The Boleyn Inheritance
by Philippa Gregory
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| published
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by Harper
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| binding
| Paperback |
| isbn
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0007244835
(isbn13: 9780007244836)
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| pages
| 518 |
| date added
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05-09-07
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
people who would have liked "The Other Boleyn Girl" if it wasn't so presumptuous.
My favorite Phillipa Gregory book was "The Other Boleyn Girl." I read that book about 6 months before it blew up the bestseller list. My father had seen it at a book store and thought I might like it. So, he bought it for me. I read it. I liked it. It blew up. So then came 'Queens Fool' 'The Virgin's Lover' 'A Constant Princess' and now, 'The Boleyn Inheritence.' Things seem to have gotten worse with each Gregory book. I liked 'The Boleyn Inheritence' in the same way that...more
My favorite Phillipa Gregory book was "The Other Boleyn Girl." I read that book about 6 months before it blew up the bestseller list. My father had seen it at a book store and thought I might like it. So, he bought it for me. I read it. I liked it. It blew up. So then came 'Queens Fool' 'The Virgin's Lover' 'A Constant Princess' and now, 'The Boleyn Inheritence.' Things seem to have gotten worse with each Gregory book. I liked 'The Boleyn Inheritence' in the same way that I like to eat at Chili's in the Atlanta airport. It's an ok expereince, there could be worse for sure, but it certainly is not an experience I seek out when I am not in the Atlanta airport.
In fact, I bought this book in the Atlanta airport. A week before I left for my trip my friend Hannah and I were in the bookstore looking at the book, and both of us had been kind of disappointed with Phillipa Gregory lately, and we both decided not to get the book, knowing that one of us would cave and get it eventually lend it to the other. Well, Hannah wins. I caved. And while I'm not sorry I did, I 'm not particularly glad I did either.
The thing I've noticed about Gregory is that with each book she seems to trust her audience less and less, emphasizing key plot points and methapors countless times, to make sure the audience gets how important these things are. I tried counting how many times the term "Boleyn Inheritence" came up, but I gave up 1oo pages in. We get it, they inheresited physical things as well as a legacy. Stop beating that metaphorical horse. Which makes me think that maybe the audience has become the kind of people who need things re-itereated constantly. Then I get mad at Phillipa Gregory for selling out. But it's not her fault, is it? It's the fault of the women who see these books as romance novels, ignoring the historical interest and the need to tell a good story in an artistic way. That's really what is lacking here. The artistic, readable, intriguing narrative from "The Other Boleyn Girl" has been watered down and served with a side of fries. Which is fine. For some people. But not for me. So, you could read this book. Or you could read "The Other Boleyn Girl." It's like the difference between Chili's and The Outback. They're both chains, but one is just a little classier, just a little more expensive, just a little better tasting....less
bookshelves:
okayish-chick-lit
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
women who in the future will be that sort of crumbly old Harlequin Romance reader
Hmm...do I recommend The Boleyn Inheritance?
NO.
Here's why:
1. It makes me acutely aware that if I enjoyed this series of Phillipa Gregory books in my youth, that when I get crumbly (read: old), I'll probably end up enjoying Harlequin Romance novels.
2. In The Boleyn Inheritance, as with The Other Boleyn Girl, Ms. Gregory writes with such myopic vision that I wanted to scream from the claustrophobic feeling. She writes around in circles, covering the same topic repeatedly with only ...more
Hmm...do I recommend The Boleyn Inheritance?
NO.
Here's why:
1. It makes me acutely aware that if I enjoyed this series of Phillipa Gregory books in my youth, that when I get crumbly (read: old), I'll probably end up enjoying Harlequin Romance novels.
2. In The Boleyn Inheritance, as with The Other Boleyn Girl, Ms. Gregory writes with such myopic vision that I wanted to scream from the claustrophobic feeling. She writes around in circles, covering the same topic repeatedly with only slight variation. Granted, that is perhaps the entire feel of living at court in King Henry VIII's time, and so she's reconstructing the aura through her writing style. The only redemption for it, though, was her use of three perspectives. In TOBG, we only got to see Mary's view with editorializing, so this new usage of three narrators was the only fresh air readers get.
3. If you are my mother-in-law or my grandmother, stop reading here.
Okay, now that it's just us frivolous girls, this novel is full of intrigue, backstabbing, political gaming, greed, beheading. All of which make the perfect plot. And then there's the s-e-x. Lots of s-e-x. Ugh. It churns my stomach, quite honestly, how incredibly detailed they get, how up close and personal they get with a topic that should, imo, be only personal/private. I'm not a prude...obviously, since I finished reading it when I should have set it aside. I know, I know, it's historical fiction, and King Henry VIII was really flatulent, had a huge, open, stinking, puss-oozing wound and was impotent to boot. I get it. Really, I get it. Ms. Gregory kept hitting me in the face with it all, though, and eventually I got fed up.
So, three reasons I won't recommend this to anyone. And yet, I can't help imagining that if a friend told me she read it, I'd probably grin and say, "Is it good for you?"
It did wrap up nicely the loose ends she left in TOBG, like Jane's (George's wife) betrayal being totally bogus. I enjoyed seeing her get her just desserts.
Now, on the other hand, if Ms. Gregory chooses to novelize Princess/Queen Mary's and Queen Elizabeth's reign, I might run headlong into those. If I remember correctly, there was NO sex there....less
This book is a sequel to the Other Boleyn Girl. Since I did not know that, it seems safe to say that it does not matter if you have read the prequel, this book is, and of itself, a good read. If you like reading about the devastating reign of Henry VIII and the women he destroyed in his wake, you will enjoy this historical fiction book!
The point of view is from three women whose are entwined in Henry’s court. The book begins with Anne of Cleves, on her way to Hampton Court from Germany to...more
This book is a sequel to the Other Boleyn Girl. Since I did not know that, it seems safe to say that it does not matter if you have read the prequel, this book is, and of itself, a good read. If you like reading about the devastating reign of Henry VIII and the women he destroyed in his wake, you will enjoy this historical fiction book!
The point of view is from three women whose are entwined in Henry’s court. The book begins with Anne of Cleves, on her way to Hampton Court from Germany to become Henry’s third wife and the next Queen of England. Katherine Howard, the girl/woman who serves as a lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves, and Lady Jane Rochford, head of the Queen’s privy chamber. Lady Rochford is recently widowed, her husband killed on the chopping block with his sister, Anne Boleyn, in large part from testimony given against them from Jane Rochford.
The plot closely follows historic events of the time including the struggle between the Protestants, Catholics, and Henry as the head of the Church of England. I liked the focus on women, the descriptions of feelings of low self-worth, treatment as property, and only valued when they served the needs of country alignment in world power and dominance or at the whim of men. It is a story of lies and deceit and the daily fear of the living under a maniacal king who at his will could take your life.
I listened to this as an audiobook which i recommend. There is something very jarring about the voices of the characters that lends and really adds to the story.
This is a different take on women that surround Henry the VIII and while its historic fiction I must say the characters seem so real to their historic likenesses. Philippa Gregory is my fave for historical fiction from these times. I also read the Constant princess which is excellent about Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife via his brother.
The portrayal of the three women in this time period of Henry's life- Jane Boleyn, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard are all fascinating. ...less
bookshelves:
the-good
Read in December, 2006
When I read that Philippa Gregory had a new book out I knew I just had to get it. Thankfully Christmas was just around the corner and there was still room under the tree for a book! I fell into reading it within days of unwrapping it and found myself in a completely different world in the first page.
Gregory has caught up, somewhat, to the successful story of The Other Boleyn Girl. She corrects the flaws from The Virgin's Lover with the way she presents the different perspective...more
When I read that Philippa Gregory had a new book out I knew I just had to get it. Thankfully Christmas was just around the corner and there was still room under the tree for a book! I fell into reading it within days of unwrapping it and found myself in a completely different world in the first page.
Gregory has caught up, somewhat, to the successful story of The Other Boleyn Girl. She corrects the flaws from The Virgin's Lover with the way she presents the different perspectives. It still causes the story to jump around a little bit more and it takes a few chapters to fall into the vibe, but once you do it's well worth it.
As usual, Gregory's writing is beautiful in language and she presents this different world to the reader in such a way you understand every custom, dress and word. It's a little hard to keep track of all the different characters running in and around, but it's not to great a deal as you do remember the ones that matter.
Speaking of characters, there is only one that brings the book down. Katherine Howard. She's written as a two-demensional character, which wouldn't be a big deal if she wasn't one of our main protagonists. She comes across as a flitty, dumb little girl. She acknowledges this flaw in herself, and that's great, but it means nothing to the reader if there's nothing else to her. Sure, maybe she's written this way so we just see her as another one of Henry's wives, but she was a wife longer than Anne of Cleves, and Anne's character was written much better and you care for her a lot more.
Other than the nuisance that is Katherine, the book is fabulous. Gregory does not disappoint and definitely proves herself worthy of being the eyes and ears of this most unique court....less
bookshelves:
audiobook,
historial-fiction
Read in April, 2008
I picked this book up after seeing the film version of The Other Boleyn Girl, as this novel picks up immediately following that one in the timeline. I love historical fiction, where a writer breathes life and personality into dates and facts in a real story, and this book was not disappointment. It is cleverly told in alternating chapters by three very different characters in the same story: Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's third wife, who arrives to her arranged marriage not even speaking English, ...more
I picked this book up after seeing the film version of The Other Boleyn Girl, as this novel picks up immediately following that one in the timeline. I love historical fiction, where a writer breathes life and personality into dates and facts in a real story, and this book was not disappointment. It is cleverly told in alternating chapters by three very different characters in the same story: Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's third wife, who arrives to her arranged marriage not even speaking English, much less understanding the politics of the rich and vain English court; Katherine Howard, the young silly teenage maid in Anne's service who becomes Henry's fourth wife; and Jane Boleyn, Anne's sister-in-law who is the head lady in waiting for both queen, eye-deep in politics and mourning the loss of her husband George who was beheaded as Anne's lover due in part to the evidence she gave against them. Multiple perspectives in the narration give at least the illusion of a lot of flesh to the story. This is a tragic tale of a mad and willful King and the terror of being a woman of the time at court with him. If I have a criticism of the story, it is not in the well-researched and intimate writing, but that ultimately, this is a story in which you are swallowed up in flawed, terrified, emotional, deceitful female minds. I doubt a male reader would finish the book. I feel it could have been edited down to two-thirds of its size and still leave the same emotional impression on the reader.
The audio version is EXQUISITELY read by Davina Porter (Jane Boleyn), Bianca Amato (Anne of Cleves), and Charlotte Parry (Katherine Howard), and I suspect adds much to the value and impact of the book. I am glad that I listened to this instead of reading it.
...less
Read in April, 2008
recommended to Annalisa by:
Melinda
Do you ever read a sequel and it make you like the original less? This book is slower than The Other Boleyn Girl and more repetitive, leaving room to see flaws. I didn't realize how dumb she made Mary in TOBG so she could over-explain plot twists whenever Mary said "I don't get it." Which is just saying your audience needs every subtly nuance explained.
This story is not exciting enough to withstand any degree of bad writing. The scandalous sex in the first book was over the top, but...more
Do you ever read a sequel and it make you like the original less? This book is slower than The Other Boleyn Girl and more repetitive, leaving room to see flaws. I didn't realize how dumb she made Mary in TOBG so she could over-explain plot twists whenever Mary said "I don't get it." Which is just saying your audience needs every subtly nuance explained.
This story is not exciting enough to withstand any degree of bad writing. The scandalous sex in the first book was over the top, but here it verged on romance-novel quality with the story a thin thread between. The characters are only ok and seem to bounce around with conflicting opinions too often. I was more annoyed with her pigeon-hole view of all middle-age people. I'm sorry but they are not modern thinkers stuck in the rigid past. Even the characters whom she tried to make agreeable to the times, still reeked of her own prejudices.
The historical inaccuracies bother me more in this book. After making Anne's accusations credible, I didn't know if I believed Katherine's. Did she or didn't she? It almost makes Katherine more victimized when I believe Anne was. What of Thomas Boleyn? I didn't believe the family as unethical and unemotional power-hungry throne seekers in either book. I believe the family was torn apart by court and just mere acquaintances without a strong family bond, but vicious strategizing makes for a better story.
The one thing I have enjoyed about the story is reading Jane's perspective and comparing it to Mary's from the other book. Two women who do not like each other reading motives into actions. She gave Jane some redemption which I appreciated not believing she willingly gave her husband up.
2 stars is ok. It wasn't great; it wasn't bad. It was just ok. ...less
Read in March, 2008
I read this after reading "The Other Boleyn Girl". It picks up where that book left off basically. I like this author's writing style and she makes history very interesting and fascinating. I gave this one three stars because it didn't captivate my attention like the other book and I had a harder time getting through it. But if you've never read "The Other Boleyn" girl, you could still read this one as she gives a lot of information so you don't feel lost. That's probably...more
I read this after reading "The Other Boleyn Girl". It picks up where that book left off basically. I like this author's writing style and she makes history very interesting and fascinating. I gave this one three stars because it didn't captivate my attention like the other book and I had a harder time getting through it. But if you've never read "The Other Boleyn" girl, you could still read this one as she gives a lot of information so you don't feel lost. That's probably what bogged me down--the repetition of things I already knew.
If you've read that book before this, you might have been a little bit confused, as I was, about who the characters were and how they played into the previous book. Jane Boleyn in this book is George's wife. I had always heard her referred by her maiden name and so I was confused at first if they were interrelated--but they are the same person. But you're all probably more intelligent than me and picked that up quickly...
This book was intriguing and also terrifying to read about how totally CRAZY King Henry VIII was. He's crazy! I found the middle to be a little bit slow and redundant as each character kind of kept thinking the same thoughts, it seems. I almost couldn't get through it but then the pace picked up and I couldn't put it down in the last half.
I did find it interesting at the end as I realized how the author had been almost satirical as she started out with jane seeming like she really believed she was innocent and holy (that's the part that confused me because she was so evil in the other book) and then you see how almost comical Katherine and Jane's thought processes were. All in all, this book really opened my eyes to such a crazy period of history....less
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
those who enjoy historical fiction with harlequin overtones
Oh, bad historical fiction, how I love thee!! I must confess that I had a hard time putting this down, much like its prequel "The Other Boleyn Girl." To be fair, the historical research is impressive, with the author using the most up-to-date resources and theories available about the reign of Henry VIII, but still...the sex scenes! The maidens! The lack of discussion of politics and historical context! Never mind, it was a great read and I'm sure I'll reread both books in a coupl...more
Oh, bad historical fiction, how I love thee!! I must confess that I had a hard time putting this down, much like its prequel "The Other Boleyn Girl." To be fair, the historical research is impressive, with the author using the most up-to-date resources and theories available about the reign of Henry VIII, but still...the sex scenes! The maidens! The lack of discussion of politics and historical context! Never mind, it was a great read and I'm sure I'll reread both books in a couple of years. (Hah! I was already on the author's website yesterday to see if she is writing anything about Henry VIII's last wife, Catherine Parr.)
In short, this novel tells the stories of wives 4 and 5, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. Read it after "The Other Boleyn Girl," otherwise the third main character and narrator, Jane Boleyn (Anne's sister-in-law) will not make as much sense. Henry VIII is presented as a uniformly disgusting monster in this volume, as opposed to "The Other Boleyn Girl," which seems consistent with his aging in reality. Romps, beheadings and talk of gowns abound, and the novel is thoroughly enjoyable for its genre with surprisingly few truly awful dialogues/passages. Seriously, I couldn't put it down....less
bookshelves:
historical-fiction
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
Fans of Tudor historical fiction
I picked this up immediately after reading The Other Boleyn Girl, unable to slake my thirst for more of Henry VIII and his court. I was skeptical, as all should be when embarking on a sequel of any sort, but was pleasantly surprised. Divided between three narrators, the evil and half-mad Jane Boleyn, the ill-fated Katherine Howard, and the strong survivor, Anne of Cleves, the reader gets a new perspective on the fourth and fifth wive...more
I picked this up immediately after reading The Other Boleyn Girl, unable to slake my thirst for more of Henry VIII and his court. I was skeptical, as all should be when embarking on a sequel of any sort, but was pleasantly surprised. Divided between three narrators, the evil and half-mad Jane Boleyn, the ill-fated Katherine Howard, and the strong survivor, Anne of Cleves, the reader gets a new perspective on the fourth and fifth wives of Henry VIII. Indeed, though I always knew that Anne of Cleves was the wife who was put aside, I never knew that she stayed on in England. Though I knew that Katherine Howard was the youngest of Henry's wives, I never thought how that might have affected her fate. Gregory has taken the perspectives of the two wives that historically we know the least about and once again has written a novel that I just couldn't put down. Though we will never know the truth about these two women, I believe that Gregory has in some way vindicated these two ill-treated wives. Definitely an enthralling read, and as I said in my review of The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory certainly does her research. In both books she provides a bibliography....less
bookshelves:
audiobook,
historical-novel,
recorded_books,
top-10-list--more-or-less-
Read in April, 2008
Rented from Recorded Books
Narrators:
Davina Porter
Bianca Amato
Charlotte Parry
The 3 narrators make this audiobook. As a paper book I would likely have rated it 4 stars (or not even read it), but the audiobook is absolutely brilliant. Davina Porter is perfect as Jane Boleyn, Bianca Amato as Anne of Cleves and Charlotte Parry as Katherine Howard do a superb job.
This book is like listening to a BBC/MasterPiece Theater production. I have been absolutely engrossed by the story (...more
Rented from Recorded Books
Narrators:
Davina Porter
Bianca Amato
Charlotte Parry
The 3 narrators make this audiobook. As a paper book I would likely have rated it 4 stars (or not even read it), but the audiobook is absolutely brilliant. Davina Porter is perfect as Jane Boleyn, Bianca Amato as Anne of Cleves and Charlotte Parry as Katherine Howard do a superb job.
This book is like listening to a BBC/MasterPiece Theater production. I have been absolutely engrossed by the story (16 hours so far, another 2 to go!)
I am surprised at how much I have enjoyed this audiobook. I would never have expected to add it to my Top 10 More or Less shelf. I have added Philippa Gregory to my favorite authors list.
Told in three alternating voices-Jane, Anne, and Catherine-this vividly plotted book is a fitting finale to the Boleyn series brimming with comely courtesans, nefarious noblemen, unbridled passion, and political turmoil. Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, who was married to Anne Boleyn’s brother in The Other Boleyn Girl, is back at court in the household of Anne of Cleves. Jane joins in a plot that almost costs Anne her life as well as her marriage to Henry VIII. As lady-in-waiting to the next queen, Jane is ensnared in a web of deception that leaves her with only one hope of escaping execution-and the end of the last Boleyn.
...less
bookshelves:
historicalfiction,
pulppossibledrivel
Every time I think I'm out-- you people keep dragging me back in!!! So many of my friends RAVE about these books, and I keep giving Gregory another chance-- but, friends, she is NOT a good writer.
Here's my usual spiel about Philippa Gregory-- she chooses great stories to tell, she does great research (although she does mess around with the history sometimes for the sake of a good story... not something I have a problem with, but some people do) and she really creates a wonderful depiction of ...more
Every time I think I'm out-- you people keep dragging me back in!!! So many of my friends RAVE about these books, and I keep giving Gregory another chance-- but, friends, she is NOT a good writer.
Here's my usual spiel about Philippa Gregory-- she chooses great stories to tell, she does great research (although she does mess around with the history sometimes for the sake of a good story... not something I have a problem with, but some people do) and she really creates a wonderful depiction of the time. But I don't think she's a good writer... a degree or two above harlequin on a good day.
This book is a combination of the stories of Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Ann Boleyn's sister-in-law... and a more irritating gaggle of female fluff there never was.
Again, I appreciated all the work that went into the novel, the research, the period details... but please don't make me read another....less
recommended to Sasha by:
Book Club- Amy
recommends it for:
anyone
I finally finished the book last night. I really liked it and I thought it was just as good as the Other Boleyn Girl. This time Henry is so gross and I feel so sad for the girls with no say in their lives. I would rather be a common person then have to walk on egg shells around a crazy king. It did seem most characters in the book where there for their own greed and were easily persuaded to sin, lie, and cheat to get ahead. My favorite character was Anne of Cleves- she was the most admirable...more
I finally finished the book last night. I really liked it and I thought it was just as good as the Other Boleyn Girl. This time Henry is so gross and I feel so sad for the girls with no say in their lives. I would rather be a common person then have to walk on egg shells around a crazy king. It did seem most characters in the book where there for their own greed and were easily persuaded to sin, lie, and cheat to get ahead. My favorite character was Anne of Cleves- she was the most admirable and truly seemed to care for everyone. Also, she gave a small glimpse at freedom for a woman back in those days, which was rare. These books being a drama spin on the real story really engross me and it was a page turner. I have been to many of the castles in the book Hampton Court, White Hall and of course the Tower so I loved picturing them there. I was disappointed to read in the interview with her in the back of the book that in the making of the Other Boelyn Girl movie - it is the producer's own story spin and she only consulted- I was excited for the movie- we shall see. It is definetly one I would recommend. I love this time period and when I was in England it was my favorite class....less
bookshelves:
mainstream,
romaneab2000
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
women, looking for light historical fiction
Das, was der Amerikaner wohl "enjoyable fluff" nennen würde. Nicht wirklich bemerkenswert, aber man kann es durchaus mal lesen. Der Vorgänger "the other Boleyn girl" hat mir aber merklich besser gefallen. Wahrscheinlich liegt das daran, dass die durchtriebene und getriebene, dazu noch intelligente und spitzzüngige Anne Boleyn einfach die deutlich interessante Person ist.
Gregory schafft es durchaus, die 4. und 5. Frauen Heinrichs des VIII, Anna von cleve und Kitty Howard...more
Das, was der Amerikaner wohl "enjoyable fluff" nennen würde. Nicht wirklich bemerkenswert, aber man kann es durchaus mal lesen. Der Vorgänger "the other Boleyn girl" hat mir aber merklich besser gefallen. Wahrscheinlich liegt das daran, dass die durchtriebene und getriebene, dazu noch intelligente und spitzzüngige Anne Boleyn einfach die deutlich interessante Person ist.
Gregory schafft es durchaus, die 4. und 5. Frauen Heinrichs des VIII, Anna von cleve und Kitty Howard, in neuem Licht erscheinen zu lassen. Erstere ist nicht die hässliche "Flandersche Märe", die zweite nicht ausschließlich dumm, sondern eher naiv - ein Kind eben. Auch Henry's Wandlung vom "Golden Boy" zum Monstrum ist anschaulich und faszinierend. Dennoch, der Ablauf ist schon aus der Geschichte und vom ersten Buch her bekannt: Eine Frau wird zur Königin erhoben, der König ist liebestoll, der König ist grundlos eifersüchtig, die Frau wird abgeschoben, bzw sogar geköpft.
Alles reichlich spannender Stoff! Trotzdem hat mich das Buch nicht so richtig gepackt. Vielleicht liegt das auch einfach daran, dass ich mich zurzeit an Heinrich und seinen 6 Frauen etwas "überfressen" habe. ...less
bookshelves:
readandfinished
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
history buffs, historical fiction fans, fans of semi-trashy novels.
Don't get me wrong, this novel is pretty well-researched and there weren't any points at which I scratched my head and said, "Hey, wait a minute...." but it is a little trashy, with some elements of the bodice ripper. Also, I had to deduct a whole star for Gregory's excessive use of "little" as an adjective. All women were "little" (except for Jane Boleyn, who is batshit crazy), at some point or another, with Katherine Howard being referred to as "Little Kitty ...more
Don't get me wrong, this novel is pretty well-researched and there weren't any points at which I scratched my head and said, "Hey, wait a minute...." but it is a little trashy, with some elements of the bodice ripper. Also, I had to deduct a whole star for Gregory's excessive use of "little" as an adjective. All women were "little" (except for Jane Boleyn, who is batshit crazy), at some point or another, with Katherine Howard being referred to as "Little Kitty Howard" in almost every single chapter. The overusage is not so bad as in "The Virgin's Lover" (where poor Amy Dudley is even referred to as "little" in death, even though she was significantly older than Robert Dudley). Still, it can be distracting. Other than that though, highly enjoyable and readable book, with no horribly glaring inaccuracies. Gregory certainly has bold opinions of what the motives of each woman were for finding themselves in the court of Henry VIII, but that's the great thing about historical fiction: when you research and give yourself an accurate framework of the events that occurred, you can have bold opinions like that! :-) ...less
Philippa Gregory certainly does research, but then runs away with it, though she's certainly been more restrained in her outlandish fabrications since The Other Boleyn Girl. (If you're a medium to hardcore Tudor England fan, the liberties taken probably made your hair turn grey.) I've said before that historical fiction taking place in Tudor England is my equivalent of a potato-chip/crisp addiction. In this case, the history is like the presence of the potato-- in theory, potatoes are good for y...more
Philippa Gregory certainly does research, but then runs away with it, though she's certainly been more restrained in her outlandish fabrications since The Other Boleyn Girl. (If you're a medium to hardcore Tudor England fan, the liberties taken probably made your hair turn grey.) I've said before that historical fiction taking place in Tudor England is my equivalent of a potato-chip/crisp addiction. In this case, the history is like the presence of the potato-- in theory, potatoes are good for you, but not when they're loaded with oil and salt.
Enough about food. The Boleyn Inheritance vascillates among three viewpoints: the uber-cool Anne of Cleves (Henry VIII's 4th wife), Jane Rocheford Boleyn, the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn, and "Little Kitty Howard," aka Catherine Howard, the 16 year old 5th wife of Henry VIII and the second wife to have her head chopped off. I'm now putting The Constant Princess (the book about Catherine of Aragon, the 1st wife and the One True Queen) on my "to-read" list. Catherine of Aragon is the queen I admire most. She was steadfast and uncorruptable. ...less
bookshelves:
2008,
contemporaryfiction,
historical-fiction
Read in March, 2008
i think that phillippa gregory has issues. i don't buy at all that jane boyeln was the nastiest character ever, i kind of hate her for that characterization actually. i mean, she does not acknowledge the fact that the story would be different if jane was a man - except for one throw away line, where the duke of norfolk remarks that her talents are wasted as a woman.
the book flips from three POVS almost every other page - anne of cleves, jane boyeln, and katherine howard. it's hard to follow...more
i think that phillippa gregory has issues. i don't buy at all that jane boyeln was the nastiest character ever, i kind of hate her for that characterization actually. i mean, she does not acknowledge the fact that the story would be different if jane was a man - except for one throw away line, where the duke of norfolk remarks that her talents are wasted as a woman.
the book flips from three POVS almost every other page - anne of cleves, jane boyeln, and katherine howard. it's hard to follow sometimes, and later near the end of the book, gregory repeats the same sentences over and over again - even within the same POV, except sections apart.
i'm giving it three stars because i wanted to get to the end so badly - but that's mostly because i wanted to see how she would write the ending we all know. i hate the characterizations of the women in this, except perhaps anne - and what's interesting is that her characterizations of jane and the other boyelns (including catherine carey) do NOT make sense if you have read The Other Boyeln Girl.
sigh. ...less
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Read in January, 2008
This was very enjoyable. The story unfolds from three first-person perspectives (Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Jane Bolyn) and I felt that Gregory did a good job of making each one unique, but similar enough that the narrative had consistent flow.
We can only guess at what was in the minds of Henry VIII's many wives, and what went on behind closed doors and in the minds of those who surrounded the unfortunate Queens in this court. Gregory does an admirable job of sticking to the hist...more
This was very enjoyable. The story unfolds from three first-person perspectives (Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Jane Bolyn) and I felt that Gregory did a good job of making each one unique, but similar enough that the narrative had consistent flow.
We can only guess at what was in the minds of Henry VIII's many wives, and what went on behind closed doors and in the minds of those who surrounded the unfortunate Queens in this court. Gregory does an admirable job of sticking to the history (I know because I go look it up as I read), but embellishing the inner lives of the characters -- making them vivid and real before this terrifying and freakish history.
As always, the history is the best part of the book. I now have King Henry VIII's six wives firmly in mind, as well as some of their pertinent details, and a good idea of the succession of the English monarchy during the 15th & 16th century's. Reading the (fictional) inner thoughts of these people helps fix those dry historical details the way dry text books cannot....less
Read in March, 2008
I liked this book better than "The Constant Princess." The story takes place after the death of Henry's 3rd queen. Jane Boleyn (Jane Parker) came back as lady-in-waiting for the 4th queen, Anne of Cleves. Henry got crazier and crazier.
I felt really bad for Anne, but as of the end of this book, she is the sole survivor of all the previous queens. At least she was able to retire (at a very young age) with her own castle, allowance, and servants. Not bad for being Henry's queen. ...more
I liked this book better than "The Constant Princess." The story takes place after the death of Henry's 3rd queen. Jane Boleyn (Jane Parker) came back as lady-in-waiting for the 4th queen, Anne of Cleves. Henry got crazier and crazier.
I felt really bad for Anne, but as of the end of this book, she is the sole survivor of all the previous queens. At least she was able to retire (at a very young age) with her own castle, allowance, and servants. Not bad for being Henry's queen. It's better to stay away from the court.
I really didn't like Katherine Howard, but also felt bad for her. She was portrayed as a silly, stupid, little girl who only cared about material things (jewels, gowns, properties). Too immature to be queen (and slutty as well). I do feel bad for her later when she had to put up with her old, nasty husband. All she wanted to do was to be with a man her own age. Her family's ambitions ruined her.
Jane finally gets her axe at the end of the story. Finally. ...less
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone who is interested in European history with a romantic side story
I read the Other Bolelyn Girl a couple of years ago and loved it. I was unaware that she had a sequel to the book until I was randomely looking through the book store one day and found this. I was extremely excited to continue the story of Henry and his brides.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only did it have many interesting historical facts in the book, but the love triangle that was created was inticing and I was completely invested in the stories of the women.
After I had finishe...more
I read the Other Bolelyn Girl a couple of years ago and loved it. I was unaware that she had a sequel to the book until I was randomely looking through the book store one day and found this. I was extremely excited to continue the story of Henry and his brides.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only did it have many interesting historical facts in the book, but the love triangle that was created was inticing and I was completely invested in the stories of the women.
After I had finished the book, I found myself on the internet doing some research of my own. I had this new found interest in King Henry and each of his wives. I was dissapointed; however, at the lack of information that was presented on the queens of England. I guess I will just have to settle with the fantisized versions of Phillipa Gregory and other authors. Their versions may not be entirely truthful, but at least someone is giving these brave women, who put up with such tyranny, their dues....less
Read in August, 2007
I enjoyed this book but did not think it was the best of the Tudor books Gregory has written. This books tells the tales of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard (Wives 4 & 5 of Henry VIII) along with Jane Boleyn (the wife of George Howard and sister-in-law of the ill fated Anne Boleyn). The three women tell their tales of living in the court of Henry VIII who by this point in his life is a paranoid tyrant. What I liked best about this book was reading about these two wives of the elder Hen...more
I enjoyed this book but did not think it was the best of the Tudor books Gregory has written. This books tells the tales of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard (Wives 4 & 5 of Henry VIII) along with Jane Boleyn (the wife of George Howard and sister-in-law of the ill fated Anne Boleyn). The three women tell their tales of living in the court of Henry VIII who by this point in his life is a paranoid tyrant. What I liked best about this book was reading about these two wives of the elder Henry. There has been so much lately about the young, handsome vibrant Henry that it is interesting to read about when he is old and ailing yet still thinks he is the most attrative man in the world. His court lives in constant fear for their lives from his mood swings. No one is safe. The book gives you insight on these three women and how tragic two of their lives end up. Two end up on the scaffold while the other is spared to live her life as a spinster....less
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating
(all editions):
3.80 (3532 ratings)
avg rating
(this edition): 4.24
(17 ratings)
number of reviews: 637
other editions
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The Boleyn Inheritance (Hardcover)
isbn: 0743272501
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The Boleyn Inheritance (Paperback)
isbn: 074327251X
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The Bolyn Inheritance
isbn: 0000000000
