Mailbox Monday - March 5, 2012

Mailbox Monday is now on tour! It is being hosted this month by Diary of an Eccentric. To find out more about the history of Mailbox Monday and a list of future hosts visit the Mailbox Monday site.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!

Only one this week.


Threads, Nell Gavin

I've been waiting for this one for a LONG time and I finally made it to the front of the waiting list on Paperbackswap.com. The author takes a really different look at Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII's relationship, showing them connected throughout many lifetimes.

Book Review: To Die For

To Die For, Sandra Byrd
4 roses

I was honored to receive this novel for an early review and to participate in the author's virtual book tour (details here). Sandra Byrd has written an interesting story about the life of Meg Wyatt, sister of Thomas Wyatt and close friend to Anne Boleyn.

Having read novels covering the tumultuous years of the Tudors it is always refreshing to read a novel that comes from the view point of a person that is little known to history, thus giving an old story new life. That is the case with Ms. Byrd's newest work. In To Die For the author follows the life of Margaret Wyatt, a person rarely mentioned in Tudor novels. The Boleyns and the Wyatts grew up "next door" to each other and Anne and Meg became very close friends. Meg watched Anne's fabulous rise to power and her ultimate downfall all the while having to navigate the tricky and devious ways of the Tudor Court in order to survive.

I found the book an interesting read, though not a very in depth or heavy book. As I have read countless novels covering all aspects of this time period there weren't any new historical details introduced to me but Ms Byrd did a good job of not butchering history either. However, I think this novel's strength is in showing the reader what life was really like for a courtier in Henry VIII's court - and it wasn't always pleasant. Meg has to constantly watch her step as everyone was out for personal gain and would do anything to achieve more power or money or position. I liked Meg's character as she actually had personality; she was a true and faithful friend, a strong woman, and selfless. She had to overcome quite a bit throughout the course of the story - an abusive father, a very vindictive brother, the loss of her true love to the priesthood, and the eventual loss of her friend - but these trials really helped shape her into a strong and honorable woman who I was rooting for throughout. The author's characterization of other players in this novel were wonderful as well; I honestly felt my skin crawl every time Simon or Meg's brother appeared on the page. The writing is just very well done and will carry the reader along. Ms. Byrd's wonderful details of meals and fashion and the palaces will really immerse the reader in the time period, which to me is a sign of an author who has done their homework. She blends fact and fiction together beautifully and I never had a moment where I thought something that was spoken or described seemed untrue to the times.

I can easily recommend this novel to lovers of the Tudor time period. It would be an easy and informative read for anyone just beginning to delve into the intricacies of the period. Ms. Byrd's writing is easy to read and her details and historical information will not bog a reader down.

Eavesdroppers at Hampton Court Palace - A Guest Post by Sandra Byrd

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours is celebrating the new release by Sandra Byrd To Die For and I was honored to have the author supply a guest post on a secret world at Hampton Court Palace.

Henry VIII had a famously acquisitive nature – and it wasn't limited to women. The man also had a passion for real estate. As king, he inherited many castles and palaces owned by the crown, but throughout his reign he added others by purchase, trade or payment of debt; through reclamation to the crown due to attainder; "recovering" property through the dissolution of assets formerly owned by the Roman Catholic church; and by "gift." A primary advisor in the early years of Henry's sovereignty was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a man with tastes as extravagant as the King's and who also had the means to indulge them. When the King saw Hampton Court Palace, Cardinal Wolsey’s sumptuous, Thames-side property, he envied him of it. Knowing that he was on uncertain terms with the king, Wolsey offered Hampton Court Palace to him. Henry accepted the generous gift but did not reinstate Wolsey in his favor.

Once he owned the palace, Henry set about remodeling. One of the most beautiful reconstructions was to the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a large chamber where the king dined in public and where entertainments were often held. The hall, like everything else in Henry's court, was to be well-appointed to represent his power and glory. Historian Neville Williams claimed that masons worked round the clock for five years to complete the rebuilding of the hall to Henry's showy satisfaction. The room would have been overpowering to the senses, the tastes and smells of rich foods and spices, the feel of lush wood paneling and tightly woven tapestries, the music of players, the courtly flirtations. But high above the heads of the guests, tucked into the dark corners of the roof beams, lurked one of the Great Hall's most interesting features of all.

Fine embellishments had been carved into the ceiling beams, among them an HA crest for Henry and Anne Boleyn which remains to this day, but especially intriguing are the Eavesdroppers. The word eavesdropper has been in circulation since at least the 900s, coming from the old English, yfesdrype. It meant then just what it means now - someone listening to conversations in secret, watching and hearing without the permission or knowledge of the speakers. The cherubic, courtier faces would have smiled down upon guests, reminding all that Henry was aware of everything at his court through courtiers and servants. Even while at play there was never a time for loose tongues among long ears, as those who spoke freely often did to perilous consequence. At the Tudor Court, it was better to see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing till you were in private chambers where eavesdroppers, one hoped, did not lurk.

Thank you again Sandra Byrd for this fabulous guest post! Below you will find information that will direct you to Ms. Bryd's website, blog, and Facebook page. Make sure to read my review of this newest Tudor novel!


Author Website/Ladies in Waiting Web Page Here
Sandra Byrd's Blog Here
Sandra Byrd's FB Page Here

To Die For Virtual Book Tour

Sandra Byrd Virtual Book Tour
To Die For

Join Amy from Passages to the Past and fellow bloggers for this event to celebrate the release of Ms. Byrd's new novel To Die For! Reviews of the novel and special author guest posts are scheduled across several different blogs.

Make sure to keep an eye on my blog as well! My review will be posted on August 25 and I will have a guest post from the author on August 26.

This Day in History...

September 7, 1151 – Geoffrey V (the Handsome), Count of Anjou, died.

September 7, 1533 - Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, is born at Greenwich Palace.

September 7, 1534 - Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, married his ward Lady Catherine Willoughby.She was 35 years his junior and the marriage created a bit of a scandal.

What's on My Ipod - Anne Boleyn

What if our favorite historical figures could show us their Ipods? What would be on them?

Our next volunteer is Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife (this should be interesting...)

1. I'm the One that You Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
2. Kerosene - Miranda Lambert
3. B***h - Meredith Brooks (I'm sure there are some who would agree!)
4. Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
5. Witchy Woman - Eagles (hmm...is she suggesting something here?)
6. Wild Thing - The Troggs
7. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls (I laughed over this one)
8. Material Girl - Madonna
9. He Wasn't Man Enough for Me - Toni Braxton (I imagine her telling Jane this...)
10. Dancing Queen - Abba
11. I'm Here for the Party - Gretchen Wilson

12. With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm - Rudy Vallee (thank you EC for this one!)
13. Over It - Katherine McPhee
14. Better Than Her - Matisse
15. One Is A Lonely Number - Three Dog Night
16. I'm Every Woman - Whitney Houston

This Day in History...

June 1, 1533 - Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England.

June 1, 1943 - The Germans shot down British Overseas Airways Corporation Flight 777 over the Bay of Biscay, killing actor Leslie Howard (he played Ashley in Gone With the Wind) .

This Day in History...

May 28, 1503 - James IV of Scotland marries Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. A Treaty of Everlasting Peace is signed between the two countries; it lasted ten years.

May 28, 1533 - Thomas Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury, declares Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's marriage valid.

May 28, 1588 - The Spanish Armada leaves Lisbon and heads for the English Channel.

May 28, 1660 - The future King George I was born.

May 28, 1774 - The first Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia.

May 28, 1908 - Ian Fleming, the English author of the James Bond novels was born.

This Day in History...

May 23, 1430 - Burgundian troops captured Joan of Arc and delivered her to English forces. She was tried as a witch.

May 23, 1533 - Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon null and void and his marriage to Anne Boleyn legal. The result was a break with the church in Rome.

This Day in History...

May 19, 1359 - Margaret of Windsor, daughter of Edward III, married John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke.

May 19, 1499 - Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur, Prince of Wales, are married by proxy; she was 13, he was 12.

May 19, 1536 - Anne Boleyn is executed on Tower Green at the Tower of London. Her body is buried at St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower in an arrow chest (as Henry didn't see the need to provide his ex-wife with a coffin).

May 19, 1568 - Elizabeth I orders the arrest of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots.

This Day in History...

May 17, 1215 - England was in a state of Civil War and the barons, in revolt against King John and his reign, took possession of London.

May 17, 1220 - Henry III is re-crowned at Westminster Abbey. He had been crowned at Gloucester Cathedral, aged 9, in October of 1216 after the death of his father, King John. However, the Pope didn't consider that coronation legal or carried out according to the customs of the church.

May 17, 1521 -Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason against Henry VIII. He boasted having a better claim to the throne.

May 17, 1527 - A secret inquiry into Henry VIII's marriage with Catherine of Aragon began at Greenwich, headed by Archbishop Warham.

May 17, 1536 - George Boleyn and 4 other men are executed at the Tower, accused of treason against Henry VIII. They were convicted on trumped up charges of adultery with the Queen, Anne Boleyn.

This Day in History...

May 15, 1464 – Yorkists led by John Neville win a decisive victory over the Lancastrians at the Battle of Hexham. The Duke of Somerset was captured and executed.

May 15, 1536 - Anne Boleyn's trial for treason began. She was accused on trumped up charges of adultery and incest, sleeping with 4 men (including her brother George), and an assassination plot against her husband, Henry VIII. She was found guilty and executed four days later.Her brother George's trial took place immediately after her's and he was found guilty as well.

May 15, 1567 - Mary Queen of Scots married the Earl of Bothwell at Holyrood Palace. Her husband, Lord Darnley, had been assassinated only three months earlier and many thought she and Bothwell were involved.

This Day in History...

May 12, 1191 - Richard I married Berengaria of Navarre.

May 12, 1264 - The Battle of Lewes between Henry III and the Earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort, begins.

May 12, 1536 - Sir Francis Weston, Mark Smeaton, William Brereton, and Henry Norris, all alleged lovers of Anne Boleyn, were tried for and convicted of treason. Only Smeaton confessed to the charges. George Boleyn was tried for the same crimes a few days later.

This Day in History...

May 2, 1536 - Anne Boleyn, along with 4 men, were sent to the Tower of London on trumped up charges of adultery and incest. She was executed 17 days later.

Book Review: Virgin, Prelude to the Throne

Virgin: Prelude to the Throne, Robin Maxwell
4 roses

This is the "second" book in Maxwell's "trilogy" about Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elizabeth (the first being The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn and the last being The Queen's Bastard). I put those words in quotations because each book can stand on its own and one does not have to read the others that come before or after. Maxwell is a wonderful author and manages again to weave a very compelling story.


Virgin is the story of Elizabeth Tudor's teenage years while she is in the care of her stepmother Catherine Parr and her husband, the dashing Thomas Seymour. While the story is about a teenager none of the things that happen to the poor girl are things that should be happening to someone of that age. This story really shows the turmoil of her life at this period and her struggles with feelings that most teenage girls are going to have when they realize they have attracted the attention of a man. It really paints the whole relationship in an almost sinister light when viewed from Seymour's perspective. Their relationship is shown in a much more sensual way in this book compared to others I have read about the same period and it's easy to understand how Elizabeth's head was turned. I have never been a fan of Thomas Seymour and this one dropped him several more notches; he really comes across as a vile, sneaky, cold-hearted, ambitious man with his goal of snatching power from his older brother and achieving glory for himself. He even thinks he would be able to take the Crown himself! I truly felt sorry for Elizabeth when, in a pretty horrible situation, she finally realizes why Seymour showered so much attention on her. Maxwell does a very good job of showing Elizabeth as a girl who seems to want nothing more at this period of her life than to find someone to love and that loves her in return (and is that really surprising considering the way she was treated by her father?). After loosing her mother in the horrific way she did, struggling through the confusion she suffers in regards to her relationship with Seymour, and dealing with the constant threat of treason hanging over her head, it is no wonder that she acquired an aloof, almost cold appearance later in life but amazingly still was proud and every inch royalty. Even at the end, having barely escaped Seymour's snares with her life, there's the hint that things still will not be wonderful for the Princess once John Dudley is the power behind her brother's throne. I think this was a brilliant move on Maxwell's part; since the novel does not end with Elizabeth about to become queen she has given readers a hint that her life was still going to be full of danger for a while longer.


I would certainly recommend this to any lover of Tudor history and fans of Elizabeth. It is not a long book but it is wonderfully written, full of remarkable descriptions, and will tug at your emotions. Make sure to pick up Maxwell's other books that tell more of Elizabeth's story.

If You're Interested in Reading about Anne Boleyn...

I did a post like this several months back on Richard III and decided it was time for another one. This time I've picked another very interesting figure from British history - Anne Boleyn. I personally find her a very intriguing person to read about as there are such wide variations in how she is portrayed (was she an innocent caught up in the moment? was she an evil, scheming witch? was she just an ambitious and intelligent woman?)There are certainly a lot of books about this woman out there! Most of these will be historical fiction though I will list a some good non-fiction choices. Some of the books will paint Anne in a favorable lights and others will show her in less than admirable ways; some I will have really liked and others I may not have found to my liking. These are by no means the only books out there on Anne. There are thousands. I just chose to mention some of the ones that I feel are exceptional or have been recommended.



The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory

I list this one first because it is probably the most widely read novel about Anne (though it is told through the eyes of her sister Mary). There are very mixed feelings on this book. My take on it? It is a great, fun, entertaining read and I think you'll like it - as long as you're not too worried about historical inaccuracies.


The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell

I really enjoyed this version of Anne's story. The story is how Anne's daughter Elizabeth I is given her mother's diary after finally becoming Queen. I thought Anne's portrayal here was fairly realistic. This may be my favorite telling of her story.



Mademoiselle Boleyn, Robin Maxwell

This book is actually chronologically before and is the story of Anne's life while she is at the French court. It really shows how events there helped shape the woman she would become. I thought it was a very refreshing look at Anne as this is not a time in her life greatly focused on.


The Lady in the Tower, Jean Plaidy

Ms. Plaidy's take on Anne's story. Not quite as lively as some of the previously mentioned, more recently written versions, but still a lot of good information and a good read.




The Last Boleyn, Karen Harper

Basically the same story as Gregory's novel but much more focused on Anne's sister Mary (but of course you can't have a novel about Mary without Anne). This version is a bit more historically accurate than Gregory's.



Murder Most Royal, Jean Plaidy

Yes, another Plaidy book about Anne but this one is shared with Henry's other executed queen, Anne's cousin Katherine Howard.




The Concubine, Norah Lofts

A good account of Anne's story. She also has one about Katherine of Aragon.





A Lady Raised High, Lauren Gardner

A decent telling of Anne's story, though this is through the eyes of one of her ladys-in-waiting and there seems to be more of this lady's life than Anne's. A more sympathetic portrayal though.



The Queen Of Subtleties, Suzanne Dunn

This was not one of my favorite books on Anne. Her story was mixed with the story of a palace confectioner and it really seemed to focus more on the confectioner, which was confusing sometimes.



The Lady in the Tower, Alison Weir

This has the same title as one of Plaidy's historical fiction books but Weir's is a nonfiction telling of Anne's life. She doesn't paint the best picture of the lady here I've been told.


The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, Eric Ives

This is sometimes referred to as "the definitive biography" of Anne. This is one I have not been able to get my hands on but I am still trying as I'd like to see the author's research.



Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Queen, Joanna Denny

Another biography about Anne, though supposedly this one does not paint her as an evil witch.



Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn, Nell Gavin

This is one that I haven't read yet but I really want to as it is the "story" of how Anne and Henry keep getting thrown together throughout time.




Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's Obsession, Elizabeth Norton

A very recently published biography of Anne.




The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Antonia Fraser

Obviously a book about all of Hal's wives is going to include a nice section on the fiesty Anne Boleyn.




Again, let me state that these are just a few of the books out there on Anne Boleyn and I have listed them to get you started in your reading (if you are so inclined). If you are not that familiar with the lady be aware that you will probably get very conflicting pictures of her throughout the many books available. It will be left to you to decide which is closer to the truth!

Book Review: The Boleyn Wife

The Boleyn Wife, Brandy Purdy
3 roses

I was honored (and lucky!) to get this ARC to review. The book will be out in stores after the first of the year and I have to say, this is a pretty interesting read for you Boleyn fans out there! I give it 3 roses as it was a very interesting, entertaining, and fast paced read but not up there with the best I've ever read.

This is the story of Jane Rochford, wife to George Boleyn, sister-in-law to Anne, and one of the people that helped send the two siblings to the block. Because of her actions her name is forever connected with jealousy, vindictiveness, viciousness, and disloyalty. It covers her life from about the time she first meets and falls in love with George up to her death with Henry's fifth queen, Katherine Howard. Once she sees George she is determined to have him, despite her father's misgivings on the match. She naively believes that once they are married George will fall in love with her and be the loving attentive husband she wants him to be. As the story moves along and she realizes that he wants absolutely nothing to do with her, she fluctuates between loving him and hating him. We see her throughout the novel spying on all the other players from behind a bush, through a keyhole, hiding in a cabinet, etc, hoping to see something that she can use against her sister-in-law. Jane focuses a lot of her anger and hatred on Anne, believing her to be the sole cause of George's lack of attention; this leads her to helping Cromwell in his attack on Anne as she thinks once Anne is out of the picture, George will give her the attention she craves. Jane's sworn testimony to Cromwell helped convict George and Anne of incest and treason. The author throws a very interesting twist into the story at this point concerning the relationship between Cromwell and Jane; this was something I never expected but rather creative and explains, in a way, why Jane was so eager to give testimony against Anne. Of course, Jane is wrong again and is further infuriated when she realizes that George would rather die with his sister than live with her. After their deaths, Jane becomes lady-in-waiting for the next three queens: Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleaves, and Katherine Howard. She especially takes to Katherine as she sees her as the child she was never able to have and hopes that Kat will come to love her. Jane is horrified to learn the kind of life Kat has lead and the type of person she has become and constantly warns her against her behavior with Thomas Culpepper (she is also quite horrified at her behavior with the former queen, Anne of Cleaves). Kat is eventually caught and she and Jane are both sent to the Tower and sentenced to death. Once in the Tower Jane apparently goes a bit mad, thinking she sees both George and Anne's ghosts lurking around to torment her. She was executed immediately after Kat.

It was very interesting to read a story solely from Jane's point of view. Most stories about the Boleyns only mention Jane in passing, as the jealous, hateful wife of George whose lies helped send her husband and sister-in-law to their deaths. In most cases where the story is told from the point of view of someone classified as a villain, a reader, at some point, will sympathize with the character. Her portrayal here will do nothing to incite sympathy from the reader. At the beginning of the novel she just comes across as a bit naive, very obsessive, and only slightly jealous. However, as the story moves along she really becomes nasty and vindictive and all the other horrible adjectives that have been used to describe her. Sometimes she is downright hysterical, going so far as to bite a servant on the heel in one of her rages. I absolutely hated her and found myself laughing each time one of her schemes backfired on her. I firmly believe she got her just desserts in the end. Outside of Jane's feeling, thoughts, and actions, there really isn't a whole lot of description about much of anything else. We see all the major players here, of course, but as this story is really focusing on Jane's life, there isn't much delving into their lives or personalities. The author doesn't show Anne as being such an ambitious, mean person as others have shown her; we actually see her in the beginning trying to be friendly with Jane, though Jane is set to dislike her from the start. Despite this, I thought the book was well written and there really was a deep probing into Jane's motivations and feelings, which was certainly new. We see that the harder she tries to gain George's attention, the more indifferent he becomes (and becomes more emotionally cruel), which leads her to become more jealous and hateful. Once she becomes involved in Katherine's situation she appears as if she is trying to help Kat, trying to warn her against the path she's headed down, but she never does anything to actually stop her. Her knowledge of the situation and her silence helps condemn her. I would caution readers that if you are uncomfortable with some sex scenes, I wouldn't recommend this book. Otherwise, I would certainly recommend this to those that are interested in the Tudors and would like to see another side to the soap opera. It is a much different perspective on a story with which we are so familiar.

Book Review: The Last Boleyn

The Last Boleyn, Karen Harper
4 roses

I was so happy to finally snag a copy of this off Paperbackswap.com. It was originally published under the title Passion's Reign and is the story of Mary Boleyn, sister to Anne and George. For those of you who have read Philippa Gregory's version The Other Boleyn Girl you are probably going to be a bit surprised at how Harper presents Mary's story. While the basic story is the same, there are differences in some of the details, relationships, and character behavior. I really liked this version of Mary's story. Harper seems to have stayed more within the known facts about Mary's life (little though there is) than Gregory did in her version. While I have nothing against Gregory's version (and I enjoyed it quite a bit) I enjoyed reading something a bit more historically accurate (though of course there are some instances where Harper has taken some liberties but they don't really bother me as Harper hasn't promoted herself as an impeccable historian).

The story starts when Mary is about 8 and learns she is to be sent to France with Princess Mary Tudor. She forms a friendship with Mary that lasts throughout the novel. While in France she meets Leonardo Di Vinci, falls in love with the King, and eventually becomes Francois's mistress. It doesn't turn out how she expected as she's seen as the King's possession and is passed along to his friends. During one of her father's visits to France she meets William Stafford and thus begins their long and slightly rocky relationship. Eventually Mary returns to England, King Henry marries her off to William Carey, and she becomes Henry's mistress. She gives birth to a son but the true identity of the father is unknown. By this time Anne has come to court and caught Henry's eye and Mary has fallen in love with William Stafford, despite still being married to an unloving William. After William dies she and Stafford secretly wed and are able to keep it a secret until she becomes pregnant. When she tells Anne (who has now been Queen for some time) she and Stafford are banished to his manor, which is what they wanted anyway, and they have a peaceful and happy life there.

Mary seems much more worldly and wise in this telling of her story and, based on what happens to her, its no wonder she "grew up quickly." She matures from a naive girl, foolishly thinking that the King of France really loves her, to a young woman who knows when to "cut her losses." Her overwhelming love for her Father and her desire to impress him and make him proud of her influences a lot of her decisions until she is finally able to see that he does not care about her and is only interested in gaining more power. The big eyeopener for Mary is when she sees how her Father is trying to use her son as a pawn with King Henry (though it is asserted throughout this book that his father's identity is uncertain). Once she is able to let go of the devotion to her Father, she is more easily able to make decisions that make her happy and content. She knows she is being used as a pawn by her Father and husband and she hates it; as the story progresses she is able to take more control of her life. I really like Harper's portrayal of Mary (more than Gregory's) because Mary's character seems much stronger, more able to make decisions for herself, while at the same time still a sympathetic character because of the circumstances surrounding her.

Thomas Boleyn seems as ambitious and cruel here but Elizabeth Boleyn's character is much more caring and sympathetic to Mary. George doesn't play nearly as big of a role in this novel as he did in Gregory's version and Anne does come across as a bit more sympathetic. Will Carey's character is hideous and I felt incredibly sorry for Mary since she was stuck with him. King Henry is obviously around but there isn't as much of him and there is only one nice little scene between Mary and Queen Catherine. Mary's second husband, William Stafford, is quite likable, is always there when she needs a shoulder or a hand, and is quite wise in the ways of the Court and politics. While I liked Staff's character he sometimes comes across as a bit too perfect.

Overall it was a good book that I would highly recommend, especially to those that have read The Other Boleyn Girl and would like to see another version of the story. If you are looking for a book that has a lot about Anne in it, I wouldn't suggest this one as it is truly about Mary's life.

Book Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

So, I said I'd review this one and I will. With all the hype a few weeks ago about Philippa Gregory's newest novel, The White Queen (you can find my review for it here).I thought I'd go ahead and do this review, even though its been several months since I read this book.

The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
3 roses

This is probably the most well known of Gregory's historical fiction novels and a movie version did come out a year or so ago. I enjoyed this book because it was entertaining, I felt like the characters had some depth to them so I cared about what happened to them, and it was an interesting story. That being said (as I said with The White Queen), there are loads of historical inaccuracies. This would not bother me so much if Gregory did not present herself as such a wonderful, through, and in depth historian/researcher. The story covers one of the most intriguing times in British history - Henry VIII's need for a son and break with the Catholic Church. Most people know about Anne Boleyn - Henry's second wife that he moved heaven and hell (literally!) to marry. This story is not told from Anne's point of view but from her younger sister Mary's point of view.

Mary comes to Henry VIII's court a young, innocent girl who has recently married. She is pretty and catches Henry's eye. Her power hungry and scheming family see this as their ticket to bigger and better things and they pretty much shove Mary into Henry's bed. Mary ends up falling in love with the King and baring him two children. She constantly disappoints her family though as she is not really cut out for the manipulative game they're playing. She also has moral qualms about what she is being made to do which directly contradicts what her family expects from her and she struggles with this throughout the story. Despite her family's ambitions, she feels loyalty to Queen Katherine and constantly apologizes for what she is doing on her family's bidding. She is eventually set aside in favor of Anne and watches her astounding rise to power and fame as an unwitting accomplice., knowing that she will forever be in her sister's shadow. Mary takes things into her own hands though and marries a man for love, gaining the animosity of her sister who banishes her from Court. In the country she learns the life of a country wife and realizes she would much prefer it to life at Court. That life catches up to her and she has to return to help Anne through miscarriages and Henry's quickly declining favor. Mary is able to avoid the arrest, imprisonment, and eventual execution that awaits Anne and their brother George.

This is an intriguing and entertaining story to read. It has everything that keeps most readers occupied - love, hate, sex, betrayal, greed, backstabbing, political intrigue, etc. It is NOT, however, the wonderful piece of HISTORICAL fiction that it is promoted as being. There are just way too many historical inaccuracies. Mary, for instance, by most accounts was the older sister though the sisters' exact birth dates are uncertain. Anne, while I do believe she was a very intelligent, shrewd person, I do NOT believe she was the horrible person Gregory portrays her as in this novel. There is also no proof of George's sexual preferences or the possible incest between him and Anne. In fact, the charge of incest between the siblings was most likely concocted by Cromwell and others in order to further damn Anne at her trial. These are just some of the bigger issues with the book (there are a lot of other smaller, more nit-picky points though). I have no problem with Gregory including these things in her story if that is her interpretation of history but she should not be trying to insist that this is absolutely what happened.

The characters in the story are interesting enough for me to care about. I feel sorry for Mary through much of the story because of the way her family treats her. At times I really do not like Anne and at others I can pity her (especially towards the end). Henry really comes across like a selfish little boy and I don't particularly like him either. Queen Katherine is a likable figure (must more so than in the Gregory story about her, The Constant Princess) and I do have to feel sorry for her on occasion.

Overall it is a good read and one that I think most people will enjoy if they don't care about the historical aspect too much. This book has really brought historical fiction to the forefront again and I am extremely grateful to Gregory for this.