Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king"s interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands. A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.
This is another book club book and I loved it ... So much so that I have went out and purchased a few other novels of Philippa Gregory ... The story is told from Mary's point of view and boy do you feel story for her ....
It really was a man's world ... The court life has always fascinated me but to be honest although I love the fashions and houses I would not like to be brought up in that world especially as a woman ... It did make us wonder has times really changed alot for woman? Do we have better rights now? Anne stated in the book that "Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again" and she was correct .... There are brief moments in the book that I started to feel sorry for Anne but then she disappeared fast !!! She really was a cunning woman who knew exactly what she wanted ... But to be fair no one really won in this world ... Henry lost Catherine, Mary lost William and Anne lost her head ... It is interesting to note that even though Henry never had a living son as Heir just the girls ... That one of the girls - Anne's Daughter "Elizabeth" became one of the Greatest Queens that ever lived ...
The Movie is different from the book in many ways and the events are mixed up and jumbled in the movie ... Please ... Please ... Please read the book far far better ...
Even if you know the story of the Boleyn Family this book is well worth the read ... Go on immerse yourself in the Tutor Period you will not be disappointed ...
I rate this book 5*****
2 comments:
I'm with you, loved, loved, loved this book. A big book, but so easy to read. A definite page turner. It immerses you in an era where men had total power...come to think of it not much has changed in todays world. I give it a 5.
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