Overview

The acclaimed international bestseller of the Tudor court, during the years of Henry VIII’s pursuit of Anne Boleyn - and the revolutionary sequence of events that followed. This chance for us Howards comes once in a century… 1521. Henry VIII rules over a fashionable court alive with pageant and celebration, the lack of a son his only threat. When young Mary Boleyn arrives at court, she becomes his new mistress, an unwitting pawn in the ambitions of the powerful Boleyn and Howard families. As Henry’s interest begins to wane, the Boleyns scheme to put forward Mary’s sister, Anne. Yet Anne Boleyn, newly returned from the French court, won’t agree to be Henry’s mistress – only his wife. Pitting the king’s desperation for an heir against the advice of his powerful advisors, Wolsey and Cromwell, what follows will change the course of a country’s history.

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9780006514008

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Reviews

'When it comes to writers of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory is in the very top league' DAILY MAIL 'It is a credit to Gregory that she is able to sustain interest in an epic-length tale when the ending is one of the most well-known moments in english history. The very believable dialogue and detail take you all the way into the claustrophobic privy chambers of the royal palaces!Gregory has launched herself into a popular period and produced something with that most underrated of virtues: readability.' THE TIMES 'Philippa Gregory's books are always a good read' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'This is an intelligent variation on a familiar tale [with] witty use of metaphor' TLS Praise for EARTHLY JOYS 'Brilliantly true to the period! I was entranced' Lisa Jardine, Times Praise for VIRGIN EARTH 'A gripping story' Mail on Sunday 'Exciting and fascinating' Sunday Telegraph

Praise for Philppa Gregory: 'Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing' Daily Mail 'Gregory is great at conjuring a Tudor film-set of gorgeous gowns and golden-lattered dining. She invokes some swoonsome images...while the politics are personal enough to remain pertinent' DailyTelegraph 'Subtle and exciting' Daily Express 'Written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows' Peter Ackroyd, The Times 'For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating' Sunday Times

How many of us long for the bygone days of chivalry, quests, knights and thier ladies? Fantasy images of courtly love, royal castles and beautiful flowing gowns. Gregory combines some of our historical longings with the historical facts - adultery, political intrigue and death. This is a compelling work of outstanding merit which follows the life of Mary Boleyn - Anne's younger sister. The superb characterisation throughout makes this a believable and heartfelt tale based on fact. Mary is a fascinating, if little heard of, character in this period of Tudor history who is drawn into many situations she would rather have escaped. King Henry VIII's obsession with a legitamate royal heir, Anne's rise to Queen and her eventual downfall are charted here with real human feeling and depth. Any woman reading this should come away thanking their lucky stars that they are not the political pawns that both Mary and Anne were. Highly recommended. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

DR PHILIPPA GREGORY studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers' Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

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