The Other Boleyn Girl

Author	Philippa Gregory
Country	England
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Scribner
Publication date	2001
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN	0739427113 (hardcover edition)

For the 2007 film based on the novel, see The Other Boleyn Girl (film) Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article is about the literary concept. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Scribner is a city located in Dodge County, Nebraska. ... Hardcover books A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth, heavy paper, or sometimes leather). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... ISBN redirects here. ... The Other Boleyn Girl is a movie adaptation based on the novel of the same title by British author Philippa Gregory, which is a romanticised account of the life of the 16th-century aristocrat, Lady Mary Boleyn, who was the sister of Queen Anne Boleyn and one-time mistress of...

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical novel written by British author Philippa Gregory, based on the life of 16th-century aristocrat Mary Boleyn. Reviews were mixed; some said it was a brilliantly claustrophobic look at the palace life in Tudor England, while others weren't convinced. Even so, it has enjoyed phenomenal success and popularity since its publication in 2002 and has spawned four sequels - The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess and The Boleyn Inheritance. A historical novel a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author. ... Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre. ... Mary Boleyn (c. ... Allegory of the Tudor dynasty (detail), attributed to Lucas de Heere, c. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Queens Fool by Philippa Gregory is a 2004 historical fiction novel aimed at young adults. ... The Virgins Lover is a historical novel written by British author Philippa Gregory. ... The Constant Princess is a historical novel by Philippa Gregory, published in 2005. ... The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel by British author Philippa Gregory which was first published in 2006. ...

Plot summary

Mary Boleyn is the heroine of The Other Boleyn Girl. However, one modern historian has described her as "placid and unremarkable.".

The story opens in 1521 when Mary's distant cousin, the Duke of Buckingham, is executed on the king's orders. His crime was daring to suggest that Henry could not produce a healthy son. A year later, Mary's younger sister, Anne returns from the French Court where she has lived as a lady-in-waiting for the last few years. Both the Boleyn girls are remarkable beauties, and Mary (despite being only thirteen years old) is already married to the wealthy courtier, Sir William Carey. Mary's life is turned upside down, however, when the 31-year-old King Henry VIII takes an interest in her. Despite being a favourite lady-in-waiting to his wife, Queen Katherine, Mary yields to her family's pressure and reluctantly becomes the king's mistress. She is assisted in this process by her two siblings - the quick-witted George and the scheming Anne. To her father's delight, Mary falls pregnant with the king's bastard. She gives birth to two children - Catherine and Henry. However, while she is pregnant, Anne sets out to seduce the king and steal him away from her sister. She is successful, and the King flirts with Anne by day and sleeps with Mary by night. In the process he breaks Mary's heart, who has by now fallen in love with him. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mary Boleyn (c. ... David Robert Starkey (born January 3, 1945) is one of Englands best-known historians, and a specialist in the Tudor period. ... Events January 3 - Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. ... Mary Boleyn (c. ... Henry VIII redirects here. ... Motto: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Anthem: La Marseillaise France() – on the European continent() – in the European Union() Capital (and largest city) Paris Official languages French Demonym French Government Unitary semi-presidential republic  -  President Nicolas Sarkozy  -  Prime Minister François Fillon Formation  -  French State 843 French State Formed   -  Current... Lady in Waiting is an album by American southern rock band The Outlaws, released in 1976. ... The recently-widowed young Catherine of Aragon, by Henry VIIs court painter, Michael Sittow, c. ... George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (c. ... Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ... Lady Catherine Carey (c. ... Henry Carey (or Cary), 1st Baron Hunsdon of Hunsdon (4 March 1525/1526 – 23 July 1596) was an English nobleman. ...

By 1527, Henry has made up his mind to divorce his wife and marry Anne. Mary is pushed into the background and becomes the other Boleyn girl. She is reduced to being Anne's lady-in-waiting. As an act of malice, Anne secretly adopts Mary's son, stealing all legal rights as the child's mother. She becomes consumed by her ambition to be queen, not even bothering to sympathise when Mary's husband dies of the sweating sickness in 1528. Mary comes to suspect that Anne is planning to poison Katherine, and has already attempted to poison a bishop who is opposed to the Boleyns' ambitions. January 5 - Felix Manz, co-founder of the Swiss Anabaptists, was drowned in the Limmat in Zürich by the Zürich Reformed state church. ... Sweating sickness, also known as the English sweate (Lat. ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ...

In 1532 Mary falls in love with a handsome servant, William Stafford, whom she secretly marries. A year later, Anne becomes queen. When she discovers Mary has married a commoner and is pregnant with his child, she immediately banishes her from court. Meanwhile, Mary's brother George is trapped in a miserable marriage to Jane Parker and is seeking solace in a secret homosexual affair with Sir Francis Weston. After Anne gives birth to a daughter, Elizabeth in 1533, she suffers two miscarriages - being forced to abort one with a witches' potion. When Mary returns to court in 1535, she begins to suspect that the King is impotent and that Anne and George have committed an incestuous affair in order to help her conceive again. Her fears are seemingly confirmed when Anne has another miscarriage in 1536, and the fetus is monstrously deformed. Events May 16 - Sir Thomas More resigns as Lord Chancellor of England. ... Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (~1505 - February 13, 1542) was the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn and lady-in-waiting to Catherine Howard, along with whom she was executed. ... Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Sir Francis Weston (?1515 - 1536) Wealthy gentleman-in-waiting to King Henry VIII of England. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Events January 25 - King Henry VIII of England marries Anne Boleyn, his second Queen consort. ... An abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. ... “Witch” redirects here. ... pie is nice Year 1535 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Impotence or, more clinically, erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. ... Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between closely related persons. ... Year 1536 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... For other uses, see Fetus (disambiguation). ...

The novel now hurtles towards its conclusion. Anne is arrested in May, and so is George. He and his homosexual lover are executed as Anne's supposed lovers, Mary is uncertain what to think - knowing that people are telling lies about her sister, but also fearing that they are telling the truth. In an echo of the novel's beginning chapter, The Other Boleyn Girl ends with an execution - Anne's.

Mary lives out the rest of her life in peace, with her common-born husband, William Stafford.

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Mary Boleyn was the sister of the more famous Anne Boleyn. As such, she is usually mentioned in the numerous biographies that have been written about Anne, but never in any substantial detail. Mary Boleyn (c. ... Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ... Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ...

Mary, unlike Anne, was the mistress of two kings - François I of France and England's Henry VIII. She was born sometime between 1499 and 1508, probably around 1500. She was considered the more attractive of the two, and was the one member of the Boleyn family who ultimately was able to avoid the controversies that led to the executions of both her sister Anne and her brother George. Francis I of France (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Henry VIII redirects here. ... 1499 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1508 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1500 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (c. ...

She was married twice, and died in 1543. Philippa Gregory was intrigued by the story of a queen's sister who apparently has been forgotten by history, but seemed to have been the more interesting of the two sisters. Some of the novel's storyline was loosely based on the work of American historian, Retha M. Warnicke, and the books of British historian, Alison Weir. Others, however, were clear dramatic devices. As a novelist, Gregory also often altered or ignored actual historic events to portray Mary Boleyn in a more positive light, particularly through her portrayal of Mary as a heroine, determined to achieve independance unheard of for an upper-class woman in the mid-sixteenth century. // Events February 21 - Battle of Wayna Daga - A combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeat the armies of Adal led by Ahmed Gragn. ... Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre. ... Professor Retha M. Warnicke (b. ... Alison Weir (born 1951) is a British writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens. ...

Literary significance & criticism

Anne's daughter Elizabeth is a major character in The Other Boleyn Girl's sequel, The Queen's Fool.

Gregory has a high rate of success with using relatively unknown characters in her historical novels - often, they are not typical historical heroines. In The Queen's Fool, she used the character of Mary I in a sympathetic light, whilst she is usually demonised by admirers of Elizabeth I. The Other Boleyn Girl was unusual not only because it centered on the relatively unknown life of Mary Boleyn; but also because of the sources Gregory listed in her author's note. Some queried if she had overstepped the appropriate limits of a historical novelist and had invited criticism precisely because she listed the sources she had consulted, thus allegedly implying that the novel's storyline was more historically accurate than its critics suggested. Her defenders argue that irrespective of the sources used, Gregory has an artistic license as an author of fiction to construct whatever story she feels is appropriate. Download high resolution version (529x700, 80 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (529x700, 80 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de facto) or 19 July 1553 (de jure) until her death on 17 November 1558. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603 ) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... Mary Boleyn (c. ...

Internationally renowned novel critic Dr. James Higgins (who has a PhD in Historic Literature from the University of Australia) said of Gregory when he reviewed The Other Boleyn Girl:

"Philippa Gregory has created a mesmerising work of fiction, seamlessly intertwined with historical fact. While her list of sources may give some reason to believe her novel contains more fact than fiction, it is quite clear to me that Gregory has gained a knowledge of the basic storyline, as well the culture and customs of the Tudor Court, and embellished and dramatised it even more (if that is possible). She hints that she does indeed believe that Anne Boleyn was innocent, but changed her story in order to create a more shocking and scandalous situation. At the end of The Other Boleyn Girl one cannot help but feel sorry for Anne Boleyn, and one gets the feeling that Gregory feels the same way, as she attests to in a later book (The Boleyn Inheritance)."

Despite the criticism (see below), the novel has enjoyed high commercial success and it has a large and loyal fan-base. It has appealed to popular interest in the Tudor era, which is currently high in both Britain and America. It has been followed by a sequel called The Queen's Fool, set during the reigns of Henry's daughters, Queen Mary and Elizabeth. The Queen's Fool was followed by The Virgin's Lover, set during the early days of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Less successful than The Other Boleyn Girl, The Virgin's Lover once again showed Gregory's refusal to shy away from historical controversy by suggesting Elizabeth ordered the assassination of Mary of Guise and Amy Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley. North America North America is a continent [1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Henry VIII redirects here. ... Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de facto) or 19 July 1553 (de jure) until her death on 17 November 1558. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Marie de Guise Marie de Guise (in English, Mary of Guise) (November 22, 1515 – June 11, 1560) was the Queen Consort of James V of Scotland and the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Gregory is also the author of The Constant Princess, a romanticised story of Anne's predecessor, Catherine of Aragon and The Boleyn Inheritance, the tale of Catherine Howard's rise to the throne in 1540. Katherine of Aragon (Alcalá de Henares, 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536), Castilian Infanta Catalina de Aragón y Castilla, also known popularly after her time as Catherine of Aragon, was the first wife and Queen Consort of Henry VIII of England. ... The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel by British author Philippa Gregory which was first published in 2006. ... Cathrine Howard (between 1520 and 1525 – 13 February 1542), also called Katherine Howard[1] was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England (1540-1542), and sometimes known by his reference to her as the rose without a thorn. Her birth date and place of birth is unknown, (occasionally cited... Year 1540 was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ...

Historical accuracy

Some of the inaccuracies in question include the following:

• There is no evidence that George Boleyn was homosexual; he was in fact, according to Eric Ives, known as a womanizer. The theory that those executed along with Anne were homosexuals comes from Retha Warnicke's (mostly discredited) theses.
• Mary was almost certainly the elder sister, and the eldest of the Boleyn children.
• It has long been rumored that one or both of Mary Boleyn's children were fathered by Henry. Some writers, e.g. Alison Weir, question whether Henry Carey (Mary's son) was fathered by the King ^[1].
• Mary's parents did not encourage her sexual escapades, and were horrified when she was sent home from France in disgrace.
• Anne Boleyn did not adopt Mary's son, rather took him on as her ward and supplied him with an education, a kind act, in this book turned into an act of vengeance.

There were also general inaccuracies over dates, but this is usual in historical fiction. Mary Boleyn was considered to be fairly promiscuous, and had been sexually active before her first marriage (and was dismissed from service in Paris because of it.) This was changed to suit the novel; Mary was portrayed as a blushing young girl with little to no sexual experience. The Boleyns probably did not encourage Mary's active sex life, and she was probably at least seven years older than the novel suggested. Anne and George Boleyn were both genuinely religious, but this was not mentioned in the novel. Neither was Anne's enormous influence over religious affairs and foreign policy. George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (c. ... Eric William Ives (1931 -) is a well-respected British historian and an expert on the Tudor period (1485 - 1603. ... Professor Retha M. Warnicke (b. ... The bridge and weir mechanism at Sturminster Newton on the River Stour, Dorset. ... Promiscuity is the practice of making relatively unselective, casual and indiscriminate choices. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, née Lady Elizabeth Howard (ab. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is...

However, what provoked the most savage criticism was the presentation of Anne Boleyn. One reviewer was outraged, claiming Anne had been presented as "a scheming trollop," (Guardian newspaper.) There was also some objections from feminist scholars, the vast majority of whom praise Anne Boleyn as a feminist icon. ^[2] As queen, Anne was also a generous patron of charity and she saved many lives from the Inquisition in Europe. At one point in the novel, there is the allusion that Anne might have committed incest with her brother, in order to become pregnant. This twist in the story provoked the most outcry, one reason being that Anne had sworn upon the damnation of her soul in 1536 that she was absolutely innocent, leading some to feel that it was incredibly disrespectful to distort such a human tragedy in this manner. Interestingly, in one of the novel's sequels - The Boleyn Inheritance - one of the characters admits that she fabricated the evidence used in the trial against the two Boleyns. This implies that the two were innocent all along and it was simply gossip and innuendo which condemned them. Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ... Incest is defined as sexual intercourse between closely related persons. ... Year 1536 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ...

Again, some criticised Gregory because none of the sources Gregory listed in her bibliography supported the theory that Anne was guilty of the charges used at her trial. She had used two biographies of Anne - one by the American historian, Retha Warnicke and another by Marie-Louise Bruce. Both these writers insisted that Anne was innocent, as did books by David Loades, Alison Weir and Lacey Baldwin Smith that Gregory had used when researching the story. Warnicke later publicly distanced herself from Gregory's novel. The defence against such criticism is detailed above. Professor Retha M. Warnicke (b. ... Alison Weir (born 1951) is a British writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens. ... Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is a British novelist, mainly associated with the historical fiction genre. ...

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

BBC TV adaptation

In 2003, the BBC made a ninety-minute drama based on The Other Boleyn Girl. Many of the novel's sub-plots were left out, including George's homosexuality. Catherine of Aragon's role was much smaller as well, and Thomas Boleyn was presented more favourably. There was a relatively low production budget of £50,000. The drama was shot using modern camera techniques, and much of the script was improvised. Jodhi May played Anne Boleyn and tried to present her in a more favourable light than the novel, but there was still a scene in which Anne begs George to sleep with her. In this production, however, they are encouraged by Mary, which is a considerable change from the book. Only one of Mary's children is fathered by the king, unlike the two in the book. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Katherine of Aragon (Alcalá de Henares, 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536), Castilian Infanta Catalina de Aragón y Castilla, also known popularly after her time as Catherine of Aragon, was the first wife and Queen Consort of Henry VIII of England. ... Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire and 1st Earl of Ormonde (about 1477 - 12 March 1538/9), was a Tudor diplomat and politician and the father of Anne Boleyn, the second Queen of King Henry VIII. was born and buried at the family home, Hever Castle. ... Jodhi May (born 1st May 1975) is a British actress best known for her work on controversial costume dramas. ...

Natascha McElhone played Mary, Steven Mackintosh played George, Jared Harris played Henry VIII, and Philip Glenister played Stafford. It received mixed reviews. Natascha McElhone (born Natascha Taylor, December 14, 1971 in Hampstead, London, England) is a British television and movie actress, best known for her roles in Solaris and as Lady Mary Boleyn in the original adaptation of the controversial novel The Other Boleyn Girl. ... Jared Harris (born 24 August 1961, in London, UK) is a British actor of Irish and Welsh descent. ... Philip Glenister (born February 10, 1963 in London, England) is a British actor, the son of director John Glenister and the brother of actor Robert Glenister. ...

Film adaptation

Main article: The Other Boleyn Girl (film)

A movie adaptation of the book (with the same title) is due for a US release in February 2008 (UK Mar 2008) with Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn, Natalie Portman as Anne, Eric Bana as Henry VIII and also starring Kristen Scott Thomas as Lady Elizabeth Boleyn, Mark Rylance as Sir Thomas Boleyn, Jim Sturgess as George Boleyn, Eddie Redmayne as William Stafford, Benedict Cumberbatch as Sir William Carey, and Bill Wallis as the Archbishop Cramner. The film also features appearances by the UK Model of the Year 2006/7, Siobhan Hustler, as Anne's Lady-in-Waiting and David Morrissey. The Other Boleyn Girl is a movie adaptation based on the novel of the same title by British author Philippa Gregory, which is a romanticised account of the life of the 16th-century aristocrat, Lady Mary Boleyn, who was the sister of Queen Anne Boleyn and one-time mistress of... The Other Boleyn Girl is a movie adaptation based on the novel of the same title by British author Philippa Gregory, which is a romanticised account of the life of the 16th-century aristocrat, Lady Mary Boleyn, who was the sister of Queen Anne Boleyn and one-time mistress of... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Scarlett Johansson (born November 22, 1984) is an American actress. ... Mary Boleyn (c. ... Natalie Portman (‎; born June 9, 1981) is a Golden Globe-winning, Academy Award-nominated Israeli-American actress. ... Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke[1] (ca. ... Eric Bana (born Eric Banadinovich on August 9, 1968) is an Australian film and television actor. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... Kristin Scott Thomas OBE (born 24 May 1960) is an Academy Award-nominated English actress. ... Mark Rylance (born January 18, 1960) is an internationally well-known actor and theatre director. ... Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormonde (c. ... James Sturgess (born 1981) is a British actor. ... George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (c. ... Eddie Redmayne (born January 6, 1982[1]) is an English actor. ... Benedict Cumberbatch is a British actor, best known for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the BBC drama, Hawking, for which he was nominated for the Best Television Actor BAFTA award. ... Bill Wallis (born 1937) is a British actor and comedian who has appeared in numerous radio and television roles, as well as the theatre. ... David Morrissey (born June 21, 1964) is an English film, television and stage actor. ...

External links

• The Other Boleyn Girl - Internet Movie Database
• The Other Boleyn Girl Television Movie Homepage
• Review of The Other Boleyn Girl
• The Other Boleyn Girl - Movie Website
• Other Boleyn Girl Trailer Fan Site (Comparison of Historic Figures and actors)

Philippa Gregory Official Website [www.philippagregory.com]

Footnotes

1. ^ Henry VIII: The King and His Court, by Alison Weir, p. 216
2. ^ E.W. Ives, The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn (2004) and K. Lindsey, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: A Feminist Reinterpretation of the Wives of Henry VIII (1995)