Hunting the Falcon: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the Marriage That Shook Europe

Hunting the Falcon is a groundbreaking examination of the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, which sent shockwaves across a continent and changed England forever. It combines meticulously researched history and contemporary voices with narrative flair, and shows how Anne and Henry's relationship was tied to international politics at a turning point of European history. It also explores how Anne organised her side of the royal court in novel ways that ultimately sowed the seeds of her own downfall.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 624 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A groundbreaking examination of how the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn sent shockwaves across a continent and changed England forever. In many places, where once we had speculation, we now have certainty. This book is at once an education and a joy to read. LITERARY REVIEW Combines meticulously researched history and contemporary voices with narrative flair. SUNDAY TIMES Anne Boleyn comes alive in this impressive study . . . Moves and informs. THE TIMES The most cogent narrative reading of the evidence to date. SPECTATOR The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is one of the most remarkable in history: a long courtship followed by a shotgun wedding and then a coronation, ending just short of three years later when a husband's passion turned to such hatred that he simply wanted his wife gone. In Hunting the Falcon, John Guy and Julia Fox examine the most recent archival discoveries and peel back layers of historical myth to present Anne and Henry in startlingly new ways. They show how Anne and Henry's relationship was tied almost completely to the major events of international politics at one of the great turning points of European history, and dispel any assumptions that a sixteenth-century woman, even a queen, could exert little influence on the politics and beliefs of a patriarchal society. Anne was in fact a shrewd and ruthless politician in her own right, a woman who steered Henry and his policies - and whom Henry seriously contemplated making joint sovereign. Hunting the Falcon sets the facts and some completely new finds into a wide frame, unearthing the truth about these two extraordinary lives and their tumultuous times. It pays particular attention to the seven years of Henry and Anne's marriage, which were marked by political intrigue, religious conflict, and personal betrayal. The book also explores the impact of Anne's death on Henry's reign and the legacy of their relationship for generations to come. Overall, Hunting the Falcon is a fascinating and insightful read that sheds new light on one of the most iconic couples in history.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526631534