Jane Seymour, The Haunted Queen
A Novel
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4.2 • 176 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
This heartwrenching novel in New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series presents “a dramatic and empathetic portrait” (Kirkus Reviews) of Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII’s third and most beloved wife.
“[An] impressive novel . . . Weir keeps the tension high, breathing new life into a familiar tale.”—Booklist, starred review
Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived
Ever since she was a child, Jane has longed for a cloistered life as a nun. But her large noble family has other plans, and as an adult, Jane is invited to the King’s court to serve as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s kind, devout wife.
After King Henry disavows Katherine and lustfully secures Anne Boleyn as his new queen—forever altering the religious landscape of England—he soon turns his eye to another: Jane herself. Urged to return the King’s affection and earn favor for her family, Jane is drawn into a dangerous political game that pits her conscience against her desires. Can Jane be the one to give the King his long-sought-after son, or will she be cast aside like the women who came before her?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This third volume in the Six Tudor Queens series, following books on Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, is a sumptuous historical novel anchored by its excellent depiction of Jane Seymour, Henry the VIII's third queen. Weir begins the story of Jane, the daughter of a wealthy knight, by exploring a historical but unclear family scandal from Jane's youth, which Weir imagines to be an affair between Jane's father and sister-in-law. Throughout, she paints Jane as a fairly innocent young woman, even imagining that she may have entertained life as a nun when she was a girl. Weir devotes most of the plot to Jane's time as a maid of honor, first to Queen Katherine and then, after Katherine's divorce, to Queen Anne. A church traditionalist, Jane attempts to use her influence on Henry (once they do finally marry) to restore Princess Mary to his good graces and to limit the divestitures of the monasteries. Of course, being a novel of the Tudors, there is a great deal of description devoted to the lavish clothing, foods, architecture, and pageantry of the royal court. Weir also does not stint on the various scandals and uproars of the time. This is a must for all fans of Tudor fiction and history.
Customer Reviews
The Entire Series is Wonderful
I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this 6-queen series. I found it hard to put these books down and read them all in rapid succession! The author is such an incredible, captivating story teller in addition to weaving in historical accuracies. She truly breathed life into each of the unique, dimensional women of Henry’s life.