In 1537, amidst England's religious turmoil, fifteen-year-old Anne Askew is forced to take her dead sister's place in an arranged marriage The witty, well-educated daughter of a Lincolnshire knight, Anne is determined to free herself from her abusive husband, harsh in-laws, and the cruel strictures of her married life. But this is the England of Henry VIII, where religion and politics are dangerously entangled. A young woman of Anne's fierce independence, Reformist faith, uncanny command of plainspoken scripture, and-not least-connections to Queen Katheryn Parr's court cannot long escape official notice, or censure. In a deft blend of history and imagination, award-winning novelist Rilla Askew brings to life a young woman who defied the conventions of her time, ultimately braving torture and the fires of martyrdom for her convictions.
"Ruth Redman gives an enthusiastic narration of Rilla Askew's latest novel, the true story of Anne Askew (no relation to the author), a Protestant writer and poet who lived during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII. As the story unfolds from Anne's point of view, the listener is drawn in by Redman's compelling narration. Events include Anne's marriage to her late sister's fianc�--a cruel and dogmatic Catholic--and her later persecution for spreading Protestantism by warring factions in King Henry's court in the last years of his life. Audiobooks can breathe life into little-known historical figures; in Anne Askew, Redman accomplishes this task with compassion. Listeners will find much in this audiobook to admire. D.G. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
