Mary Boleyn takes us through the hills and valleys of her life. The story starts with Mary, 14, and recently married, ordered by her family to become Henry VIII's mistress. Her husband must step aside for the family good. Her relationship with Henry is an eye-opener for her. Initially she falls in love with him as a young teenage girl would fall in love with her crush, but as her relationship continues, she grows more "worldly" about Henry and their relationship. As she's recovering from the birth of her son, Anne is sent by the family to occupy the king until Mary can assume her duties, but Anne has caught Henry's eye and Mary is put aside for Anne. The rest of the novel tells the tale of Anne's romance with Henry through Mary's eyes.

Learning about history. It's not preachy like a text book and you will learn without realizing it.

Mary. She was warm and rich and you could understand her strengths and weaknesses.

How the family was so pushy when it came to getting the king's favor, but then, that's a story point.

Read another book written by the author.

I was emotionally drained at the end because the end is the beheading of Anne.

is Philippa Gregory and she's a famed historical fiction author. You can find her at her website: http://www.philippagregory.com/. She's also written several other historical fictions in the Tudor time period.

It will envelop you in Mary's world. It will consume you.

It's very long.

Gregory masterfully put the reader in the time and setting of the novel. Mary's character "voice" is another draw. The characters are all well rounded and developed. The author's writing style is easy to read. The book is long. This isn't a book you can finish in a day. It's a very useful book that shows you a different side of history.

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Created Mar 09, 2009 at 4:47pm • Submit your own review...