‘Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I’, by Tracey Borman
Tracy Borman has reinvigorated the dramatic lives of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth 1 in her book Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History.
In her introduction to the book she describes a tiny “exquisitely crafted’ hinged locket ring with the initials ER for Elizabeth Regina on the bezel. The ring opens and has two portraits, one of Elizabeth and one thought to be of Anne. When closed these two portraits“touch face to face”. Elizabeth kept this until she died. So the scene is set to describe a mother and daughter relationship (despite being brief, Elizabeth not 3 years old before Anne was executed) and how this shaped Elizabeth's reign.
Borman elucidates her themes with an historian's keen research citing examples from the records of Anne's brief life and her rise to eminence in Henry VIII’s court.
She was instrumental in bringing religious reform that created “dangerous enemies” for her. These reforms lasted well into her daughter’s reign. At the time of her fallout with Henry she lavished her love and attention on her daughter buying her expensive garments realising that she must protect and provide no matter what may come to herself.
All of this would have a lasting influence on Elizabeth’s reign. She was keen to promote the Boleyn family and acknowledge her mother as a “true Queen”. There was always a question of Elizabeth's legitimacy after Henry had his marriage to Ann annulled. However Elizabeth never pursued a reversal of this annulment in fear of creating discord in the kingdom.
I enjoyed Borman’s writing. She has depicted an enduring relationship between Anne and Elizabeth that is easy to follow and her research is backed up with the added bonus of colour plates illustrating documents, garments, jewellery and portraits from the text.
The book is available in store at Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop, I’m there Sunday - Thursday if you’d like to hear more about it. Or you can purchase it from our online dominion.
