Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn [Paperback]

Nell Gavin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

In 1536, Henry and Anne are at the mercy of influences outside their control, explosively incompatible, and caught in a marriage that ends in betrayal so shocking that Anne requires lifetimes to recover.

Henry, seemingly in defense of Anne (but more likely acting out of "stubborn perverseness," she observes), terrorizes England and decrees widespread political murder in order to protect her. Ultimately, to Anne's horror, this once passionate husband turns on her and has her executed as well.

Threads, a reincarnation fantasy, opens with Anne's execution. Her fury at her husband s betrayal has enough momentum to survive centuries, but in Threads she learns that she has been assigned a hard task: she must review their history together through a number of past lives, and find it within herself to forgive him. This may prove difficult and take some time. The husband in question is Henry Tudor, the notorious Henry VIII. The narrator is the stubborn, volatile Anne Boleyn, who is not at all inclined to forgive. 

It is a very unusual love story.

William Faulkner Competition finalist for best novel. 

Nell Gavin is also author of HANG ON, which was awarded the Living Now Book Awards silver medal, and was chosen by Red Adept Reviews as a "Red Adept Select" title voted "outstanding in its genre."

Editorial Reviews

Review

** FIVE STARS ** Nell Gavin does a remarkable job of reaching into the essence of Anne Boleyn. Brava. -- Jack Mauro, author of Spite Hall and Enola's Wedding

** FIVE STARS ** Threads is not your run-of-the-mill historical novel...Nell Gavin's imagination shines through and her research is meticulous. -- Curled Up With a Good Book

** FIVE STARS ** Threads will find its way onto the "top ten life-changing books" lists of many future readers... -- Ian R. Thorpe, poet, broadcaster and author

A beautifully woven tapestry. -- Independent Book Publishers Online, June 2002

This is a strong, smart, captivating work. --Writers Digest --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

2000 William Faulkner Competition finalist for best novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 355 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing.com (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074140916X
• ISBN-13: 978-0741409164
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This story is a continuing marvel; buy it in hardcover!, February 27, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn (Paperback)

Never, ever have I even considered writing a review, but this book deserves far, far more praise than it has received. The language is elegant and jewel-like and the story is transcendant. The use of the Hindu concept of reincarnation and the historically notorious relationship of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII are wonderful devices to explore love, trust, betrayal and forgiveness, in all types of relationships, throughout time. "Each society-each group within each society-chooses something with which to assign inferiority. ... Among the powerful, it is the powerless; among the rich, it is the poor; among the men, it is the women. ... Neither side sees the humanity in the other. Both sides are equally wrong in this." There are so many levels to the passionate, intricate and exquisitely expressed stories told here. It is a story of love, forgiveness, choice and redemption with some of the most beautiful contemporary prose I've ever had the pleasure to read. And I'm really glad my copy is hardcover, although I may have to order a softcover to loan to friends. I'm not letting my copy out of the house.

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Fiction for the Liberally Minded History Buff, January 24, 2004

By 

Jennifer B. Barton "Beth Barton" (McKinney, Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn (Paperback)

Threads is a great book for the history buff. Though it is fiction, it is more like a historical fiction (it has a bibliography in the back). It is not quite a historical fiction either though as the disembodied spirit of Ann Boleyn relates in the first person the details of her life with Henry VIII as well as their relationships in several other lives, including more recently in America. Although the context of the review is that this was just one of many lives, the bulk of the story deals exclusively with her life as Ann Boleyn with occasional references to a former life in Egypt as a wife turned prostitute and a enjoyable stint in a traveling circus in another time and place.

Ms. Gavin is careful to try to maintain historical accuracy about the characters involved even though this is a fictional novel. A short notes section tells readers when she has deviated from accepted history in favor of plot. I can't help but feel that the selection of the historical figure of Ann Boleyn constrained Ms. Gavin's apparent talent. Each additional "character" is by nature a historical figure requiring ever more restraint by Gavin to maintain historical accuracy. Therefore, there are comparatively fewer characters involved throughout the story than there might have been had the main character not been a figure of historical reknown. Character development of Hal and the Chinese mother-in-law, as well as dialogue between Ann and Henry in their American life shows that Ms. Gavin has what it takes to write enjoyable fiction. I would love to see what she could do with her imagination not given such boundaries from the outset.

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Threads is an unforgettable novel..., October 15, 2004

By 

Nancy L. Mehl "Author" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn (Paperback)

Nell Gavin has brought Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, to vibrant life in her unusual historical novel, "Threads." Anne's path from that of an unloved and abused young girl, to the position of Queen of England, is presented by Anne herself as she looks back upon the circumstances that eventually led to her execution. Although there really isn't a lot of actual historical information about Anne, Gavin has created believable personalities with strengths and weaknesses, imperfections and understandable desires. Using a combination of fact and legend, she tells a story of passion, obsession, and heartbreak that will capture readers with its depth and humanity.

Gavin uses the fictional concept of reincarnation to showcase all of the characters that make up what is truly a tragic tale of love and betrayal. In several different "reincarnations," Anne and Henry, along with family, friends, and lost loves, are placed into different life situations, each one exploring another facet of personality and circumstances. The technique is unique, intriguing, and in the end, beautifully coaxes the dark ghosts of a long dead past into the present for an introduction readers won't soon forget.

"Threads" is a remarkable effort. It is, without a doubt, one of the best historical novels I've every read. I give it my very highest recommendation!