As many of you know, the Anne Boleyn Files celebrates its one year anniversary on the 17th February. I can’t quite believe that it’s nearly 1 year since I had the dream that set me on this mission to educate the world about Anne Boleyn and to form this community of like-minded Anne Boleyn and Tudor fans – the time has gone so quickly. But, it’s been a fabulous journey and I thank all of you for sharing it with me and for your contributions to the site.
To celebrate this milestone, I’m running an article competition. I want you to write an article on the topic “Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn” – that’s not the title, just the theme, you can choose your title. Obviously it’s a very open-ended theme and that’s because I want you to be free to write about whatever you want, as long as it concerns Henry and Anne in some way:-
- The relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
- Did Anne love Henry? Did Henry love Anne?
- The impact that their relationship had on England.
- The love triangle between Anne, Henry and Catherine of Aragon.
- The fall of Anne Boleyn and Henry’s role in it.
- What were Anne and Henry like?
- How could Henry let Anne be executed and move on to Jane Seymour so quickly?
- Did Anne make Henry into the monster he became?
Etc. Etc….
Those are just some ideas, you choose, it’s up to you.
I’m also not giving you an upper word limit as I don’t want to cramp your style or hinder your creativity, just go with the flow!
Prize
The judges will choose one winner to win your choice of either a $30 Amazon voucher (£20 for Amazon UK users) or a $30 Anne Boleyn Files voucher for use on our jewellery ranges or French Hoods.
Rules
Here are the rules for the Anne Boleyn Files 1 Year Anniversary Competition:-
- Write an original article about “Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn”, giving it your own title.
- The article should have a minimum of 400 words.
- Email your article, along with your full name, to claire@theanneboleynfiles.com by the end of Sunday 14th February 2010. The winner will be announced on the 17th February.
- Your article must be your own work and by entering the competition you are giving your permission for it to be published on the site. Obviously you can quote academic sources.
- Do not use an article that you have already had published elsewhere.
- The prize is non-transferrable and cannot be exchanged for something else.
So, get thinking and send me your article when you’re done. Good luck!
Other News
Other news this week:-
Secret Marriage
Today is Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII’s wedding anniversary – a happy start but a very tragic end. Read my post “A Secret Marriage”.
Jewelry News
You may be wondering where the Lover’s Knot and Renaissance Jewelry sections have disappeared to – well, they’re gone! Daniela is working hard on lots of new jewelry – finishing Anne’s jewelry from “The Tudors” seasons 1 and 2, finishing the crowns/headdresses that Anne wore from seasons 1 and 2, making more jewelry from season 3, working on jewelry worn by Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine of Aragon and Mary, plus she’ll be drawing up even more new items when Season 4 starts in April – so, we just wanted to make more room for “The Tudors” jewelry. This means that we have discontinued those ranges and have also discontinued a few other pieces, but that’s good news for you as you may be able to bag a bargain from our “End of Line” section.
Robin Maxwell
Author Robin Maxwell has written a special guest article over at the Elizabeth Files about what it was like to retell Shakespeare’s famous story of “Romeo and Juliet” as a novel – see “Taking on the Bard”. Robin’s book “O Juliet” is due for release next Tuesday and it’s a great read. Check out my review over at our Tudor Book Review site – click here.
Alison Weir
For those of you interested in “The Lady in the Tower” by Alison Weir, there is a great article entitled “Alison Weir, Arguing the Case for Anne Boleyn” on the NPR website, along with an excerpt from the book – click here to read it. You can also read my review at Tudor Book Reviews.
Hmm… What a wonderful idea. Isn’t today the day they were wed?
This is quite a challenge for me since I’ve always felt drawn to the story of the King and Queen and yet I cannot explain why.. Hmm….
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks! Yes, it is their wedding anniversary, I’m just in the middle of writing that blog post. Thanks for the comment.
Oooh sounds an interesting competition. Unfortunately I can’t enter, because i know i’ll get too obsessed about it and forget about the 2 essays, a presentation and exam all in the next month at uni haha. Will all the articles be published on the site, or just the winner?
Hi Kelly,
You could use it as practice for your other essays lol!! Yes, I will publish all of the articles on the site. How is uni going?
Great idea! I’m very excited to get working on my essay (:
That sounds really challenging =) But I have to say that I’m looking forward to writing it, although it will surely be quite hard for me as English is not my mother tongue 😀
I’ll start during the upcoming holidays I think because I have much work to do :/
And to you Claire congratulations for this anniversary! It’s quite hard to keep a website as alive and interesting as you are doing it 😉
Does it have to be a factual article or can it be an opinion piece?
Ualll loved too! I am very excited 🙂 I think that evebody shoul try !!
Hi Victoria,
It can be factual or opinion based, I really don’t mind. Have fun with it!
Hi Mademoiselle Boleyn,
I’m glad that you’re entering, I’m so looking forward to reading the artcles.
Hi Marchioness,
Don’t worry about English not being your mother tongue, your English is always great when you comment and it’s the thoughts behind the article that matter not the language.
Thank you for the congratulations, I’m just blessed to be able to spend my days immersed in history!
Hi Ingrid,
I’m excited too, I’m dying to find out what people write about for it.
Oh dear, I hope my grammar doesn’t get mixed up, since English is not my mother language either! At least I’ll not be lacking in inspiration, it’s so easy to find a subject about people as interesting as H&A. Congrats on the anniversary, your web is definitely one of a kind and well worthy of royalty 🙂
Congratulations Claire on your website anniversary. It is a wonderful site! I started to get interested in Anne years ago after I saw the movie “Anne of the Thousand Days”. Now I have a small collection of my “boring movies” as my kids call them, LOL, and a small book collection is starting. That is why I am greatful to you for the Anne Bolelyn Files. Our own club of Anne Bolelyn admirers!
Take care Claire!
Julie
Like Marchioness english is not my mother tongue.But I am doing the best that I can! Let is try!!! 🙂 I am really excited to sped my article.I Hope that Evebody like it 😉 Kisses
Thank god I’m not the only one here =)
But with enough motivation and inspiration (which in my case isn’t quite hard to find) I think that we all will make it!
Thanks for the encouragement Claire!
And my regards to all who face the same problem as I do 😀
I just submitted my essay on why I am so intrigued with the Tudors. Actually it was fun to write. No professor and no grade to worry about!
hey, that portrait of Anne’s really is the best 😉
it’s my favourite too, because she looks so beautiful in it.
in other portrait she looks rather old and not that pretty – if you ask me.
I also love that portrait of Anne. I’ve recently found a portrait of Elizabeth I as a teen and you can really see the similarities between them, especially around the eyes and mouth.
I love to write and my imagination soars at the idea of writing a rollicking opinion peice about my favourite Henry/Wife coupling, but my naturally self-doubting attitude will make it hard to hand in an article without hating all over it. 🙂
To Amy: I think we all doubt ourselves, so just go for it! I can tell from your comments that you know how to write. Writing isn’t easy, especially with so many good writers out there. Trust your instincts and you’ll be fine.