JANE BOLEYN

TITLE: JANE BOLEYN; THE INFAMOUS LADY ROCHFORD
AUTHOR: JULIA FOX
Pages: 329
Date: 07/03/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: Non Fiction
Library

Jane Boleyn was the sister in law of Anne Boleyn, through her marriage to Anne's brother, George.
She was present for the rise of the Boleyn's in the court of Henry VIII, as she was for their fall, which cost her sister in law and husband their lives.
And although those who have written about these events made her a scapegoat in that fall, Julia Fox sets out to disprove that assertion.
My historical knowledge of this time is insufficient to determine whether or not she's right, but she does write a compelling and convincing story.
After her husband's death, Jane managed to survive in Henry's court, only to be beheaded when she was implicated together with Catherine Howard.
This non fiction book read like fiction, especially since the author had little documentary evidence to fall back on.
And that was the only drawback to this story, the fact that Fox could only assume that Jane had been present at certain occasions.
On the other hand, that fact may also help to prove her point.
Had Jane really played as big a part in Anne and George's fall as many have claimed, surely there would be more written documents proving that.