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Author Bio:
ROZSA GASTON is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.
She is the author of Margaret of Austria, ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ of the ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ of the ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ด ๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ of the ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ for Pre-1750s Historical Fiction.
Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, Black is Not a Color, Budapest Romance, Running from Love, and Dog Sitters.
Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her Master's degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor magazine, then as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian.
She is currently working on a book on Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's court. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.
Her motto? History matters.
Editorial Review:
Anne Boleyn. Thereโs a new book out about Anne Boleyn and itโs an amazing read. This reviewer will not be alone in thinking that Anne is one of the most compelling, enigmatic and admirable historical figures in English history. Even better, this novel is packed full of history, of deftly-woven research, of the people of Anneโs life and times. And of course Anne herself, living at the court of Margaret of Austria, before she married the English King who ended her life. Although Anneโs exact birthdate is uncertain, it is generally understood she was a teenager during her time at Margaretโs Court. Here we see Anne, young, still learning about life, but already showing signs of the formidable force she would become.ย
โAnne tried to eat, but the lump in her throat made every bite an ordeal, much as her day had been. Her only friend at the Court of Savoy, thus far, was Barbe. And now she saw that Barbeโs other friend would be a foe. Taking another bite, her heart hardened. She had played this game back home, when cousins visited and three was a crowd. It seemed she would need to refresh her skills here.
Then sharpen them.โ
Right from the start of the novel, the settings are richly described, and the people come to life within the pages of Gastonโs novel. The references to paintings, to language, to manners and food and status all highlight Anneโs position to the reader and her uncertainty โ and excitement โ at her new surroundings.ย
ย ย
โAnne kept her mouth closed as she nodded. Back home her mouth was usually open. But her French was not good enough for her to speak as much as she would back in England.
Biting her tongue, she curtseyed to her tutor and left, feeling like a muzzled racehorse. How she longed for the day when she would be able to fully express herself.โ
The secondary characters are well-developed and their interactions with Anne move the story forward. It is wonderful to read of so many strong female figures, including Margaret of Austria and Anneโs many friends and acquaintances at Court. The authorโs approach leaves the reader with a lasting impression of women who are intelligent, who are genuine, who discuss their opinions and have agency, although to varying degrees, as is to be expected for those times. The charisma of Maximillian and other men in Anneโs sphere is obvious from both the dialogue between the women and the way in which historical comment and fact is disclosed as part of the narrative. The use of language also appears authentic, with references to both French and Latin as well as English in the text.
The narrative contains several fascinating maps, portraits and other illustrations. These add to the experience of reading about Anne and her life at the Court, but some readers may find such inserts interrupt the flow of the novel.
The character arcs are obviously based on the authorโs comprehensive research, but this book is so much more than merely a recounting of fact. Gaston has produced a work that is well-paced and clearly shows the development of Anne against the background of the Court intrigues and machinations. The dialogue is believable and balances history with natural conversation. Anneโs conversations with those women who are jealous or not true friends are particularly insightful. The author has clearly given thought to the character development of each person in the story, whether they are only mentioned in passing, or are one of the more central figures.
ย โAnne Boleyn at Margaret of Austriaโs Courtโ has many standout features, but the highlight is the completely immersive nature of Gastonโs writing. It is as though the reader is at Court with Anne, giggling with her new friends, trying to fit in, learning a new language and listening to talk about politics and future husbands. It is impossible not to reflect on where the latter goal led Anne, but surely it is preferable to focus on her living her life with such exuberance, and, well, sass. Gastonโs novel is a wonderful glimpse into history and a reminder of Anne Boleynโs enduring legacy as a woman who was ahead of her times, and paid the ultimate price.
Gastonโs own Authorโs Note may be a fitting epitaph:
โDeciphering the enigma that was Anne Boleyn is like trying to catch the wind. My intent is to leave readers with a lingering impression of what influences England's most controversial Queen came under as she moved from girlhood to womanhood at Margaret of Austria's Habsburg imperial court.
Anne Boleyn was larger than life - more vivacious, more witty, more impassioned, more headstrong, more ambitious, more vengeful, more determined than most of the rest of us. All of which led her to England's throne as Henry VIII's Queen, and then to the scaffold, transforming her into legend.โ
*****
"Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austriaโs Court" by Rozsa Gaston receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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