The title says it all

Any additional comments?

I stumbled on this as I had just listened to another book narrated by Barbara Rosenblat (and loved her voice) and I am also interested in Anne Boleyn as a historical figure. I was surprised to realize that this really is about the "creation" of Anne Boleyn, specifically as she is portrayed in literature, plays and movies. I have never watched the Showtime series "The Tudors" which was referenced a lot and so I didn't have a good vantage point at times to truly understand what the author was speaking about. It was illuminating to hear the evolution of Anne which has been taking place since the early 1800's and to see that there is still a roaring debate even up to this day about who Anne was "really". Anyone who has watched movies or read historical fiction about Anne will no doubt enjoy this book.

6 people found this helpful

Best Boleyn Book!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Creation of Anne Boleyn to be better than the print version?

YES! Barbara Rosenblat added so much to the text. She read it with the wit and sarcasm the book is intended to be read with. I admit (and I don't do so lightly), I could have never have matched Rosenblat's mastery and enthusiasm in my own mind. Rosenblat's style is fun and simply delicious!

What other book might you compare The Creation of Anne Boleyn to and why?

Hmmm, I can't think of any. This book had so much going on. It's written in that contemporary way that women (especially feminist) are writing today (like in "American's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates and Heroines" by Gail Collins to give an idea and that too is another great read). You know, it's sorta like talking with your girlfriends. That is one of the most charming things about this book. When you read this, it's as if Bordo is poring you a glass of wine saying "now, about that sixth finger..." She goes into the TV series, films and books on Henry and Anne and shakes out a lot of the BS. She does this in a scholarly academic way that allows the reader to trust her with her piles of research, references and historical documentation.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Rosenblat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't. I did look her up on Audible but nothing else she has done looks compelling to me. I will just keep re-reading this one, ha!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

You know, I really did. Bordo asks one question I never thought of before and that is simply why. Why in the hell did he do it. I mean he was a known cheat, (having already had at least one son out of wedlock by this point) so why would he kill her. Granted her allegations (all false of course) that she had slept with George and countless others is gripping but still, why didn't he just send her to a nunnery or lock her in the tower. The horror of it really gets you like being bitten--he chopped off her head. One day he was making love to her, and another legally ordering her beheading. It hits you as you pour over this text. She writes on why Henry might have done it in great detail...so I won't spoil it here on what she suggests!

4 people found this helpful

Most Enjoyable Biography--Win!

Long before I saw The Tudors I loved Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn. I would childishly stomp my feet at the back covers of Philippa Gregory's novels because I was looking for good, realistic, Tudor fiction.

Susan Bordo did a marvelous job portraying Anne as accurately as she could, acknowledging the lack of impartial historical documents (of course no such thing exists, much less for such a decisive lady). She was fair to other accounts of Anne, fiction and non, screen and print, to a fault. Ms. Rosenblat was a fantastic narrator, giving the biography the right twist of sarcasm and wit at their obvious parts.

Overall, this was quite an enjoyable listen.

14 people found this helpful

Our Anne, Ourselves

Not a biography of Anne Boleyn, this is a analysis of what each generation and writer, creates out of the historical character Anne Boleyn. She’s a woman re-made in every era’s imagination to serve the teller, from Chapuys’s contemporary slandering of “the whore,” to today’s feminist icon, or slutty vixen—take your pick.

When Anne’s head came off, her words and images, and even friendships were erased, so every image we get of Anne says more about the person writing about her than it does about the subject.

Susan Bordo gives you all the angles, all the trashy viper-pit details of royal life, and still separates the facts from speculation. Her chatty, dry, deadly wit make this audiobook addictive.

Barbera Rosenblat brought so much sensibility and sharp-tongued knowing humor to the reading. She’s a perfect match.

12 people found this helpful

Very engrossing

Where does The Creation of Anne Boleyn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very well written and researched novel. It presents a more balanced perspective of Anne Boleyn as well as how her legacy has been shaped by the culture not only of her time but of those that came after.

2 people found this helpful

Anne Boleyn as seen through the years

Susan Bardo compares the view of Anne Boleyn by courtiers who lived when she lived to older biographies including those in the eighteen hundreds, and more modern views of her, including historical fiction by Margaret George, P. Gregory, and Alison Weir. Bardo even includes the mini-series the Tudors. I don't think as it could be concluded that she was being particularly critical of these authors. They are fiction, regardless of the academic credentials of the author.

She is harder on writers of popular history, (like this one) who repeat rumors that cannot be substantiated by anything concrete. Even the famous letters King Henry sent her, were not found in England but in the vatican.

The book is interesting. Barbara Rosenblat is great as always.

2 people found this helpful

Not so much a biography...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

More historical information and even speculation about Anne herself, less talking about the shortcomings of other people's books. This came off as more of a lengthy college essay than a book.

What was most disappointing about Susan Bordo’s story?

I was expecting more of a biography about the life of Anne Boleyn, but only about a quarter of the text was actually about Anne. Most of it ended up being a critique of other author's works on the same topics (both factual history and novels) and how they portrayed Anne. She also reviewed websites and mentioned Facebook pages. She went on to talk about Anne's influence on feminism. Quite a bit of the book was about feminist views and how people might have viewed Anne in modern times, speculated on how she might have been a leader in the feminist movement, etc.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Rosenblat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I've listened to anything narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, but she did a stellar job. She had a lot of enthusiasm and her narration style is actually what kept me listening.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely not.

6 people found this helpful

Distracting Narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Only if I knew they were already interested in the Tudors.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is a non-fiction title, so not applicable.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator's performance was distracting because she injected every word with an over-abundance of emotion; emotions I don't necessarily think the author felt. I found it very hard to focus on what she was actually saying because I was so annoyed by her over-acting.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

If it were a documentary, I would definitely watch it on TV!

Any additional comments?

I had previously listened to this narrator read another non-fiction book and enjoyed her performance. However, on this one her flamboyant reading of the text was so annoying that I couldn't wait for it to be done. Her talents might be more appropriate for a fictional story.

2 people found this helpful

very good

loved all the information. I have need listened to a book like this! huge fan.

a fresh look at a real feminist hero!

an informative look at the real woman behind the ideology, told by a woman with a clear and sharp voice. long live this, the true Anne ❤👑