Amazon.co.uk Review
Everyone knows the fate of Anne Boleyn, but not many know the story of her rise to majesty and the part played by her rival and sister, Mary, who was Henry's mistress and mother to two of his bastard children before the dazzling older Boleyn girl even caught his eye. Philippa Gregory, whose own role as the Queen of historical romance grows more secure with each new novel, has surpassed her self with this epic tale of lust, jealousy and betrayal. The Other Boleyn Girl charts the lives of both Boleyns--each in their turn "the other Boleyn Girl"--and their fiercely ambitious, conniving family who used the girls as pawns to advance their own positions at the court of Henry VIII. At 13, Mary is little more than a child when she is presented to Henry, ordered by her scheming family to serve her King and country by opening her legs whenever commanded, or doing anything else the great monarch desires. And while his loins are satisfied, life at court is sweet for the unofficial Queen and her pushy coterie. Inevitably though, the King's eyes soon begin to wander and Mary is overlooked, helpless to do anything but aid her family's plot to advance their fortunes, replace her with Anne and give Henry the greatest gift of all: a son and heir.
So good a job has Ms Gregory done at portraying the Boleyns and Howards as selfish, scheming, treacherous manipulators however, that it becomes increasingly hard to feel empathy for any of them. While Mary is merely hapless, Anne is the most ruthless of them all, so that instead of feeling cheated by knowing the outcome of her story, it only serves to help digest her unpalatable rise. Such a gruesome destiny was never more deserved. Ms Gregory has worked hard at researching her historical references. Daily life at court is described in fascinating detail--from the relentless leisure pursuits, masques and banquets laid on for the easily bored King to the complex hierarchies and machinations of the courtiers. However, the fall of Queen Katherine of Aragon and her only child, the Princess Mary, and the politics of the competing European courts and the break with Rome are seen only as a backdrop to the bawdy goings-on of the Boleyns and their fateful race for the crown. --Carey Green


Place where Anne Boleyn was beheaded

stf will borrow this one from me

Thanks Sobergirl I'm looking foward to this.

Two sisters competing for the greatest prize ... the love of the King

After watching the BBC's Virgin Queen on TV this week I found my interest in Henry VIII and that era rekindled. Interesting to read about Anne Boylyn's sister :)

started reading this today. An interesting read - especially about court politics at the time of Henry VIII.

At the beginning I wasn't sure that the other Boleyn, Mary, had existed - but it seems that she had - she was indeed Henry VIII's mistress before her sister Anne, who is of course remembered as the second wife of Henry VIII, beheaded after a reign of a thousand days.

This book was full of intrigue surrounding life at court and I came out of it (very late last night) feeling sorry not only for the Boleyns but all women at that time - both they and their children- were constantly used as pawns by family. What I also found (and find) interesting is that homosexuality was (Here in the novel the perjorative word sodomite is used)- and is - considered so much more of a crime than adultery and infidelity.

I recently watched the BBC's The Virgin Queen on TV which re-kindled my interest in this era. It was about Elizabeth I of course, Anne Boleyn's daughter. And the closing scene - with the ring - made me want to read more about her mother. This book opened up her life in a very different way than I expected - she was more cunning, more ruthless and more used than I had remembered. And it explains - in part - how Elizabeth turned out too :) But Mary - the other Boleyn girl - what happened to her and her children is interesting too.

This of course is a historical novel - there is a lot of embelleshment - but it's rather a good read!

Being returned to Sobergirl at the BC meeting next Wednesday

The book is back with me, has been for almost a week, JE a bit late because of work.

Thank you so much, sobergirl! This book looks so tempting, but my tbr-pile is sooo high!!