Book Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

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.

When one thinks of Tudor England, he thinks of The Other Boleyn Girl. It's unfortunate, but true. Now, I've written a whole article disproving several highly fictional points of this novel, and so repeating all the wretched depictions I hated about this book would be awfully irksome and repetitive. There are many points I made here in my article "Breaking Down 'The Other Boleyn Girl'" that, if you're considering reading this should definitely read first before this review and before the actual novel.

Now to begin the actual review. With a story like Anne's and Mary's, there was so much potential for a great novel. And Gregory did create a great novel: just not a historical one. The Other Boleyn Girl was a rotten blend of lies and twisted truth, and it is a real shame that it represents Tudor books and has destroyed Anne Boleyn's reputation. All history grudge's aside, it's an entertaining book, but there should be a warning label so that readers can know just how fictional the novel is. Aside from history and plot, Gregory's writing style is laid-back yet sensory, rich and yet stylishly dry. Sure, I hated this book but there's no denying that she's one of the most talented writers out there. I don't recommend the novel, but as long as you're aware of the truth, go ahead and take a try at it, but warning, your blood will boil.

Statistics
Pages: 672
Publisher: Touchstone
Year Published: 2001
Kylie's Rating: ♛/♛♛♛♛♛ (1/5 Stars)

January 1536: What if Henry VIII had died?

Catherine of Aragon died on the eighth of January and subsequently Anne Boleyn found herself pregnant once again. But the wave of good fortune for the couple came to a conclusion when later in the month Henry VIII was unhorsed at a joust; the shock, concern, and fear Anne experienced at this news caused her to miscarry the child. The miscarriage is what will always be remembered of January 1536, despite Henry VIII almost meeting death. Had he died at the joust, the very course of history would be changed forever.

Given how Elizabeth was the couple's only child and the heir all had been forced to swear fealty to, she would be declared Queen and Anne would rule as Queen-Regent with the help of the council and her uncle the Duke of Norfolk. However, few would be be loyal to an infant-queen and even fewer to an all-powerful Queen-Regent without any royal blood. 

What we must remember is that in Spain and in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, Henry VIII had always been married to Catherine of Aragon, his marriage to Anne Boleyn counted for nothing and so to them, as oppose to Mary Tudor being the bastard, it was Elizabeth. If Henry VIII had died at the January 1536 joust, in all other parts of Europe Mary would be declared Queen of England, and Spain would probably invade and put her on the throne without much difficulty, as with Henry VIII's death England would be a wreck enough.

But alas, Catherine of Aragon's daughter or not, Mary Tudor was a woman and there had never been a Queen in her own right sitting on England's throne before. Not many would accept this, and some might argue that Henry VIII's illegitimate son by Elizabeth Blount, Henry Fitzroy, had the strongest claim to the throne. Despite allegedly fathering many bastards, Henry Fitzroy was the king's only acknowledged son, and he was also the Duke of Somerset and Richmond. His surname, Fitzroy, meant king's son; he had been christened such for a reason. 

No matter what, England would be left weak and none of the above rulers could reign without facing great opposition, leaving the nation undivided and vulnerable for attack and ruin. It is likely that under any of the above three options England would be conquered by a greater European power without trust in a stable monarch.