Jane Boleyn

The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford

By: Julia Fox

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

In a life of extraordinary drama, Jane Boleyn was catapulted from relative obscurity to the inner circle of King Henry VIII. As powerful men and women around her became victims of Henry’s ruthless and absolute power, including her own husband and sister-in-law, Queen Anne Boleyn, Jane’s allegiance to the volatile monarchy was sustained and rewarded. But the price for her loyalty would eventually be her undoing and the ruination of her name. For centuries, little beyond rumor and scandal has been associated with “the infamous Lady Rochford.” But now historian Julia Fox sets the record straight and restores dignity to this much-maligned figure whose life and reputation were taken from her.

Drawing upon her own deep knowledge and years of original research, Julia Fox brings us into the inner sanctum of court life, laced with intrigue and encumbered by disgrace. Through the eyes and ears of Jane Boleyn, we witness the myriad players of the stormy Tudor period. Jane emerges as a courageous spirit, a modern woman forced by circumstances to fend for herself in a privileged but vicious world.

©2007 Books on Tape (P)2007 Julia Fox

Critic reviews

“A riveting story - expertly written and based on an impressive body of research. Julia Fox’s book re-creates the inner life of one of the great scapegoats of history and vividly depicts the fervid, extravagant, interbred world of the Tudor court.” (Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth & Leicester)

“This electric account of the life of Jane Boleyn brings us face-to-face with the glittering but brutal world of Henry VIII’s court. For centuries the infamous Lady Rochford was accused of betraying her husband to his death on charges of incest with Anne Boleyn. Julia Fox’s immaculate detective work and vivid storytelling bring to life one woman’s struggle to survive at the apex of a society where success brought untold riches and a king’s anger cost you your life.” (Leanda de Lisle, author of After Elizabeth)

“Jane Boleyn’s true history was obscured by lies and propaganda. Now, in an outstanding debut by Julia Fox, the full tragedy of her thwarted life has come to light. A fascinating and moving read, Jane Boleyn exposes the harsh reality of Henry VIII’s court, where cleverness and ambition often led to the block.” (Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire)

interesting but hardly anything about Jane

I am very interested in the Tudor history and all of the side stories involved. In my past readings, I was able to deduce very little about Jane and thought that I could get a good idea of her with this book. However, only about 15% of the book was about Jane, and it was the stuff I already knew. I was disappointed with that.

Anne, Henry, Katherine....oh and Jane.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I love Tudor history, and have since I was a child. I was very excited to find a book about the mysterious Jane Boleyn. After listening, I realized that I still haven't found that book. This book covers the lives and circumstances of the main players well, and Jane is an occasional side note. Nothing new on her marriage, motivations, heck even what she is accused of doing is not fully explored.

beautiful narration, riveting from beginning to end.

I enjoyed getting to know Jane Boleyn from a fresh perspective. she was presented positively versus the usual, where she's simply jealous and can't stand George. I believe it that she tried to save George. oh George 😢

Scandal seeker or scapegoat?

I'm torn on this book. Jane was witness to important events of the time, but her personality is missing from the book. How did she feel about her sister-in-law Anne Boleyn? How did she feel about her husband George or her imposing father-in-law Thomas? There aren't any diaries or letters or even a portrait of her or her husband. Was she an active schemer trying to help out the Boleyns or was she an unwilling witness, dependent on the family for her well-being? She gains notoriety primarily as a bystander. She was at court when Anne Boleyn was queen and managed to survive the tremendous fall of the Boleyns that resulted in the execution of Anne and Jane's husband George. She bypasses any wrath Henry has towards the Boleyns and becomes lady-in-waiting to Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and lastly (and fatally) Catherine Howard. This book is full of a lot of background, but the main character fades into the background rather than stands out.

As Catherine Howard's indiscretions are discovered, Jane ends up center stage. At this point, the book shines in discussing Jane's role in the scandal: the scapegoat. Jane was labeled "That bawd, Jane Rochford" for arranging meetings for Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper. Catherine put the blame on Jane as well. Already tainted by her association with the Boleyns, Jane must be to blame for Catherine being led astray (although Catherine had already been led astray long before meeting Henry). Otherwise, Henry made a grievous error in his opinion of Catherine, his "jewel".

However, Jane had already witnessed the result of getting on the wrong side of Henry with Anne and George's executions. She knew of his anger of her passing on Anne's comment to George about Henry's flagging sexual prowess. Would she have willingly put herself at risk for no good reason? Or is it more likely that Catherine put her in this awkward position as a trusted messenger between Catherine and her favorite. Catherine was a young beautiful woman and Henry was an older fat man with pus oozing from his leg sores. Catherine was the queen and if Jane wanted to stay at court, she would have had to follow Catherine's directions. Communicating the truth to Henry would not only have been logistically difficult, it would have been extremely risky on its own: he was so enamored of Catherine, Jane might have been punished for slandering the queen. While it suited everyone at the time to lay the blame on Jane, it doesn't seem likely that she played matchmaker for Queen Catherine.

The author weaves together a lot of interesting information and avoids being pigeon holed as one of the countless books on the wives of Henry VIII by making it about Jane. Unfortunately, not enough of Jane herself is available- not by any fault of the author, just by historical record.

wonderful

I really enjoyed this book - detailed, well-written intriguing information combined with a melodious narrator - very engrossing - I definitely recommend this book.

Jane boleyn

the narration for this book I really enjoyed. in fact this book really surprised me, the first half it seemed to me was more Henry and Ann with just a little of Jane here and there. but the rest of the book wow. what was this women thinking? and of course Henry marrying a teenager talk about a dirty old man.and Jane, oh my God. talk about using very bad judgment, well she got what she deserved in the end. in some ways I feel sorry for Catherine but she isn't totally innocent either. over all it is a good book and I did learn a few things.don't believe what you see on TV about the Tudor history, read the book first, the TV is just entertainment.

Fascinating and well researched

It is so refreshing to read a book about Tudor history that is based in fact, not speculation. But it was also riveting. I couldn't put it down.

This book was way more interesting -- and more factual -- than the tedious and highly speculative novel "Wolf Hall" (by another author). Julia Fox was careful with her facts, yet this book read like a novel.

The reader, Rosalyn Landor, was superb. I highly recommend "Jane Boleyn" to anyone interested in Tudor history.

Probably the best account.

l thoroughly enjoyed this book about Jane Boleyn. in other books, she is portrayed as devious, spiteful and unhappily married, not to mention promiscuous. l felt that this book was more accurate and based on facts, not fancy.

Well Worth Listening To

I have been fascinated with Tudor England for most of my life. This book about Jane Boleyn was enlightening about a side of Tudor history - the cruel side - that generally is underplayed. Jane Boleyn was most likely not a model wife of George or sister-in-law to Anne, but it is also unlikely that she deserved to become as vilified as as history has shown her. I was completely fascinated with this book - and when it ended - I still was waiting for more. I think that the book, could possibly have gone further to trace what ramification Jane's death had to to the familial heirs - but all in all I can recommend this book without qualification

Jane Boleyn

Sister in-law to Anne & Mary. Married to Brother George. Good story. This woman just couldn't stay out of trouble. She was jealous of Anne and had both Anne and her husband George beheaded. She was allowed to stay at court and serve as lady in waitting to Queen Cathrine she would play as a go between with the young Queen and Culpepper until they too were beheaded.