Publication
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (2006), 528 pages
Description
Three women who share one fate: The Boleyn Inheritance: Anne of Cleves: She runs from her tiny country, her hateful mother, and her abusive brother to a throne whose last three occupants are dead. King Henry VIII, her new husband, instantly dislikes her. Without friends, family, or even an understanding of the language being spoken around her, she must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king. Her Boleyn Inheritance: accusations and false witnesses. Katherine Howard: She catches the king's eye within moments of arriving at court, setting in motion the dreadful machine of politics, intrigue, and treason that she does not understand. She only knows that she is beautiful, that men desire her, that she is young and in love -- but not with the diseased old man who made her queen, beds her night after night, and killed her cousin Anne. Her Boleyn Inheritance: the threat of the axe. Jane Rochford: She is the Boleyn girl whose testimony sent her husband and sister-in-law to their deaths. She is the trusted friend of two threatened queens, the perfectly loyal spy for her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, and a canny survivor in the murderous court of a most dangerous king. Throughout Europe, her name is a byword for malice, jealousy, and twisted lust. Her Boleyn Inheritance: a fortune and a title, in exchange for her soul. The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel drawn tight as a lute string about a court ruled by the gallows and three women whose positions brought them wealth, admiration, and power as well as deceit, betrayal, and terror. Once again, Philippa Gregory has brought a vanished world to life -- the whisper of a silk skirt on a stone stair, the yellow glow of candlelight illuminating a hastily written note, the murmurs of the crowd gathering on Tower Green below the newly built scaffold. In The Boleyn Inheritance Gregory is at her intelligent and page-turning best.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member riofriotex
This excellent Tudor historical fiction was made even better by outstanding narration on the Recorded Books unabridged audiobook. Gregory's book focuses on Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives, Anne of Cleves and Katharine Howard. Tying their stories together is Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, wive of
Davina Porter narrates Jane, and her voice is perfect for the bitter widow who refuses to acknowledge her part in her own husband's demise. Gregory's portrait of the Germanic Anne of Cleves, voiced by Bianca Amato, is that of a not-unattractive, intelligent woman hampered by her sheltered upbringing, unfashionable style, and poor English. Gregory contrives a plausible incident for Henry taking an immediate dislike to Anne.
The highlight of this novel was Charlotte Parry's rendition of Tudor teenager Katharine Howard - at times overly excitable, at times sulky, always a bubbly airhead. Gregory started most of Katharine's narrations with "now, let me see...what do I have now?", an accounting of the materialistic girl's rising, then declining wealth. I loved the way Gregory had Katharine use the French "voila!" when realization dawned on the naive girl, and Parry did a marvelous job depicting Katharine's flirtations and growing passion for the king's aide, Thomas Culpeper.
Gregory's books have made me want to read more about these real people, including the ambitious and cruel Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, kin to Jane and Katherine, who used them both.
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George who was executed along with his sister Anne Boleyn, thanks in part to Jane's testimony. Jane serves as a lady-in-waiting to both Anne and Katharine.Davina Porter narrates Jane, and her voice is perfect for the bitter widow who refuses to acknowledge her part in her own husband's demise. Gregory's portrait of the Germanic Anne of Cleves, voiced by Bianca Amato, is that of a not-unattractive, intelligent woman hampered by her sheltered upbringing, unfashionable style, and poor English. Gregory contrives a plausible incident for Henry taking an immediate dislike to Anne.
The highlight of this novel was Charlotte Parry's rendition of Tudor teenager Katharine Howard - at times overly excitable, at times sulky, always a bubbly airhead. Gregory started most of Katharine's narrations with "now, let me see...what do I have now?", an accounting of the materialistic girl's rising, then declining wealth. I loved the way Gregory had Katharine use the French "voila!" when realization dawned on the naive girl, and Parry did a marvelous job depicting Katharine's flirtations and growing passion for the king's aide, Thomas Culpeper.
Gregory's books have made me want to read more about these real people, including the ambitious and cruel Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, kin to Jane and Katherine, who used them both.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
The Boleyn Inheritance recounts the lives of King Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives: Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. The book begins in 1539, when Anne is chosen to be Henry's wife. Once at court, she is attended by Jane Boleyn as her lady in waiting. During Anne's brief reign as queen,
The story is told from three points of view: Anne, Jane, and Katherine. This is an excellent device, which allows for many aspects of the story to be revealed in ways that would be impossible if told by a single narrator. I most enjoyed Gregory's portrayal of Anne of Cleves. Anne comes across as the smartest one of the bunch, level-headed and able to forgive the egregious allegations against her. The descriptions of court life, and Henry VIII's tyrannical rule, make for compelling reading. While some liberties may have been taken in the interest of storytelling, Gregory includes an author's note at the end of the book, where she acknowledges the aspects of the story based on historical record, and those she had to invent (chief among them, Jane Boleyn's motives in perpetrating evil on the two queens). This was an enjoyable read, and at some point I'd like to add to my knowledge by reading non-fiction works on Tudor history.
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Katherine is a young lady's maid. She is no more than 15 years old, and portrayed as self-centered, materialistic, and loose. Jane is older and wiser, and has the dubious distinction of having given evidence against her husband, George, and her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, which led to their execution (Gregory's earlier novel, The Other Boleyn Girl, covers that period in Tudor history). Throughout the book, Jane is in cahoots with her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, developing schemes to build her family's wealth and status at court.The story is told from three points of view: Anne, Jane, and Katherine. This is an excellent device, which allows for many aspects of the story to be revealed in ways that would be impossible if told by a single narrator. I most enjoyed Gregory's portrayal of Anne of Cleves. Anne comes across as the smartest one of the bunch, level-headed and able to forgive the egregious allegations against her. The descriptions of court life, and Henry VIII's tyrannical rule, make for compelling reading. While some liberties may have been taken in the interest of storytelling, Gregory includes an author's note at the end of the book, where she acknowledges the aspects of the story based on historical record, and those she had to invent (chief among them, Jane Boleyn's motives in perpetrating evil on the two queens). This was an enjoyable read, and at some point I'd like to add to my knowledge by reading non-fiction works on Tudor history.
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LibraryThing member katfusion
I loved this book! I adore historical fiction and Philippa Gregory is just so good at what she does. She researches her subjects very well and then fleshes out these historical women as charming, engaging, and flawed creatures - each struggling to exist in long ago periods of time. This is the
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first Gregory novel I've read, but she's found yet another life-long fan in me, that's for sure. Show Less
LibraryThing member Misfit
This is a must for lovers of reading anything and everything Tudor. A fascinating look at two of Henry's little known queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. This book might be difficult to get into at first if you have no prior knowledge of Henry VIII and his wives, but it's worth sticking
I loved the way the author told the story from the viewpoint of Anne, Katherine and Jane Boleyn (who was married to George Bolyen, the first Anne's brother). The characters were brilliantly portrayed and came alive before my eyes. Anne, just trying to stay alive in a court riddled with intrigue, Jane scheming with her uncle to put another Howard on the throne, and Katherine (LOL) the not too bright but very beautiful 15 year old who just wanted to look pretty and have pretty things and be admired by handsome men. There were times I was laughing out loud at Kitty's comments, and the chapters that repeatedly started with another accounting of "what do I have now?", as she counted her jewels and clothes.
Through these three women we see Anne and Kitty caught up in something they are helpless to stop, Henry's lusting after young Kitty and his determination to put Anne aside at any cost to have Kitty.
Most fascinating of all is the way Henry is portrayed through all three women, and he is terrifying indeed. An absolute ruler, with complete power over all around him and mad as a hatter. And wonderful to see that of all of them, Anne was able to come through the terror unscathed and a free, independent woman.
Highly highly recommended.
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with it. I loved the way the author told the story from the viewpoint of Anne, Katherine and Jane Boleyn (who was married to George Bolyen, the first Anne's brother). The characters were brilliantly portrayed and came alive before my eyes. Anne, just trying to stay alive in a court riddled with intrigue, Jane scheming with her uncle to put another Howard on the throne, and Katherine (LOL) the not too bright but very beautiful 15 year old who just wanted to look pretty and have pretty things and be admired by handsome men. There were times I was laughing out loud at Kitty's comments, and the chapters that repeatedly started with another accounting of "what do I have now?", as she counted her jewels and clothes.
Through these three women we see Anne and Kitty caught up in something they are helpless to stop, Henry's lusting after young Kitty and his determination to put Anne aside at any cost to have Kitty.
Most fascinating of all is the way Henry is portrayed through all three women, and he is terrifying indeed. An absolute ruler, with complete power over all around him and mad as a hatter. And wonderful to see that of all of them, Anne was able to come through the terror unscathed and a free, independent woman.
Highly highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member scofer
I believe this is my fifth Philippa Gregory book and, while it is not nearly as good as The Other Boleyn Girl, it’s an entertaining read nonetheless. The Boleyn Inheritance is told from the alternating first person perspectives of Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, each short
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chapter jumping between these three lesser known females who inhabited Henry VIII's court. I enjoyed Gregory’s exploration of sweet and simple Anne of Cleves (Henry’s fourth wife), dimwitted and self -absorbed Katherine Howard (Henry’s fifth wife) and scheming yet tormented Jane Boleyn (lady in waiting to Anne and Katherine as well as sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn). Anyone who enjoys historical fictional, particularly involving Henry VIII and his wives, will likely enjoy this book … but just do not expect to enjoy it as much as The Other Boleyn Girl. Show Less
LibraryThing member bratlaw
Because King Henry decides to form an alliance with the Kingdom of Cleves by marrying Princess Anne, This book is seen through the eyes of three of the women most effected by this alliance. Anne of Cleves, the Protestant princess that Henry marries; Katherine Howard, the English beauty that Henry
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falls for; and Jane Boleyn, the widow of George Boleyn, whose testimony sent her husband and her infamous sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, to the execution block. Show Less
LibraryThing member alanna1122
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was gripping - a true page turner. I would have inhaled it if I had the time to sit down and read it in big chunks - but as it was - over and over I picked it up reading bits when I could squeeze them in.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel given
On a stylistic note, I am a huge fan of her rotating point of view in this story - but even more so of her consistently very short chapters (a few pages at most). For me, this device made it a really easy book to pick up in my short widows of free time.
So to sum up - I thought it was great - my heart actually pounded a few times while I was reading it - and although I may be in the minority - I thought it was a much superior novel to the one that preceded it.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel given
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how underwhelmed I was by The Other Boleyn Girl. I had low expectations for this one - especially given the lack of buzz surrounding it. When I got to the author's note at the end of the book - I realized why I might have liked it so much better - in the note she talk's about the lack of documentation around some of the main characters in this novel. I think that gave her greater freedom to fictionalize and also - since I was a history major and know some of this stuff - gave me more freedom to enjoy the stories free from all the history I read in college. On a stylistic note, I am a huge fan of her rotating point of view in this story - but even more so of her consistently very short chapters (a few pages at most). For me, this device made it a really easy book to pick up in my short widows of free time.
So to sum up - I thought it was great - my heart actually pounded a few times while I was reading it - and although I may be in the minority - I thought it was a much superior novel to the one that preceded it.
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LibraryThing member SilverThistle
The Boleyn Inheritance was my second Philippa Gregory book and I enjoyed it even more than the first (The Other Boleyn Girl). I loved seeing how things panned out, depending on which side of the fence the narrator was on, and I really felt like I knew the characters and their motivation by the end.
Anne's and Katherine's chapters were more entertaining than Jane's but that's probably because Jane's chapters/thoughts/narration were primarily about her own self inflicted torment and delusions over her husband's and Anne Boleyn's betrayal. Her narrative had a definite air of madness about it as the story progressed. By the end she was a broken woman and I don't doubt she was as mad as box of frogs. I don't pity her though.....well, not much anyway.
I love that I feel I know these women a little better now (albeit in a fictional way) and will look out for other fictional works which cover the Tudors.
King Henry was vividly repulsive in the pages, to the point where I swear I could smell the supporating wound on his leg every time I opened the pages. At best he was delusional, at worst he was a maniac and I wonder how anyone could bear to be around him.
All in all it's a great read, I just hope I can find a worthy bedtime read to replace it, now it's finished. That's the worst part of a good book.....it's over too soon.
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The end just came too soon for me. I'd have liked it to carry on and on, especially Anne's part.Anne's and Katherine's chapters were more entertaining than Jane's but that's probably because Jane's chapters/thoughts/narration were primarily about her own self inflicted torment and delusions over her husband's and Anne Boleyn's betrayal. Her narrative had a definite air of madness about it as the story progressed. By the end she was a broken woman and I don't doubt she was as mad as box of frogs. I don't pity her though.....well, not much anyway.
I love that I feel I know these women a little better now (albeit in a fictional way) and will look out for other fictional works which cover the Tudors.
King Henry was vividly repulsive in the pages, to the point where I swear I could smell the supporating wound on his leg every time I opened the pages. At best he was delusional, at worst he was a maniac and I wonder how anyone could bear to be around him.
All in all it's a great read, I just hope I can find a worthy bedtime read to replace it, now it's finished. That's the worst part of a good book.....it's over too soon.
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LibraryThing member lecari
This book is the latest in Philippa Gregory's series, and focuses on the lives of Henry's fourth and fifth wives Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, and George Boleyn's widow, Jane, who has served all his wives so far. This is done more in a diary format - the POV changes between the three
I thought it was incredibly interesting to read, and enlightening. I just wish more of it could have been based in facts (though obviously, lack of records made that impossible). It's also interesting to see how Henry changes - from the sweet but slightly selfish and hedonistic boy portrayed in 'the Constant Princess' to the tyrant in this book, who can declare a marriage void and give his ex-wife the title of sister, and have no one call it madness.
Overall I would definitely recommend this one, I really enjoyed it and liked the change in writing style. Again, not quite as good as 'The Other Boleyn Girl' but still a very enjoyable book.
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characters in (usually) 3-4 page long thoughts and telling of events. This can be confusing at first, and it took me a while to get into the story. This covers the period of Anne's entrance into England, to Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn's execution. These two Queens are the ones least known about, and Philippa chose to look at those two to try and give a new perspective on them, and perhaps change people's opinions of them both.I thought it was incredibly interesting to read, and enlightening. I just wish more of it could have been based in facts (though obviously, lack of records made that impossible). It's also interesting to see how Henry changes - from the sweet but slightly selfish and hedonistic boy portrayed in 'the Constant Princess' to the tyrant in this book, who can declare a marriage void and give his ex-wife the title of sister, and have no one call it madness.
Overall I would definitely recommend this one, I really enjoyed it and liked the change in writing style. Again, not quite as good as 'The Other Boleyn Girl' but still a very enjoyable book.
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LibraryThing member Kasthu
The Boleyn Inheritance is the story of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. Anne of Cleves comes to England, the product of a dynastical alliance between the Duchy of Cleves and Tudor royal house.
She arrives speaking no English
History has a bad impression of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. The former sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn, Jane Boleyn sent her sister-in-law and husband to their deaths--allegedly to save her inheritance, though more likely than not because of jealousy. Part of the story is told through Lady Rochford's eyes, and its an interesting view. She sees herself as utterly blameless. At the very end, she pretends that she's mentally unstable so that she won't be executed--a gamble that eventually doesn't pay off. This was a detail that Gregory made up to show that Jane Boleyn was mentally unstable for having sent her brother and sister-in-law to their deaths, though I would argue that, in order to fully realize what she had done, Jane Boleyn was completely sane.
In the Author's Note at the end of the book, Gregory claims that she wanted to show Katherine Howard as anything but silly; but there's no other way that Henry VIII's foolish and vain fifth wife can be portrayed. Married at sixteen to the fat, aging king, Katherine Howard has an affair with Thomas Culpeper, the handsome Groom of the Bedchamber. She naievely believes that, because she's Queen of England, she'll be saved from the ax. Her inheritance is the block, which she requested be brought to her chamber the night before her execution, so that she could practice.
This is the best book I've seen from Philippa Gregory in a long time. The Boleyn Inheritance is a welcome change from the single-person narratives she's written in the past, where the main character is seen as utterly blameless and pure. I liked The Boleyn Inheritance maybe more than I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl.
She arrives speaking no English
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and quickly becomes distasteful to her husband when she rejects him. And even when they divorce six months after marriage, Anne of Cleves is still not safe from the tyranny of her ex husband. Ultimately, she's the character we most sympathize with. Her inheritance is the lands that once belonged to Anne Boleyn, which she was given at her divorce. History has a bad impression of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. The former sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn, Jane Boleyn sent her sister-in-law and husband to their deaths--allegedly to save her inheritance, though more likely than not because of jealousy. Part of the story is told through Lady Rochford's eyes, and its an interesting view. She sees herself as utterly blameless. At the very end, she pretends that she's mentally unstable so that she won't be executed--a gamble that eventually doesn't pay off. This was a detail that Gregory made up to show that Jane Boleyn was mentally unstable for having sent her brother and sister-in-law to their deaths, though I would argue that, in order to fully realize what she had done, Jane Boleyn was completely sane.
In the Author's Note at the end of the book, Gregory claims that she wanted to show Katherine Howard as anything but silly; but there's no other way that Henry VIII's foolish and vain fifth wife can be portrayed. Married at sixteen to the fat, aging king, Katherine Howard has an affair with Thomas Culpeper, the handsome Groom of the Bedchamber. She naievely believes that, because she's Queen of England, she'll be saved from the ax. Her inheritance is the block, which she requested be brought to her chamber the night before her execution, so that she could practice.
This is the best book I've seen from Philippa Gregory in a long time. The Boleyn Inheritance is a welcome change from the single-person narratives she's written in the past, where the main character is seen as utterly blameless and pure. I liked The Boleyn Inheritance maybe more than I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl.
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LibraryThing member wizardsheart
I am a fan of Philippa Gregory. I have enjoyed all the books that I have read by her. That being said, I have to say that this is probably one of the best that I have read. She tells the story of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, both wives of Henry VIII. Bridging these two together is the story
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of Jane Boleyn, the sister in law to his second wife Anne Boleyn. Her characterizations and the telling of the story had me on the edge of my chair. Which is pretty remarkable considering that I know the historical story. So I knew what was going to happen. If you have enjoyed her in the past...or if Gregory is new to you...give this book a shot, chances are that you won't be disappointed! Show Less
LibraryThing member Bestine
A big improvement over "The Constant Princess," which (IMHO) was a major disappointment due to really excessive historical speculation.
However, as less is known about the three ladies who reaped "The Boleyn Inheritance," (Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn), I was less distracted by
This one made me think without getting me so POed over historical liberties that I wanted to throw the book against the wall.
However, as less is known about the three ladies who reaped "The Boleyn Inheritance," (Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn), I was less distracted by
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'fact,' and was able to enjoy Ms. Gregory's 'bold choices' as she recounts their story via their individual points of view. This one made me think without getting me so POed over historical liberties that I wanted to throw the book against the wall.
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LibraryThing member eyrehead247
GREAT sequel! I love learning about the Tudor family. Gregory has a way with words and she sucks you into the world in which she writes about. I LOVED this book, but I think I liked The Other Boleyn Girl more.
LibraryThing member mrstreme
The Boleyn Inheritance continues Gregory’s theme from The Other Boleyn Girl – Tudor women were at the mercy of their male relatives, and the wives of King Henry VIII were as disposable as toilet paper. Pardon my crassness.
I have read three of Gregory’s Tudor books in quick succession (the two
Like The Other Boleyn Girl, I would recommend this novel to lovers of medieval court fiction or perhaps readers who enjoy stories about the role of women in history. If you are of the latter, prepare to be disgusted for The Boleyn Inheritance is a story rich in female pawns, unscrupulous men and wombs for hire. As the last line of the book so richly concludes: “It is no small thing, this, for a woman: freedom.”
I have read three of Gregory’s Tudor books in quick succession (the two
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aforementioned plus The Constant Princess), and of the three, I liked The Boleyn Inheritance the best. Gregory chooses to tell this story from three women’s perspectives: Anne of Cleves (Henry’s fourth wife), Katherine Howard (Henry’s fifth wife) and Jane Boleyn (Anne Boleyn’s sister-in-law who also was a lady-in-waiting for these queens). Together, they tell of Henry’s continuing madness, paranoia, health problems and impotence. If Gregory’s depiction of Henry is only half-true, then he was a mad tyrant, and any woman who was associated with him deserved a medal for putting up with his antics. Unfortunately, it seems that none of them fared well, enduring banishment (if she was lucky) or death. Moreover, there was no glory in being a wife of Henry VIII, despite the queenly status. It was, in effect, a death sentence.Like The Other Boleyn Girl, I would recommend this novel to lovers of medieval court fiction or perhaps readers who enjoy stories about the role of women in history. If you are of the latter, prepare to be disgusted for The Boleyn Inheritance is a story rich in female pawns, unscrupulous men and wombs for hire. As the last line of the book so richly concludes: “It is no small thing, this, for a woman: freedom.”
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LibraryThing member akritz
A follow up to the Other Boleyn Girl. We see Anne of Cleves and Kitty Howard's rise and descent from the throne. Most of the story is from the point of view of Jane Boleyn - the sister-in-law that sent George and Anne to be beheaded.
LibraryThing member sweetcatastrophe
Philippa Gregory is fantastic. I always find her characters well-developed, intriguing and always indentifiable. The stories that she weaves are rife with mystery, drama and emotion that make me as a reader sympathize with nearly everyone. This book was no exception. I loved every second of it and
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was physically thrown by the ending. Well worth the money and the time. Show Less
LibraryThing member indygo88
As always, I was swept up in Philippa Gregory's accounts of the Tudors. I didn't find this book quite as engaging as some of her others, however. Jane Boleyn/Lady Rochford is just as despisable in this book as in The Other Boleyn Girl, although she's presented in the first person here, which gives
More than anything, Philippa Gregory has enlightened me into the lives of the Tudor years. Though her works are fiction, they've provided me with a history that I previously knew virtually nothing about, and now I'm keen on knowing more and more about this fascinating period in England.
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the reader an alternate view into why & how she was as she was. The Howard family, for the most part, were definitely a bunch of conniving power-seekers who didn't care who or what they destroyed to get where they wanted to be. Katherine was basically a victim of her family's making, and too young to know the difference. And you can't help but feel sorry for Anne of Cleves, coming into a strange country and also a victim of King Henry's varying moods & whims. More than anything, Philippa Gregory has enlightened me into the lives of the Tudor years. Though her works are fiction, they've provided me with a history that I previously knew virtually nothing about, and now I'm keen on knowing more and more about this fascinating period in England.
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LibraryThing member PuddinTame
Not being a Philippa Gregory fan, and having not particularly liked the Other Boleyn Girl or The Constant Princess, I wasn't going to read this, but I'm a sucker for historical novels set around this time, and finding out that Anne of Cleves was going to be one of the characters, well, I broke down
For the most part, the characterizations were very good. I very much liked the portrayal of Anne, although I would have liked to have seen her interact with Elizabeth and Edward. It is very odd that Gregory has made Anne her chief spokeswomen for her disapproval of Henry's religious chaos and the dissolution of the monasteries. On Anne's second day in England, Gregory has her lamenting the changes in England since the Dissolution. How would Anne know what England was like before? Who, among the English people that she has met, would have risked making critical remarks on that topc. Granted neither of her English narrators would have been a likely spokesperson either, but maybe this soapbox should have been saved for another book.
Gregory boasts of how precise her history is (see her website), She may get the day of the week and the weather correct, but there are a number of larger errors. Jane Boleyn didn't actually testify at Anne & George Boleyn's trial, she submitted an affadavit. Gregory apparently starts the Dissolution of the Monasteries before the birth of Elizabeth in September, 1533. The Visitation of the Monasteries wasn't completed until 1535; the first confiscations were in 1536; and the king received all the other monasteries in 1539-1540. Gregory frequently contradicts The Marrying of Anne of Cleves by Retha Warnicke, which she lists as one of her sources. According to that book, William of Cleves wasn't a Lutheran, let alone a rabid fanatic, and Anne herself was a Catholic. Their brother-in-Law, John Frederick of Saxony was head of the German Protestant League, and it was the relationship to him that was the source of Anne's political attractiveness. And of course, there are "holdover" mistakes from her previous books. Catherine Carey was not one of Anne Boleyn's ladies while she was awaiting execution in the tower. These aren't major distortions that change the whole tenor of the book, I bring them up only because of Gregory's boasts of her perfectionism regarding detail. This will probably not bother some readers in the slightest.
Gregory says on her website that she is trying to get past the image of Katherine as a "silly slut." I don't think she succeeds here, especially not with the silly part. The characterization is vivid and believable, but not terribly sympathetic. Gregory argues that Katherine had two boyfriends in her life, and that few people today would think that makes her a slut. Ah, but she is not living today. And I think that we must include among her "boyfriends" Henry "Sugar Daddy" Tudor. I think it is more the nature than the number of her relationships that cause Lacie Baldwin Smith to describe her as deliquent. Gregory certain portrays her as fickle, foolish, and grasping. Oh, I still sympathize somewhat with her: she was poorly served by her elders, and it's easy to see how she got in over her head. Her death was the same sort of travesty that Anne Boleyn's was. In both cases, Henry wanted both to annul his marriage and execute his "wife" for adultery. Still, one can pity her for being genuinely victimized and still think she was a seriously flawed person.
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and read it. I was pleasantly surprised - this kept my interest, I enjoyed the combination of the three different voices. The history is much better than the previous two novels. I thought that her portrayal of Henry's court was extremely vivid, and her portrayal of Henry is frightening. Gregory does do a wonderful job of making the intimacy in which these women lived very clear: one may have know that Katherine was one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, but the story makes it very clear what that involved. Gregory's handling of sex is not nearly as torrid as The Other Boleyn Girl, which is a plus for me, but may disappoint other readers.For the most part, the characterizations were very good. I very much liked the portrayal of Anne, although I would have liked to have seen her interact with Elizabeth and Edward. It is very odd that Gregory has made Anne her chief spokeswomen for her disapproval of Henry's religious chaos and the dissolution of the monasteries. On Anne's second day in England, Gregory has her lamenting the changes in England since the Dissolution. How would Anne know what England was like before? Who, among the English people that she has met, would have risked making critical remarks on that topc. Granted neither of her English narrators would have been a likely spokesperson either, but maybe this soapbox should have been saved for another book.
Gregory boasts of how precise her history is (see her website), She may get the day of the week and the weather correct, but there are a number of larger errors. Jane Boleyn didn't actually testify at Anne & George Boleyn's trial, she submitted an affadavit. Gregory apparently starts the Dissolution of the Monasteries before the birth of Elizabeth in September, 1533. The Visitation of the Monasteries wasn't completed until 1535; the first confiscations were in 1536; and the king received all the other monasteries in 1539-1540. Gregory frequently contradicts The Marrying of Anne of Cleves by Retha Warnicke, which she lists as one of her sources. According to that book, William of Cleves wasn't a Lutheran, let alone a rabid fanatic, and Anne herself was a Catholic. Their brother-in-Law, John Frederick of Saxony was head of the German Protestant League, and it was the relationship to him that was the source of Anne's political attractiveness. And of course, there are "holdover" mistakes from her previous books. Catherine Carey was not one of Anne Boleyn's ladies while she was awaiting execution in the tower. These aren't major distortions that change the whole tenor of the book, I bring them up only because of Gregory's boasts of her perfectionism regarding detail. This will probably not bother some readers in the slightest.
Gregory says on her website that she is trying to get past the image of Katherine as a "silly slut." I don't think she succeeds here, especially not with the silly part. The characterization is vivid and believable, but not terribly sympathetic. Gregory argues that Katherine had two boyfriends in her life, and that few people today would think that makes her a slut. Ah, but she is not living today. And I think that we must include among her "boyfriends" Henry "Sugar Daddy" Tudor. I think it is more the nature than the number of her relationships that cause Lacie Baldwin Smith to describe her as deliquent. Gregory certain portrays her as fickle, foolish, and grasping. Oh, I still sympathize somewhat with her: she was poorly served by her elders, and it's easy to see how she got in over her head. Her death was the same sort of travesty that Anne Boleyn's was. In both cases, Henry wanted both to annul his marriage and execute his "wife" for adultery. Still, one can pity her for being genuinely victimized and still think she was a seriously flawed person.
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LibraryThing member iammbb
While this book picks up just a bit after The Other Boleyn Girl leaves off, it doesn't manage to carry over the engrossing storytelling.
Whether this is due to a fatigue with the genre/period/family or whether this is due to a lesser quality product is hard to say. I have read 5 other books by this
Gregory presents the story of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives from the perspective of these two wives and the sister in law of his second wife in alternating chapters.
As always, I found Gregory's work interesting for her take on the internal life of historical characters but I tired of her characters' narration midway through the book. Enough so that I skipped to the final chapters to see where Gregory was taking us.
At this point, I'm not feeling like I'll be reading a 7th book by Ms Gregory . . .
Whether this is due to a fatigue with the genre/period/family or whether this is due to a lesser quality product is hard to say. I have read 5 other books by this
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author.Gregory presents the story of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives from the perspective of these two wives and the sister in law of his second wife in alternating chapters.
As always, I found Gregory's work interesting for her take on the internal life of historical characters but I tired of her characters' narration midway through the book. Enough so that I skipped to the final chapters to see where Gregory was taking us.
At this point, I'm not feeling like I'll be reading a 7th book by Ms Gregory . . .
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LibraryThing member anitapotter
Very good book first time heard of Lady Rochford and interesting about Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpeper. The scene with Anne of Cleves and Henry VIII in disguise was amusing
LibraryThing member vmarquar
I very much enjoyed The Other Boyeln Girl, and was excited to read this book because it is about the time period after Anne Boleyn's death. It was very good. I think not as good as TOBG (mainly because King Henry is so wretchedly old and hideous in this book), but I would recommend it to those who
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read and enjoyed TOBG. Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliophile26
Whoa what a gripping book! It recalls the fates of two of Henry VIII's later queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. Jane Boleyn, Queen Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, plays a pivotal role in both of their fates, just as she did in Anne's. I felt extremely sorry for all of the women who despite
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their faults, were victims of Henry and the evil Duke of Norfolk. Show Less
LibraryThing member kpasternack02
A disappointing sequel to one of the better books I've read in a while. Just did not hold my interest int he same way as The Boleyn Inheritance. The charachters were not as multi-dimensional or interesting.
LibraryThing member luckycharm6139
I enjoyed reading this account of Lady Jane Rochford, going back and forth in her mind about how she turned on her husband George Boleyn Lord Rochfor and his sister Queen Anne Boleyn, out of jealousy and spite. The end result her husband and Anne were beheaded as well as others. Jane feeling she
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was the one who was betrayed by her husbands devotion to his family especially his sister, Queen Anne, she felt she deserved more than she got. Eventually she ends up a Lady in Waiting to George and Annes cousin Katherine Howard who also becomes wife to King Henry Vlll. Jane as an older women shoulld have been wiser and warned Katherine about proper behaviour becoming a Queen, but The Duke of Norfolk out to gain from his neices marraige to the King plots with Jane to help get Katherine pregnant by Thomas Culpepper Katherines handsome cousin who is infatuated with her. Henrys men learn of the plot and Jane and Katherine are both beheaded for treason. A good story based on alot of truth. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sioneva
My first Philippa Gregory novel was "The Other Boleyn Girl," and I became a fast fan. I was really looking forward to "The Boleyn Inheritance," and while it was a good read, I wish Gregory had stuck with a single main character telling the story rather than the somewhat dizzying three-character
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perspective. That said, I understand why she made the decision and enjoyed the new perspectives - so many authors dismiss Anne of Cleves terribly easily and it was enjoyable to hear a different perspective. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
ISBN
000780900X / 9780007809004
Other editions
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory (Paperback)
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory (Paperback)