Full Description

My Lady of Cleves

The Absorbing Story of Henry VIII's Fourth Queen, Her Secret Love, Her Power-Hungry Husband, and the Country That Ruled Them All

"At long last Anne of Cleves gets her day as a noble and highminded heroine in the lists of historical fiction!"
- CHICAGO TRIBUNE

My Lady of Cleves reveals the mesmerizing story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's fourth wife, one of the rare women who matched wits successfully with the fiery king and lived to tell the tale.

Written by world-renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, My Lady of Cleves gives readers an intimate portrait of the warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become Queen of England. Knowing the king's ravenous desire for a son, and aware of the disastrous consequences of not bearing an heir, Anne of Cleves bravely took on the duty of weathering the Tudor King's temper, whims, arrogance, and irresponsible passions - and won the hearts of his subjects in the process.

A treat for readers of Tudor fiction and those fascinated by the complex relationships of Henry VIII and his wives, My Lady of Cleves leads readers into a world of high drama and courtly elegance.

"Turns a brilliant light on one of the lustiest and one of the most dramatic periods of English history."
- PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter One

HENRY TUDOR STRADDLED THE hearth in the private audience chamber at Greenwich. Sunlight streaming through a richly colored oriel window emphasized the splendor of his huge body and red-gold beard against the wide arch of the stone fireplace behind him. He was in a vile temper. The huddle of statesmen yapping their importunities at him from a respectful distance might have been a pack of half-cowed curs baiting an angry bull. They were trying to persuade him to take a fourth wife. And because for once he was being driven into matrimony by diplomacy and not desire, he scowled at all their suggestions.

“Who are these two princesses of Cleves?” he wanted to know. That didn’t sound too hopeful for the latest project of the Protestant Party. But Thomas Cromwell hadn’t pushed his way from struggling lawyer to Chancellor of England without daring sometimes to pit his own obstinacy against the King’s.

“Their young brother rules over the independent duchies of Cleves, Guelderland, Juliers and Hainault,” he reported. “And we are assured that the Dowager Duchess has brought them up in strict Dutch fashion.”

Henry thought they sounded deadly, and he was well aware that their late father’s Lutheran fervor was of far more value in Cromwell’s eyes than the domestic virtues of their mother.

“Those Flemish girls are all alike, dowdy and humor less,” he muttered, puffing out his lips. The audience chamber overlooked the gardens and the river, and from where he stood he could hear sudden gusts of laughter from the terrace below. He thought he recognized the voices of two of his late wife’s flightiest maids-of-honor.

Only yesterday he had heard his dour Chancellor rating them for playing shuttlecock so near the royal apartments. And because he was having his own knuckles rapped—although much more obsequiously—he snickered sympathetically.

“And if I must marry again,” he added, “an English girl would be more amusing.” It was growing warm as the morning wore on and a bumble bee beat its body persistently against the lattice. But Cromwell was a born taskmaster. “Your Grace has already—er—tried two,” he pointed out, looking down his pugnacious nose.
“Well?” demanded Henry, dangerously.

Naturally, no one present had the temerity to mention that Anne Boleyn had not been a success or to gall his recent bereavement by referring to the fact that Jane Seymour had died in childbirth.

“It is felt that a foreign alliance—like your Majesty’s first marriage with Catherine of Aragon—,” began the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had obligingly helped to get rid of her. Marillac, the French ambassador, backed him up quickly, seeing an opportunity to do some spade work for his own country. “Your Grace has always found our French women piquantes,” he reminded the widowed King, although everybody must have known that Archbishop Cranmer had not meant another Catholic queen. Henry turned to him with relief. Like most bullies, he really preferred the people who stood up to him. He didn’t mean to be impatient and irritable so that men jumped or cowered whenever he addressed them. He had always prided himself on being accessible. “Bluff King Hal,” peo ple had called him. And secretly he had loved it. Why, not so very long ago he used to sit in this very room—he and Catherine—with Mary, his young sister, and Charles Brandon, his friend—planning pageants and encouraging poets ...

“Your Majesty has but to choose any eligible lady in my country and King Francis will be honored to negotiate with her parents on your behalf,” the ambassador was urging, with a wealth of Latin gesture which made the rest of the argumentative assembly look stupid.

“I know, I know, my dear Marillac,” said Henry, drag ging himself from his reminiscent mood to their importunities. “And weeks ago I dictated a letter asking that three of the most promising of them might be sent to Calais for me to choose from. But nothing appears to have been done.” He slewed his thickening body round toward his unfortunate secretary with a movement that had all the vindictiveness of a snook, and Wriothesley—conscious of his own diligence in the matter—made a protesting gesture with his ugly hands.

“The letter was sent, your Grace. But, I beg you to consider, Sir, your proposal was impossible!”
“Impossible!” Henry Tudor rapped out the word with all the arrogance of an upstart dynasty that has made itself despotic.
“Monsieur Marillac has just received the French King’s reply,” murmured Cranmer.
“And what does he say?” asked Henry.

Seeing that the prelate had forced his hand and thereby spoiled his bid for another Catholic alliance, Marillac reluctantly drew the letter from his scented dispatch case. After all, he was not Henry’s subject and his neck was safe. “He says that it would tax his chivalry too far to ask ladies of noble blood to allow themselves to be trotted out on approval like so many horses at a fair!” he reported verbatim. And many a man present had to hide a grin, envying him his immunity. Henry gulped back a hot retort, reddening and blinking his sandy lashes in the way he did when he knew himself to be in the wrong. There had been a time, before that bitch Nan Boleyn had blunted his susceptibilities about women’s feelings, when he would have been the first to agree with Francis. Mary, his favorite sister, had been alive then, keeping him kind. Lord, how he missed her! He sighed, considering how good it was for a man to have a sister—some woman who gave the refining intimacy of her mind in a relationship that had nothing to do with sex. Someone who understood one’s foibles and even bullied back sometimes, affectionately. Mary would have said in her gay, irrepressible way, “Don’t be a mule, Henry! You know very well those stuffy old statesmen are right, so you might just as well do what they want without arguing.” But even if they were right, and he did, it wasn’t as simple as all that, he thought ruefully. For, after all, whatever foreign woman they might wish onto him, it was he who would have to live with her.

Reviews

Reviews

Romance Reader at Heart Joanne Shaeffer
4RR: 4 Rose Read Addition
My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes is a wonderful historical novel that highlights the life of a very virtuous and kind woman who was horribly mistreated and still retained her self respect. I was impressed with Anne of Cleves and with the way her story was told by Ms. Barnes.

Any woman able to tolerate the horrible King Henry VIII without losing her head would be a heroine in my opinion, but Ann is especially impressive because she retains her dignity and self respect as well. Not an easy thing to do when you marry a tyrant (which she didn’t even really get any choice in either, by the way). First, Henry just HAS to marry her, then he just HAS to get rid of her (he falls for her replacement at their first meeting). She endures one humiliation after another in this story and still manages to find her way to being a happy woman who lives a pretty full life, considering.

The story of Anne of Cleves was very well written, interesting, uplifting, encouraging, enraging, and at times sad, but it was not very romantic. I only add that last one because this is, after all, a romance review. I suppose romance can be tragic too, and in that case, this would be a tragedy. However, neither party actually loved the other, so it was not tragic in the romantic sense. It was a forced marriage where, after giving up everything for nothing, Anne eventually becomes friends with Henry (I did not feel he deserved even her friendship). But I guess for a tyrant king he could have been worse to her if he really wanted to.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a well told drama, a highly entertaining story that is a part of history as well. It is not for that lonely night when you are trying to get over your ex, but better on a cold wintery night when you are in the mood to be a little intrigued, agitated and outraged.

Books N Border Collies

The title says it all. My Lady of Cleves: A Novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves is a captivating view of the life of Henry’s often overlooked fourth wife from their betrothal to Henry’s death. The usual image of the dowdy, overweight, ill-smelling foreigner is replaced with a picture of a charming but plain, domestic-minded girl who couldn’t measure up to the bewitching memory of Anne Boleyn or compete with the fresh and exciting Katherine Howard.

I loved that Henry’s setting aside of Anne takes place halfway through the story, and we get to see how Anne adjusts to her new situation as his adopted sister. The only other book I’ve read that gave any kind of detailed account of Anne after her divorce was Philippa Gregory’s The Boleyn Inheritance. In that book, Anne was depicted as living her life cautiously, acutely aware that Henry’s favor could be revoked at any moment, at any provocation, real or imagined. In My Lady of Cleves, Anne is very confidently going about her life, and Henry begins to see her as a lost opportunity for happiness as his marriage to Katherine Howard deteriorates.

One of the reasons I love to read various fictional accounts of the same historical personage is to witness the diverse interpretations of the person’s personality and thoughts behind his or her actions. Barnes’ vision of Anne is so different from others I have encountered, it was like reading her story for the first time. This is the Anne of Cleves I choose to live in my memory.

Blog Critics Lesa Holstine
Margaret Campbell Barnes’ My Lady of Cleves was already thirty years old the first time I read it when I was in high school. Thirty-five years later, the book has been reprinted, and it stands the test of time. It was the historical novel that made Anne of Cleves my favorite of Henry VIII’s wives. That hasn’t changed.

After the death of Jane Seymour, Henry Tudor, Henry VIII, was urged to take a fourth wife for the sake of diplomacy. Since many of the available women in Europe were not interested in marrying him, Hans Holbein was sent to Cleves, in Flanders, to paint miniatures of the two princesses. Anne was the older sister of the Duke of Cleves, and not considered the beautiful one, but Holbein found depths and hidden beauty in her. In painting that miniature, he sealed her fate. The English negotiated for Anne’s marriage to the king.

Anne of Cleves was not prepared for marriage to a middle-aged man, a man who was already forty-eight and fat. Henry was not prepared for marriage to a woman who was large-boned and bigger than his beloved Nan Boleyn. Before she was even married, Anne was thrust into a world of political intrigue. And, Henry, who couldn’t see beyond Anne’s clumsiness and and lack of skill at English, fell in love with Katherine Howard before the wedding to Anne. The marriage was doomed from the beginning.

However, Barnes portrays Anne as a practical woman, appreciated by the English people, and, eventually even by Henry. It was too late to save their marriage, but Anne saved herself, and, in many ways, saved Henry’s children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, from their own isolation and neglect. My Lady of Cleves shows a side of Henry VIII that is not ordinarily seen, the man who was aware of his own aging. And, most of all, it introduces the reader to a woman who grew into a strong, formidable figure.

In recent years, historical novels have seen a surge in popularity. Books such as Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, and Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl were popular book club choices. Margaret Campbell Barnes’ My Lady of Cleves would make an excellent selection as well. It’s a novel that stood the test of time.

Book Loons
My Lady of Cleves is the story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife. Rich in history it gives the reader a look into the lives of past aristocrats and royalty.

Anne of Cleves never dreamed she would be Queen of England one day. At twenty-four she was well educated in domestic skills but was not very intellectual. A plain, bigger built woman, she always thought her sister Amelia would marry first. Even though most of England was Catholic, Henry’s influential advisor Thomas Cromwell wanted England to ally itself with a Protestant nation. Henry’s marrying Anne of Cleves would openly ally England with a Protestant duchy. King Henry sent his court painter, Hans Holbein, to Germany to paint a miniature portrait of Anne and return to England. Henry would then decide if he would marry Anne. Hans fell in love with Anne while painting her. He grew to love her inner beauty and painted that rather than her physical likeness. When King Henry saw the painting he agreed to the marriage and Anne arrived in England in December 1539.

When Anne met King Henry Vlll, both were disappointed but the contract could not be broken. The King enjoyed his women blonde and petite and Anne was dark and a large woman. The King felt that he was betrayed. Anne did not like the size of the King as he was very obese. In January 1540 they were married but soon Henry was dissatisfied and looking at other women. Anne was left on her own for long periods of time and was very lonely. She was trying to learn the English language. She was well liked by the people of England and the royal staff. She became close to Henry’s children from previous marriages and longed to have her own children and give the King a son.

Anne was shocked when Henry came to her and announced he wanted out of the marriage.. He felt he could not do his husbandly duties because Anne did not appeal to him physically. He claimed he would have the marriage annulled. After six short months the marriage was over. King Henry stipulated Anne could never remarry or leave England while he was alive, and he would refer to her as his good sister. Anne received a good settlement of cash and estates by agreeing to Henry’s wishes.

On her own Anne found peace and contentment. She entertained friends, the King’s children, and even took care of orphans. At times she was visited by Henry and they settled into a comfortable friendship. She was also invited back to the royal castle as a guest of Henry and his new wife. In 1547 Henry died and Anne was free to leave England and return to her homeland of Germany. She chose to live out her life in England and in 1557 passed away at forty-one years old. She was buried in Westminster Abbey. Overall My Lady of Cleves is an informative and entertaining read.

Historical-Fiction.com Arleigh Johnson
My Lady of Cleves

by Margaret Campbell Barnes

This book begins with Henry VIII’s search for a fourth wife and ends with his death. Though her earlier life was not covered in great detail, the reader still gets a sense of who Anne of Cleves was and how her personality developed. Since being painted by Hans Holbein, Henry VIII’s court painter, and chosen over her more attractive sister, she began seeing herself differently and gained the confidence needed to overcome the great culture shock she suffered when arriving in England. Historical fact is very vague on precisely how and why Henry did not want to continue the marriage, and I think Barnes has envisioned a scenario that may well be very accurate. I was surprised to find Holbein used as a supporting character, but it fits nicely with the time line of Anne’s arrival and his artwork. Archbishop Cranmer is a likable character, as is Mary Tudor and several others that are rarely featured favorably in historical fiction. I am very surprised that this book was written in the 1940’s; it has a modern feel to it. Novels on the lesser known wives are hard to find and I think anyone interested in Anne of Cleves will really enjoy this read.

I am now reading Barnes novel on Anne Boleyn, Brief Gaudy Hour and should have a review up soon. I like her writing style — it’s not overly antiquated or too modern.

Passages to the Past

Books N’ Border Collies

Book Room Reviews
My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes was originally written in 1946. It has been reprinted and definitely stands the test of time. It is one of the few books about Henry VIII’s fourth wife – Anne of Cleves. After the death of Jane Seymour, Henry Tudor, Henry VIII, was urged to take a fourth wife. Unfortunately for Anne Boleyn, there was no love between them and their marriage didn’t last long. Though Anne did win over the English people and eventually even Henry.

My Lady of Cleves portrays Anne through her short marriage to Henry, her annulment from him, Henry’s next marriage to Katherine Howard, and her eventual downfall. The story of Anne of Cleves was very well written and carefully detailed. It was a bit slow at the beginning but quickly gained my attention. Anne’s story is a fascinating one and was a new one to me. I didn’t know anything about her before reading this book. I admire her strength and compassion. I also didn’t feel as if I was reading a book written in 1946. I think it stands up well next to the popular historical fiction novels of today.



Book Room Grade

B+

Reading, Ranting, and Raving Susan Higgenbottom
My Lady of Cleves was published in 1946; it contains a dedication to “the women who lost the men they loved in the fight for freedom.” For a sixty-year-old historical novel, it’s held up remarkably well. Barnes’s prose is uncluttered and easy to read, nothing purple or fusty about it.

Barnes’s characterization of Anne of Cleves is interesting and refreshing. Though there doesn’t seem to be much reason, historically, to take Henry VIII at his word in describing her as a “Flanders mare,” she’s often treated as such by novelists. Here, Anne is attractive, though not in the style that appeals to Henry, and she’s even given romantic yearnings for none other than Hans Holbein. How accurate this is I have no idea, but as the relationship isn’t depicted as having an effect on history or as giving rise to any offspring, I can live with it. Anne’s a capable woman who longs for children of her own and who satisfies her maternal instincts by mothering Henry’s brood. At the same time, she’s no saint; jealous of Hans Holbein’s mistress at one point, she takes the opportunity to sleep with Henry VIII, now on his fifth wife.

My Lady of Cleves is an appealing story of a woman who makes the best of a bad situation. As she has been relatively neglected by historical novelists, it’s nice to see this novel in particular being reissued.

Bookgirl’s Nightstand Iliana Perez-Zeyda
At the start of My Lady of Cleves, King Henry VIII is being advised to take a fourth wife. He sends the painter Hans Holbein the Younger to the Cleves Court to paint portraits of the sisters and he would choose one. What Henry VIII didn’t know was that the painter had formed a friendship and admired Anne, the daughter everyone assumed would be the least likely pick for the monarch.

Henry chooses Anne but once he meets her he has serious misgivings and would have gone back on his word but it was already too late. Anne never wanted to go to England either but she was practical and vowed to do her duty. Her duty won’t last too long though because as soon as she’s in England, Anne realizes that Henry already has his head turned by the young Catherine Howard. Within months, Henry annuls his marriage to Anne and gives her the title of his sister. Anne will go on to forge good relationships with Henry’s children, eventually becoming friends with Henry as well and she’ll remain in England until her death.

It’s interesting that of all of Henry’s wife, I knew the least about Anne of Cleves. She seems to have been a woman who was intelligent and who really cared about the country. If only Henry had given her a chance what would things have been like?

Historical Tapestry Margaret Bates
Having read Brief Gaudy Hour earlier this year, I was really pleased when I was offered an ARC copy of My Lady of Cleves. There is so much written about the various Tudors, but it was an added bonus that this book was about one of the lesser written about Tudor wives - Anne of Cleves.

I have to say that from the moment I read the inscription, I was hooked in this book. It was originally published in 1946 and the dedication reads:

To The courage and endurance of all women who lost the men they loved in the fight for freedom.


Now whilst this dedication isn’t really about the book itself, it resonated with me as it reminded me that when this book was written the world was a different place. WWII had just ended, and for many around the world were dealing with the loss of loved ones (including the author herself). In the UK, there was heavy rationing, and I could almost imagine being a reader at that time who managed to forget about the hardships of real life and get lost, for a few hours at least, in Tudor times, at the court of Henry VIII, as he searched for a new wife.

The book opens with Henry VII trying to decide which of the princesses of Europe would be the lucky girl to marry him. And what a catch! By this time in his life he was, shall we say, larger than he had been, he had health issues, and he was shopping for his fourth wife, albeit for political purposes mainly. Yes, he was a king, but it is fair to say that there was a known risk in marrying Henry.

When he sends his messengers to the duchy of Cleves, accompanying them is court painter Hans Holbein. His role is to paint miniatures of the two eligible princesses, and send them back to England so that Henry can choose which of them is the more attractive. Henry chooses Anne based on the portrait painted by Holbein, a man who plays a big role in Anne’s life for a number of reasons.

For Anne, this journey to her new life as Queen of England is very strange. She is unaccustomed to the ways of the brash English, and she is aware that her family is very much depending on her to do her duty. On the journey, she gets to see the sea for the first time, and is terrified that she has to cross in a storm. In some ways it is an easier storm to face than that she faces at the court, where there is very little in the way of introduction to the ways of the Court, and plenty of criticisms of the way that she dresses, she acts, her lack of dancing skills etc.

The initial meeting between the betrothed couple is a disaster. Anne is naive to the ways of the Court, the petty jealousies, the jockeying for positions, and soon it becomes clear that Henry is displeased with his choice of bride.

For Anne, where being divorced could very well be a source of shame and unhappiness, she must learn a way to make her own life, her own happiness, and she shows her true strengths. We also get an insider’s view at court as Anne witnesses the heady and tumultuous times as Katherine Howard rose to be Henry’s wife, albeit for a very short time, and gradually coming to her own kind of special relationship with the ailing king.

Reading through the pages of this book, Anne is bought to life, and is portrayed as a capable woman, who loves strongly, who takes a bad situation and turns it in such a way as to emerge from the disaster that was her marriage to Henry with both her head and body intact, and a happy and fulfilled life.

The writing by this author stands the test of time, and did not feel aged in any way. There were nuances of humour and depth throughout the text. I liked the Hans Holbein storyline very much. It gave some reasons as to why the main players in the drama acted in some of the ways that they did, and gives this book a point of difference from some other books that, however briefly, told some of Anne of Cleves life story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.

A Garden Carried in the Pocket Jen Mullen
The story of Henry VIII’s brief marriage to Anne of Cleves has always been a curious episode in England’s history. Well, Henry’s reign and his six wives is a long-running curious episode...

Yet Anne of Cleves, whose six-month marriage to Henry ended in annulment (and her new title as his sister ) is one of those historical characters about whom too little is known. I’ve always loved historical fiction and realize that each novel about historical personages must involve a lot of embroidery.

An author has a lot of discretion in developing characters, even with individuals about whom much has been recorded, both in their own words and in primary sources of the time period. With Anne of Cleves, Margaret Campbell Barnes has only the skeletal outline and within that firm chronology of important events, she creates a charming Lady of Cleves, who is rejected by the king, yet seems to grow in stature as she endures the difficulties and humiliations inflicted by the king and court.

I’ve always wondered why Holbein would have risked provoking Henry, a dangerous patron at best, by painting a portrait that flattered beyond reason the subject. Barnes has presented a possibility I never would have considered, and while it is part of the embroidery of the author, it helps make an interesting story. Of course, there is also the suggestion by some historians that Anne deliberately made herself unattractive to Henry, who was no great prize as a man.

The novel presents Henry in a more flattering light than I would have expected, but Brandon and Suffolk have a nicer characterization as well. However, regardless of his comment about "the Flanders Mare," Henry and Anne did develop a congenial relationship.

I looked on line for Anne’s will, which the author mentioned in the Author’s Note and in the novel itself, but was unable to find a copy, although several other sources mentioned the charming aspect of the will as well.

The novel was an enjoyable excursion in the "might have happeneds" of history, and now I definitely want a good biography of Anne of Cleves. Also, need to reread Antonia Fraser’s The Wives of Henry VIII and to look for Alison Weir’s The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which has received excellent reviews.

I may be back on a Reading Itinerary that I’ve been on before. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives looks good, as do a number of other fiction and nonfiction books about Tudor England.

Thanks again to Danielle of Sourcebooks for sharing this one with me!

Eclectic Closet Janelle Martin
After the death of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII was convinced by his advisors to seek another wife. Edward’s health was precarious and a second son would be of great benefit to stability within England. Hoping to secure the Protestant faith’s footing in England, Lord Chancellor Thomas Cromwell suggested an alliance with the Duchy of Cleves, a Lutheran stronghold. Henry provisionally agreed and commissioned court painter Hans Holbein to paint miniatures of both Anne and Amelia, the princesses of Cleves. Amelia was on the surface the more attractive sister what Holbien saw Anne’s inner beauty and captured this in her portrait, in turn capturing the King’s eye.

Unfortunately for Anne’s happiness, she was not the King’s preferred version of beauty, being neither petite nor slender. Her height, large-boned frame and buxomness prompted the King to refer to her as a “Flanders mare.” She possessed few of the accomplishments common for women of the Tudor court, being more adept at managing a royal household. While they were duly married and Anne quickly won the heart of the people, the King’s eye had already strayed to young Katherine Howard.

Anne of Cleves is rare not only for surviving her marriage to King Henry VIII, but for speaking her mind to him. Heeding the counsel of her advisors, she agreed to an annulment on the grounds of non-consummation and in return gained her own household and continued access to the royal children. In My Lady of Cleves: a novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, Margaret Campbell Barnes tells the story of an unusual woman who discovers herself and finds true freedom only by giving up everything. Anne survives her marriage by agreeing it never happened and holding herself apart from the politics consuming Henry VIII’s court.

What is intriguing about Campbell Barnes’ novel is the fascinating portrait of Mary. Unlike many novels which show her as a bitter and unhappy woman, Mary is here portrayed with a nurturing and mothering nature toward Edward and warm emotions toward Anne.

Originally published in 1946, My Lady of Cleves stands the test of time, introducing Henry VIII’s enigmatic fourth wife to a new generation of readers.

Armchair Interviews Janelle Martin

Alabama Book Worm
Sourcebooks, Inc. sent me a copy of My Lady of Cleves: A Novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves and asked me to read and review. This is the first book review I have ever written, so please be gentle.

My Lady of Cleves is about Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of Henry VIII. It tells the story of the events leading up to their brief marriage, the annulment of that marriage and Anne’s life after.

I found the story very interesting and well written. I had a hard time putting the book down to attend to daily life. The writing was fast-paced but descriptive and I did not have a problem following the story even though, by necessity, a large cast of characters is involved. The actual marriage of Henry VIII and Anne is very short and the story mostly covers Anne’s life after the end of her and Henry’s marriage.

I found Ms. Barnes’ depiction on an unrequited love between Anne and the painter, Hans Holbein, very intriguing and and sweet. I was very sad that it was never to be for them. The author also detailed very well Anne’s relationship and love for her step-children and the many children she took in.

All-in-all, I absolutely loved the book. Margaret Campbell Barnes made me care about the people I was reading about and left me wanting more of their story. I highly recommend the book to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Hollywood Today Gabrielle Pantera
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 11/05/2008 - In 1537 Jane Seymour had died giving birth to King Henry the VIII’s only son, Edward. Henry’s chief minister Thomas Cromwell suggests Henry should marry a German princess. But, which one?

Hans Holbein the Younger is dispatched to paint portraits of two princesses: Anne and her younger sister Amelia. After seeing her flattering portrait (now hanging in The Louvre), Henry chooses Anne without having ever met her. Born in Düsseldorf, the princess of the Duchy of Cleves doesn’t speak English.

In My Lady of Cleves, Margaret Campbell Barnes traces the life of Anne from the painting of her portrait to Henry VIII’s death. Barnes portrays a warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become a queen.

On their wedding night, Henry comes from their bedroom and announces, “I like her not.” Henry feels deceived, that she’s no beauty. Although Holbein’s portrait suggests nothing horse-like, Anne receives the unflattering nickname “The Flanders Mare”.

Anne was unprepared for Henry’s temper tantrums. She copes with his childish behavior and wins the hearts of the people of England. Anne comes across as witty and lively, especially once free of Henry. There’s drama and court intrigue, but Anne keeps her head – literally! Anne accepts an annulment and demotion. Anne writes, “…your highness will take me for your sister; for the which I most humbly thank you accordingly.”

Author Margaret Campbell Barnes lived from 1891 to 1962, the youngest of ten children. She grew up near Sussex and lived in London. When she married a furniture salesman in 1917, she was already published.

Between 1944 and 1962 Barnes wrote eighteen historical novels, many of them bestsellers. Over two million copies of her historical novels have been sold. Her historical novels include Brief Gaudy Hour, With All My Heart, Isabel the Fair, and The King’s Bed.

Barnes was encouraged by her Curtis Brown to write historical novels after the death of her son Michael, a lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps who died in his tank in the Allied advance from Caen to Falaise in Normandy in 1944. She lived in a small thatched cottage on the Isle of Wight Barnes that had been a smuggler’s cottage.

Barnes does wonderful character development. When you read Barnes’ books you get the feeling you’re there in time and place.

Anne of Cleves died at Hever Castle ten years after Henry died. What was the effect of her close relationship with Henry’s children Edward and Mary? It would have been interesting if Barnes had followed Anne to the end, through Edward’s reign and through Mary’s reign. And, did Hans Holbein fall in love with Anne?

In My Lady of Cleves you feel you get to know the woman who was queen for six months and who was shrewd enough to keep her head when many around her didn’t.

Anne can also be seen in the third season of Showtime’s The Tudors, played by Joss Stone.

S. Krishna’s Books Swapna Krishna
I didn’t know much about Anne of Cleves going into My Lady of Cleves. I know the "gossip" - that she was ugly, fat, and that she smelled. And I have read Philippa Gregory’s The Boleyn Inheritance, which included a section on Anne of Cleves. When Danielle at Sourcebooks, Inc. asked if I would be interested in reviewing this novel, I jumped at the chance. I was really interested in learning more about Anne of Cleves.

One thing I didn’t realize is that the book is a republished novel - it was originally published in 1946. On one hand, this didn’t surprise me, knowing that Sourcebooks, Inc. is responsible for republishing Georgette Heyer’s novels. But on the other hand, there was nothing in the book to indicate that it was written over 60 years ago. I believe that this is a testament to the quality of the writing and the immersive nature of the story.

I found the novel ultimately captivating. I appreciated the portrayal of Anne of Cleves as an intelligent and resourceful woman who picks her battles very carefully. She was very honest with herself and recognized her strengths and failures clearly. I enjoyed reading about how she used her major talent to her own advantage: the ability to run a home. I also liked the way that Henry was portrayed. At the beginning, he is indeed the boorish monster that Anne sees, but slowly, the reader begins to see another side of him; while he cannot truly redeem himself, it is a softer portrait of his later years than readers usually receive.

In terms of historical accuracy, I am aware that the basic events of Anne’s life are portrayed as accurate. But towards the end of the book, certain events take place that Anne plays a part in. I wonder if her presence is fact, or if it is creatively interpreted by the author. (My inclination is towards the latter).

Barnes took great pain to ensure that her physical descriptions of Anne were correct: she based it on actual comments made about Anne by historical figures. She was not fat, or necessarily ugly; in fact, according to Barnes, her portrait is the most attractive of any of Henry’s wives (by modern standards, of course). It definitely leads the reader to wonder what Anne was really like.

I really liked My Lady of Cleves; it was well-written, fast-paced and very enjoyable. I would recommend it to any fans of historical fiction; it is well worth reading this novel on an underappreciated queen.

At Home With Books Alyce Reese

Historical Novels Review Troy Reed
The story of Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, is eloquently told in this reissue from the late English novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes. With the urging of Thomas Cromwell, Hans Holbein, court painter for Henry VIII, is sent to Cleves to paint the portraits of the two sisters who are prospective brides for Henry’s fourth marriage. Hans is immediately taken with Anne. He does his best to portray her faithfully in his portrait while letting her soul and personality shine through. Anne’s life dramatically changes when it is she that Henry chooses for his next wife. With feelings of disbelief and fear, Anne is escorted across the sea to begin her new life in England, leaving the comforts of her home behind for good.
Anne makes unfortunate mistakes early on once she arrives in England and is treated poorly by the English maids in her household. Henry begins to push her away, and soon his eye turns toward one of Anne’s maids-in-waiting, Katherine Howard. Despite Henry’s aversion to her, Anne wins over the English people, something his second wife, Anne Boleyn, failed to do—though Anne of Cleves could not win over Henry’s heart enough to save their marriage. Within six months’ time, the marriage is annulled and Henry marries Katherine Howard. It is not until after their marriage ends that Henry and Anne become friends.
Immediately readers are drawn into the story, captivated by Anne’s down-to-earth nature and her incredible attitude through adversity. Barnes does an excellent job of portraying the intricate relationship between Anne and Hans Holbein. This novel is rich in detail and flows beautifully, letting readers escape into Anne’s court and country life. It is a must read for those who love exploring the dynamic relationships of Henry VIII and his wives.

Book Reading Tales Clare Rochester
SYNOPSIS
My Lady of Cleves reveals the mesmerizing story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, one of the rare women who matched wits successfully with the fiery king and lived to tell the tale.

Written by world-renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, My Lady of Cleves gives readers an intimate portrait of the warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become Queen of England. Knowing the king’s ravenous desire for a son, and aware of the disastrous consequences of not bearing an heir, Anne of Cleves bravely took on the duty of weathering the Tudor King’s temper, whims, arrogance, and irresponsible passions - and won the hearts of his subjects in the process.

A treat for readers of Tudor fiction and those fascinated by the complex relationships of Henry VIII and his wives, My Lady of Cleves leads readers into a world of high drama and courtly elegance.

MY VIEW
This was a very interesting account into the life of Anne of Cleves. The majority of Tudor books I have read focus mainly on Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard etc and with very little on Anne of Cleves, with possibly the exceptioon of The Boleyn Inheritance so to have an entire book dedicated to Anne of Cleves was IMO brilliant!

This was very well written and as I always check reviews before I read books I wasn’t expecting a great deal as the one review gave this just a one star review which I did think was a little unfair but, of course we cannot all agree on everything!

This book covers Anne’s life right from just before she married Henry right up to his death in 1547. I would really recommend this book especially if you want to know more about Anne of Cleves, ok it is fiction but, I thought the historical accuracy was fairly good.

This is the second of Margaret Campbell Barnes’ books I have read (the first being Brief Gaudy Hour about Anne Boleyn) and both have been excellent, she has another re-issue acoming out next year and that will definitely be on my wish list!

Loved it!

Linus’s Blanket Nicole Bonia
Anne of Cleves is one of three sisters to the Duke of Cleves. She has always known her place in the family. Her sisters are the beauties and she is content to be the one who has always held things together. She makes sure the household runs- supervising the cooking and mending, always making lists and remembering things for people like medicine and supplies, and visiting the sick. Quiet and observant Anne values that people come to her when they want to unburden themselves and talk about their troubles.

Henry VIII, ever in search of a bride, sends his emissaries to Cleves, where he hopes to form a political alliance, to paint portraits of the two unmarried daughters. Anne’s mother knows that Anne is capable of running a royal household, but it is Amelia who is prettier, more lively- the one who can be spared. But when royal artist Hans Holbein sees and paints who she really is, it is Anne who is chosen on the strength of her beauty to be the next Queen of England with all the inherent intrigue and dangers that it might entail.

I loved reading this book; I was so engrossed in it that I finished it in a day! Barnes succeeded in taking a woman, who for the most part has been a footnote in the history of Henry VIII’s wives, and molded her into a complex and compelling woman who always faced her challenges with dignity and grace. Hers was a difficult situation which was complicated by the fact that she was not completely fluent in the language of her adopted country, but it was a wonderful thing to watch her learn, grow and come into her own even as she learned painful lessons and had to make sacrifices in her decisions. Even in briefly knowing the details of her story and what awaited Anne, I was totally connected and rooting for her the whole way through.

I was absorbed with these characters and their stories. There were no caricatures here. Each person is presented as the complex and multi-faceted individuals that they are. Barnes’ portrayals are so clear and beautiful. You clearly see Henry in his monstrous self-delusion and selfishness but you also see him as haunted by the decisions that he has made, and as the thoughtful and courtly gentleman that he was and can be when it suits his purposes. The conflict and strain which are handmaidens to both his daughters are apparent as they grow up in the uncertainty of his love and their changing status in the kingdom.Mary is more thoughtful and nurturing, while Elizabeth is a child wanting love and affection but also guided by her ego and will.

Another strength of this wonderful novel is the lush descriptions of life in Henry VIII’s England and what life was like at the castles. All the plots and sub-plots were woven with the richness that left nothing to the imagination as to what they were wearing and eating, and the rituals of the people and of the court. This was an exquisitely visual novel. The sub-plots were thoughtful and while I know that some are speculation, they were also probable. If you like good fiction I would definitely check this one out. If you like historical fiction then this is a must read.

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Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 8.00 in
• Width: 5.25 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 15.00 oz
• Page Count: 352 pages