Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History

Summary

A provocative exploration of the life of Anne Boleyn through a feminist lens, examining her influence on the reformation and relevance for a new generation.

In a story that has intrigued people for generations, this Queen of England has been portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator and as a patsy in the schemes of fathers and kings. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a woman who was desired by the King and found a way to insist on an outcome other than becoming his mistress. She claimed power in a profoundly disempowering situation and was able to exert enormous influence and vision on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe, as a result. In this exploration of her life through the lens of a female priest in the Anglican Communion, listeners will see a woman whose choices and personality continues to contribute to the conversation around women in history and how she remains the subject of fascination.