Fabulous historical novel set in the court of King Henry VIII. Mary Boleyn attracts the attention of the young king and becomes his mistress; when he tires of her, she sets out to school her sister, Anne, as a replacement. Politics and passion are inextricably bound together in this compelling drama. The Boleyn family is keen to rise through the ranks of society, and what better way to attract the attention of the most powerful in the land than to place their most beautiful young woman at court? But Mary becomes the king's mistress at a time of change. He needs his personal pleasures, but he also needs an heir. The unthinkable happens and the course of English history is irrevocably changed. For the women at the heart of the storm, they have only one weapon; and when it's no longer enough to be the mistress, Mary must groom her younger sister in the ways of the king. What happens next is common knowledge -- but here it is told in a way we've never heard it before, with all of Philippa Gregory's characteristic perceptiveness, backed by meticulous research and superb storytelling skills.
About the Author
Philippa Gregory is an established writer and broadcaster whose works include historical novels, contemporary suspense and short stories. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh. For more information please visit www.philippagregory.com.
Prizes
Fabulous historical novel set in the court of King Henry VIII. Mary Boleyn attracts the attention of the young king and becomes his mistress; when he tires of her, she sets out to school her sister, Anne, as a replacement. Refreshed edition of the worldwide bestseller, adapting the classic cover image to fit with the new style of packaging for even greater impact Published to coincide with the paperback of THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE - an extract from which appears inside Soon to be a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana: read the novel before you see it! Hugely promotable author, now a regular guest presenter on BBC TV (One Foot in the Past, Travels with Pevsner), as well as panellist on Radio 4's History Game, Round Britain Quiz and Quote, Unquote / Competition: Hilary Mantel; Rose Tremain; Sarah Dunant; Deborah Moggach
Reviews
'When it comes to writers of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory is in the very top league' DAILY MAIL 'It is a credit to Gregory that she is able to sustain interest in an epic-length tale when the ending is one of the most well-known moments in english history. The very believable dialogue and detail take you all the way into the claustrophobic privy chambers of the royal palaces!Gregory has launched herself into a popular period and produced something with that most underrated of virtues: readability.' THE TIMES 'Philippa Gregory's books are always a good read' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'This is an intelligent variation on a familiar tale [with] witty use of metaphor' TLS Praise for EARTHLY JOYS 'Brilliantly true to the period! I was entranced' Lisa Jardine, Times Praise for VIRGIN EARTH 'A gripping story' Mail on Sunday 'Exciting and fascinating' Sunday Telegraph
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Reviews
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The Other Boleyn Girl, is hands down the best piece of historical fiction I have ever read. Upon reading it, I have been searching for other books of its genre and subject matter to delve into.
Gregory made these characters come alive for me, and made me understand how difficult it was to live as a woman in the early 1500s. Mary was especially well crafted. At 13 years old she went from her forced marriage to being thrown into the King's arms as his mistress. The inner struggles she fought between being true to herself and her heart, or true to her family were especially poignant.
Anne Boleyn, the most famous and tragically terminated sister, is portrayed in such a venomous way. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, and to rise in power and prestige. In the end it killed her. But her character, as portrayed by Ms. Gregory, was compelling and convincingly ugly, despite her beauty.
King Henry VIII also jumped off the pages. He came off as a spoiled brat, even as he grew older, who always got what he wanted. He and Anne were well matched for each other as no level of deceipt was too high.
Ms. Gregory was brilliant in choosing Mary as the narrator of this book. In doing so, the manipulative and scheming nature of Anne was able to come alive, as was the unorthodox lifestyle chosen by George Boleyn, the brother. The relationship amongst the Boleyn siblings, in and of itself, could fill a novel. The complexities of a family struggling to maintain individual identities, while working to bring the family up to the highest level of stature is intense.
This book is a page turner; it is incredibly compelling, deep and fascinating. I learned a great deal about the monarchy of Henry VII as well as life in the court during that time period. At the same time, I found myself incredibly entertained and saddened when I reached the last page. I cannot wait for more from Ms. Gregory.
One of the best books that I have ever read! I read this book from start to finish in a single sitting! If you haven't read it I suggest you get to your nearest bookstore today and purchase a copy! I guarantee that you won't be able to put it down! Other books by this author are also recommended.
My first Phillipa Gregory book and I must say.. WOW. It was well written, captivating and I just could not put it down no matter how hard I tried. I also like the fact that this book was quite historically correct, nothing grates me more than a book which doesnt stay true to its historical roots but this one does bery well! Good book, will recommend it to anyone and everyone!
This was also my first Philippa Gregory book and I found her writing style fantastic. Definately worth a read, especially if the Tudor Dynasty fascinates you as it does me.
This is the first Phillipa Gregory book I've ever read, and I'm really impressed. I'm now desperate to get my hands on all the others. I found the history of this book just fascinating, and I'm now obsessed with googling King Henry and all of his wives! A must read, even if you're not familiar with the King Henry VIII. Having said that, I found it much more fun to ponder Gregory's take of key people from Henry VIII's reign, and what I've read from historians.
This is Grade A historical fiction, and a really great example of a genre I enjoy! One can tell from reading the novel that the author understands the time, the place and the people of which she writes extremely well. I have often wondered what kind of crazy society it must have been that allowed Henry to marry, divorce and behead at will, and this book fufills those curiosities wonderfully. It's a long book and very detailed, and it's a tribute to Gregory's writing that I just wanted to keep reading the next page to see what would happen next. I will definitely be reading more of Phillippa Gregory's work, and look forward to the new movie adaptation, let's hope it lives up to the book!
This is a fantastic book. Its easy to read, a real page turner and actually makes history (though embellished) interesting. Who'd have thought so much sex and scandal was happening in Henry VIII's court? The first is definitely the best in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It was historically in-depth as well as a good story, not often a combination that is done well! It is also presented in a way that the reader can identify with both Boleyns (to a certain extent), making Anne seem human. It justifies both of their actions very well. I could not put this down and certainly reccommend.
My favourite Gregory book. I really enjoyed this one and found it hard to put down. The family responsibilities and the political powerbroking were fascinating, as were the lengths that families would go to to satisfy the king. An easy and enjoyable read. Definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys period fiction.
This was by far the best book i read in 2006, I was hooked from the first page. Historically fascinating I was transported back to the time of Henry the Eighth and his court. Phillipa Gregory, i have found, has the knack of making her stories so believable that I was inspired to look further into the roles of females in history.
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