All credit to Weir- I knew what happened to Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife, before beginning the book but nevertheless I wanted to read on and on. This is well written, compelling historical fiction. Jane comes across as less wimpy and insipid than in most other novels and there are times when she is disgusted by Henry, and with good reason. The unrelenting pressure on her to bear a son is well portrayed, as are her relationships with her family and her distressing death not long after childbirth. She died before Henry had a chance to become disenchanted with her – but we know the next two marriages were more challenging for him. Never a dull moment in the life of an utterly self centred king. Looking forward to Weir’s take on Ann of Cleeves.
