About
This blog is written and managed by Claire Ridgway, a full-time freelance writer, closet history lover, armchair historian and champion of the underdog, from England – land of the Tudors, Shakespeare, green fields and yummy fish and chips. I now live in sunny Spain near the historic Alhambra.
I wanted to share my journey into the annals of history with other people who have an interest in Anne Boleyn and the Tudor period and thought that a blog would be the perfect forum.
LISTEN TO AN INTERVIEW WITH CLAIRE RIDGWAY
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I fully admit to being addicted to Anne Boleyn and Tudor history and I am on a crusade to debunk the myths surrounding Anne Boleyn and educate the world about the REAL Anne Boleyn. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.
Please contact me if you:-
- have any questions about Anne or the Tudors and can’t find the answers here
- would like to submit an article about Anne Boleyn or the Tudors
- would like me to write an article, blog or e-book for you
You are, of course, free to comment on any blog posts.
I’ve also just set up an Anne Boleyn wiki (click on the link or go to http://theanneboleynfiles.wetpaint.com/) where users can contribute and build a great resource and community.
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Thanks for visiting TheAnneBoleynFiles.com!
Claire Ridgway
“The Most Happy Ever”
Contact Details:-
You can contact me via email – claire@theanneboleynfiles.com or by post at:-
The Anne Boleyn Files
Calle Sargento Galera 3
04887 Lucar
Almeria
Spain
The jewellers who make our beautiful Anne Boleyn and Tudor jewellery are based in the UK and the US, and ship worldwide.
19 Responses to “About”
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What a wonderful site, Claire. Truly a labour of love. As we all know, history is written by the victors, and just as Richard III was painted darkly by the Tudors, I’m pretty sure Anne Boleyn was as well.
I’ll be visiting often to explore.
Thanks, Jane, it is a labour of love and actually keeps me sane because I love writng about history. History is one of those things that we can argue about and have opinions about, but most of the time we don’t actually know the real answer, what REALLY happened.
What an interesting site you have, congratulations. Although I have to say that I prefer Catherine of Aragon, Anne was certainly a fascinating, elegant, very intelligent and brave woman, and I love learning about this period, so foundational for England and Europe. Thank you for your work on this topic, it must be very difficult as most accounts of Anne are probably distorted one way or another.
Thank you for your kind words, “Matterhorn”!
I’ve been fascinated with Anne for years…nice piece of work this.
ciao
I love your site! I have become completely obsessed with Anne and the rest of the Tudors after reading “The Other Boleyn Girl.” I moved onto watching “The Tudors”, which I absolutely love also and think that Natalie Dormer plays the character of Anne remarkably! I was just very upset they didn’t elaborate more on Mary Boleyn and her story, but I guess there was not enough time for that. I enjoy reading the forums on this site and also finding books that I can read for a more historically accurate depiction of Anne and the Tudors!
I can’t tell you enough how much I LOVE this site.
I have had a crazy love for Anne Boleyn since I was 11 and more recently a deep interest in her sister Mary.
If you are just told their story and left out the names, it’s the most dramatic,amazing,tragic and engrossing story!
Can it even be true!?
The fact that it is indeed, then holds quite some power!
This site is very educational and yet so FRIENDLY!
Which I can not say for many other forums that seem to be filled to the choke point with academic snobbery. For as much as those people think themselves better, it’s really quite sad.
SO I’m quite thankful to find this place and I’m certain I’m not alone in that thought!
I truly think if you make education meaningful,interesting and even fun it really can inspire both children and adults to change their lives in many ways.
Keep up the GREAT work!
All the best,
Nicole-Elizabeth
Hi Nicole-Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and I’m so pleased that you love the site. I hate academic snobbery too and people definitely don’t learn anything when they are made to feel uncomfortable or feel that they cannot contribute. Everyone is welcome here and we can all learn from each other – nobody knows everything!
You’ve made my day (probably also my week, month and year!) with your comment, so thank you x
No problem!
I was simply stating the truth.
I worked in a summer school program and some of the kids started reading “Innocent Traitor” By Alison Weir
And of course the critics are always first to spurt some nonsense about “dramatic license”, in my eyes that is what makes it great.
After they finished reading the book many of the kids wanted to learn more about Jane Grey and The Tudors.
I just think things like this are great, it opens new doors for many of us and brings history alive and keeps it alive(where in my eyes it should be!).
Take Care,
Nicole-Elizabeth
I just stumbled across this website by accident, and I am so glad I did – it looks amazing! I am obsessed with all things Tudor – particularly Anne Boleyn – and I can’t wait to explore your site; it looks terrific. Thank you!
Hi Claire,
Can you please tell me what font was used for the headings in the free Anne Boleyn booklet>
Hi Hayley,
The name Anne Boleyn is written in a font called “Scriptina” and the other words are written in in “Segoe Script”. Hope that helps!
Hi Claire! I just wanted to thank you for creating such an interesting website. I am currently a high school student, and Anne Boleyn has been my heroine for years. I am always reading, and from the time I read The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell when I was twelve, I was obsessed. Now I am hooked on watching The Tudors and read anything I can get my hands on about this fascinating era in history. Because of my great love of history (especially Anne and the Tudors), I have decided to make it my college major and life’s work. I am so glad to have found a site full of people like me! Thanks so much!
Claire:
I have been a big fan of the Tudor period for many years. I read all the books about the period I can get my hands on- biographies and novels. I saw the article about your web site in USA Today, and immediately went on it! What a wonderful web site it is! I find myself going on it almost every day. Keep up the good work! The research and time you have put into it is very much appreciated.
P.S. I have just finished re-reading “Queen of This Realm” by Jean Plaidy. One of my favorite Tudor books-I highly recommend to other readers interested in the Tudors.
Hi, Claire:
I just discovered this site a couple of weeks ago, and I think it is terrific! I ‘m really impressed with how you have incorporated so may different aspects of Anne Boleyn’s life here…this site really has everything. I’m a huge fan of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and I’m also happy to see that you have fantastic articles about people whose names don’t automatically come to mind. Thank you so much!
Hi Claire
Like many others, have just discovered this site. Fantastic and informative for Tudor junkies like myself. I hope to visit it often. I’m reading Alison Weir’s new book The Lady in The Tower at the moment. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
I was interested to read your review on G W Bernard’s controversial new book about Anne. Very balanced review – thank you.
Congratulations on a wonderful website.
Greetings from Ireland!!!
Hi,
I think this website is so cool! I’ve been interested in Anne for years ever since I read a brief mention of her in my middle school textbook. Now I’ve done my senior thesis on her, a speech, and I even dressed up as her for Halloween (complete with Boleyn peal necklace that I made myself)
I kind of thought I was the only one who was so passionate about her. I get a lot of weird looks, especially when I talk about The Other Boleyn Girl and how inaccurate it is.
I’ve always found Anne to be a great woman who has earned respect from history, respect which is not always given. People can call her the other woman, but you have to admit that she was way ahead of her time. She was intelligent and honorable, and it’s unfortunate that people don’t always see that.
Not only that, but she was the mother of one of England’s greatest monarchs. Elizabeth I mirrored much of Anne when it came to her intelligence and interest in the arts.
One day I’d like to go to England and visit Hever Castle and Hampton Court and see Anne Boleyn’s grave in St. Peter Ad Vincula’s chapel. I don’t know how close I would get to her tomb, but it would still be cool just to be near it.
Hi Jessica,
I went with Claire this past May on the Anne Boleyn Experience. Please try to go if you can. It was lovely. Hever Castle is so beautiful. When I went up the staircase to Anne’s bedroom, I touched the walls (knowing she must have touched them a thousand times). And at St. Peter Ad Vincula’s chapel I did the same thing, touched her sad gravesite tile on the floor. Chills ran down my spine. Claire is a wonderful person and lovely guide. We had 5 days of nothing but Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII ! The first night we ate in Anne’s actual dining room of the castle. It was surreal. Henry VIII’s huge gold lock was there on one of the doors. Imagine how many times he touched that! And a tapestry of his was mounted right over the huge fireplace. So impressive. If I didn’t have my photos of the trip, I wouldn’t believe that I actually went. It was a dream come true. I can’t say enough about the tour. It is the best thing I ever did for myself!
Warm regards,
Carol Stevenson
You are an inspiration to us all. I have loved looking through your site and impressed by your dedication and hard work. You have really brought the Tudor world to life for me. Thank you and keep up the good work!