Hello everyone,

My name is Kelly, and it’s lovely to meet you all. I’ll admit that blogging is out of my comfort zone, so please bear with me while I figure this new world out. Right now, I feel a little bit like Bambi on ice. However, I’m really excited for this new experience and what the future might hold for this little project.

Enough about that – let me tell you what this blog is all about and why now feels like the perfect time to start this journey. I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature (yay, me!). While literature has always been a passion of mine, history has held a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember. So, to my younger self’s delight, I am now studying an MRes in History – it truly feels like a dream come true.

My love for history began in a way I think many people of my generation can relate to: watching Horrible Histories. It seems crazy that a childhood TV series would go on to inspire my career path, but from the second I saw Mathew Baynton sing dressed as Dick Turpin, I knew I had to learn more about the people of the past. I feel like I have to give a special mention here to Ben Willbond and Martha Howe-Douglas for their truly incredible portrayals of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I throughout the series.

Fast forward two years later and my fascination with the Tudors (Anne Boleyn in particular) took root. I vividly remember sitting in my Year Six classroom learning about the six wives of Henry VIII. My teacher, dressed as Anne Boleyn, was running away from the executioner in a dramatic reenactment. Ten-year-old me was completely and utterly captivated by her – the queen charged with witchcraft. Of course, I know now that Anne didn’t flee her execution and wasn’t actually accused of being a witch, but back then, I was in awe.

From that moment on, Anne Boleyn became a key figure in my life. I spent years reading about her, researching her life, and learning everything I could. She became a role model for my teenage self in so many ways, and she inspires me still to this day.

In my undergraduate dissertation, I had the privilege of writing about Anne’s literary legacy – examining how she had been represented in books, media, and popular culture. Now, at twenty-two and finally studying history, I have the chance to study her life and legacy in even greater depth. While I’m still in the early stages of planning my dissertation and can’t share all the details yet, I’m beyond excited to explore Anne’s world from a historian’s perspective.

This blog is a space to share my passion for Anne Boleyn (and the Tudors). Here, I’ll document my journey as I research and write my dissertation, dive into Anne’s life and legacy, and spark discussions with fellow enthusiasts. My hope is that this becomes a community where we can connect, debate, and celebrate our shared love for history.

For more frequent updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses into my research, and bite-sized Tudor history posts, you can also follow me on Instagram at @theanneboleyndiaries. It’s a great way to stay connected, join the conversation, and share your thoughts!

Thank you so much for reading and for joining me on this journey.

See you in the next post,

Kelly

P.S. Welcome to The Anne Boleyn Diaries.