"The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory
Before Henry VIII ever considered making Anne Boleyn his wife, her
older sister, Mary, was his mistress. Historical novelist Gregory
(Virgin Earth) uses the perspective of this "other Boleyn girl" to
reveal the rivalries and intrigues swirling through England. The
sisters and their brother George were raised with one goal: to advance
the Howard family's interests, especially against the Seymours. So when
Mary catches the king's fancy, her family orders her to abandon the
husband they had chosen. She bears Henry two children, including a son,
but Anne's desire to be queen drives her with ruthless intensity,
alienating family and foes. As Henry grows more desperate for a
legitimate son and Anne strives to replace Catherine as queen, the
social fabric weakens. Mary abandons court life to live with a new
husband and her children in the countryside, but love and duty bring
her back to Anne time and again. We share Mary's helplessness as Anne
loses favor, and everyone abandons her amid accusations of adultery,
incest, and witchcraft. Even the Boleyn parents won't intervene for
their children. Gregory captures not only the dalliances of court but
the panorama of political and religious clashes throughout Europe. She
controls a complicated narrative and dozens of characters without
faltering, in a novel sure to please public library fans of historical
fiction.
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