The Lady in the Tower

By: Jean Plaidy

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

One of history's most complex and alluring women, Anne Boleyn was irresistible to kings and commoners alike. Daughter of an ambitious country lord, Anne was sent to France to marry well and raise the family's fortunes. She soon surpassed even their greatest expectations when King Henry VIII swore he would put aside his loyal queen to make Anne his wife. And so he did, though the divorce would tear apart the English church and inflict religious turmoil and bloodshed on his people for generations to come.

Loathed by the English people, Anne was soon caught in the trap of her own ambition. When she failed to produce a much-desired male heir, her political rivals closed in, wrongfully accusing her of adultery and incest. Anne found herself imprisoned in the Tower of London, at the mercy of her husband and her enemies.

©1986 Jean Plaidy (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama." ( The New York Times)

A different perspective on the Lady Anne

I didn't realize this book was historical fiction, but that's OK! It was enjoyable. I was surprised it kind of made Anne Boleyn out to be a heroine. Once I got used to the idea, that was OK too. I didn't fully know what a ******* Henry was!!! (I keep forgetting this was fiction but then after the book I googled around to find more about Henry and if he really boiled that guy in oil.) Now you have to get the book to see who was boiled in oil. I would hate to have lived back then because I think Henry may have poisoned the guy and boiled the cook in oil to hide his own misdeeds. This book makes you think about what it was like to live under absolute monarchy...no thanks!!! One of the best things about the book was showing how her upbringing may have shaped how Mary turned out later. If you didn't already know some of this you would not realize from the book how Mary was going to turn out. The only reason I don't give it five stars is I think it made Anne out to be too innocent. But an enjoyable read!

One of the Best I've Heard

I've just listened to this for the second time through. Of all the books I've read or listened to in this area of history, and I've amassed a formidable pile, I think this is one of the very best. I recommend it without hesitation to anyone with a taste for stories about royalty (the star-studded celebrities of history.) The narrator's voice is so well chosen and smoothly performed, in my mind's ear she IS Anne Boleyn. And the author balanced historical detail with first-person thoughts and feelings in a way that felt nearly seamless. One always has to accept an author's take on things that can't be known for sure. I enjoyed this completely and I know I'll listen to it again sometime.

Good. Not great.

I always enjoy Historical fiction, and particularly British royalty. The story was informative and interesting, but the narration was sub-par. Her voice for all other characters aside from Ann Boleyn was nearly the same, even for male and female roles. Her voice for Ann was fine, but every time she spoke for another character it was grating sounding and became very wearing.

Inspired choice of reader brings history to life

If you could sum up The Lady in the Tower in three words, what would they be?

Jean Plaidy's research is brilliant, but the choice of the reader was truly inspired.

What about Anne Flosnik’s performance did you like?

Her ability to convince you that you were listening to a child speaking at one moment and an adult the next. Her accent is spot on for historical novels. Perfect diction and believability.

Enjoyable

While the narrator's voice took some getting used to, I did enjoy the story. It got bogged down in minute details at times, but it did serve to give a visual. I've always enjoyed Jean Plaidy's books. She portrays Anne as how I like to think of her. I don't think Anne was a cold calculating woman. When the king pursued her, her ambitions kicked in. She admits she never loved Henry, but what choice did she have after her marriage to Percy was blocked? Once the king set his sights on you, you were doomed to become his whore because he was relentless. She thought better of herself and was bitter over the Percy affair. I believe Henry VIII was incapable of love or loyalty. It would be better to be a peasant during his reign.

Wow! The Best Story of Anne Boleyn!

This was my first Jean Plaidy. (THERE ARE PITIFULLY FEW OF JEAN PLAIDY'S BOOKS IN AUDIBLE!)
I must disagree with Alison Weir, who made minor derogatory remarks about Jean Plaidy's research in Weir's own Lady in the Tower. While I adore Ms. Weir, I must admit that this is one of the finest books about Anne Boleyn to date. Jean Plaidy has a new fan!

The writing style is excellent and the author gives us more background than I've yet to find. We learn about the death of her mother and the sweet relationship she had with her step-mother; her days in France; her obsession with the design of her own clothes, etc.

Because the story is seen through the eyes of a retrospective woman going to her death, Plaidy is able to give brilliant insights and observations of her research and study. Anne is trying to understand "what went wrong?". Her hindsight is 20/20, so we are treated to a narrative that is a great deal more objective.

Also, this was a joy to listen to. I sometimes get annoyed with Flosnik's work, but she was FLAWLESS in this book. Anne Flosnik has rarely been more appropriately cast as narrator!

A More Human Anne Boleyn

I'm a big fan of the Tudors(TV show) and was definately excited to hear this book by Jean Plaidy. I was really glad of the fact that she spent time with Anne's earliest years in the French Court. Something the show wasn't able to do. It's also a departure from The Other Boleyn Girl in that respect also. I thought that it helped to set up the rest of the book, to explain why she acted how she did towards Henry, and the politics of the Court.

Having said that I was slightly disappointed that more attention wasn't paid to certain things like Catherine's appearance at Blackfriars. I felt that part was really rushed. I also felt that she didn't really get into how she felt being a mother to Elizabeth, until the very end. In fact the years between her telling Henry she wouldn't be his mistress to their marriage seemed rushed. But maybe one year was much like another so she felt she didn't need to spend so much time with it.

I did feel that I got a good feeling for King Henry though. I felt that Plaidy made him a bit more indepth than Gregory does. I didn't hate him as I did in The Other Boleyn Girl. But I preferred TOBG to Plaidy in regards to Anne's family. George wasn't a big figure in this, and neither was Mary. I felt that they didn't exist really in the whole book.

I would highly recommend this though for a more sympathetic look into the life of Anne Boleyn. I'm glad Plaidy took a more human approach to the woman who changed the face of English history.

As for the narrator, I liked her voice some of the time. Her Spanish accent and pronunciation left much to be desired, as did her French.

Lady in the tower

I really loved this book.it heald my attention. loved the narrative, very good writing.

Worth it but...

The story itself is good, not a page turner but engaging enough. The narrator was fine as long as she was using a British accent, but when she'd enter a French character and attempt the French accent it made me cringe, especially during a male French accent. It was worth it to get past those parts and complete the book...wasn't great...might've been better with a different narrator.

The headline(pun)

somewhat bland in regard to the portrayal of characters. Also the sixth finger and mole of Queen Anne is a total work of fiction