The Other Boleyn Girl

Philippa Gregory

Nov 2004 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The #1 New York Times bestseller from “the queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory is a rich, compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue surrounding the Tudor court of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and the infamous Boleyn family.

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of the handsome and charming 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 soon she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. With her own destiny suddenly unknown, Mary realizes that she must defy her family and take fate into her own hands.

With more than one million copies in print and adapted for the big screen, The Other Boleyn Girl is a riveting historical drama. It brings to light a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe, and survived a treacherous political landscape by following her heart.

Ratings and reviews

Although I was very familiar with the Anne and Mary Boleyn story, reading it in novel form was really satisfying. This was my first Philippa Gregory book, but I was impressed and will be reading more. My only complaint was how quickly she ended after Anne's execution. Sort of, "they cut off Anne's head, Mary and her family fled, and they lived happily ever after.." I would have enjoyed speculation on how Many and William handled the coming weeks, months, and years. I have long been a fan of historical fiction that's well written and this hits all the notes.

I rarely watch a movie and then read the book. Like Stephen King, I read first then watch the movies, even Harry Potter. However this movie was said by my nephew to be a good movie so I watched. Then I read the book! WOW! What a difference! I was quite surprised to find the book so well written and researched. I found out things (like the brother's confession) that I had never known. So I quite agree with the book, "almost impossible to put down". I have now read it twice. I will probably read it again. But that is what great books do to you, they make you want to re-read it.

A truely wonderful book! I loed every page of this novel and i was encaptured in the story. Phillipa Gregory really made me feel as if I was there, knee-deep in court intrigue. This along with The Queens Fool and The Virgin Lover are among my Gregory-Faves.

About the author

Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She was awarded a CBE title for services to literature and charity in 2022. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.