This book is over 600 pages, but is a fascinating look at life in
King Henry VIII's court. The story is told from Anne Boleyn's sister, Mary's, viewpoint. Mary was also Henry's mistress. It is historical fiction, with the emphasis on fiction. There is no doubt some conjecture on the author's part, but it is still an interesting tale. My book club read it and everyone liked it except one person who knew history and felt it wasn't very accurate .

This was my first Philippa Gregory book, but it definitely won't be my last. I'm not usually a historical fiction reader, but this book had me hooked. Fact and fiction were so thoroughily interwoven that it was often hard to tell the difference. After reading it, I was even prompted to learn a little more about Henry VIII and his reign.

Fascinating look at the court of King Henry VIII. It made me go back and re-read some of the history of the era. As a novel, it kept me captured. I like that the story is told from the point of view of a woman most of us have never heard of before - Mary Boleyn, the sister of Henry's 2nd wife.

I devoured this book in two days. It was wonderful--it kept me intrigued and constantly guessing, even though I was already familiar with the basic history of the Boleyn family. This book really made the facts come to life for me.

This book was so much fun to read because it was...dare I say, I bit....trashy? Then again, it IS about the sordid love affairs and the power struggle between women in a male-dominant royal society. The two sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn are so over-the-top (one is a total b**ch, the other is just too sweet and kind) but you will still end up rooting for them (even though we know how poor Anne will end up). I don't know how historically accurate this was, but it was such a fun read that I didn't care!

Full of treachery and suspense! A very fitting elaboration on a historical tale. Read this on loan from my teenage niece... sad to say, I expected a simple book, but even tho I read a lot of real (dry) history, this was quite true to the spirit of the period and the real events! A fun romp for anyone who is interested in the period, and the oddities of capricious Henry and his Tudor court. Much recommended.

I love historical fiction and this applies, but don't take every little fact at absolute face value. There are some discrepancies in dates and birth order, but some of those are debated in historical societies as well. good read, very entertaining if you can't get beyond the scheming all for the goal of using women. I will read more of Philippa Gregory.

This was the first Phillipa Gregory book I read and I loved it. I have read several of her others since and although they are good, this one remains my favorite.

This is the book you just never wanted to end.......amazing!

I loved this book even though I am not usually interested in historical fiction. I found myself relating to the charaters through all of their joys and heartaches.

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Great historical novel. I had no idea this sister existed. Again the book is better then the movie.

A fun read for a rainy day. I found the narrator, Anne Boleyn's sister, Mary, to be engaging and relatively non-cardboard cut-out'ish. Her descriptions of her fun loving older brother, George, also one of Henry VIII's courtiers were similarly engaging and realistic. Anne Boleyn, however, read like a pretty but humorless harridan in this telling. Given how shrewish she was described throughout, it's hard to believe anyone this nasty - no matter how beautiful or alluring - could get a powerful, fun-loving king to not only make enemies with the Spanish emperor by setting aside his aunt, Henry's wife of 20 years - Katherine of Aragon - to marry a notorious tramp, but to alienate the Pope as well and completely rewrite church history. The scheming ways of Anne's family, members of Boleyn and Howard clans, were shocking and interesting to watch as they clawed their way to power, using - and viewing - their daughters as disposable pawns.

Great view inside the historical period of Henry the eighth.

Loved this book. It is over 600 pages but only took me a week to read because I couldn't put it down. I am not usually drawn to historical fiction, but this was a book club pick and I am so glad I read it.

I enjoyed this book, and now want to learn more about this period of British history. The story gives you insight into what it may have been like to live within the court of a King - the strategies, the competition, and the real cost to the men and women whose families valued ambition most of all.

I LOVED this book. It is days after I have finished it & I am still thinking about the characters. I get a little sinking feeling when I remember that I have finished the book...

very entertaining

Great read and it moves along fast. Helps remember some history lessons even thought it if fiction. I would read more by this author.

I really liked this book a lot and found the life of Ann Boleyn to be fascinating.I liked reading all about her from the time she was a teenager to the time she was a married women.
I couldnt put the book down once I started reading it.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Genre: Historical Fiction

The Other Boleyn girl is told from the viewpoint of Mary Boleyn – the “other” Boleyn sister, sister to Anne the future Queen of England. There is a focus on the life of the relatively little known Mary as well as the tale of Anne’s ascendency and fall. Mary is initially chosen as mistress to Henry VIII – a role that she is pushed into by her family. When the star seems to be shining on Anne – the family throws Mary aside in favor of Anne. Even though Mary is not the star of the family anymore, they still seek to control her every move – when she marries someone that is not approved of they lash out at her. Even though Anne constantly mistreats her sister, she still comes back to her.

The story of Anne Boleyn is a much told story – but seeing it from the eyes of her sister puts her story into a very different perspective – sort of how I felt about reading about Anne from the eyes of her daughter Elizabeth in The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. I loved the compassion and general down-to-earthness of Mary, even when the world was spinning out of control. She was a constant character that you could connect with and anchor to in a turbulent world.

Gregory DOES change many events in the book from what is known to have really happened as well as embellished the real story in favor of the best told story. The good thing about this though, is that this is Historical Fiction and that is what I expect. If you are looking for true facts, check out a non-fiction book, but for a good story, try this on for size.

I couldn’t put this book down and as soon as I finished it I picked up The Boleyn Inheritance, the next in the series.

5 out of 5 stars

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