As part of our commemoration of the anniversary of Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution on this day in 1536, historical novelist Adrienne Dillard has kindly shared this extract from her best-selling novel The Raven’s Widow: A Novel of Jane Boleyn.
Thank you so much to Adrienne for taking the time to read this to us, she’s such a talented writer, her work just draws you in, and for me, it’s wonderful to see fresh takes on the Boleyns. You can find out more about Adrienne’s book at getbook.at/ravenswidow.
Giveaway: We’re offering one copy of Adrienne’s novel and an Anne Boleyn Falcon badge brooch to one lucky Anne Boleyn Files visitor. Simply leave a comment about Adrienne’s video underneath this post by midnight on 24th May 2017. One lucky comment will be picked at random and the winner contacted. Good luck!
I won this book a few weeks ago.
I finished it last week, it’s very interesting and very well written!
Oh my goodness, I would love to read this!!
Jane is finally depicted as a real person who despite her problems faced them with dignity. Thank you, Adrienne for a great read.
Thank you Adrianne, that was a tantalising excerpt from your novel
Sorry Karen…that wasn’t meant to be put as a reply to your post..fingers and brain not engaging !!
Can’t wait to read this book.Just that one excerpt got me hooked.
FINALLY, THANK GOD! I’ve always searched for a good Tudor novel and gave up with Philippa Gregory. At last something that depicts Jane as she truly was.
Thank you! So many layers in the story of Anne Boleyn…excited to read this! Today, I will light a candle for her…5/19. Still sad 541 years later.
I was hooked by the title and the cover when I first saw it. I want so badly to read this book!!
Wow what a different take on Jane I try to believe she loved George and Anne and hearing of her heartbreak and not wanting to serve Jane finally makes her a compassionate human not knowing her future losing a baby serving Anne those years she Mus t have cared for her. Very interested. Thank you
What a gorgeous cover!!! I am stoked to read the story!!!
I would absolutely love to win this book
Curious. Jane in love, and honouring her husband.
This sounds great. I keep seeing this book mentioned and this has finally convinced me that I have to read this. Poor Jane is so maligned. It’s about time someone told her story. Could someone tell me, does this go all the way to her death, or is there going to be a sequel?
Miranda, it goes all the way to her death. It opens with her going to the Tower and then the story flashes back and forth between her past and the days leading up to her own execution.
Thank you for replying. Sounds interesting, I just wondered because it looked like you were reading from near the end of the book so the flashbacks would explain it. Really looking forward to this one as Jane is a bit of a gap in my knowledge. Thank you for taking the to to read this for us. I’m hooked
This sounds interesting. The only depiction of her I’ve read or seen is of a mean-spirited woman.
Very interesting
I love all things Tudor but don’t know much about Jane Boleyn. Would love to read this!
Would love to win this book….seems like a new perspective on things
This book sounds amazing! It had me wanting to hear more. I love that it is about Jane Boleyn and her perspective! She sounds like she really loves her husband in this book! You do not get that version of Jane in books very often if not at all! I would love to read this!
First time I’ve heard anyone say Jane was pregnant and had a miscarriage…. was she?
Well, we don’t actually know for sure. There is no record. However, Jane and George did cohabitate. So unless one or both of them were infertile, it’s likely there was at least one miscarriage. It’s not unusual that there isn’t a record of it though, there would have been no reason to have a record of it.
Very interesting! Thank you, for taking the time to read a excerpt to us. I’m really excited to read the whole book.
Thank you all so much for your kind comments! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!
I would love to read this book, I always enjoy new perspectives on “old” faces!
I am so glad to see a different Jane Boleyn from the usual summary of her as crazy or vengeful. So excited to have a chance to win a copy of this book.
It’s such a relief to see Jane portrayed fairly. Kudos to you!
Thank you for choosing Jane and not the swaggering figure of “Lady Rochford” it’s very rare and much appreciated. Good luck in all your endeavors. I hope you will continue to the sad end.
Such a change to see janew in a different light as I do believe she loved her husband and anne I do not believe she betrayed then either.
Adrienne, the only thing that’s keeping me from buying your book right now is the possibility that I might win one …….
I really enjoyed your first chapter & I love the fact you chose to use completely modern but “cultivated and intelligent” English for your characters’ dialogues.
I am intrigued by the cover and the title. Thanks for not choosing to call her “Lady Rochford” and instead calling her Jane. That makes her feel her more relatable.
How fascinating! I’ve never thought of Jane the way you describe her. I can’t wait to read this entire book!
I love too hear the different perspectives of Anne Boleyn’s execution. This one was especially interesting. I feel like over all characters, Jane Boleyn is often overlooked, or portrayed as evil. This shines a new light on her, which I love.
This is so interesting- I would love to read it.
I would love to read this BOOK! One allways thinks of Jane Rochford as a terrible person full of ambition and greed-
Your book sounds awesome and I will be reading it. I love Anne Boleyn. It’s interesting to as I only started getting into Henry the Viii Cathrine, Anne and the others a few years ago now I can’t get enough. I read every book I can find.