Unfortunately this isn’t a big announcement that I have finally updated the FAQ pages that have languished untouched for far too long. But, it is my rough analysis of popular people and topics based on a year-and-half of submissions to the Tudor Q&A blog. I try to go through and erase the old emails about every six months (I just hold on to them for a little while in case I need to get back in touch with the original submitter), but I had gotten lazy and still had emails back to mid-2007. So, I decided it would be fun to glance through them and see what topics and people came up a lot. I also had saved the questions that I just answered directly (usually because the question had already been covered on the blog), so it did help give me a good idea of who and what piques people’s curiosity the most.
– By far the most-asked-about person was Anne Boleyn. And, specifically, her jewelry and her relationship with her daughter top the list. Her death, burial and remains were popular topics for discussion as well.
– The over-all most popular topic was Henry VIII and mistresses (and any resulting children). Someday I’m going to have to put together a timeline chart of all the known and rumored affairs (and any resulting children, real or rumored).
– I think “The Other Boleyn Girl” actually edged out “The Tudors” in number of inquiries prompted by Tudor fiction. But, I think that is good evidence that people are digging further into the real history after encountering the fictionalized versions.
– Jewelry is a pretty popular topic (as mentioned with Anne Boleyn), but in particular rings and ring-wearing customs have shown up a number of times.
– Jane Parker Boleyn, Lady Rochford (I never know which of her associated names to use so people will know who I’m talking about…) and Jane Seymour were asked about quite a bit, perhaps because of recent books and television since both Janes showed up in the second season of “The Tudors” and Lady Rochford was featured in a non-fiction book. With Jane Seymour starting out season three of “The Tudors” this year, I expect more questions on her in 2009.
This is fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting this brief summary of interests.
Sure, no problem. I thought it was too interesting not to share. 🙂
I am not surprised Anne Boleyn should be the most inquired-about person. I wonder (maybe I should submit this properly) if anyone has recommendations about the absolute best books about her, fiction and history both. I’ve read Ives and would like more, particularly intelligently done historical novels.
Nancy – Yes, please do submit it for the Q&A blog, I’m sure people will have some recommendations. 🙂
Love it how a ‘hys’terical novel will drive people to find out the ‘truth’. That’s how my interest in the Tudors was started…good ol’ Anne Boleyn. I just couldn’t believe that a husband would chop of a wife’s head so needed to know the real whys and wherefores.
“The Tudors” TV series is a hoot…but then again, if it makes people search for the factual story, it is giving a service.
Yes…thanks for the list, Lara. Perhaps with all the questions about Annie One you should set up a section strictly for her…if it was feasible.
As for that timeline…what a great idea! 🙂
I think if I ever do get around to working on the FAQ again, there will be a lot of Anne Boleyn questions on it. If I recall correctly she already was on the big list of questions a few times, but the Q&A blog has brought up more. I could also address some of the questions on her section of the site (as opposed to a section of the FAQ), but that probably won’t happen any time soon either since I really need to re-work almost ALL of the sections of the site and some are even more neglected than Anne’s. 🙂