Philippa Gregory
The Other Boleyn Girl (2001)
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical
Plot Summary:
During the reign of King Henry VIII, it is first Mary Boleyn who catches the King's eye in his court. At fourteen and already married to another courtier, she becomes the king's mistress following her uncle's plan to advance the family's political position at the time. With her sister Anne and her brother George at court to support her, she easily steps into the role of England's unofficial queen and bears Henry two illegitimate children. However as his interest in her wanes, it is her sister Anne who catches his attention next and it becomes Mary's role to support her in her courtship of the king. As Henry tries to set aside his wife Katherine and take Anne as his new bride, Mary has to deal with the death of her husband, being cast aside by her lover and her brother George's confession of love for another man.
Geographical Setting: England
Time Period: 1521-1536
Series: Tudor novels #2
Appeal Characteristics:
This is a character driven biographical novel that delves deeply into the relationships between the three Boleyn. Gregory paints a very accurate picture of the way the nobility lived at the time and the intrigues and politics of the court of King Henry VIII. As well, she shows his desperation to have a son and the lengths he, as well as the Howard-Boleyn family, would go through to attain that goal in setting aside his marriage to Katherine of Aragon for Anne Boleyn. While this is a part of a series of history novels about the Tudor family, it is not required to have read the previous book to understand this one.
Read-alikes: Try starting with the first book in the Tudor series, The Constant Princess (2005) and following with The Queen's Fool (2003) and The Virgin's Lover (2004), all by Philippa Gregory. If the story of the surviving Boleyn sibling interests you, try The Last Boleyn (2006) by Karen Harper, a character driven story of the Boleyn siblings from Mary's point of view. If interest lies in Anne Boleyn, try Jean Plaidy's The Lady in the Tower (1987) and Murder Most Royal (1949). Both are set in the Tudor period and in the court of Henry VIII. . The first is part of a series of historical novels about King Henry VIII's wives and is the story of Anne's time as Queen. The second parallels Anne Boleyn's life with that of her cousin Catherine Howard who later marries Henry VIII. If interest is in King Henry VIII, try The Autobiography of Henry VIII : With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers (1987) by Margaret George. This book is written as an autobiographical look at Henry VIII's life as a Prince of England and then as the King of England.
Red Flags: Some coarse language, executions, extramariatal sex.
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