The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory Established historian & writer. International No 1 best seller. Signup to Philippa's latest news and get updates of her upcoming releases. Name... The Other Boleyn Girl The Tudor Court Novels Mary Boleyn catches the eye of Henry VIII when she comes to court as a girl of fourteen. Dazzled by the golden prince, Mary’s joy is cut short when she discovers that she is a pawn in the dynastic plots of her family. When the capricious king’s interest wanes, Mary is ordered to pass on her knowledge of how to please him to her friend and rival: her sister Anne. Anne soon becomes irresistible to Henry, and Mary can do nothing but watch her sister’s rise. Anne stops at nothing to achieve her own ambition. From now on, Mary will be no more than the other Boleyn girl. But beyond the court is a man who dares to challenge the power of her family to offer Mary a life of freedom and passion. If only she has the courage to break away – before the Boleyn enemies turn on her.

Philippa Gregory Behind the Book Released in 2001 This has to be one of my favourite books of all time for it is the one that made my name, was adapted by the BBC and Hollywood, and established the style that has come to be my 'signature' style: the first person view of history from a lesser known, or perhaps unknown, historical character. Mary Boleyn was a great find and this novel has given rise to three biographies about her, and established her as a historical character instead of being the sister that nobody knew about. The book opens in 1521 King Henry VIII is married to his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, who has given him a daughter, Princess Mary. An attractive and charismatic king, Henry quickly created a grand and fashionable court, full of celebration and pleasure. When Katherine cannot give him the son that he needs and his lover's sister Anne Boleyn arrives at court, he decides to take action that will change England and its religion forever. The Other Boleyn Girl was adapted for film in 2008.

Starring Scarlett Johansson (Mary Boleyn), Natalie Portman (Anne Boleyn), Eric Bana (Henry VIII), Benedict Cumberbatch (William Carey) and Eddie Redmayne (William Stafford). It was also adapted by the BBC for television in 2003. Starring Natascha McElhone (Mary Boleyn), Jodhi May (Anne Boleyn), Jared Harris (Henry VIII), Anthony Howell (William Carey) and Philip Glenister (William Stafford). Visit the Family Tree Read Chapter One Reviews “Why are millions of women, including a significant slice of the YouTube generation, obsessed with the complicated sex life of a murderous tyrant who has been rotting in his grave since 1547? The answer: British writer Philippa Gregory.” USA Today “Sisterly rivalry is the basis of this fresh, wonderfully vivid retelling of the story of Anne Boleyn....capturing beautifully the mingled hate and nearly incestuous love Anne, Mary and George....feel for each other and the toll their family's ambition takes on them.” full review Publishers Weekly (starred review) “This compulsively readable novel is a wonderful account of the Tudor court.

This is the finest historical novel of the year.” Daily Mail “In The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory brings history to life....the closest you will ever come to that time period and mindset.” full review Examiner.com “This is an absolutely cracking read, gripping from the very start. Gregory creates an intriguing story....A very impressive historical family drama full of love and betrayal that is also a romping good read.” full review Lovereading “You need a book…that will entertain and enlighten…You want a real page-turner, but you don’t want to tarnish your reputation for literary taste. The Other Boleyn Girl is your kind of beach book, then—a bodice-ripper with a bibliography.” Newsday “Gregory captures not only the dalliances of court but the panorama of political and religious clashes throughout Europe.

She controls a complicated narrative and dozens of characters without faltering” Library Journal “The very believable dialogue and detail take you all the way into the claustrophobic privy chambers of the royal palaces” The Times “Rich with period detail....Absorbing tale of a Renaissance family determined to climb as high as they can, whatever the cost.” full review Kirkus Reviews “one of my favorite historical fiction novels” full review B&N Reads – '5 Literary Love Triangles to Tickle Your Fancy' Translated Versions 漢語/汉语 (hànyǔ); 中文 (zhōngwén) 麥田出版社 한국어 (hangukeo); 조선어 (chosŏnŏ) Hyundae Munwha Buy this Book The Women of the Cousins' War Released 2011 “ My first published history book. It was extraordinary to use the material that I had researched for a novel and write it as a "straight" history. I also wrote the foreword to this collection of three historical essays about the women that have come to fascinate me: Jacquetta the Duchess of Bedford, Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen, and Margaret Beaufort, the King's Mother.

” 1416 When this book opens in 1416, with the birth of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Henry V is on the throne and England is at war with France in a series of conflicts that would later become known as The Hundred Years' War. Henry VI takes the throne in 1422 and begins his long reign of England through some of its most turbulent times including Joan of Arc's mission and beginning of The Wars of the Roses - though at the time it was known as The Cousins' War as the feuding families of York and Lancaster fought for power and position. The Lady of the Rivers Released 2011 “ When I started research on Jacquetta Duchess of Bedford I found pretty much nothing. There was a chapter in a PhD thesis, and one essay. And yet this is the mother and grandmother of queens of England, and a major player at both royal courts of Lancaster and York. There was more magic in this story than any I have written since the more fictional novel The Wise Woman and this was because Jacquetta was descended from a family who claimed to have a water spirit in their family tree, and she was associated for all her life with the practise of witchcraft.

I found her to be utterly fascinating, and I hope that historians go on to research her life in detail. ” 1430 Henry VI is a child king, only nine years old, crowned before his first birthday after the death of his father Henry V on campaign. England is in the midst of the Hundred Years' War in France, however life in England is peaceful for most. Sensing an opportunity to overthrow the weakened House of Lancaster, the House of York led by Richard Duke of York claim a stronger link to the throne. This rivalry brings about a series of devastating battles which would come to be known as The Wars of The Roses and would turn neighbour against neighbour, cousin against cousin. The Red Queen Released 2010 “ As soon as I had completed my research on The White Queen I realised that I wanted to write a companion novel about the other side, the Tudors and Margaret Beaufort the matriarch of their house. ” 1453 Now a grown man, Henry VI has maintained his hold on the English throne, despite decades of political and military challenges by the House of York. The Hundred Years' War comes to an end in France and England is defeated, losing all of her territory except for Calais.

News of defeat drives King Henry into an unresponsive stupor. His wife, the despised Margaret of Anjou, cannot keep control and their great rival Richard Duke of York becomes Protector of the Realm. England is in limbo: a king crippled by insanity, a disliked and mistrusted queen, and two great families vying for control of the kingdom. Meanwhile a third potential line of succession is emerging from the agreed marriage of the newly ennobled Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond to the child heiress Margaret Beaufort. Changeling Released 2012 “ My first book in the Order of Darkness series which proved to be a really liberating experience. It is set in 1453 and the circumstances of the novel are authentic history but the characters are completely invented and their adventures are imaginary. This gives me a chance to be more novelist than historian and I have loved this series and the way that the completely fictional characters are free to develop. ” 1453 In Italy, the renaissance is gaining momentum and Italians are becoming increasingly interested in learning and understanding classical thinking and philosophy.

Despite this growing focus on intellectual curiosity, there remains a strong loyalty to the Catholic Church and belief in magic, mysticism and superstition is rife. In order to retain its control, the Church must identify which phenomena can be rationally explained and which may really be magic. Stormbringers Released 2013 “ The second book of the Order of Darkness series takes our travelling inquiry to a small imaginary town (very near Rimini, actually!) as a Children's Crusade arrives and hopes that the seas will part. This is where the characters of Isolde and Ishraq really start to differ as the young women encounter danger and opportunity faced with a raging sea and then the challenge of another exotic world. ” 1453 During a time of religious fervour and superstition, the enormously powerful Catholic Church is facing its greatest threat to date. Its longstanding religious enemy, the Ottoman Empire has captured and taken control of Constantinople, overthrowing the Byzantine Empire and becoming one of the most powerful states in the world - and now a very real threat to Western Europe.

Christian men and women are kidnapped by the Ottoman slaving galleys and sold as slaves, the seas are no longer safe from Ottoman raiding ships and the Ottoman armies of Sultan Mehmed II are moving ever further into central Europe. Fools' Gold Released 2014 “ The third book in the Order of Darkness series is set in the thriving city of Venice. I had the pleasure of travelling to Venice to research the book which was an immensely interesting trip. There really was no other city in Europe like Venice at the time, especially during the carnival celebrations. ” 1454 The Venetian empire was one of the most powerful and wealthy empires in Europe. Its influence was ever increasing, as its borders expanded in all directions. At the heart of the empire is Venice, the shimmering, sparkling city of canals and fine buildings. Its inhabitants are from all over Europe and the East, and jewels, spices, gold and silver are traded daily. Everything and anything can be bought in Venice - for a price.

There were rumours that scholars who studied the science of alchemy were able to make gold or silver by heating base metals over a very high heat, and that they could even create the elixir of life, which could grant immortality to the person who possessed the elixir. The White Queen Released 2009 “ This was my first step back in time from the Tudors. I had read that Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII had been Richard III's lover, and this was such an extraordinary claim that I started to read about her, and from her to her mother, the almost-unknown Elizabeth Woodville. When I started to look at her there was only one reliable biography, by historian David Baldwin, and it was on his biography and my own research that I based this first book in the series that has gone on to be a major BBC TV series. ” 1464 The country has been torn apart by the Wars of the Roses between the royal houses of York and Lancaster. The old king Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou have escaped to Scotland and the Lancastrian armies have been decimated by the York forces at the Battle of Towton - the bloodiest ever fought on English soil.

England has a new king on the throne: Edward IV of the House of York - young, handsome and daring. The Kingmaker's Daughter Released 2012 “ Nearly named the Kingmaker's Daughters, this is the story of Isabel and Anne Neville, daughters to the Earl of Warwick who fought for both York and Lancaster, but always for himself. Anne is married to Prince Edward and could easily have been a Lancastrian Queen of England but for the fortunes of war which meant that she married Richard III and became a York Queen of England. It's a story about ambition and the price that has to be paid. ” 1465 King Edward IV's secret marriage Elizabeth Woodville fractured his relationship with his cousin and supporter Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, who was known as 'The Kingmaker'. Warwick believed that he would be in a position to rule England through Edward; when he could not, he began to look elsewhere for power and used his daughters Isabel and Anne to create new alliances. The White Princess Released 2013 “ Oh! I love this book so much. This is the story of Elizabeth of York who is forced to marry Henry VII as part of the peace settlement to bring about the end of the Cousins' War.

To her horror she finds her throne is threatened by a young man who is claiming to be her brother Richard, missing from the Tower of London. Half of England sides with the young man against the usurping Tudor, what should Elizabeth do? I think this is probably one of the most complex historical novels I have ever written - the merging of the personal and the political is very intense, and the blending of the historical research and the imagined psychologies has been a great joy. ” 1485 Henry Tudor is king, snatching the crown from Richard III in a surprise victory at the Battle of Bosworth. Raised in exile in Brittany and having taken the throne with a French and Scottish force, Henry had neither the easy popularity nor the longstanding political allegiances of the House of York. As a result, he had to face repeated rebellions and threats to his throne. In an attempt to unify the warring Houses of Lancaster and York, Henry marries the York Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.

The Constant Princess Released 2005 “ The story of Katherine of Aragon who is very neglected by historians, but who was the longest-serving wife of Henry VIII, and who helped him to take the throne and learn the trade of kingship. I was fascinated by her background, I travelled to Granada to see for myself her childhood home, the beautiful Alhambra palace, and I became certain that the young woman that she became was far more interesting and active than the picture we have of her of the 'old woman' that would be replaced by the 'young mistress'. Deliberately I ended the novel at the moment of her greatest triumph when she was a successful queen militant as her mother Isabella of Spain had been. ” 1491 Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York's son Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales is betrothed to the Spanish Princess Katherine of Aragon. But Arthur's sudden death, followed by his mother's, leaves Henry Tudor with a difficult to decision, to marry his son's wife himself or to arrange her marriage to his younger son. The King's Curse Released 2014 “ This is a novel which changed its nature, content and significance from when I started research until publication.

Right up until the last stage of copy editing I was revising and adding material and characters to this dark story. I started it, thinking that it would be a relatively simple telling of the tragic story of Margaret Pole – daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville. George was the brother of Edward IV, probably drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine for treason against Edward and Queen Elizabeth. As the book progressed I discovered that Margaret was a central figure in the Tudor court, and probably actively involved in the endless conspiracies against Henry VIII and his advisors. This hidden rebellion reached its peak in the uprising of the North called the Pilgrimage of Grace. The pilgrims won their aims of defending the Roman Catholic traditions and the return of the traditional advisors, but Henry reneged on his promises and sent his troops for a terrible persecution to men who held a royal pardon. Margaret, and her entire family, came under suspicion too and this novel moved far from the template of a persecuted heroine and became the story of a merciless murder of a family. Margaret's betrayer, and her defenders all come under the gaze of a king who was increasingly frightened and, I believe delusional.

It's been a chilling and powerful book to write and the image of Henry VIII, composer of 'Greensleeves' beloved of primary school history, will never be the same again for me. He was a serial killer and this book traces his steps towards psychosis. ” 1499 England is under a Tudor king. Henry VII has two sons with Elizabeth of York which should have secured his line, yet his court is still filled with fear and suspicion. Plantagenet is a dangerous name to carry and the heiress Margaret Pole is swiftly married off to a staunch Tudor supporter, but her brother Edward's claim cannot be ignored. Henry executes him on Tower Hill, leaving Margaret to face a lifetime of uncertainty. Three Sisters, Three Queens Released 2016 “ 'Three Sisters, Three Queens': the title of my new book featuring Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's older sister, only came to me when I realised that the book was not just about this extraordinary woman who married three times, twice against the wishes of her family for love, ruled Scotland and raised a king; but also about her equally formidable sister-in-law, Katherine of Aragon, and her sister Mary Tudor.

It was extraordinary to see how the fortunes of one woman rose coincidentally with the failure of another, and how the issues of arranged marriage, widowhood, divorce and re-marriage dominated the lives of all three. I was also writing very much to the idea of sisterhood – the rivalry, love, pride and jealousy that sisters often bring to each other. I wanted this book to go to the very heart of being a sister, a queen, and sister to a great queen. ” 1501 Katherine of Aragon, Infanta of Spain, has arrived in England to marry Arthur Prince of Wales. King Henry VII’s hugely expensive celebrations are attended by ambassadors negotiating his next diplomatic success – the marriage of Princess Margaret and James IV of Scotland. With her brother on the throne of England and herself on the throne of Scotland Margaret is to ensure a Perpetual Peace between the two endlessly warring countries – a strategy far more easily planned than enacted.

The Other Boleyn Girl Released 2001 “ This has to be one of my favourite books of all time for it is the one that made my name, was adapted by the BBC and Hollywood, and established the style that has come to be my 'signature' style: the first person view of history from a lesser known, or perhaps unknown, historical character. Mary Boleyn was a great find and this novel has given rise to three biographies about her, and established her as a historical character instead of being the sister that nobody knew about. ” 1521 King Henry VIII is married to his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, who has given him a daughter, Princess Mary. An attractive and charismatic king, Henry quickly created a grand and fashionable court, full of celebration and pleasure. When Katherine cannot give him the son that he needs and his lover's sister Anne Boleyn arrives at court, he decides to take action that will change England and its religion forever.

The Boleyn Inheritance Released 2006 “ I remember writing this novel very vividly for a bad fall from my horse had confined me to bed for six weeks in a lot of pain, and I dived into this novel so that I could take myself somewhere else. What a world I stepped into! My Anne of Cleves, unlike the cliche of the fat Flanders mare, is a pretty courageous energetic survivor, and my Katherine Howard is not a 'slut' (as a modern historian has called her) but a young girl foolish and vain as young girls sometimes are, but dangerously ill advised and married more or less against her best interests to the most dangerous man in England. I tackle the enigma of Jane Rochford in this novel too. Nobody knows for sure why she would be complicit in the execution of two queens of England - I suggest madness, but readers must make up their own minds. ” 1539 Just eleven days after King Henry VIII had his second wife Anne beheaded for treason, he married Jane Seymour who gave him a son, Prince Edward, but died soon after his birth.

King Henry needed more sons to secure his line and safeguard the House of Tudor, he looked overseas for this next bride and picked Anne of Cleves but would soon be side-tracked by the young, vivacious Katherine Howard. The Wise Woman Released 1992 “ A book in which I released some of my thoughts and fears about magic and superstition, this remains a powerful book for me. It was set in County Durham and Moragh's cottage was my home for three years. I frightened myself in the writing of it so much that I could only write during daylight hours. But I think it is more than a scary book - I think it is also a consideration of how a woman is to be, and who should be her mentors. ” 1540 Henry VIII has reformed the Church of England, breaking away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Keen to reinforce his position as the new head of the church and to take advantage of the wealth of the Catholic Church, Henry began the Dissolution - the raiding and wrecking of all of the Catholic convents and monasteries in England.

In this time of religious tensions and instability, belief in witchcraft and the supernatural began to spread throughout the country, causing increasing concern. As a result, King Henry decides to introduce an act of Parliament making witchcraft punishable by death - and making England a much more dangerous place for a young woman without wealth or family. The Taming of the Queen Released 2015 “ All of my titles are a bit of a labour of love, because I see them as a sort of cryptic message to the reader which sometimes says what the book is simply about, and sometimes says what it means. The title for this book had to reflect my real admiration for the heroine, and also the challenge she faced – not just to survive, but also to retain her courage and her power and her vision. The heroine/narrator is Kateryn Parr, Henry VIII's last and little-known queen, a woman who came to her own individual understanding of her husband, an increasingly sick and tyrannical king, and the world that she lived in. She was a leader of reform and (to me the most important) the first woman to publish her own work in print under her own name in England in English.

This is so extraordinary I don't know why we aren't all taught her in schools. But what to call her fictionalised biography? Of course, I knew that she had to silence her voice and keep her writing secret during the months that Henry suspected her, and so I wanted something that would acknowledge his power over her. This is not trivial or romantic – this is tyranny to a murderous degree. And I wanted something which put her in the bitter context of all the other women who are silenced. In this way, Kateryn speaks for all who have not been allowed an education, or to speak, or to write.Then I learned that Nicholas Udall, the playwright, had possibly premiered a play before her called 'Ralph Roister Doister' – a play about a household of women with a woman head and their spirited and violent defence against an aggressive bullying man. Borrowed by Shakespeare and skewed towards male power this became 'The Taming of the Shrew' – the story of a powerful furious woman who submits to an aggressive bullying man.

I had my title: ‘The Taming of the Queen’ – a novel about a woman who is silenced by male power and terrorised by male threat, but who survives to write, to make her own life, and even to love. ” 1543 Only months after the king sentenced his fifth wife to death, he was looking for his sixth, and chose the recently-widowed, thirty-year-old Kateryn Parr, who was planning to marry the handsome bachelor Thomas Seymour. As soon as the king showed his interest in the beautiful widow she had to serve the interests of her family and agree to marry him, become Queen of England and stepmother to his children, and rule England in his absence. But the king, old, angry and in pain, was hard to please; and very soon Kateryn’s outspoken support of the Reformation put her in grave danger from the courtiers, conspiring for power. The Queen's Fool Released 2003 “ Whenever people tell me their favourite of all my books, this is the one that is most often mentioned. I think people love the character of Hannah, who is invented but inspired by the existence of a real female 'Fool' who served Mary I.

If you have a hardback edition you can see the royal picture which is thought to show her in a doorway in the endpapers. It is one of my favourite books and led on to The Virgin's Lover. ” 1548 Henry VIII is dead, succeeded by his only legitimate son, nine year old Edward VI. Too young to rule, the realm is governed by a Regency Council, led by his uncle, Edward Seymour. Edward has continued his father's reformation of the church and Protestantism is becoming established, however England is still unsettled with rioting and rebellions common. Edward was close to and well loved by both of his half-sisters: the Catholic Princess Mary, daughter of Katherine of Aragon and the Protestant Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the executed Anne Boleyn. However, he and his advisors were concerned that should he die without issue, his sister Princess Mary would return the country to Catholicism. The Virgin's Lover Released 2004 “ This is an interesting book for me since the logic of the narrative and the characters involved in the story made me look at the real life evidence for the accidental death of Amy Dudley.

When I was writing the novel it was widely accepted that she had broken her neck as a result of a fall. It seemed to me that murder was a far more likely cause, and you can read the novel to see who I suspect. It was very exciting when, long after publication, the original documents of her inquest were found showing that she died from blows to the head made by a weapon. Amy Dudley was indeed murdered, but we still don't know who was the murderer. ” 1558 Upon his unexpected early death in 1553, King Edward VI nominated his cousin, a committed Protestant, Lady Jane Grey as his successor. Just nine days after she was crowned, Edward's sister Princess Mary had raised supporters and persuaded the Privy Council to switch their allegiance - declaring her the rightful queen and imprisoning Jane. Queen Mary began to reverse the Protestant reformation of her father, restoring Roman Catholic bishops and persecuting Protestants. Despite several reported pregnancies, Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain produced no children. So on her death, her sister the Protestant Princess Elizabeth succeeded her to the throne.

The Other Queen Released 2008 “ It is a challenge to write a novel about Mary Queen of Scots – so much has been written about her already – a play and an opera as well as dozens of histories. In this novel I looked at her long years of imprisonment and the extraordinary triangle that developed between her, her gaoler the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wonderful wife Bess of Hardwick. The dynamic between these three makes this novel not just a historical novel about the times but a psychological study of three people trapped together. ” 1568 Elizabeth I has been Queen of England for ten years. She is still unmarried, despite considering several suitors and having conducted a love affair with the married Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester – whose wife had then died under suspicious circumstances. With no heir, Elizabeth refused to name a successor – leading to the dissolution of parliament and putting England in a potentially dangerous position. One possible successor to Elizabeth was her first cousin once removed – the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, whom many English Catholics believed to be the true English heir to the throne.

However Mary is under imprisonment in Loch Leven Castle after marrying her third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell – the man widely believed to have earlier murdered Mary's second husband Lord Darnley – and she appeals to her cousin Elizabeth for support. Earthly Joys Released 1998 “ My editor had suggested that I write a biography – they were hugely fashionable in this year – and I wanted to write about someone who worked with his hands. While I was puzzling about who would be the subject of a fictional biography I was given a book on plant collectors and gardeners and read of John Tradescant. It happened that I visited a garden centre, and tripped and literally fell into a tray of Tradescantia. It was enough of a hint! I started research on John Tradescant and found enough material for two books, and developed an entirely new style of writing: the fictionalised biography. ” 1603 In 1603, at the age of 69, Queen Elizabeth died and was succeeded by her cousin King James VI of Scotland – finally uniting the crowns of Scotland and England and beginning the Stuart reign of England.

Virgin Earth Released 1999 “ This was one of my favourite books to write, I researched it on a visit to Jamestown and went on to a reservation for the Pamunky (Powhatan) people. I was honoured with an invitation into a private home and had a long talk about the history of the people. This book is divided between the two terrible conflicts: colonists against indigenous peoples in America, and royalists against roundheads in England. I met the great historian of the period Christopher Hill and asked him did he think it possible that a man like John Tradescant might leave England to escape the conflict and he laughed and said that any sensible man would leave England in the middle of a civil war - so I felt very justified in my development of John's character and the two locations of this novel of a man divided between two loves. ” 1638 Charles I is on the throne. He has dissolved parliament for the third time and resolved to rule alone. In order to manage the debts generated during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I and fund his overseas wars with Spain and France, Charles repeatedly invented new and re-established obsolete forms of taxation. This during a time when harvests were failing caused widespread poverty and social unrest.

Charles had become increasingly unpopular with the English people – his friendship with the assassinated George Villiers Duke of Buckingham had alienated the noble families whilst his failure to successfully support Protestant forces during the Thirty Years' War and marriage to a Roman Catholic French Princess caused suspicion and mistrust amongst his people. As the country descended into civil war, many chose to emigrate to the recently settled American colonies in search of freedom – despite Charles's attempts to stem the flow. Wideacre Released 1987 “ This is my first novel, which I wrote as I completed my PhD in 18th century history and literature, when – without planning to do so – I served an apprenticeship in the 18th century novels which were being invented at that time. The oppression of women, the rebellion of the poor all came from the history of the time, the love of landscape from my own childhood and the fevered sexuality all my own imagination. I wrote Wideacre in an old ruled notebook by hand, and put on the front, 'Philippa Gregory – Best Selling Novel'. Unbelievably it was. It sold world-wide in a bidding war and I decided to become a writer.

” 1772 The novel is set in the second part of the eighteenth century, during the time of the enclosure acts, a series of UK Acts of Parliament which enclosed open fields and common land in the country. The 'Tragedy of the Commons' removed previously existing rights of local people to carry out activities. Private ownership of land is a modern idea, and was outside the comprehension of most people. The king, or the Lord of the Manor, usually owned an estate, but the people enjoyed all sorts of rights which enabled him, or her, to graze stock, cut wood or peat, draw water or grow crops, on various plots of land at specified times of year. A Respectable Trade Released 1995 “ A profoundly important book for me to write, this book tells the story of the English slave trade, the import of black people as slaves into England, an almost totally forgotten history when I started research. The great source book for me was Peter Fryer's Staying Power, in which he writes of the presence of black people in Britain from the Roman Empire onwards. It was a moment of great gladness when he wrote a generous review praising the novel.

I travelled to the Gambia to research the African part of the story and while I was there met the schoolmaster who founded, with me, our charity, Gardens for the Gambia. The novel scandalised my home town of Bristol which has tried to forget the terrible legacy of slavery, and inspired many black readers to study the history of 18th century slavery in England. I wrote the screenplay for the BBC TV drama based on the book and was proud to win the Committee for Racial Equality award for best TV drama, and be runner up for a BAFTA. ” 1787 As the 18th century draws to a close, Great Britain has become a major international power through victory over France in the Americas and the colonisation of large parts of India. In England, the Industrial Revolution is taking hold and radically changing both the environment and society. Alongside the spread of the Empire across the globe, the transatlantic trade in slaves also increased dramatically, becoming a very lucrative business for ports such as Bristol and Liverpool. The majority of the enslaved people, stolen from Africa by the British, were sold to the plantations of the European colonies, however, a number were also brought back to Britain to be kept or sold as domestic slaves.

By the 1770s, some Christians were beginning to question the morality of the trade. However, the slavers would prove unwilling to give up such a profitable business without a fight. The Favoured Child Released 1989 “ This is that difficult beast: the second novel. I rewrote it through more drafts than anything since. I poured into it my thoughts about the gentrification of women, and their use as symbols of status. I still think of it as a novel which has more complexity than one might expect. I loved the heroine and especially the sequences in Bath. I went to stay in Bath to research the history of the town and uncovered a darker side to the spa which I think serves the story well, as it is so much about the shadows of regency England. ” 1790 England is in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. The impact of the Enclosures Act and rapid growth of industry led to an increasing movement of people away from living and working in the countryside and into towns and cities. The earlier influence and status of the rich landowners was under threat from the intellectuals of the enlightenment and as a result, the rigid social hierarchies were beginning to change.

Despite such changes however, women were still no closer to gaining access to legal rights or equal academic or professional opportunities. Property and money were held only by men and women were generally under the control of a man - her father and then subsequently her husband. Most women - especially those from wealthy families had few rights and fewer life choices. Meridon Released 1990 “ This was the book that I was longing to write from the moment that I finished Wideacre as it was the conclusion of the story and the happy ending. I had a wonderful summer of research when I stayed with a circus for the summer season and travelled with them and worked as a circus hand so that I could understand the life. The Wiltshire sequences are set in a well-loved house near Warminster where I used to stay as a child, and the return to Wideacre took me back to my beloved Sussex. The London sequences I traced out walking around London with a valuable 18th century map as my A to Z, seeing where Meridon might live and how she would ride in the park.

It was a hugely joyful book to write and I foresaw in it a happy time for myself, and the horse that I bought after writing about Meridon's beloved grey horse: my own grey horse, Comet. ” 1805 As the nineteenth century opens, the Industrial Revolution is gaining momentum and driving significant economic and social change throughout Great Britain. This combined with the ongoing expansion of the British Empire has led to the United Kingdom becoming the richest and most powerful country in the world. As a result, it is facing threats from its old enemies - Napoleon's France and Spain. Within England, the Industrial Revolution is transforming the economy and leading to a widening gap between the rich and poor. Social dissatisfaction and unrest is increasing. Fallen Skies Released 1993 “ One of the books where the fiction foretells the fact. I wrote this novel while I was trying for my second baby and in the novel the heroine gives birth to a blond 7lb boy - so did I. ” 1920 Great Britain is recovering from World War I and the lifting of restrictions created new sorts of night-life in London. Clubs, restaurants and dance halls catered for the new craze of jazz dancing.

Wireless radio was to be the technological marvel of the decade. But is was also a period of depression, unemployment was high and mass production techniques started to replace traditional industry. Philippa Gregory (Author of The Other Boleyn Girl) edit data Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acclaimed author. Gregory lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire, where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Visitors to her site, become addicted to the updates of historical research, as well as the progress of her ducklings. Her other great interest is the charity she founded nearly twenty years ago; Gardens for The G Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film.

Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acclaimed author. Gregory lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire, where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Visitors to her site, become addicted to the updates of historical research, as well as the progress of her ducklings. Her other great interest is the charity she founded nearly twenty years ago; Gardens for The Gambia. She has raised funds and paid for 140 wells in the primary schools of the dry, poverty stricken African country. Thousands of school children have learned market gardening, and drunk the fresh water in the school gardens around the wells. A former student of Sussex University, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year 2009 of Edinburgh University, her love for history and her commitment to historical accuracy are the hallmarks of her writing. She also reviews for US and UK newspapers, and is a regular broadcaster on television, radio, and webcasts from her website.

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48 Td /F3 13.5 Tf [(About the Book)] TJ ET BT 41.516 462.628 Td /F2 10.5 Tf [(Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king)] TJ ET BT 41.516 429.957 Td 0.996 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII.

Dazzled by the )] TJ ET BT 41.516 412.285 Td 1.912 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon )] TJ ET BT 41.516 394.614 Td 1.231 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family�s ambitious plots as the king�s interest begins to wane and she is )] TJ ET BT 41.516 376.942 Td 0.724 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne.

Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and )] TJ ET BT 41.516 359.271 Td 0.000 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(her king, and take her fate into her own hands.)] TJ ET BT 41.516 326.599 Td 2.502 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, )] TJ ET BT 335.888 326.599 Td 2.502 Tw /F2 10.5 Tf [(The Other Boleyn Girl)] TJ ET BT 445.192 326.599 Td 2.502 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [( introduces a woman of )] TJ ET BT 41.516 308.928 Td 1.046 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting

 and glamorous court in Europe and )] TJ ET BT 41.516 291.256 Td 0.000 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(survived by following her own heart.)] TJ ET BT 41.516 243.192 Td /F3 13.5 Tf [(Discussion Guide)] TJ ET BT 41.516 214.172 Td 0.447 Tw /F2 10.5 Tf [(1.)] TJ ET BT 49.391 214.172 Td 0.447 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [( Why does Philippa Gregory choose Mary to narrate the story?

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How does the author foreshadow )] TJ ET BT 41.516 128.486 Td 0.000 Tw /F1 10.5 Tf [(what is to come?

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She is a writer and producer, known for The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), A Respectable Trade (1998) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2003). She is married to Anthony Mason. She was previously married to Paul Carter and Peter Chislett. See full bio » Born: The Other Boleyn Girl - Movies - Review - The New York Times The New York Times Movies |Rival Sisters Duke It Out for the Passion of a King Search Movies | Movie Review | 'The Other Boleyn Girl' Rival Sisters Duke It Out for the Passion of a King The Other Boleyn Girl Continue reading the main story Photo Scarlett Johansson, left, as Mary Boleyn and Natalie Portman as her ill-fated sister, Anne, in The Other Boleyn Girl. Credit Alex Bailey/Columbia Pictures More slog than romp, “The Other Boleyn Girl” tells the salacious story of two hot blue bloods who ran amok and partly unclothed in the court of Henry VIII.

Best known for losing her head to the king, first metaphorically, then literally, Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman, saucy), along with her sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson, sedate), entered the court of the king (Eric Bana, brooding and glowering) when he was still wed to Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent). A man of considerable and changeable appetites, the king yearned for a male heir and anything in a frock who wasn’t the queen. His sexual wish was their command. According to this oddly plotted and frantically paced pastiche — written by Peter Morgan, directed by Justin Chadwick — the girls were more or less the Paris and Nicky Hilton of the Tudor court. In the film’s version of the Boleyn family saga, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory of the same title, they were pimped out by their scheming, ambitious father, Sir Thomas (a spidery Mark Rylance), who sought to advance the family on the backs of his daughters while Mrs. Sir Thomas (Kristin Scott Thomas) clucked darkly from the sidelines.

Forced to compete for kingly favors, the women were soon rivals, a contest that, in its few meagerly entertaining moments, recalls the sisterly love in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” The story of Anne Boleyn may sound as if it’s been cut from classier cloth than that delirious Robert Aldrich film, but history tells a juicier story. One of Anne’s biographers, Joanna Denny, writes that while at the French court Mary got around (she was “passed on from man to man”), which I don’t remember from high school or public television. Instead of letting the story rip, though, the film plays it safe and predictable by dividing the sisters into the bad brunette and gentle blonde, thereby displacing the courtly intrigue onto two warring women. The Boleyn sisters were the kind of trouble that can make for bodice-ripping entertainment, but they were also the kind of unruly women who sometimes risked burning. Anne faced the sword, not the stake, but that’s jumping ahead of this story and its galloping horses, bustling gowns and rampaging royals. It’s a marvel that something that feels so inert should have so much frenetic action.

Shot in high-definition video with a murky brown palette (perhaps to suggest tea-stained porcelain and teeth), the film is both underwritten and overedited. Many of the scenes seem to have been whittled down to the nub, which at times turns it into a succession of wordless gestures and poses. Given the generally risible dialogue, this isn’t a bad thing, despite Mr. Morgan’s previous credits (notably “The Queen” ). Ms. Portman’s eyes, Mr. Bana’s hands and Ms. Johansson’s chin all receive vigorous workouts. “The Other Boleyn Girl” has been rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Roving hands, rolling heads. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL Opens on Friday nationwide. Directed by Justin Chadwick; written by Peter Morgan, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory; director of photography, Kieran McGuigan; edited by Paul Knight and Carol Littleton; music by Paul Cantelon; production designer, John-Paul Kelly; produced by Alison Owen; released by Columbia Pictures and Focus Features. Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes.

Advertisement WITH: Natalie Portman (Anne Boleyn), Scarlett Johansson (Mary Boleyn), Eric Bana (Henry VIII), Kristin Scott Thomas (Lady Elizabeth Boleyn), Mark Rylance (Thomas Boleyn), David Morrissey (Duke of Norfolk), Jim Sturgess (George Boleyn) and Ana Torrent (Catherine of Aragon). The Other Boleyn Girl Writers Peter Morgan, Philippa Gregory (Novel) Stars Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana Rating PG-13 The Other Boleyn Girl : Philippa Gregory : 9780006514008 The Other Boleyn Girl US$5.50 US$12.64 You save US$7.14 Free delivery worldwide Add to basket Add to wishlist Description The acclaimed international bestseller set around the Tudor court, during the years when Henry VIII traded his mistress Mary Boleyn for courtship of her sister Anne - and tracing the extraordinary events that changed the course of a country's history. When Henry VIII tires of pretty young Mary Boleyn, her powerful family instructs her to promote her sister, Anne, as a replacement.

But Anne Boleyn, newly returned from the French court, intelligent and spirited, doesn't agree to be Henry's mistress - only his wife. PItting the king's desperation for an heir against his powerful advisors - Wolsey, Cromwell and Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk - what Anne brings about will change the course of a country's history. Told with all of Philippa Gregory's characteristic perceptiveness, backed by meticulous historical research and superb storytelling skills, The Other Boleyn Girl brings a legendary court, its politics, personalities and scheming vividly to life. show more Product details 134 x 196 x 38mm | 439.98g Publication date Historical Fiction Review Text 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) show more About Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned author of historical novels. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh. Works that have been adapted for television include A Respectable Trade, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. The Other Boleyn Girl is now a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Philippa Gregory lives in the North of England with her family. show more Review quote 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 show more Customer reviews While I did love the thought of following the tudor gossip, I got bored and restless. At times I did find it impossible to let go of the book. But the fact that some historical events were wrong bothered me to the very end... show more by Karin Matilda Philippa Gregory Interview on AbeBooks.com Share This! Like what you just read? Share this article with your friends and family. The past fascinates Philippa Gregory. An historian and a writer, Gregory is most famous for The Other Boleyn Girl , which became a TV drama and a movie, and her interest in the Tudor period has spawned seven novels in total. Gregory’s writing has now spread to the family that preceded the Tudors, the Plantagenets.

Her latest novel, The White Queen , is the first in a new series about the Cousins’ War and the complex family drama that fuelled this period of unrest in England. Her next book in the series will be The Red Queen, featuring the mother of Henry Tudor (who later became Henry VII), Margaret Beaufort. The White Queen chronicles the adult life of Elizabeth Woodville in a time when the York and Lancaster houses were fighting for the English throne. Elizabeth and Edward IV had two sons, Edward and Richard. These two princes became the main characters in one of the most famous unsolved historical mysteries of all time - the princes supposedly murdered in the Tower of London. Gregory deftly weaves history and fiction together in a vivid picture of warring families through Elizabeth’s struggles as a mother, daughter, wife, and queen. (Spoiler warning – some plot is revealed) AbeBooks - Regarding the death of the princes, my interpretation is that you don’t think King Richard was to blame. Is that accurate? Philippa Gregory – “In the novel, that question is answered in fiction, as a novelist, but there is also the historian side of the answer.

In historical fiction, you have to imagine conversations that may have happened, based on the historical facts. The fact Elizabeth emerged from sanctuary and allowed her girls to go to Richard, indicates that she did not think he was guilty of the death of the boys. So, I create a conversation that may have happened to explain these events. Richard comes to Elizabeth in sanctuary to ask if she has the boys with her as he is not sure where they are. In this fictional version, Richard is not guilty of the murder of the boys. “As an historian, Richard was already on the throne when the boys were reported missing. He had no need to kill the boys. In fact, when his own son dies, it would be more to his benefit to have the boys alive as his heirs.” Abe – I enjoyed your use of magic in the story, especially the curse Elizabeth and her daughter put on whomever is responsible for the death of the princes. The curse states the firstborn of the man who is responsible should die, as should his grandson. Although King Richard’s son dies, the course of history points more to Henry Tudor as the guilty party.

(Editor’s note - Henry VII’s first son Arthur dies, his second son becomes Henry VIII and we all know his trouble producing male heirs). Philippa Gregory – “I enjoyed the irony that since Henry Tudor married Elizabeth’s daughter (also called Elizabeth), she had in fact cursed her own daughter’s first born son. The curse fitted nicely into the course of historical events.” Abe – What makes this murder mystery so enduring? Philippa Gregory – “The secrecy of it; it is an historical unsolved mystery. Also, during the Victorian era, the story became a “sentimental emblem” and was often depicted in art, notably by Walter Scott. Of course, we also have a multitude of literature written about it, from modern writers to Shakespeare..” Abe - In the author notes of The Other Boleyn Girl, you reference The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn by Retha M. Warnicke as one of your most helpful resources. What was your favorite resource for The White Queen? Philippa Gregory – “Well, Elizabeth Woodville is an oft neglected character in history. So, there was really only one important book that I favoured.

In fact, I believe that it is out-of-print in the UK and may never have been printed in Canada and the USA. That book is David Baldwin’s biography of Elizabeth Woodville, called Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower . Abe - Do you have a favorite place to conduct research? Philippa Gregory – “Actually, most of the original documents and resources have been edited and transcribed so many times that the local libraries and historical sites often have thorough and helpful information. For The White Queen, the Richard III Society proved to be a great resource.” Abe - What is your favorite book that you’ve written based on the travel you did for it? Philippa Gregory – “I would have to say The Constant Princess . The contrast between locations like Granada, Spain and Ludlow Castle on the border of England and Wales is one of the most impressive and stark changes I have experienced.” Abe - Do you read other historical fiction novels? Philippa Gregory – “No, I never. I find that it can too easily become fact in my mind. I only read historical fact. One of my favorite authors is Alison Weir.

She is wonderful because she does not get intimidated by, or ignore, women of power in history. There is a ‘traditional prejudice against ambitious or successful women’ but Weir simply reports fact. I also read modern fiction and classic literature. Some of my favorite authors for classic literature are George Eliot , Jane Austen , and E.M. Forster .” Abe - What books did you take on your book tour?

Question: Who wrote the novel "The Other Boleyn Girl"?
Answer: PHILIPPA GREGORY