Comments on: REVIEW: The Other Boleyn Girl By Philippa Gregory

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:21:25 +0000

@bethsharp: Had I read it when I was 14, I would have been a little shocked but that was nearly 30 years ago and times – and what will shock people – have changed. There are some themes – which appear to be iffy historically speaking – such as incest that are raised. I would advise you to skim/read the book first before letting your daughter read it. But then sometimes I think I’m rapidly headed to old fuddy-duddy sensibilities.

By: bethsharp

bethsharp — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:16:50 +0000

I homeschool a 14 year old daughter. Is this book to expilict for that age as i’d lvoe her to read this as we are studying this time period.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:08:50 +0000

I am reading the book right now and agree that this is more of a fiction novel than a historical novel. As others have suggested Anne wasn’t as cold as she is portrayed her. Mary didn’t have the king’s children. The list goes on. While this is a good read, I was hoping to find a read that was more historically accurate. Mary was an opportunist, just like Anne. While the author is entitled to her opinion, I found this book extremely bias.

By: L.E. Bryce

L.E. Bryce — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:33:59 +0000

The book also plays hard and loose with its facts.

Mary was actually the eldest of the Boleyn children, when in the novel she is portrayed as the youngest.

Mary did not marry William Carey until after her affair with Henry had ended; Catherine and Henry were born then, and were certainly not Henry VIII’s children by her. The novel has her already married to William when the king takes an interest in her.

Mary had spent time in the French court and had been the mistress of the French king before being recalled to England by her family, who was shocked by the reputation she’d acquired. She certainly wasn’t the sexual innocent she is portrayed as in the book.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:19:32 +0000

The book actually plays a bit fast and loose with history, so you really have to take it on its own terms.

One doesn’t have to look very hard to find out that Ms. Gregory did in fact make some claims that are unsupported or controversial. I am reading this book right now as apart of my TBR challenge for this month. This is indeed a novel of historical fiction and not based entirely of historical facts. More like claims. However, Gregory does have a style that flows.

By: Lynne Connolly

Lynne Connolly — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:47:28 +0000

The book actually plays a bit fast and loose with history, so you really have to take it on its own terms.
Anne was a forward thinker, and she subscribed to the new Humanist thinking, introduced it to the English court. At first Henry was fascinated. No she wasn’t a witch, that was seen as very old-fashioned and backwards, primitive thinking. I can’t think of anyone less likely to be a witch than Anne Boleyn.
But if Gregory wants to create her own version with a different view, that’s her privilege. Just don’t confuse it with the real thing!
Next they’ll be telling us that Henry VIII was a short, dark Irishman who went around yelling all the time (Alexander Korda has a lot to apologise for!)

By: Tumperkin

Tumperkin — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:46:25 +0000

I really liked the fact that it was implied Anne may have dabbled in wicthcraft and adultery. She is usually portrayed as a completely innocent victim and I liked that Gregory was prepared to consider her to be more designing than that. Also, if she had dabbled, it was in a desperate attempt to get pregnant. She knew perfectly well that her failure to produce an heir for the King was making her position exceedingly grim.

There was actually a British TV production of this a couple of years ago starring Natasha McElhone (Syriana) as Mary and Johdi May (who was also in Tipping the Velvet) as Anne.

By: Jill Myles

Jill Myles — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:54:50 +0000

I really loved this book. I’m not a big fan of the Tudor era because it all seems dark and grim, but I thoroughly enjoyed this particular telling. I’ve read several other novels of hers and found them equally enthralling, but I think this one was my favorite.

By: December Quinn/Stacia Kane

December Quinn/Stacia Kane — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:05:42 +0000

Yes, seeing Anne’s flagstone in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula is always a bit sad…the poor woman. (And if you want to have real fun with the Yeoman Warders, let them know you’re a Ricardian–they love that and will pick on you mercilessly for the rest of the tour, lol.)

I actually found that ambiguity irritating in this book, which I otherwise liked. Gregory seemed to be implying that Anne was in fact guilty of witchcraft and adultery with her brother, and I wondered why she took that view when so many people think it was a set-up. It wouldn’t have bothered me if she’d included an Author’s Note, but as she didn’t I just couldn’t get past it and it ruined the book for me.

By: heather (errantdreams)

heather (errantdreams) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:00:44 +0000

Oooh, the green cover is quite pretty. Sounds like this book is one helluva ride!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:47:31 +0000

Okay Marg, just for you I’ll put the mmp cover up as well. I actually like the trade cover a little better (plus it’s the one I own) but the green cover is pretty nice too.

By: Marg

Marg — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:49:28 +0000

Have you seen the new cover that is coming out to coincide with the movie? This one is much nicer, and seemingly started a trend in historical fiction covers at least!