Anna of Kleve

Synopsis

'Alison Weir transforms Henry VIII's much-maligned fourth wife into a woman of passion, courage and mystery' Tracy Borman

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen, paints a spellbinding portrait of Anna of Kleve, Henry VIII's fourth queen.

'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times

A GERMAN PRINCESS WITH A GUILTY SECRET.

The King is in love with a portrait, but the real Anna does not enchant him.

She must win him over. Everyone knows that Henry won't stand for a problem queen.

But rumours of Anna's past are rife at court - dangerous talk that could mark her downfall. Can this clever, spirited young woman reach out in friendship to the King, and gain his love forever?

ANNA OF KLEVE
THE FOURTH OF HENRY'S QUEENS
HER STORY

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new evidence to conjure a startling image of Anna as you've never seen her before. A charming, spirited woman, she was loved by all who knew her - and even, ultimately, by the King who rejected her.

History tells us she was never crowned.
But her story does not end there.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

Summary

Chapter 1:

* Anna, a German princess, is introduced at the age of eight. She is sent to England to be married to King Henry VIII.
* Anne of Cleves, daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Cleves and his wife, Maria of Jülich-Berg
* Anna has always been a tomboy, and she finds the court life in England stifling. She is also homesick and misses her family.
* Henry is initially impressed by Anna's beauty, but he soon becomes bored with her. He is also put off by her lack of sophistication and her poor English.

Chapter 2:

* Anna is crowned queen, but her marriage to Henry is never consummated.
* She is assigned a separate residence, Chelsea Manor where she resides for the rest of her life
* Anna is treated kindly by Henry's courtiers, but she never fully integrates into English society.
* She spends her time sewing, reading, and playing cards.
* She also corresponds with her brother, Duke Wilhelm, and her other family members in Germany.

Chapter 3:

* Henry divorces Anna after six months of marriage.
* Anna is granted generous terms as part of her divorce settlement, including the title of "The King's Sister" and a large pension.
* She is allowed to choose where she wants to live, and she chooses to remain in England.

Chapter 4:

* Anna spends the rest of her life at a series of royal manors, where she enjoys a comfortable existence.
* She is visited by her family and friends, and she corresponds with scholars and other intellectuals.
* She becomes a patron of the arts, and she commissions several works of art, including a portrait of herself by Hans Holbein.

Chapter 5:

* Anna dies at the age of 49 from cancer.
* She is buried in Westminster Abbey with the other queens of England.
* Her death is mourned by her family and friends, and she is remembered as a kind and compassionate woman.

Chapter 6:

* Anna's legacy is discussed.
* She is remembered as a woman who was ahead of her time, a strong and independent woman who refused to be defined by her marriage to Henry VIII.
* Her story is a reminder of the challenges that women faced in the 16th century, and her resilience is an inspiration to women today.

Real Example:

Anna's love of sewing and embroidery is mentioned in several passages in the book. For example, in Chapter 2, it is noted that Anna "spent her time sewing, reading, and playing cards." In Chapter 4, it is mentioned that Anna "commissioned several works of art, including a portrait of herself by Hans Holbein, and a set of tapestries depicting the story of Susanna and the Elders." These details help to give a sense of Anna's character and interests, and they also provide a glimpse into the daily life of a Tudor queen.