Estelle Paranque, Thorns, Lust and Glory

Anne Boleyn has mesmerised the English public for centuries. Her tragic execution, orchestrated by her own husband, never ceases to intrigue. How did this courtier’s daughter become the queen of England, and what was it that really tore apart this illustrious marriage, making her the whore of England, an abandoned woman executed on the scaffold? While many stories of Anne Boleyn’s downfall have been told, few have truly traced the origins of her tragic fate.

Join Estelle Paranque, historian and acclaimed author of Blood, Fire and Gold: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici, for a fascinating new perspective on Tudor history’s most enduring story.

This event will include an audience Q&A. After the event there will be an opportunity to get your book signed by the author.

Part of The History Books: Step back in time for a series of fascinating conversations at the beautiful Layer Marney Tower. Boasting the UK’s tallest Tudor Gatehouse and stunning grounds, no wonder it was one of Henry VIII’s favourite Tudor Palaces. Visit The History Books page for more details.

Sunday 30 June, 2.00pm

Venue: Layer Marney Tower, Near Colchester, CO5 9US
Tickets: £14 (includes entrance to Layer Marney Tower)
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

Event ticket include free entry to Layer Marney Tower and Gardens.

Make a day of it! The History Books Ticket Deal: All three events for £36. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout when tickets for all 3 events are booked:
12.00pm – Ysenda Maxtone Graham
2.00pm – Estelle Paranque
4.00pm – Simon Heffer

Thorns, Lust and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn by Estelle Paranque

Published 2 May 2024 (Ebury Press)

Order a copy of Thorns, Lust and Glory at bookshop.org

A fascinating new perspective on Tudor history’s most enduring story, from historian and acclaimed author of Blood, Fire and Gold: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici.

Anne Boleyn has mesmerised the English public for centuries. Her tragic execution, orchestrated by her own husband, never ceases to intrigue. How did this courtier’s daughter become the queen of England, and what was it that really tore apart this illustrious marriage, making her the whore of England, an abandoned woman executed on the scaffold? While many stories of Anne Boleyn’s downfall have been told, few have truly traced the origins of her tragic fate.

In Thorns, Lust and Glory, Estelle Paranque takes us back to where it all started: to France, where Anne learned the lessons that would set her on the path to becoming one of England’s most infamous queens. At the court of the French king as a resourceful teenage girl, Anne’s journey to infamy began, and this landmark biography explores the world that shaped her, and how these loyalties would leave her vulnerable, leading to her ruin at the court of Henry VIII.

About the Author

Dr Estelle Paranque is an Associate Professor in History at Northeastern University London s well as an Honorary Research Fellow within the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance at the University of Warwick. She earned a PhD in Early Modern European History from University College London in 2016. She has participated in international historical TV documentaries including the BBC TWO The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family (2021) and Channel 4 The Queens Who Changed the World (2023). She appears regularly on podcasts and gives talks to prestigious history and literary festivals. She is the author and editor of 6 books, including the recent Blood, Fire and Gold: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici, which was a Times Book of the Week.

Estelle is on Twitter at @DrEstellePrnq and on Youtube