As its title suggests, Natalie Grueninger's The Final Year of Anne Boleyn is a study of the final twelve months of Henry VIII's ill-fated second queen.

Another of Anne's other biographers noted that studies of such small time frames often mean more extended quotes and citations. Grueninger does include generous passages of sources, but this is not padding. Instead, she often uses these to address and correct previous assumptions. Most impressive is how Grueninger can use these to construct Anne's world, particularly Anne's final progress.

Grueninger argues her points well. I was not conceived by her cause of Anne's fall (I believe Prof G Walker was closest), but she convincingly demonstrates Henry was no idle bystander or duped by his minister. Anne's death was an act of cruel revenge.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in early modern and Tudor history, and I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

Anne Boleyn is a name surrounded by controversy and infamy and her story has been told via many mediums for generations. The Final Year of Anne Boleyn dares to go where others before have not, and is a poignant and emotional read that strips back the media inspired Boleyn and cuts down to the core. Natalie writes with such compassion, intellect and meticulous detail that it is clear to see her passion for the subject and the woman the world thinks they know. This is an incredibly compelling and thoughtful read that is an excellent and fresh view on Anne Boleyn and her final year of life that has been carefully crafted into a masterpiece. Bravo!

The Final Year of Anne Boleyn by Natalie Grueninger

There are few women in English history more famous or controversial than Queen Anne Boleyn. She was the second wife of Henry VIII, mother of Elizabeth I and the first English queen to be publicly executed.
I 'm obsessed by the History of Henry v111 and his wives and having this book giving a great insight to the final year of Anne Boleyns life was of great interest to me .
A complex woman largely controlled by the male members of her family , used and manipulated for their own gains.
I found it a fascinating read. The author would do well to research and write about all his other wives.

I really enjoy the Tudor dynasty and I enjoy reading books in this time-period. I really didn't know much about Anne Boleyn so I was interested in learning more about her. I really felt for her and Natalie Grueninger wrote this beautifully. I was invested in the book and it did what I was hoping for in a nonfiction book. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Grueninger.

"the accusations and lurid details of Anne’s alleged crimes were intended to shock and annihilate Anne’s reputation. A lesser person would have been completely crushed by the charges, but not Anne"