The Big Idea
These eighteen letters document the pursuit of Anne Boleyn by a man who is simultaneously a desperate suitor and the most powerful person in England. Writing from hunting lodges and palaces, Henry VIII negotiates Anne's refusal to return to court, sends her 'hart flesh' to symbolize his own heart, and frets over her bouts of illness. The correspondence reveals a monarch caught between the 'pain of absence' and the intellectual labor of his 'book,' which he studies for hours to justify his impending divorce. The tone shifts from formal declarations of service to impatient requests for Anne to hasten their meeting, culminating in the logistical delays of a papal legate.
Who's named
- Henry VIII
The King of England and self-described 'loyal servant' to Anne.
- Anne Boleyn
The recipient who remains at a distance from the royal court.
- Cardinal Wolsey
A high-ranking prelate involved in the King's legal and marital affairs.
- Walter Welze
A messenger tasked with writing letters regarding family disputes.
What it's really about
- The Agony of Distance
- Henry frequently personifies Absence as a tormenting enemy.
- Sacrificial Affection
- The King offers to bear half of Anne's physical illnesses.
Why it's memorable
- The King sending a bracelet with his portrait to serve as a physical proxy for himself.
- A gift of venison sent to represent the King's own 'hart' or heart.
What it concludes
The correspondence concludes with the King waiting for a sickly legate to settle the business of his marriage.
For your book club
- How the King’s self-identification as a 'servant' contrasts with his absolute political power.
- The role of physical gifts in bridging the gap between medieval courtly love and royal marriage.