OpenTube

The House of Boleyn with Tracy Borman | Youtube Edit

British History

18,145 views

Tracy Borman joined Philippa on the British History channel to talk about her new novel ‘The House of Boleyn’.

Get early access, BONUS content and ad-free viewing go to www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory and join for this and many other history lover benefits including discounts on events, exclusive talks, and to put your questions to future guests. This interview is out on 12th April on the British History Patreon.

Tracy tells us about how she tackled the challenge of blending history and fiction, and the inspiration for setting her novel The House of Boleyn at Hever Castle and how it offers a fresh perspective on Tudor family life. We also talked about how she explores the human side of the historical figures, especially Thomas Boleyn and Anne Boleyn, challenging outdated stereotypes.
Important to Tracy, and indeed her book, is the role of the servants at Hever Castle and she tells us how she used everyday household details to create authenticity—fireplaces, relationships with servants, and the sensory experience of Tudor life.

The House of Boleyn is out 23rd April 2027. Pre/order now and get shipped for free worldwide by copy and pasting this link to Blackwells - https://blackwells.pxf.io/L0DNr0
(this is an affiliate link which earns me a commission but adds no cost to you)

Chapters:
00:00 - Introducing the vision of blending historical accuracy and fiction in Tudor storytelling
00:38 - Why setting the novel at Hever Castle offers a unique perspective
02:08 - Challenging myths about Thomas Boleyn
03:15 - Exploring Anne Boleyn's true personality and motivations
04:08 - The significance of household life and daily routines in Tudor England
06:09 - The importance of authentic sensory details in historical fiction
08:28 - How visits to Hever Castle enriched the storytelling experience
10:02 - Handling the challenge of balancing facts with creative liberties
12:22 - The role of author's notes in clarifying historical versus fictional elements
13:46 - Discovering new insights during research, like Anne’s connections with Thomas Wyatt
17:15 - Painting a nuanced picture of Thomas Boleyn and his family relationships
18:37 - Anne Boleyn’s portrayal as a multi-dimensional character
20:54 - Developing complex relationships and character nuance
22:28 - The intriguing story of Anne’s grandmother Margaret Boleyn and real-life surprises
30:44 - Exploring lesser-known figures like Jane Boleyn and her evolving character
35:03 - The impact of research trips, including Vatican visits, on storytelling
39:14 - The disciplined routine behind creating historical fiction
43:54 - What readers can take away from Borman’s reimagined Tudor family life
44:32 - How to connect with Tracy Borman online and pre-order her new novel

Connect with Tracy
https://www.tracyborman.co.uk/
Instagram: tracy.borman

Thank you for watching this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more history videos here for you to watch including over 60 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.

Join my Patreon to enjoy ad-free, extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more, all for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can support me for free by commenting on this episode and subscribing to the channel.

Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.

Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack at Substack.com/ ⁨@BritishHistory⁩

20 Comments

@mariakane8213 3 months ago

I can listen to Tracy Borman for hours! She is an amazing historian! Thank you!

@kilkennygallery-zj6bd 5 months ago

Being a Butler, living near Kilkenny Castle I see it almost every day but never realised until watching this that Ann Boleyn's grandmother (also a Butler) was born there

@AnneWik 5 months ago

It says a lot about Thomas Boleyn that he educated Anne because he recognized her execptional intelligence. That was not ordinary. High education was usually reserved for boys.

@myahkgatsby7578 5 months ago

I search Youtube for content from Dr Tracy Borman on a daily basis. Can I just say how excited I am right now? 😂❤

@dionnegonsalves8188 5 months ago

Love Miss Borman' books 📚 she's definitely Ann Boleyn's greatest supporter!👍🏽 thank you both for a nice listening chit-chat. 😊🌷

@elizabethannegrey6285 5 months ago

“Downton Abbey meets the Boleyns.”
Wow! I’m going to order this book!

@slynnt78 5 months ago

What a lovely interview! I’m so excited that there’s now a fictional account that doesn’t grossly slander key characters for no reason!!

@Bookishtravels 5 months ago

This was a great show! Have met Tracy on a few occasions and has been such a pleasure, cannot wait to read this!

@oakavon 1 month ago

My cousin lives in Penshurst and her son worked at Hever, so I'm going out today to buy this book to immerse myself in holiday memories 😊

@paulaloud65 5 months ago (edited)

I loved this podcast with Tracy Borman. She is an amazing historian and still kindly gave a shout out to Claire Ridgeway for her extensive research re Anne Boleyn and Hever. I've enjoyed Claire's books on the Boleyns so it was wonderful to hear Tracy giving Claire a nod of approval. I enjoyed hearing how Hever is treated almost like one of the main characters in her new book. To write the book, I love how Tracy said it takes almost more research to write fiction to research the history AND the social history of the time...❤

@joanholg15 1 month ago (edited)

I’ve been fascinated by the Tudors & their world since I was a young teen. Now pushing 72, my interest has never faded. I have ordered the novel from Amazon & am looking forward to reading it. I have visited Anne’s resting place & next time I cross the pond, I’d like to visit Hever. I find it interesting that Elizabeth never placed either of her parents in more exalted burial spaces. Henry I can understand - he murdered her mother, but Anne was supposedly placed in an arrow chest.

@helenafarkas4534 5 months ago

I've long suspected - based in part on the pattern of dynastic marriages the Boleyns as a family had been making over the past several generations - that the Percy match would have been the height of Anne's marriage ambitions. that she never imagined herself as queen, but as Countess of Northumberland. and that part of her evident enjoyment of Wolsey's downfall was revenge for him spoiling that prospect for her.
and I've encountered the "Anne wasn't playing hard to get, she was trying to get away when she left court" theory before, and I have to say I agree wholeheartedly. because yes, take away the supposition that she knew she would eventually be queen - and your left with a king with a wandering eye and grabby hands, and SURELY if you absent yourself for a time he'll move on to the NECT lady to cross his path.

@ChewingGums 5 months ago

I finally got a chance to listen to this, Tracy is great and so knowledgeable great discussion Philippa 😊

@christysmith1058 5 months ago

This was very interesting and great questions. I really enjoy Tracy Borman interviews.

@Debso469 5 months ago

What a great interview

@hollymartins9791 5 months ago

This is a marvellous interview. Thank you so much and can’t wait to read Tracy’s new novel.🇦🇺

@amykortuem5554 5 months ago

Your interviews and conversations are the best, Philippa, and I loved this one with Tracy especially. What an amazing story she has created. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you both.

@lcw1819 1 month ago

I hope they make this book into a tv series or film with Tracey close by making sure its done properly and authentically 🙏

@scott6828 5 months ago

@11:02 that's exactly what makes the history of Ann Boleyn and her family a story of the ages! Their meteoric rise to power and their spectacular downfall!! It's a tragedy that's impossible not to love!