I owe a debt of gratitude to several kind people for their assistance with this book. To Nicola Tallis, who is surely destined to be one of our great popular historians of the future, for so generously sending me her research paper and numerous related documents on Mary Boleyn, and for encouraging me to write this book and listening so enthusiastically to my arguments. To Douglas Richardson, for emailing me so much helpful information and for his very judicious observations on the paternity of Mary’s Carey children. To Anthony Hoskins, for so kindly sending me copies of his article “Mary Boleyn’s Carey Children” and his unpublished responses to Lady Antonia Fraser’s views on that article, with other related essays, letters, and press cuttings. Anthony, we may not agree on all points, but it was so generous of you personally to share all this, and your conclusions, with me. To Carole Richmond, who—just as I was finishing revising the text—very kindly drew my attention to, and sent me, Elizabeth Griffiths’ groundbreaking article on the Boleyns at Blickling, which has proved invaluable. To Josephine Wilkinson, author of Mary Boleyn, for assistance with sources and permission to publish her theory on the “sister” who was present when Anne Boleyn miscarried in 1536.
I should like to thank my historian friends, Tracy Borman, Sarah Gristwood, Siobhan Clarke, and Susan Ronald, for all the lively discussions about this book, and their professional support while I was writing it.
My agent, Julian Alexander—is it really twenty-three years we’ve been working together?—has been, as ever, enthusiastic and dynamic in his advocacy of my work, and always a friendly and encouraging voice at the other end of the phone. In a year in which we have set up my own historical tours company, at Julian’s suggestion, he has worked indefatigably to get us off the ground while supporting me in my writing career. That’s some feat!
I wish also to thank my professional colleagues, Siobhan Clarke and John Marston, for shouldering many of the administrative burdens of Alison Weir Tours Ltd., so that I could get on with finishing this book. And to my lovely husband, Rankin, the mainstay of my life, thank you for shouldering nearly everything else, and for the occasional glass of wine placed on my desk when the stress gets too much!
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my dear mother, Doreen Cullen, for all her selfless support of my work over the years, and for her unending enthusiasm, praise, and encouragement.
I am singularly blessed in having three outstanding editors. A huge thank-you goes to my commissioning editor, Will Sulkin, and to my editorial director, Anthony Whittome, without whose brilliant creative support and boundless interest and enthusiasm this work would not be in print. I want to thank you also, Tony, for all the excellent work you have done on my books over the past twelve years, and for being such a wonderful friend. I feel very privileged to be one of the authors you have chosen to work with following your much-lamented retirement. I have learned so much from you, and it is thanks to you that I am much more knowledgeable about writing and publishing books than I was twelve years ago.
I wish also to acknowledge all the support and advice given to me by my American editor, Susanna Porter, and her lovely team, who welcomed me so warmly to New York last summer. I’d like to make special mention of my publicists too: Lisa Barnes at Ballantine, Clara Womersley at Jonathan Cape, and Ruta Liormonas at Doubleday, and to thank them for all their hard and highly professional work on my behalf, and for making publicity such fun.
Finally, I should like to acknowledge all the efforts put in on my behalf by the unsung heroes of the publishing team at Jonathan Cape and Random House, notably: Neil Bradford, Sophie Hartley, and Kay Peddle.
I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Alison Weir
Carshalton, Surrey
January 2011