The Beheading Game

A reincarnated Anne Boleyn pursues personal and social justice in this playful work of speculative historical fiction from poet Lehmann (The Sweating Sickness). Following her 1536 beheading, Anne awakes in a box, escapes, and sews her head back on. Deeply concerned about her daughter, Elizabeth, she flees London for seedy Southwark, where she’s shocked to hear people exulting at the death of the “whore queen” and begs help from a prostitute named Alice, who agrees to put her up in the brothel where she works. Anne claims to be running away from her abusive husband to rescue her daughter. Alice, suppressing her suspicion that there’s more to the story, takes Anne to her family in the swampy fenlands. There, Anne realizes that courtly life and her self-satisfaction in pushing reforms have blinded her to the plight of the common people. After telling Alice the truth, Anne makes plans to return to London, where she hopes to finally bring her agenda to fruition. Lehmann offers deep character work, portraying Anne’s early self-righteous naivete and discovery of her political savvy, and she successfully pairs a thrilling plot with a complex reflection on the limits of women’s power. Readers will be delighted. Agent: Renée Zuckerbrot, Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary. (Mar.)