My understanding of the letters is that they’re a show of Henry playing out the ways of chivalry from the time. It brings to mind Wyatt’s poem, Whoso list to hunt? It’s a game, but I’m not sure it’s one Anne was willing to play in the beginning. I really don’t believe she was ever playing hard to get with Henry, that part of their relationship and Henry’s obsession with her never made sense to me when looking at a timeline.
Thanks for another very perceptive post! Alongside Prof Tracy Adams' recent interview with Natalie Grueninger, this effectively calls into question the myth of a cruel & seductive Anne!
As someone who has seen the letters in the original, on two occasions, spending hours with them in front of me, I have an unusual perspective. I will say that on my first visit to the Vatican Archives, I believed what I think most people do. That Henry obsessively pursued Anne. She was less than interested and went to Hever to hide. That she kept him at bay, manipulating him for 7 years. And eventually achieved her dream of power and status by usurping the crown from Katherine. In my current opinion as determined from my visits, nothing could be further from the truth. The letters-not merely what they say- but how they look; his writing; the progression of endearments; the quick notes he jotted (like the texts of today); and the partnership with Anne which quickly becomes very obvious; all tell a different story. Anne was indeed in love with Henry. And it happened much earlier than is typically believed. She loved him as much as he loved her. And they saw themselves as a power couple who could change history, which they indeed did. Anne felt, as did Henry, that her divine calling was to marry him, become queen, make change, and use that position for the good of the realm. There’s much more on this subject, but enough here for a post! Thank you Leigh for sharing your well written, intelligent blog!!
My understanding of the letters is that they’re a show of Henry playing out the ways of chivalry from the time. It brings to mind Wyatt’s poem, Whoso list to hunt? It’s a game, but I’m not sure it’s one Anne was willing to play in the beginning. I really don’t believe she was ever playing hard to get with Henry, that part of their relationship and Henry’s obsession with her never made sense to me when looking at a timeline.
Thanks for another very perceptive post! Alongside Prof Tracy Adams' recent interview with Natalie Grueninger, this effectively calls into question the myth of a cruel & seductive Anne!
As someone who has seen the letters in the original, on two occasions, spending hours with them in front of me, I have an unusual perspective. I will say that on my first visit to the Vatican Archives, I believed what I think most people do. That Henry obsessively pursued Anne. She was less than interested and went to Hever to hide. That she kept him at bay, manipulating him for 7 years. And eventually achieved her dream of power and status by usurping the crown from Katherine. In my current opinion as determined from my visits, nothing could be further from the truth. The letters-not merely what they say- but how they look; his writing; the progression of endearments; the quick notes he jotted (like the texts of today); and the partnership with Anne which quickly becomes very obvious; all tell a different story. Anne was indeed in love with Henry. And it happened much earlier than is typically believed. She loved him as much as he loved her. And they saw themselves as a power couple who could change history, which they indeed did. Anne felt, as did Henry, that her divine calling was to marry him, become queen, make change, and use that position for the good of the realm. There’s much more on this subject, but enough here for a post! Thank you Leigh for sharing your well written, intelligent blog!!