The Raven's Widow: A Novel of Jane Boleyn Paperback – February 13, 2017

What a great effort to reconstruct the historical facts available to us; Adrienne Dillard's fine research has made Jane Parker Boleyn a sympathetic as well as dramatic figure. I applaud her for that and totally agree; a 10 year marriage, where Jane cohabited with George Boleyn and lived in the court supports this hypothesis.There are many people who were players in, and victims of, Henry VIII 's cruel narcissistic rampage through his reign who deserve our sympathies. Jane apparently was one such and I am sure that Mary Boleyn and her children were also. Adrienne's fine first novel "Cor Rotto" sheds light on Mary Boleyn's life after Henry though her daughter Catherine Carey Knollys.This novel has even more depth, character development as well as giving readers historical vignette's back and forth in time. A very fine Author's note take us through the known facts, including many that were unknown up until fairly recently.Jane Boleyn was, and is, a sympathetic figure of course; who would not be who was executed in this time? What the author has done is to make her a vivid and believable heroine who was resilient for as long as she could . I look for more by this fine author.Recommended for fans of those affected by Henry VIII and other novels in this turbulent era.

A new (to me at least) take on the infamous "Lady Rochford". Dillard's use of the first person was a little awkward to deal with at the start, but her portrayal of Jane Boleyn as a tender and sometimes bewildered member of the Tudor court was refreshing and entertaining. And *spoiler alert* the detailing of her struggle with sanity at the end was so much more engaging than when it's written as a ploy to avoid execution. Definitely worth the time if you enjoy Philippa Gregory's take on the Boleyn family, but occasionally hoped for more balance than "lookit this evil b**** over here"

One of the things I liked most about this novel is that the author grasps the difference between fiction and historical evidence. I’ve read sufficient Tudor research, including Julia Fox’s excellent biography of Jane Boleyn, to have an idea of what is actually known about Lady Rochford and what has been presumed. While the facts of Jane Boleyn’s life are sparce, Dillard takes these facts and uses them to support her fictional tale in much the same way a trellis supports climbing roses; the end result is beautiful and as sturdy as human ingenuity can make it. There are things that Dillard has to invent, but they are plausible and they fit the historical record.I am certainly not adverse to suspending disbelief for a good read, much in the way a physicist has to relinquish reality to enjoy Star Trek or Star Wars, but my favorite books are the ones that are both well written and as accurate as possible. If a book has good word-smithing then I will ignore yet another depiction of George Boleyn as a homosexual murderer or rapist, even if my eyes do roll back into my head occasionally with the exasperation. Thankfully, while reading The Raven’s Widow, my eyes didn’t roll back even once. Rather, they teared up at some of the more moving passages, and I was filled with a desperate pain thinking of the agony of seeing a beloved husband judicially murdered for a crime you knew he didn’t commit.I also enjoyed the lack of traditional “bad guys” in this novel. I’ve noticed that writers frequently make Anne Boleyn a monster to support Catherine of Aragon (or vice versa), but this work avoided that oversimplified trap. Instead of paper-thin depictions of manipulative devils, the major characters were drawn with an appealing complexity that made them fully human, with all the good and evil being human entails. This included the central protagonist. Jane Boleyn was not perfect and her mistakes were not all neatly explained away by saint-like altruism, but was instead a person capable of both wisdom and folly, cruelty and kindness. She was fleshed out in an incredibly believable way that didn’t sacrifice the readers ability to empathize with her.Finally (and unusually!), I loved the author’s notes at the finish of the novel. Dillard explains the paucity of facts she was working with, and is forthright about the fact she wanted to give Lady Rochford her humanity back after centuries of being depicted as a plotting, devious, bawd. Most off all, Dillard proclaimed that, “the most important thing I want you, Dear Reader, to remember is that this a work of fiction. … [I] have made as many assumptions about Jane’s life as any other historian, but the choices I’ve made in my poetic license of telling her story are with the benefit of the doubt. I’ve interpreted the evidence available in the best possible light.” As for the actions that Jane has been so soundly condemned for, such as her presumed testimony against her husband and sister-in-law and her actually testimony against Queen Katheryn Howard, Dillard points out that her “reasons for her behavior died with her so I could only guess as to her motivations.” Dillard also cites several books, all of which I personally approve of as a historian, as her source materials. I cannot tell you how refreshing I find this honesty and commitment to the history underlying the narrative process.

An interesting and bold take on the mysterious and much maligned Lady Rochford. Some of the ideas proposed while romantic are a little far fetched. I would recommend reading Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox for better historical accuracy. But if you are looking for a nice diverting read this book is for you.

Not sure what to say here. Jane is portrayed as an ordinary noblewoman of the time with a good and loving marriage to George, a wonderful man. I expected something more sinister here, as Jane had some questionable actions and her husband may have been of poor character. We see none of that.It did help me to understand why Jane seemingly brought an immoral accusation against George and Anne Boleyn. It may not have been an outright accusation, as much as her words were skewed and put together by those investigating. On the other hand, why was it so plausible that George would be involved in such a scandal, as he may well have had a bad reputation for such activities.As the author says, we will never know what really went on. She does write that the behavior of the couple does not hold water with the historic records.It doesn't touch much on the scandal over Katherine Howard either. We still don't get a good picture of why Jane did what she did in helping her infidelity. It gives us a hint, and that hint of pure motive.It's a good read to help us see the other side, but it's a little slow. I would have liked a deeper delve into these centuries old questions.

What a beautiful portrayal and tribute to Jane Boleyn.It had me tears 😭, not only because the tragedy that is the story, but also because it really bought home the injustice Jane has has had all these. I cannot praise this book enough!! It really was a joy to read, it was so unbelievably well written!! 😭🧡😭🧡😭🧡

Nice very nice. Normally Jane Boleyn is described as a very bad person. The one who give a chance to Henry VIII to put to death her husband but in this book you can find a person full of feelings. A loving soul towards her sister in low and her husband, a person with hope and fears like any other person.Very good reading

Enjoyable and easy read. It certainly portrays a different view of Jane Boleyn and her husband and provides food for thought. More historical references would have enhanced the authors viewpoint.

Loved this book and was really great to get a different perspective of Jane thank you for writing this was excellent

For centuries Lady Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford has been maligned and treated as a villain following the tragic fall and subsequent executions of Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother George.Blamed for providing 'evidence' of their crimes she has been treated throughout history with disdain and a distinct lack of respect. Dillard's novel is a refreshing stance on a more rounded and humane portrait of Lady Rochford, giving her some recognition that she deserves.We jump between the time of her arrest in 1542 alongside that of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Katherine Howard, to reflect on times gone by as the harsh imprisonment of the Tower of London causes Lady Rochford to recount her past life with her husband George and Anne Boleyn.The prose is written with such beauty. Dillard truly set the scenes in order for Lady Rochford and her supporting characters to thrive and become alive. I felt so close to everything going on, like I was a fly on the wall to their conversations.Dillard captured the stresses and tension or living in the Tudor Era, especially in the Tudor Court, masterfully and the I felt this was even further strengthened when it was shown alongside the easy way in which one could be sucked in to the glory and majesty it presented.This novel is a wonderfully evocative, sympathetic and very humane picture of Lady Rochford that I feel will readily please many of those fascinated with the Tudor Era. I have already purchased Dillard's other novel, Cor Rotto which focuses on the life of Catherine Carey and cannot wait to read it!