Tracy Borman - The House of Boleyn - Hever Castle and Gardens

Hever Castle holds all the Boleyn secrets... When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to a newly anointed King Henry VIII, he sets in train events that ensure the Boleyn name will never be forgotten.

Years later, as the King relentlessly pursues Thomas’s daughter Anne, Hever Castle becomes her refuge, where her trusted attendants and father must guide and protect her. Lavish gifts are sent by the King and the Boleyn family is given ever greater prominence at court, their glory shining over everything and everyone. Until ambition turns the family on itself, enemies press in and danger creeps through Hever’s halls. And as Henry’s gaze moves elsewhere when Anne cannot give him the heir he desperately seeks, the family faces a terrible, bloody fate.

In this illustrated talk based on her new novel, bestselling author, historian and broadcaster Tracy Borman brings the Boleyn family’s three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life. ‘Tracy Borman introduces us to a new character in Anne Boleyn’s story: Hever Castle itself. Amidst the comings and goings inside the castle walls we witness Anne’s meteoric rise and terrifying fall, while also sharing in the trials and triumphs of a compelling cast of characters. Beautifully written, Borman turns a familiar story on its head and takes you deep into the Tudor world.