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10:00 pm
July 9, 2009
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I just finished Robin Maxwell's Mademoiselle Boleyn, a fictionalized account of Anne's days at the French court. I'm sure some of you have read it. One interesting historical fact I learned from the book is that playing cards have had queens in the deck since the reign of Francois I, around the time Anne was at court. (I love her connection to card games. Eventually I want to get a tattoo combining elements of playing cards with one of Anne's mottos.) I also loved the idea that Anne could have known the Maestro himself, Leonardo Da Vinci. When I went to Rome a few years ago there was a Leonardo sketch at the Vatican. It seemed extra special because I was surrounded by Michaelangelos and saw a Raphael piece or two, but there was just the one Da Vinci. It never ceases to fascinate me that he concieved of things like airplanes, military tanks, and helicopters years before the ideas were actually put to action. In Mademoiselle Boleyn, the court is shocked by a mechanical lion Leonardo has built that is presented to King Francois. Well, he did actually invent one and present it to Francois, and the Chateau de Clos Luce in Amboise, France, has recreated the it. Here is a link, with (creepy) video, of themechanical lion:
http://in.reuters.com/article/…..38;sp=true
This is what Anne may have seen while at the French court!
Ainsi sera, groigne qui groigne.
10:42 pm
June 20, 2009
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I love that book. I think it was well written, and gave me at least, some picture of what her life might have been like there. I would like to think she met Da Vinci..
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
12:27 am
June 23, 2009
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I loved this book so much I bought it and read it about four times. Love the DaVinci connections in it, and yes I found the introduction of the queens into playing decks fascinating also.
Diem et animus scire cupio: I desire knowledge of the soul.
4:51 pm
June 27, 2009
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I loved reading this novel as well! One of my all-time favorite books, on Anne & in general. it was very well-written and gave a great depiction of what Anne's life may have been like in France..& I loved the whole anne/da vinci friendship. I've always greatly admired da vinci so i'd love to think that they had indeed met
Anne Boleyn: Laetissima
"for all those who meddle in my cause, i require them to judge the best"
6:05 am
August 17, 2009
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I bought and am thinking of rereading it. Very well written and it does a good job at 'filling in the gaps' of Anne's early life. Great read, not only for Anne fans but all readers in general!
8:48 am
February 24, 2010
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I love this book. A great read. We get a peek as to what it must have been like when Anne was at the French court. DaVinci was such a genius, and it is nice to think that Anne may have known him and formed a bond with him.
3:38 pm
June 7, 2010
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I agree with you all. Mademoiselle Boleyn is a great book, and one that presents a believable portrayl of Anne as a young girl. There is so much we don't know about Anne in for formative years that it is maddening. Robin Maxwell does a great job of bringing life in the French court to life. I love how Anne and DaVinci were contemporaries: two of the greats from the Renaissance era! I actually enjoy most of Maxwell's books, especially The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn.
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
10:15 am
February 24, 2010
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Oh yes, that was a good one, too. I enjoy Robin Maxwell. She stays pretty close to historical facts in her books. Make for enjoyable reading. I don't sit there thinking…”well it didn't happen that way,” or “What?”
5:26 pm
July 24, 2010
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I recently just finished this book also, and I really liked it! I was very glad to know that Anne had a deep connection to France (my ancestry is from the South of France) The book filled in missing questions for me, and I was really happy with Leonardo DaVinci in the novel and the friendship that he made with Anne.. it was very touching. Also, I didn't know that playing cards did not have Queens on them until Francois' reign. It was cute how Leonardo made her a Queen in the deck (predicting the future, anyone?)
'For her behaviour, manners, attire and tongue she excelled them all.'
