Another highlight is Barnes not embarking on the “As you know, Bob”- method of explaining historical figures and events which is so common in HF novels making “Brief Gaudy Hour” great for both novice and expert readers on the topic.īarnes does takes historical liberties in the novel (with the relationship between Anne and Henry Percy, with Anne’s governess being the one to push her into the King’s bed, and with the existence of a stepmother, etc) and also displays dated errors in the historical timeline of events. In fact, all of the characters in “Brief Gaudy Hour” are well-rounded and have ample arcs. This is one of the strongest HF novels in terms of depicting Anne as a ‘real person’ with regular growth. It is quite refreshing to not have Anne be either too much of an angel or oppositely too much of a whore, as most novels depict her. Nor does she instigate Henry’s divorce from Queen Katherine with Henry VIII already following that path on his own. In Barnes’s novel, Anne doesn’t strive for the King’s bed or to necessarily rise on the Court ladder. “Brief Gaudy Hour” focuses on an embellished plotline of Anne Boleyn’s relationship and love for Henry Percy. “Brief Gaudy Hour” is more akin to literary historical fiction novels than many contemporary novels (this was published in 1949). Also delightful is Barnes’s ratio of literary language with accurate historical speech.

Yet, this is softened by a tone strong in historical settings, making the novel vivid and illustrative (albeit, sometimes it is too stiff). “Brief Gaudy Hour” has a narrative voice which won’t satisfy all readers, reminiscent of a theatrical play with an external narrator. However, don’t give up on “Brief Gaudy Hour” just yet as it noticeably quickens in pace and improves in its plotline around page 80. There is a sense of detachment in Barnes’s work both in terms of the characters and the plot. True to traditional Barnes style, “Brief Gaudy Hour” suffers from a slow start with large lapses in chronological storytelling. Margaret Campbell Barnes allures readers with an introspective view of Anne Boleyn in, “Brief Gaudy Hour”. However, lesser known (quite near nonexistent), is any evidence of her personal stance on the situation and the state of her heart. The story of Anne Boleyn as mistress-turned-queen to Henry VIII is well-known.

Brief gaudy hour