TY - BOOK AU - Weir,Alison TI - Anna of Kleve: queen of secrets T2 - Six Tudor queens SN - 9781472227737 U1 - 823.92 23 PY - 2019/// CY - London, England PB - Headline Review KW - Anne KW - Queens KW - Great Britain KW - Fiction KW - History KW - Henry VIII, 1509-1547 KW - England KW - Court and courtiers KW - 16th century KW - Historical fiction KW - lcgft KW - Biographical fiction N1 - "Published in the United Kingdom as Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets by Headline Review, an imprint of the Headline Publishing Group, London."; Includes bibliographical references N2 - The King is in love with Anna's portrait, but she has none of the accomplishments he seeks in a new bride. She prays she will please Henry, for the balance of power in Europe rests on this marriage alliance. But Anna's past is never far from her thoughts, and the rumours rife at court could be her downfall. Everyone knows the King won't stand for a problem queen; "Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to ensure the royal succession. Forty-six, overweight, and suffering from gout, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe's most eligible princesses. Anna of Kleve, from a small German duchy, is twenty-four, and has a secret she is desperate to keep hidden. Henry commissions her portrait from his court painter, who depicts her from the most flattering perspective. Entranced by the lovely image, Henry is bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. Some think her attractive, but Henry knows he can never love her. What follows is the fascinating story of an awkward royal union that somehow had to be terminated. Even as Henry begins to warm to his new wife and share her bed, his attention is captivated by one of her maids-of-honor. Will he accuse Anna of adultery as he did Queen Anne Boleyn, and send her to the scaffold? Or will he divorce her and send her home in disgrace?"-- ER -