Fascinating characters in the story of \u2018I am Henry\u2019<\/h3>\n
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Part of a blog series about ‘I am Henry,’ the new novel and award-winning short film of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, by Jan Hendrik Verstaten & Massimo Barbato<\/i>. <\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\nHenry VIII and Anne Boleyn are the two main characters in the book. Catherine of Aragon and her first living son Henry, the Duke of Cornwall, who tragically died within two months of his birth, also contribute to the story in an important way. These four characters each tell part of the story in their own voice and from their perspective, with Henry and Anne being the most consequential and frequent ones. <\/p>\n
There are a lot of other characters that appear in the book. Who are they?<\/p>\n
From the four other wives of Henry VIII Catherine Parr and Anne of Cleves are only mentioned briefly in the book. Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard both make a short but memorable appearance and share their opinion on their former husband and king. Jane Seymour, Henry\u2019s third wife who gave him a son and an heir, does this in a soft spoken but unmistakable way.<\/p>\n
Catherine Howard does not hide her passionate temperament and just like Henry\u2019s other ex-wives, does not shy away from handing out the truth as she sees it.<\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\nHenry\u2019s parents, Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, appear early in the book. Together they were the founders of the Tudor dynasty and both were equally zealous and dedicated to the Tudor cause. Henry\u2019s father speaks in an earnest and loving way to his son. <\/p>\n
A more surprising encounter takes place with Henry\u2019s brother Arthur, the Prince of Wales who was destined to be the king. Henry VIII was always thought of as the spare, but due to Arthur\u2019s untimely death Henry\u2019s fate changes dramatically.
\nFrom Henry\u2019s children it is Elizabeth I who in the end, just as in history itself, concludes the story.<\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\nGeorge Boleyn, Anne\u2019s bright elder brother visits her. His fate was very much dependent on his sister\u2019s. Early on, when she had to decide what kind of relationship to have with the king, his advice played a deciding factor. Later, he was accused of incest with Anne and of conspiracy to kill the king.
\nAnne\u2019s first love, Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, also comes to see Anne. They kept their love a secret. When it became public knowledge, their love was forbidden, and the two were separated.<\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\nSeveral religious figures, but also friends and members of his privy chamber, show up in the book. Their identities are occasionally disguised at first only to be revealed later,as the plot unfolds. With them, historical events are brought back to life. Like the Carthusian monks who were publicly executed during the dissolution of the monasteries.<\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\nThe Vice-Admiral of the warship Mary Rose George Carew shares with Henry and re-lives the fateful sinking of the ship. <\/p>\n
Others like Henry\u2019s closest friend and ally Charles Brandon who later became his brother-in-law after he married Henry\u2019s sister Mary Tudor, are briefly present, as is his chief minister Thomas Cromwell.<\/p>\n
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<\/center><\/p>\n<\/center><\/p>\n\nClick on the cover for ordering information:<\/p>\n
Fascinating characters in the story of \u2018I am Henry\u2019 Part of a blog series about ‘I am Henry,’ the new novel and award-winning short film of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, by Jan Hendrik Verstaten & Massimo Barbato. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are the two main characters in the…<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.tudorhistory.org\/blogpics\/I_am_henry_front_cover-sm.jpg\")
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