Helene Harrison, The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn Interpreting Image and Perception, Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History, July 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Helene Harrison’s forensic approach to discovering Anne Boleyn is a remarkable enterprise, and one that provides a welcome addition to the myriads of interpretations that have already been written. Harrison’s perceptiveness is an asset in considering the immense range of sources she investigates. These are primary and secondary sources, all of which she appraises with almost a gimlet eye. Her understanding of other writers’ and film/television makers’ interpretations is acute, critical at times, but recognising the importance of others’ contribution to creating an understanding of this elusive woman. That Anne Boleyn is elusive can, of course, be questioned. After all, she has been the subject of so many books, films, and television series. However, where so much has been partisan, it is useful to try to stand back, look at the material and, as Harrison has done, investigate.

These investigations are detailed and cover the following topics: portraiture and image; Anne as mistress, queen, mother, reformer, tragic heroine, and traitor; Anne through foreign eyes; and Anne on stage, in film and television series, and in books. The historiography, where Harrison considers the material available and acknowledges that new research is always likely to occur and will enhance what is known, is an excellent read. She refers to widely divergent accounts; exhibitions; and a summary of various interpretations of Anne: her impact, life, and legacy. Harrison’s introduction to the Epilogue refers to the fun she had in writing about Anne Boleyn. This permeates the work, making it fun to read while not undermining the value as an important and serious text.

There are notes for each at the end of the book, an index and the graphics are well presented and described. Readers of historical fiction will be pleased to see Alison Weir, Hilary Mantel and Phillipa Gregory in the index, under the subheading ‘in literature’, but there is more – letters and older texts such as Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and Bacon’s Tragedy of Anne Boleyn; headings such as the chronology, personal aspects and relationships are helpful; and topics such as feminism appear.

While studying Tudor History at university in the 1970s the lecturer referred to Anne of A Thousand Days being a useful addition to the advised academic sources. Helene Harrison’s reference to this film, among other non-academic sources resonated with me. To capture the way in which Anne Boleyn’s image has been perceived requires a though investigation, one that is open to the wide variety of sources available, and one that is generous in acknowledging the validity of such sources. Helene Harrison’s, The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn Interpreting Image and Perception, has achieved this.

I read it in one day.!
This digital review copy was my wish request through NetGalley and Pen and Sword Publishing, UK. Thank you so much. Author, Helene Harrison researches every aspect of Anne Boleyn’s life through the lens and representation of drawings, medals and portraiture. Fresh perspective on a woman we think we know. Published July 2025 in the UK Pen and Sword Publishing and in the USA September 2025.

The Tudors and Anne Boleyn in particular continue to have an enduring hold on people, and I am no different, so when I saw this book promised a different look at her, I was so excited to be able to get an ARC.

I really enjoyed the look at Anne Boleyn post her death - so many books on her tend to either stop following her death or at the latest, in the reign of Elizabeth. Instead, we have chapters that focus on how Anne is perceived on screen, stage, and in books - both in novels and non-fiction. Its a fascinating dive into how even today she can be such a polarising figure.

The author holds off sharing her own views too much, instead discussing what other people think, and I would have been interested to read more about where her research has lead her in regards to topics such as if any of the paintings are actually of her for example. It was still brilliant to see all the different views and the author has done an incredible job of drawing all these sources together into one readable book.

A skilful, engaging look at this most notorious of Queens.

Helene Harrison’s latest book is a fascinating examination of how Anne Boleyn has been viewed over the last 500 years. It discusses Anne’s portrayal in art, literature and popular culture in her own time all the way to the 21st Century and shows how previous opinions about Anne are being reframed. The author’s wide ranging and extensive research shines through, making this an excellent addition to the collection of anyone interested in Tudor history and the enigmatic Anne.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword books for the chance to read and review this wonderful book.

This was such as interesting read. It was intriguing to see Anne in many different lights throughout history. If you are interested in history, this is a good read!

I pretty much annihilated this book in two days flat as I couldn’t put it down. I think Anne Boleyn has captured the imagination of many (especially those with an interest in history and the Tudor era in general) so to read a book that analysed her many perceptions and faces through literature, letters and media was a super interesting take on it all.

I loved the whole make up of this book and how it was structured. It flowed easily and I had no problem consuming hours at a time of this book. My attention was utterly held and I learnt a lot from it too. It felt thorough yet also clear in what was going to be discussed and introduced this topic well. So it’s great for the history buff and casual reader alike.

I got a really good picture of Anne Boleyn’s character as what presented through the written letters and communications of the time but also really enjoyed an analysis of her presentation in media and the present day.

I could feel the authors extensive research and passion for the subject through the pages too. I absolutely love reading about this topic and it certainly fed my interest and curiosity. Enjoyable read!

A well-researched in-depth analysis of the various facets related to Anne Boleyn’s life. This narrative addresses the royal biases around Anne and the way media has rewritten pivotal facts. This is a deep dive into the truest accounts to this date that we know of related to Anne. A narrative that demystifies centuries of rumors and a King’s attempt to write Anne out of history. Genuinely interesting read for those interested in the Tudors.
Each essay focuses on a central aspect related to Annes life or the way Anne’s life has been portrayed through various medias. Considerations are made for missing information, cultural context, and the current artifacts that remain from Anne’s reign as Queen. This is a great example of a non-fiction narrative that pulls the passion from their fingertips in riveting essays. Thank you Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this advanced digital copy!

Now normally I don't read ARC copies of nonfiction but since I have a deep love for Tudor History I would give this a try. What makes this this unique is that it isn't a biography of Anne Boleyn's life but more of an account of how she is viewed whether it be a portrait or even how she is portrayed in cinema. We also hear of accounts of people who knew her and had a good high opinion and then there were those who hated her. Now that is something that everyone will almost encounter in everyday life. Now in my opinion I think Anne Boleyn was a very refined person what with her time spent in the Netherlands with Margaret of Austria and her time in the French Court. Overall this was a very interesting take on the life of Anne Boleyn.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own