The Six Tudor Queens Alison Weir

[3kidsareenough]

Hi all currently reading the Anne Boleyn book in the Six Tudor Queens series, am really enjoying it but there has been a few things in it that has made me question if this is just fictional or is she basing these books on what actually happened.

The time line of events is slightly different (compared to the Wolf Hall books) and the language they use I find a bit modern. Some of the sentences I'm sure would not have been in use then (but maybe I'm wrong) for example AB said to Henry " why are you getting so fired up" I just can't picture that!!

I've ordered the Jane Seymour one and Anna of Cleaves book but now I'm thinking I shouldn't, if it's just made up twaddle (although I am enjoying it as a read)

Anyone else read them what did you think??

Ive just Googled it and it seems to have been in use from the early 1800's so it could well be quite jarring to read that kind of language. I think that I would find it off putting personally.

I've read all of them and the historical detail is more than I've read elsewhere. Her research is impressive but I agree with the language issue.

Thing is, if she wrote the dialogue as it would actually have been spoken at the time it would be almost incomprehensible to us now. I think the facts the novel is based on are robust from what I’ve heard, but the dialogue has been modernised to make the story flow better (remember this is a novel, not a factual retelling of the exact events, so there’s always going to be a bit of poetic licence). From what I’ve read, Weir seems to be one of the most well respected historical novelists in terms of how ‘accurate’ her novels are.

As upthread, Alison Weir's books are very well-researched both non-fiction and fiction. I guess that Tudor English would have the reader throwing the book across the room as it would be a hard read.

I absolutely adored Innocent Traitor by AW but I wasn’t keen on the other fiction books she wrote, I don’t think any others really came close to that. I read the Katherine Howard one recently and it was fairly enjoyable but not on the same level as IT.

Alison Weir is an historian originally who has branched out into historical fiction writing, so in terms of the historical facts, her books are far more accurate than the majority of historical fiction. She updated her language for a modern audience so there will be phrases which weren't in use, but to be honest Tudor English is not easy to read and would put a lot of readers off

As others have said, she is a respected historian and expert on the Tudor period. But these are her fiction books and there is always artistic licence with historical fiction. There has to be!

I'd recommend her Six Wives of Henry VIII non-fiction book; it's really excellent.

The language is definitely modernised. I was impressed by how well researched her books were- although obviously there has to be a lot of imagined conversations etc to fill in the blanks behind events.

Anne of Kleeves was the most “made up” one I thought. Bit of a daft plot if you ask me. The others were ok, although I’ve not read the last one yet.

why are you getting so fired up

I'm in my 60s and would say that is relativley new to UK english, seems American to me - even though it was used in the 18thC - I've never asked someone if they are getting fired up about something.

Don't kmow the books, but here is an example of spoken English (Early Modern English) from the time of the Tudors:

A whole book of that would be rather tiresome! I think we tend to think of 'historic' people speaking like someone in a 1980s Austen adaptation, but our language has evolved so much that it would be almost impossible to make it historically accurate. So why write speech from the 1500s in a style from (e.g.) the 1800s - we might deem it more 'old' sounding, but it would be no more accurate than using modern-day turns of phrase.

I agree about Anne of Kleves, @Aposterhasnoname - though I have a bigger problem with Katheryn Howard - particularly all the stuff about all the sex she had before marrying Henry - I felt it painted an unfair picture of her behaviour.

But overall, I love these books - the Tudor period fascinates me, and I love reading both fiction and non-fiction books about the Tudors. I also love how beautiful the books of this series are - shallow, I know.

I tend to believe that, whilst the fictional versions (including TV programmes and films) are not reliable, factual sources, I can enjoy the way they paint a picture of life at the time, and this adds colour to my non-fiction reading (and watching). The Tudors is the best example of this. I know it is not accurate, but I love the music, costume, backdrops etc.

Thanks everyone I stuck with it and finished it, i actually enjoyed it when I stopped picking faults in it!! Like another poster said the books are beautiful looking. The Jane Seymour one & the Anne of Kleves came on Friday so I'm going to keep going. I do love the Tudor period so going to have a look at the other non fiction Alison Weir books too. There was a section at the back of the AB book where she explains the parts and characters that are fictional so that has kept me happy I wonder is there Tudor tours you can do??? Thanks again for all your very informative answers