# 24 - The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

I couldn't put this book down! Yes, I read all 600+ pages in one day......

"The Other Boleyn Girl'' is a tale of Tudor England, and the experiences in the Court of King Henry VIII, told from the point of view of Mary Boleyn. Mary is the younger sister of Anne Boleyn.

The story starts when Mary is 13 years old, and her sister Anne returns from being at Court in France. Both girls serve Queen Katherine, Henry's Spanish wife.

The girls are pawns for their family. Their father and uncle use them to gain favor with the King. Mary has two bastard children with the King, before he sets his sights on Anne. We all know the basic story....Henry put aside his wife Katherine because he had no sons. Anne couldn't provide him a son either. So, she was rather rudely separated from her head.

This book fills in the rest of the story. The story ends rather happily for Mary......and completely miserably for Anne. And the tension, drama and plotting are better than any modern day soap opera.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There were some inacuracies....but it's historial fiction. I don't expect it to be a history book popping to life. It gave me some insight into what it was like at Court. Constant jockeying for position. Lying. Cheating. Plotting. Killing. All to gain favor with the King. Family position, entitlements and wealth is everything. And the women are pawns, governed totally by their families.

If you're interested in court intrigue, then this book is a must read. :)

50 Book Challenge 2007: 4/50