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Thursday Book Club: Anne Boleyn, Continued

September 20, 2007 by WendyB

My interpretation of Anne Boleyn’s famous initial pendant
(Boleyn Necklace © Wendy Brandes 2007-2008)
(Photo by John Muggenborg)

I’m continuing last week’s post on Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, or “Henry teh 8” as I will now call him thanks to whoever hit my blog with that search term. In case you’ve forgotten (or never known), Anne is the first “beheaded” in the mnemonic for Henry’s six wives: “Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.”

One of the comments on my last post reminded me I didn’t tell my most personal Anne Boleyn story … the story that thanks to 20/20 hindsight predicts my career as a jewelry designer/royal biography reader! When I was eight or nine years old, my parents went to London and came back with books for me. I was fascinated by the spooky-looking old paintings, especially one of a dark-haired lady with a “B” necklace. It always stayed in my mind that someday I’d make a “B for Brandes” necklace for myself. And lo and behold it finally happened! So, you see, I have a connection with Anne from way back in the day.

Speaking of that moment, which seems like it was from another lifetime, my favorite fictional Anne Boleyn book is all about other lifetimes. Threads by Nell Gavin is narrated by the disembodied spirit form of Anne, who reviews her lives with Henry. Yes, multiple lives, because in this book, their courtship and marriage in the 1500s was only one of several lifetimes spent together. You don’t have to believe in reincarnation or know much about Anne to enjoy this book. Normally, I would find the reincarnation theme to be a bit hokey, but it really worked for me here, primarily because it is not about some kind of perfect love throughout the centuries. Quite the opposite. It seems like Anne and Henry are going to keep finding each until they learn to be better people. It’s very royal-history-meets-Hinduism and it works. I guarantee you will have tears in your eyes at the end.

I have many more Anne books to cover, but I’m very grumpy today and I don’t want to take it out on Anne. She’s suffered enough. I’ll finish the Anne books next week and then we can move on to Jane Seymour, the queen who died a natural death.

You might also like
Thursday Book Club: Katherine of Aragon
Oh, the Shame!
Jewelry for the Warrior Woman

Filed Under: anne boleyn, book club, my designs, queens

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. In Yr Fshn says

    September 20, 2007 at 12:16 pm

    Oh no! Buck up! It’s a beautiful day! Don’t let gold prices get you down!

  2. Susan says

    September 20, 2007 at 12:18 pm

    I love the B necklace. I was researching Ann Boleyn for a history project and came across the portrait of her wearing it. what a coincidence. thank you for being our first ever commenter! how lovely!

  3. WendyB says

    September 20, 2007 at 12:25 pm

    Oh, IFY, I think I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Which is odd because I was physically on the same side as usual.

  4. gilda says

    September 20, 2007 at 5:47 pm

    i love that necklace. it’s so gorgeous!

  5. In Yr Fshn says

    September 21, 2007 at 6:31 am

    That happens. It’s a weird and little studied phenonmenon.

  6. Mikkle says

    September 26, 2007 at 8:43 am

    omg i have to buy that necklace! where can i? i have been out looking for a B necklace ever since i saw ugly betty wearing one. i’m also hoping after the movie comes out, it will influence the fashion! *knock on wood* i would be in heaven if that happened!

  7. WendyB says

    September 26, 2007 at 8:50 am

    Well, Mikkle, if you don’t want to pay $8,000 for my diamond version *grin* this one is a little cheaper:
    http://www.parrishrelics.com/
    hboleyn.html

  8. Mikkle says

    September 26, 2007 at 3:55 pm

    ooo thanks so much! though i think urs is much prettier, i must say the price is a lot more attractive on the other one for a college studentbudget!when i find a nice rich husband i will be back to buy yours!

  9. WendyB says

    September 26, 2007 at 4:03 pm

    Ha ha! Thanks Mikkle. Maybe you’ll be pulling in the big bucks yourself someday soon 😉

  10. Bobble Bee says

    September 28, 2007 at 6:38 am

    Henry teh 8 … that’s pretty hilarious

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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