Sherry F. (sherryfair) reviewed on 9/19/2005 + 55 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Oh, man, this is a good one! This is one of the finest pieces of historical fiction ever written about Henry VIII and his wives and mistresses. It's brilliantly imagined and truly riveting. And chilling at certain points. In part, it's about a period in history when feudalism still held true, and the glory and the advancement of one's noble family and the family name was everything. The fate of an individual -- a hapless daughter -- matters nothing to the Boleyn/Howard family as they plot at the English Court to gain and retain their power. Their daughters' virtue and reputation, and finally, even their lives, are simply used as pawns on a chessboard. You'll be biting your nails on Mary's behalf more than once. Although historians may quibble about the accuracy of some details, I like to think Gregory's take on the characters involved was shrewd, insightful and dead-on. Gregory has written "my" Anne Boleyn, for good, the one against which any other fictional depictions now will be measured.

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