal French court to find England under King Henry VIII a hotbed of religious intolerance. Here, her knowledge of the Bible and passion for reform makes her a target for those of the King’s advisors intent on stamping out what they see as heresy. It also brings her to the attention of the King, but is it her opinions he is interested in or her body?Anne’s childhood friend, Thomas Wyatt, now married but admiring her from a distance, warns her to tread carefully as the rising wave of religious zealotry sees English Bibles burned – and sometimes even those who read them.As the King’s fixation with her grows, could it be that Anne, like the biblical Queen Esther, has come to the kingdom for a time such as this? But does Anne have the courage to use her charm and intellect to influence the King’s religious beliefs to save some from the flames? Or will she herself be caught in the conflagration?

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/Y2Hfh

Editorial Review:

“‘Jean Bonhomme for Anne Boleyn,’ Magali announced from the cushioned window embrasure where she sat sewing a poupée for Princess Madeleine. She gave Anne a shrewd look, then leant out of the window. Anne returned only a modest nod. Eager to be on her way, she glanced across the chamber to where the Queen was choosing silks for her gowns. 

In a desperate bid to sway her into a decision, her ageing tailor pleated a piece of ivory sarcenet with his shaking hands and fastened it with a gold citron flower brooch. ‘Pretty fluted sleeves will add flounce, Highness,’ he suggested, his voice quivering with hope.”

Cast your mind back to the early 1520s – or at least, your reading mind, you know, the one that visits far off times and places. Anne Boleyn will be there, and she is incomparable. Her personality, her sparkling, captivating charisma, her risk-taking (for anything unconventional a woman does during those times is a risk)… all of it is there, vividly brought to life. And don’t you wish you’d met her yourself? But the pages of “A Heretic’s Gift” are the closest you can be, and Karen L Davies has crafted a great read. Those of us – and there are many – who are fascinated by Anne Boleyn will appreciate the strong focus of this novel on her, on her family relationships, on the pressure these create, on her friends and relationships. And “relationships” is a loaded word in this context, isn’t it, but discuss them we will. 

Those of us who have read earlier renderings of Anne Boleyn will know of the prevailing view that she was by no means a novice in talking – and more – with men. Is that correct; will we ever know; is that historical judging of a woman making her own choices in these matters? Davies has comments on this aspect in her Author’s Note, and her view is fairly reached, based on her research. Readers can reflect on these matters to the extent they choose to. In this novel, Anne’s discussions with men of her acquaintance are meaningful and with a serious undertone. All see the risk. This was not the time to simply meet someone and fall in love and form a commitment and live happily ever after. Not for Anne, or for anyone of her circle. The ominous shadow of King Henry VIII looms over everything, over Anne’s hopes to marry elsewhere, over Anne’s doubts, over her grandmother’s exhortations about what Anne should do. Anne’s earlier time in France, which begins the book, will leave the reader wondering what could have been, if things had been, well, different. The inclusion of Sir Thomas More in the storyline only adds to the sense of terrible inevitability. If only it were possible to reach through the pages and save people from their fates.

“The King affected nonchalance and took a drink of wine, but the knuckles of his hand were white with the force of his grip. Their sniping annoyed him. Anne studied him. His skin glowed like a fire, and his body was lean and muscular. If she had to hazard a guess, she would guess his characteristics meant his humours made him a choleric man of yellow bile, and that he was hot and dry and ruled by fire. His fighting nature suggested it was so. It made his attachment to men like More, Winchester and Fisher even harder to understand. They certainly had melancholy humours, filled with black bile, cold and dry and prone to misery and affliction. Henry’s eyes met hers and lingered, returning her look too closely.”

As is usual for historical novels, Davies has mingled both real and fictional characters in the storyline. This reviewer is undecided about the merit of including a fictional French relationship for Anne, but this artistic licence is disclosed and some readers will find it understandable. Back in England, the author’s description of historic buildings now gone, and locations, only adds to the steep sense of history and atmosphere in “A Heretic’s Gift”.

Davies has structured her book in strict chronological order. Each chapter is headed with the year and setting, and the book only spans five or so (eventful) years. There is also a list of historical figures which serves as helpful background for those readers who may be just starting what will likely be a lifelong (as this reviewer can attest) obsession with this era. Others with more knowledge will nod as familiar names appear.

“Anne flashed Percy a hard look. Word was that discussions for his marriage were in their final stage. ‘You speak of how powerful the feeling between us is, yet when I ask you if you will obey your father, you won’t give me an answer.’ 

‘I no more make the rules than you do. To break them will be difficult. It can be done, but the consequences will be severe. My father and the Earl of Shrewsbury have been discussing the legalities of my marriage to Mary for the last seven years. And then there is the matter of your own marriage to James. I would like to think that our parents would agree to a marriage between us if events run smooth.’ 

‘And if they don’t?’ She thought about what Wyatt had told her, and the large sums he had borrowed from Cromwell, and realised Percy likely couldn’t afford to disobey his father. 

‘No one knows the future, Anne.’”

“A Heretic’s Gift” by Karen L Davies is an absorbing read, bringing Anne Boleyn and her life and times to glorious life. The focus on her family relationships is a welcome and effective aspect of the plot, illustrating the many pressures and considerations that shaped Anne’s choices (or lack of them), and her fate. The inclusion of Anne’s time in France adds more context to the narrative, showing her as a younger woman learning about life, within a circle of complex friendships and networks. Oh, and Henry VIII makes an appearance too. But as Lord Percy says, “No one knows the future, Anne.” If only that were true.

*****

“A Heretic’s Gift” by Karen L Davies receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company

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