Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History
May 2026 · Church Publishing, Inc.
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A provocative exploration of the iconic Anne Boleyn, her influence on Europe’s political and religious landscape during her life, and why she matters today, from the perspective of a female priest in the Anglican Church.
In a story that has intrigued readers for generations, this Queen of England has been portrayed through many of the tropes we typically use to discuss women, including as a seductress and a power-hungry manipulator. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a complex woman who was pursued and then killed by the King and yet claimed what power she could to exert enormous influence on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe. As Tatarnic convincingly argues, Anne’s religious convictions are the root of everything we know about her, including why she caught the king’s eye, why her road to queenship included breaking from the Roman church, and why she died. The fact that this has been buried in the larger conversations about her life reflects the way that history has traditionally been told—through men’s stories. In this exploration of Anne’s life through this unique lens, you will examine what has been hiding in plain sight and draw connections between historical evidence and the stories we tell about Anne. You’ll meet a woman who was mentored by a unique group of female reformers, whose choices and personality continue to shape the conversation about women in history, and who remains one of the most captivating historical figures.
In a story that has intrigued readers for generations, this Queen of England has been portrayed through many of the tropes we typically use to discuss women, including as a seductress and a power-hungry manipulator. A closer examination of her ascent to power and her reign reveals instead a complex woman who was pursued and then killed by the King and yet claimed what power she could to exert enormous influence on the English Reformation, and therefore on the political and religious landscape of Europe. As Tatarnic convincingly argues, Anne’s religious convictions are the root of everything we know about her, including why she caught the king’s eye, why her road to queenship included breaking from the Roman church, and why she died. The fact that this has been buried in the larger conversations about her life reflects the way that history has traditionally been told—through men’s stories. In this exploration of Anne’s life through this unique lens, you will examine what has been hiding in plain sight and draw connections between historical evidence and the stories we tell about Anne. You’ll meet a woman who was mentored by a unique group of female reformers, whose choices and personality continue to shape the conversation about women in history, and who remains one of the most captivating historical figures.
A provocative exploration of the iconic Anne Boleyn, her influence on Europe’s political and religious landscape during her life, and why she matters today, from the perspective of a female priest in the Anglican Church.
In a story that has intrigued readers for generations, this Queen of Englan...
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Ratings and reviews
1 review
Andrea Romance
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June 1, 2026
I loved this! I’ve read a lot of books about Anne Boleyn, but this author’s personal perspective is unique and informative. We tend to talk about Henry VIII reforming the English church—but as this author points out, while Henry was the instrument, Anne was the guiding force. Her intellect drove the changes. I also like how the author frames Anne as the victim of intimate partner violence, which helps contextualize how we understand Anne’s life and death. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
About the author
Martha Tatarnic is a contributor to Christian Century, The Anglican Journal, and Canadian Running. Her long-time blog for the Canadian Anglican Church and Ministry Matters is available on the Medium.com platform. She is the author of Why Gather? and co-host of the Future Christian podcast. She is a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada and rector at St. George’s Anglican Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she lives.
Martha Tatarnic is a contributor to Christian Century, The Anglican Journal, and Canadian Running. Her long-time blog for the Canadian Anglican Church and Ministry Matters is available on the Medium.com platform. She is the author of Why Gather? and co-host of the Future Christian podcast. She is...
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