The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory

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...enough of. Having already read the Queens Fool, set in the time of Edwards reign, lets step back in time slightly to when Eddies father was head bigwig, and just beginning his famous reign as the Elizabeth Taylor of Tudor times. This is the other Boleyn Girl, the story of Anne Boleyn (who lost her head over the king) told from the point of view of her sister Mary. The Story Mary Boleyn is in her teens, and in the style of the day has already been ...
...Did I happen to mention the married man is none other than Henry V III, and the barren wife of course Catharine of Aragon. Mary being young and innocent, she is easily persuaded by her family to act as the kings’ whore in order to gain advantage, lands and money for the rest of her family. She is made to do everything the king desires in the bedchamber, and to request payment in the form of favours for her family. Her family, along with the extended ... Read review

Advantages: A cant put down book
Disadvantages: not all fact based

...is a rare moment. The moment I picked up this book I was hooked. I was taken into the world of Henry VIII and whisked into the life of Mary Boleyn. Phillippa Gregory's novel tells a tale of deceit, lust, adultery, and secrets and above all love. So what am I talking about? Well it is whom I am talking about really. Mary Boleyn was the younger sister of the famous Queen of England, Anne Boleyn who married Henry VIII after he had his marriage to Katherine ...
...before Anne was ever on the scene. She was moulded by the Howard/Boleyn family from a very young age to do anything to propel the family to a higher status. Married at the age of 11 to William Carey only to have this marriage put aside and become Henry's mistress from the tender age of 13. Gregory tells of the love that Mary felt for the king and of the two children she bore him, Katherine and Henry, before he moved on to her sister. You are taken ... Read review

Advantages: interesting historical fiction
Disadvantages: read the review

*NB* Apologies on the lack of originality with the title, but it's true. We've all heard of Anne, mother of Elizabeth I, seducer of Henry VIII, first wife to lose her head, he broke from Rome to be with her and founded the C of E...and so on and so forth. But Anne had a sister. Her name was Mary, and although at one point in time she was important, she soon became the "other" Boleyn girl. Hence, the title of the book and of my review. I recently ...
...(TQF) and enjoyed it to the point where I asked my mother to search for her other period novel, “The Other Boleyn Girl.” (OBG) She tracked down a copy at the British Council, and I eagerly devoured the book in the course of a bleak and rainy day. I must confess that I did not take to this book as much as I did TGF. I can’t really put my finger on an exact reason why, but instead of being endeared to the character of Mary Boleyn, I found myself being ... Read review

Advantages: A right riveting read
Disadvantages: Not much

...She died bravely, addressing the crowd, and asking Jesus to receive her soul. She was almost certainly innocent. Philippa Gregory’s 2001 novel, “The Other Boleyn Girl” takes us into Anne’s world via her sister, rival and friend, Mary. Winner of the Parker Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2002, this romanticised account of Anne’s life, from her return from the French court to her death, takes a broad framework of historical fact and weaves a fiction ...
...even agree whether she was the older or younger sister, although she was certainly Henry VIII’s mistress before her ambitious, ruthless family set her aside for the unmarried Anne to take her place as his favourite. She was probably born in around 1508 (Anne’s date of birth is generally considered to be around 1506, and their brother George’s around 1503). Mary was married to William Carey, a courtier, when she was only 12 years old, and a Lady in ... Read review

Advantages: Meaty, well characterised, and seamless transition between historical fact and literary fiction.
Disadvantages: Can take a while to get into the style.

...part of a 3 for the price of 2 deal at Waterstone's, when I'd run out of new books. It turned out to be a lot better than I'd anticipated, even better than the other two books I'd deliberately intended to buy! First impressions: the book has a lovely, detailed embossed front cover (my edition anyway - the film version). It's also pretty hefty, which I take as a good sign - it'll keep me going for a while - but might put others off as it is several ...
...the style irritated me somewhat, perhaps because it was initially very American sounding and there's extensive use of the present tense which I'm not particularly keen on in novels. However, I soon got into it and eventually even ended up liking the tone. It definitely grew on me. I wouldn't even know where to begin writing an historical novel with so much detail. Gregory must have done masses amounts of research, and it was very difficult to tell ... Read review

Advantages: A great insight into the Mid-Tudor period
Disadvantages: None

...After reading Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl", I couldn't wait for the release of this, its sequel. And I wasn't disappointed. Once again, Gregory focuses on an unknown - this time a young girl named Hannah Verde, who has come to England with her father after fleeing the terrifying Spanish Inquisition. Hannah is taken to the court of the young king Edward VI as a Fool, where she is expected to give entertainment to the court. But when the young king dies, England is thrown into religious turmoil following the accession of his sister "Bloody" Mary. Gregory describes in great detail the great dangers faced, not only by Hannah as a Jew in 16th-century England, but also the thousands of people throughout the country who found themselves burned for their faith. Gregory is brilliant in building up sympathy for a previously hated... Read review

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Advantages: Superbly written (as always), brings little-known information to light
Disadvantages: I think Philippa Gregory has her favourites and I don't share her opinions

...Following on from the success of her other novels set in the Tudor court (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover), Philippa Gregory goes back in time to bring us a novel following the early life of Katherine of Aragon. In her author's note, Gregory acknowledges that a lot of the information she found was a revelation for her - especially Katherine's upbringing at the battle camps of her royal Christian crusader parents, who are determined to fight the Moors (Moslems) out of Spain. Katherine is often portrayed as a rather boring, downtrodden woman who would rather pray than have fun and dance at court. The Constant Princess blows this image out of the water. Katherine is raised as Catalina, Infanta of Spain, who has been betrothed to Prince Arthur, the Rose of England, since she was a toddler. She has been brought up... Read review

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Advantages: Intriguing, enthralling and unputdownable ...
Disadvantages: ... you may miss work and loose friends over your obsession with this book !

...This was the third Philippa Gregory historical book I bought, having eagerly awaited the paperback. I'd greatly enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool and couldn't wait for this to hit the shops. ~~~~~Plot The story centres on the apparent relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who was married Lady Amy Dudley. The book is based on historical documents and texts (listed at the back if you want some further, non fictional reading). Elizabeth and Robert were childhood friends and fell in love. However, Robert married Amy for political gain but abandons her in the countryside as soon as Elizabeth became queen. As Robert's ambition to be with Elizabeth and become King of England grows and his arrogance spreads all over Europe. Her advisors perceive him as a threat and conspire... Read review

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