The Raven's Widow: A novel of Jane Boleyn Paperback – February 8, 2017

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.

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.

Jane Boleyn, née Parker, Lady Rochford, wife of George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, and sister-in-law of Queen Anne Boleyn of England, is unfortunately often portrayed as a villain and vengeful wife who brought them down. But, this is far from the truth. Actually, we don't know much about Jane, but the few facts we have, based on contemporary sources, prove that she was a friendly person and like a sister to Anne and that she had a happy marriage with George, whom she had known since their early adolescence at the court of King Henry VIII. Some of these facts, like the message of comfort Jane sent to George while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, Jane's helping Anne banish a King's mistress from the court, Jane's refusal to remarry after George's execution and her wearing black gowns till her own execution, indicate her true good nature and loveable character and they are described in this excellent novel in a meticulously researched way that every Anglophile and Anne Boleyn fan, like me, will love. This book is how I imagined Jane to be. Her feelings, her personality, her life, described on the novel, are exactly how I regarded her. I am a glad I found a novel on the real Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, based on contemporary sources. A true wife and sister! I hope this book becomes a movie/series. for everyone to see! There are many people, among them Mrs Dillard, the author of this book, who have set a bright light on Jane's life, like Julia Fox, her biographer, excellent historian Claire Ridgway and Clare Cherry, who co-wrote George's biography, Charlie Fenton and many others. Hopefully there will be more and more in the future!Thank you Mrs Dillard for this masterpiece!!!Next week, 13th February, there will be the 480th anniversary of Jane Boleyn's and Queen Catherine Howard's executions, victims of King Henry VIII. May their souls rest in peace!

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.

A great read. Kept me interested all the way. An interesting way to tell the story of Jane Parker. - from her own perspective, so much so, that I could feel what she was feeling. Highly recommended if you like to understand more about other Tudor characters. A real page turner.

A meticulously researched and engaging novel about the much-maligned Jane Rochford, widow of George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford by the talented Adrienne Dillard.

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!

I have always felt sorry for Lady Jane Boleyn because of the way some writers have interpreted her character and the events leading up to the execution of Anne and George Boleyn.This book starts with the arrest of Jane after Henry 8th found out about Queen Katherine Howard cheating on him with another man and believed that Jane had been an accomplice to the affair and her looking back at the events leading up to the arrest and execution of her husband and sister in law. The research is excellent (but I feel I have to stress it is FICTION after reading some reviews of other Tudor books!) and is very well written.I have just started reading another book by this author and I would recommend her to anyone who enjoys reading about the Tudors.