Alison Prince (1931–2019)

I really enjoyed this book. Having worked with children in various capacities for many years I find reading young people books a great was to engage with them. These days I think there is a greater crossover between books written for young people and adults (Rowling and Pullman are further examples of this)

This book leads on from 'My Tudor Queen' which is the diary of Elinor's mother Eva and Queen Katherine of Aragon. Although of course there wasn't the depth that you would find in a Philippa Gregory novel (which is of course written for the adult market) you do get a sense of the times and how difficult life was for everyone with such a fickle King on the throne.… (más)

Elinor Valjean is a young girl in the court of Henry VIII serving Katherine of Aragon and then Anne Boleyn. She sees the drama unfold as Henry wants Anne for his wife, her rise and then fall.

This was a wondeful little read from The My Story collection. I think it's a great way for children to learn about history. Although it is a book aimed at the younger person as an adult I enjoyed it.

Elinor tells what she sees over a decade or so watching the goings on around her. In the meantime she grows up, gets married and has children. Along side Anne Boleyn whose marriage is not happy and she can't give Henry the family he wants, where as Elinor has a happy marriage.

This story is a quick read about Anne Boleyn and covers all the main points. Elinor has a chatty narrative and she doesn't like Anne Boleyn, with her version making Anne guilty where as some accounts Anne is innocent.

I really enjoyed this quick read and will read more of the My Story collection.… (más)