Amenable Women by Mavis Cheek - Good

Another fun, easy read.

Flora's husband is generally known as an eccentric. When he manages to get himself killed in a bizarre accident, Flora is assumed to be bereft. In fact, once she has accepted the situation, she comes into her own. She takes on the task of finishing the book her husband had been writing, on local history, and gets drawn into the the life of Anna of Cleves, researching and discovering that she wasn't quite as history has painted her.

Nice little book, nice updating of Anna's story (although Philippa Gregory has also done a good job of rehabilitating her), generally a nice read - although I must confess to being a little disappointed with one part of the ending. ( )

Loved this unusual story, well and amusingly told. Mavis Cheek is now on my favourite authors' list. This was the first of her books that I have read but I am now looking for more.

Oh, but I would love to see the red dress that Flora wore at the end of the story :-) ( )

Middle aged Flora who has lost her dashing but insufferable husband becomes interested in the history of Anna of Cleeves and fascinated by the Hans Holbein protrait of Anna that hangs in the Louvre. In researching Anna's story and liberating her from the "Flanders mare" label, Flora explores her own emergence as an intelligent and strong woman with some hilarious interactions with her neighbours and family.
A charming and witty story and i loved it. ( )

Flora's widowhood is a release, a second chance at life. She becomes fascinated with the story of Anna of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry the eigth, who had a home in their village of Hurcott Durcis. This becomes the story of two intelligent women who lived in the shadow of the men they married. ( )