Was Anne Boleyn a Murderer?

If Phillipa Gregory told me 2 + 2 = 4, I'd get my calculator out to check. An entire salt mine would not be enough to make me take her word for anything.

Witch, adulteress, sinner, liar, incest, etc and now a murderer.... next it's gonna be she was a vampire 🙄 Poor Anne can never catch a break even all these centuries later 🤦🏻‍♀️

After watching the film The Other Boleyn Girl, I would take anything Phillipa Gregory said with a pinch of salt lol.

Philipa Gregory makes my blood boil. 'Clearly guilty'? How does she get away with such judgement, without citing a single source, or even fully explaining who was murdered, or how Anne supposedly did the deed? Gah! 🤯😡

By all accounts, Anne was smart. I think she would have understood how high the stakes were and I believe she never cheated on Henry. Nor do I believe she was a murderer.

I've been studying Anne Boleyn off and on for forty years. I'm no fan of Philippa Gregory. She plays fast and loose with the historical evidence, and then highlights things that are (and were even in the period) little better than conspiracy theories to increase shock value. I read several of her novels, and at some point in every one, I threw the book across the room in frustration and fury. Frustration is easy to understand, but why fury? Because I believe she knows better, but just doesn't care.

I must confess to be no fan of Philippa Gregory. To write historical fiction as fiction is one thing. But to state these thi ga as facts with no contemporary sources or proof is quite another. And sadly, she is so popular that many believe her works of fiction ro be very true. Another good video Claire!

Thank you Claire 🌹 Wasn't familiar with the sad tale and fate of Bennett and Alice. Poor souls 🙏😔 Sounds like slander on Anne's memory by Gregory labelling Anne a murderer so matter of factly. Safe to say Anne was no murderer. Disappointing to see that in this modern day, Anne is still being unfairly labelled and blamed for situations that had nothing to do with her, not her fault and out of her control etc.

The only author of historical fiction I read is Sharon Kay Penman. Wasn't Chapue a bitter enemy of Anne, so I take his pov with a pinch of salt. I've hear Anne accused of poisoning Katherine of Aragon but the is total nonsense.

Another very informative video! I suspect many people don't remember that "The Other Boleyn Girl" and HBO's "The Tudors" etc., are fictional stories based on actual historical people and events. That's why I always come to YOU to discover the facts about our favorite people. Thank you, Claire! I've learned (and continue to learn) so much from you! ❤

Not a fan of Phillipa Gregory’s work. Nothing but garbage in her books in my opinion.

Murder sells books.

Has anyone asked Phillipa Gregory what she meant by that statement?

After reading The Other Boleyn Girl I was so angry I couldn't read another book written by Gregory. She has done such a grave disservice to history with her brash assertions and the demonization of Anne and George, that I fear she has unfortunately coloured the perceptions of those new to Tudor history. Even as fiction her writing is bad. The characters were poorly derived - there was no nuance to Anne and she practically beatified Mary. Alison's Weir's novel - while flawed - presents a more balanced point of view, delving into Anne's fascinating formative years at the courts in Europe and how they may have influenced her position on religion. I've also read many historical books about Anne with detailed footnotes sourcing the material (including yours) and all present her as an intelligent, religious woman - just not in the pious Catholic sense of the day. She definitely would have been concerned about her immortal soul and it is highly unlikely that she committed incest let alone murder. It is also well-known that Chapuys' accounts of the time are extremely biased due to his sympathies for Queen Catherine and the Princess Mary. Thank you Claire for your well-researched, balanced works on Anne and the devotion you pour into them.

I believe she was innocent and set up.

IMHO, Ms. Gregory was being a little scandalous in order to boost sales.

Could Gregory be referring to Catherine of Aragon's death? Although Anne was in a safer position with Catherine alive, I think I remember reading that some were eager to accuse Anne of having Catherine killed.

I LOVE Phillips Gregory’s novels & think they are wonderfully written “FICTION”. I don’t mind poetic license for good “story”. I credit them with the drive to learn the true history of the events. It is very disappointing, however, that she chose to put things down as fact that there is no solid evidence for. Rather like quoting tabloids or Hollywood movies for history. I enjoy hearing the contemporary accounts you & other historians provide to get an idea of what we on in Tudor (& other) time. I appreciate your thorough research.

Many thanks for this broadcast Claire. This is indeed a puzzling claim. As 'The Anne Boleyn Files' offers a welcoming platform for all discussions regarding Anne, perhaps Philippa Gregory could set out her case here, on the website?

Hi Claire! Good video as always. I agree with Stephanie's comment ~~ Anne will next be a vampire! On a serious note, I've never read The Other Boleyn Girl, but one of the executions ahead of Anne's has always bothered me. It's Henry Norris. From what I've read and heard, Norris had a normal relationship with H8 until a comment made by Anne about a dead man's shoes got H8 looking sideways at Norris. From there, it was downhill for Norris. In a way, you can say Anne got Henry Norris killed, but murdered by Anne? I can't stretch it that far. Thanks again for your interesting, thought-provoking videos! Take good care ~~