I read this book called The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, it's written by Robin Maxwell. It was an excellent book, probably one of the best historical fictions I've ever read. It was well researched, well written, and extremely accurate according to the actual historical events. It is the second book by Ms. Maxwell that I've read. The first book I read by her was Mademoiselle Boleyn, which was about Anne's time in the court of Francois I of France. It was this book that led me to read more of her work. Anyway... The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn is told from the perspective of both Queen Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn. The book opens with the beginning of Elizabeth's reign as queen and takes place in the midst of pressures from her advisers to marry and in the midst of an affair with her Master of the Horse, Robert Dudley. Lady Somerville, one of Anne's ladies in waiting during her imprisonment in the Tower of London, delivers the diary Anne to Elizabeth. Anne, upon her impending beheading, asks Lady Somerville to give her diary to Elizabeth when the time was right, so that even though Anne had to die she could still be there to guide Elizabeth in some capacity. Towards the end of the book Anne writes a letter to Elizabeth and I thought it was really powerful and really spoke to the reality of women during the 16th Century. So I thought I'd share that part of the book:
My Darling Elizabeth,
When last I laid my eyes upon your sweet self you were not yet three years old. More beautiful than a painted doll you were, and as toward and gentle of condition as any child I have ever known. I remember that day, for the spring sun streamed blindingly bright through the nursery windows, and your tiny red satin gown seemed afire in the light as you toddled toward me, arms outstretched. Perhaps you have no memory of those early years but I can truly say, Elizabeth that though our times together were sadly few, you knew me and you loved me. Loved me with a fierce possessiveness that all thought was strange for such a small child. My lap was your throne and I your only subject. Whilst there ensconced you did demand my full attention, and allowed no interference to our intercourse. You commanded me of which songs to sing, which tales to tell, which places on your neck and ears and feet to kiss and tickle. I so cherished those rare, enchanted hours and hope you have some
memory of them, because I must die knowing I leave you a motherless child in a
cruel and dangerous world.
All signs say you will never wear the crown of England. Mary may reign and Jane Seymour's issue will surely take precedence, but if I am to die well I must believe that you will one day be Queen. 'Tis not the Nun of Kent's prophecy tells me this, though I do believe she saw the future truly 'fore she came to be the pawn of powerful men. But I see how the fates have such strange ways of turning suddenly and violently beyond out control. I see you one day ruling England for you have besides my determined blood, your father's royal lineage behind you.
Tomorrow I die because I lusted not for flesh, but to command my own destiny. This is not a womanly act, I know, but I have oft thought that in this way my spirit is much the same as a man's. In this world a woman is born with one master who is her Father. He rules her life until he hands her to a husband, who rules it till death. Many preachers preach that women have no souls. But some perverse twisting in my self has always kept me from obedience to men. I was but a girl when I first counted my self their worthy opponent. I defied them all- Father, Cardinal Wolsey, Henry. Held my ground like some knighted soldier on a battle ground. Mustered my forces,
advanced, retreated, fought many skirmishes, practiced diplomacy, won some great
battles. And lost the war.
But except for pain of leaving you, my child, I have no regrets. For I have truly lived as few women are privileged. I have known true love, fought for and won a crown, treated with Kings and Queens and Cardinals. Borne a child. Some say I am a witch, but you have read this diary and know my power came not from Satan.
Methinks my heart first hardened and so grew stronger with the loss of my first love, Henry Percy. I might have withered from that terrible misfortune but instead, like some torn and bleeding bear chained and baited by howling mastiffs in the pit, my ire roused I struck out again and again and lived to fight another day.
Though I loved my Father faithfully and two Henrys passionately and they did betray me, I will not tell you that all men are betrayers. Some I have known- your Uncle George, Thomas Wyatt, Norris, Weston, Breyerton were good men and true. And I forgive your father, Elizabeth, and think I understand the strangeness of his mind. For men love that which they cannot have, and hate that which they cannot control. I was both to Henry.
So, daughter, though I have suffered and shall soon die for this selfish need to rule my fate, I beg of you to do the same. Let no man be your master. Love, lust, marry if you will, but hold apart from all men a piece of your spirit. 'Tis thus that I shall grasp the headman's block with no regrets and never be afraid of death. And though before receiving sacrament I shall swear on damnation of my soul that I am innocent of all crimes charged to me, for you sake I shall yield my self humbly to the King's will and ask for his forgiveness.
I soon shall die yet I rejoice, for in you part of me lives on. My diary, which is your ancestral history, is my only legacy. But be assured that this mother's heart is filled with love for you, Elizabeth, and know truly that whilst in Heaven I shall watch tenderly o'er your self your whole life long. Adieu, sweet girl, adieu.
Yours faithfully,
Anne
I thought I'd share that part of the book because I really thought it was moving. It is like a lifetime worth of wisdom passed from a mother to daughter, that due to circumstances beyond their control, must be passed in the form of a letter. I love this whole section of the book but I think my favorite piece of wisdom in the letter is where Anne tells Elizabeth, "Let no man be your master. Love, lust, marry if you will, but hold apart from all men a piece of your spirit". Obviously, in a literal sense she is warning Elizabeth to be wary of men and their intentions and desires, but I think it's more that just a warning about men in a romantic way. I think that she is telling her to keep a part of herself secret from all people. I think that it is so important to keep a part of your soul hidden from the world. Hidden so that it may stay pure and unblemished by the ambitions and insecurities of others. There should always be a piece of your spirit, of your soul, that belongs completely to you. That is what Anne did. She had all of these powerful men telling her how to live her life but she never gave in. She was pretty much a pawn in the schemes of her father, her King, and the most powerful clergyman in England at that time but she took any adversity that they handed her and persevered. Most women when faced with the advances of a lecherous King, advances that will basically ruin her life but one's that she cannot really say no to, when faced with this King's advances she took all the strength she had and she demanded that she still deserved dignity. She demanded that she would be his wife or she would be a virgin courtier, but she would NOT be his torrid mistress. That took balls. People were ruined or killed for lesser things than that. The only time Anne ever gave in was when she thought that she would be risking her daughter's life if she didn't comply with Henry. I know that these aren't Anne's actual words but from everything I've researched about her, it seems that this is probably how she felt. In a little twist of irony and poetic justice, it turns out that even though Henry had Anne killed so that he could move on to the next wife and possible male heir, it was their DAUGHTER Elizabeth that turned out to be the next great Tudor monarch. She was a monarch so great that she may actually have outshined her father. To this day she is probably the greatest Queen in English history. I was reading this book by an English historian and he referred to her as "The Great Queen" through out the entire book.
On a side note. If you are interested in Tudor history and Anne Boleyn, DO NOT read any Phillipa Gregory books or see The Other Boleyn Girl because they are pure trash. These things are technically categorized as historical fiction but they are FAAAAR from actually being even mildly historical. But the television show The Tudors is Ah-mazing. Natalie Dormer is the best Anne Boleyn I've ever seen on TV or in Movies.
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