Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Unavailable
The Other Boleyn Girl
Unavailable
The Other Boleyn Girl
Unavailable
The Other Boleyn Girl
Audiobook22 hours

The Other Boleyn Girl

Written by Philippa Gregory

Narrated by Vanessa Kirby

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Unavailable in your country

Unavailable in your country

About this audiobook

*A stunning new unabridged recording, available on audio download*

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.

1521. Young Mary Boleyn arrives at court, maid in waiting and favourite to Queen Katherine of Aragon.

Yet Mary catches the eye of the capricious king and – propelled by the ambitions of the powerful Boleyn family – she betrays her queen, and takes her place as Henry VIII’s new mistress.

But while Mary is in childbed, a rival comes to court – her sister Anne, a young woman ruthless in her drive to become queen.

With her own destiny unknown, and the Boleyn enemies gathering, Mary must defy her family – and command her own fate.

With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind Mary’s story.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateJul 26, 2018
ISBN9780008304003
Author

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.

Related to The Other Boleyn Girl

Historical Romance For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for The Other Boleyn Girl

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5

244 ratings222 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I must admit I don't usually have high hopes for books that are as popular in contemporary society as this one was. And I wasn't disappointed in my already non-elevated hopes. The prose was sometimes awkward and the action sometimes anti-climactic. The story was rich enough and it was an enjoyable read, but I doubt that I would read other books from this author. It was a good bedtime read, at best.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Most people know that Anne Boleyn was the second wife of England?s King Henry VIII, but few have heard of Mary Boleyn- the other Boleyn girl. Anne?s sister (historians disagree as to whether she was older or younger) played on the stage of the Tudor court, yet has been mostly forgotten as she was never queen and died of natural causes. As a female member of the Boleyn and Howard families, Mary was a pawn to be used for gain, her own feelings and wants to be ignored. Married at 12 to William Carey, at 14 Mary caught the eye of the philandering king- then wed to Katherine of Aragon- and was his mistress for several years, bearing two children in the process. While laying in to have her second child, her sister Anne seduced the king, reserving only her (questionable) virginity, which she withheld for a promise of marriage and queenship. As we all know, that marriage and queenship was short and unhappy and ended with Anne?s head removed from her body. This novel, told from the point of view of Mary Boleyn Carey, is a story that blends the false glitter of the court with strong family ties- ties of both obedience and of love. Mary loves her sister Anne but is also jealous of her- they are constant rivals at everything. Anne is her beloved sister but Anne is a user, someone who never looks at a situation without wondering how she can turn it to her advantage and humans-including family- are disposable. She learned this from her parents, who taught their children- including brother George- well. Their parents care not what happens to their children, as long as they are advanced at court and made wealthy. In this telling, Mary is less driven than Anne or George and more in touch with her moral side. She sleeps with the king because her parents tell her to, while questioning the propriety of betraying both Queen Katherine and her own husband. She asks for presents for her family at their behest. She gives up her place as mistress and aids her sister?s ascension despite having come to love the king. She teaches her sister sexual tricks to hold the king and helps her hide miscarriages. She hides the secrets of the family, secrets that are punishable by death. But she finally rebels and makes a life for herself, marrying for love. Not long after, the Boleyn web of secrets falls apart and we all know how that story ends. Mary alone lives on, and historical record seems to point to a happy, if short, life after that. This book takes some liberties with history but I?m willing to forgive it. Gregory brings the era and the court to brilliant, vivid life. Somehow she manages to get the reader to care about these people, not just Mary (although she comes off best) but the avaricious Anne and George, and even the petty, selfish, childish king Henry. These characters are fleshed out, with the contradictions of spirit that we all have. I loved this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I typically don't dive into romantic type novels but I could not put this novel down. I am a bit apprehensive to watch the movie because there is no way the motion pictures could have done this book justice. Gregory has really issued a detailed masterpiece. The way it was written makes you feel like you were right there, along with the court. Many colorful descriptions and a wide array of emotions.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Passionate, clever and perfectly detailed. I love everything about this book. Philippa Gregory never disappoints me no matter in what period of time or genre.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. The book is a wonderful fluff book -- history, intrigue, royal politics, and romance. While the book is, in most respects, a soap opera set in Tudor England, it was completely engrossing to read. I'll definitely look out for the other books from this series for the next time I have a long plane or train ride. I'd recommend this to almost anyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have not read a book by this author for some time and am so glad I picked this one up in a charity shop!The story is well told with a little licence to historic detail that makes the story so interesting and informative.Since finishing the book I have researched the Tudor times for more infomation and will certainly be reading more historic novels. During my research I read that Mary's daughter Catherine becomes one of Henry's companions - is this true? I have to read more about this.I was so pleased that Mary found love with William Stafford and settled away from court.A great read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Interesting perspective on Henry VIII and his first two wives.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An amazing read following the life of Mary Boleyn, little sister to the infamous Anne Boleyn, as her and her sister's lives come to intertwine with that of Henry VIII. A must-read
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    fictional history - seems to be the only way I can remember history! I thought this was very fun and hard to put down.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I cannot even bring myself to finish this book, so just know this is a review written based on half of the book that I read. I hate it. I loved the beginning. There was so much drama, and scandal it kept me hooked. And then the drama and scandal died off, and I'm stuck somewhere between a sad woman trying to be queen, and a sad woman wanting to be with her children.I gave this 2 stars for a few reasons. 1: the beginning was good. I actually loved it. Had it wrapped up, and ended after the beginning or middle I would have given it five stars. The fact that I am so painstakingly bored, and I still have a full half of the book to finish/endure is awful to think about. Second reason: I usually am not drawn to historical fiction books. However, I am drawn to books that have a movie made after them, regardless of whether or not I have seen the movie. This just so happens to be a book I began reading after I saw the movie. I thought the movie was amazing, and now I see why. They took the boring parts I'm currently reading, and just completely skipped over them. Thank goodness for that. If I end up finishing this book I'll edit my review, but as of now I hate it, and I really don't think I'll be finishing it anytime soon.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book! This has to have been one of the best books I've ever read. I seriously could have read another 600+ pages about this family. I am so fascinated by everything that went on during this time period and all the intricasies in the relationships. I loved that the book was written in a more modern language, less flowery then most historical fiction. I could not put it down. I was not very familiar with this time period and I couldn't remember my history well enough to remember whathappened to Anne Boleyn. So the ending was a surprise to me. I am now starved to read more of Gregory's historical fiction novels. 5 stars!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It had been a long time since I read a book that completely engaged me and literally made me feel like I was there.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    With the release of The White Queen earlier this year, I've been hearing a lot about Philippa Gregory so I decided to try one of her books from the library. I had no clue that this was a series and that this is actually meant to be the second book, but I don't think that hindered me from enjoying the book any less. This is also the first historical fiction that I read which is not related to WWII!Set in the 1500's, the Howard family are ready to do everything to advance in King Henry VIII's court and the Boleyn sisters are part of the game they are playing. The story is told from the point of view of the less popular sister, Mary Boleyn, who attracts the King's attention for a few years but then is set aside when his attention turns to Anne Boleyn. The rivalry between the two sisters is very evident, however Mary remains loyal to the ambitious Anne throughout her rise to power, and then her downfall when she could not give the King what he wanted.This is a captivating story of ambition, love, treachery and drama all in one book.This book has really got me interested in the Kings and Queens of Britain, and while reading it I even bought a non-fiction book about this topic. Apart from what probably everyone knows I did not have much knowledge about the history of the British royal families, but now I am fascinated by it and want to know more. Reading The Other Boleyn Girl felt like reading a classic, I loved the complexity of the plot, the number of characters involved, and that something is always happening to keep you reading on. Although there are many characters, I think Philippa Gregory did a great job at giving just enough information on each for you to connect with them, but not overdoing it to a point that it gets confusing. Choosing Mary Boleyn as the narrator was excellent in my opinion, it gives you a view of the court from the girl that was given less importance and considered not to be as intelligent as her sister, but was loyal to her family just the same. Throughout the book I couldn't decide whether I liked or hated Anne. I admired her persistence and how ambitious she was, especially for a woman in those times, but she also came across as being ruthless and determined to get what she wants without caring about anyone else. I hated her mostly because of the way she treated Mary, but her fate left me feeling bad for her. The Other Boleyn Girl has made it to my all time favorite books. In fact I was amazed when I was reading reviews on this book that people gave it a negative rating because they said that the facts are not all correct. I mean, this is fiction and it shouldn't be entirely on the facts. If you're interested in the facts shouldn't you just read a non-fiction book? That is just my thought because I thoroughly enjoyed this book for what it is, and I ended up buying the book after I had finished reading my borrowed copy!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Pulpy but good. I enjoyed it enough to make me want to read more Phillipa Gregory.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book came to my attention because of the forthcoming movie adaptation. The cover has Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johanssen and Eric Bana in period dress. The film will clearly not be lacking in eye candy.

    The book itself was flat for a long LONG stretch, then picks up near the midpoint and ends very strong. The first-person narration forces us to see the world (16th century England) through the eyes of Mary Boleyn, the other Boleyn girl Henry VIII, er, fell for. When the book opens she is 14, dumb, dull, naive and hapless. Twelve years go by before the final chapter and Mary is a lot more likeable by then. Unfortunately, the historical Mary Boleyn was nearly completely peripheral to the people and events that make this period so interesting, so besides hearing about, oh, the Battle of Pavia and the fall of Cardinal Wolsey (to name two events), you'll have to consult Wikipedia, because Mary has no clue about the big picture.

    The writing is good but not stellar. Phillipa Gregory doesn't display much flair with words, and her characters are ALL two-dimensional; they are not capable of surprising us, no matter how complex their historical counterparts were and the times they lived in. Occasionally some traces of modernity intrude into the story-telling, which is always annoying to historical fiction lovers.

    Overall I enjoyed this book, kind of like how I enjoy donuts. Part guilty pleasure, part cloying, part familiar and comforting. But not the kind of thing I want on my plate everyday.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory tells of the rise and fall of the Boleyn girls: older sister Anne, who eventually schemes her way to the throne, and younger sister Mary, who is horribly used by her family and then practically cast aside. The story of the terrible competition and sibling rivalry between the two young women is told through the voice of Mary, the other Boleyn girl.Anne, Mary, and their brother George, are brought to the court of Henry VIII at a very early age, to serve their monarchs and take part in the revelries. Mary, the kinder and gentler Boleyn girl, wins the favor of King Henry when she is barely 14 and already married to one of his courtiers. Within a few years, Mary gives birth to both an inconsequential daughter, and the son Henry has long awaited. Despite being Henry's favorite, Mary's blissful love of King Henry is doomed. When her clever, scheming sister Anne arrives back at court to "help" Mary, she manages to ensnare Henry and replace Mary as his lover. Anne's gluttony for power knows no bounds, and she soon sets her eyes of the throne, conspiring with her devious relatives to rid Henry of his wife, Katherine of Aragon. Anne is ruthless in her drive to become Queen of England and ultimately is able to connive her way into the throne. Now that Henry has put aside one wife though, Anne must work doubly hard to give him a legitimate male heir, or risk being deposed herself.This is the second Philippa Gregory book that I have read, the first being Wideacre, which I hated. The Other Boleyn Girl was a much better read, but I still wouldn't say that I loved it. The characters were such terrible human beings! I mostly wanted to throw the book across the room every time I finished a new chapter. Anne Boleyn was a selfish, covetous, wench! And where'd she learn such behavior? From her awful, grasping family! Ugh. Mary was by far, the most sympathetic character in the entire book, followed closely by Katherine of Aragon. Mary was everything her family was not: loving, compassionate, and warm - it's a wonder that she was born into such a callous, merciless family.The rivalries and intrigues swirling through The Other Boleyn Girl make it a captivating read. Although the Boleyn/Howard struggle for power and influence is clearly central to the story, Gregory also portrays the trifling of the court and the various political and religious conflicts of the day capably and clearly. In The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory has managed to make what could easily be an extremely complicated set of characters and circumstances, into a rich and rewarding read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I usually love historical fiction. I think it's fascinating when a writer does her research and presents a story that, while true in its historical accuracy, manages to bring a character to life and lend it a bit of modern sophistication. I love feeling that connection with a character from the past, so I was looking forward to reading this novel. The problems are many. First of all, Ms. Gregory has cast aside much of what modern historians accept as fact; namely, that Mary was the older sister, that her children's paternity was always questioned, and there is no evidence to suggest their brother was gay. The addition of these elements serves to cheapen this novel, relegating it to a tabloid of sorts. Historical inaccuracies aside, I also found flaws in the writing itself. Run-on sentences abound, affecting the overall fluency. Also, the characters are so exaggerated as to be quite unbelievable. Anne is portrayed as purely evil, seeking her own selfish ambitions with no regard for her family, while Mary is portrayed as a pure and innocent child who is used unwillingly by her ambitious family. The reason I decided to give it 3 stars is because, if you can ignore the "historical" aspect, it is a riveting tale. The 600+ pages went by fairly quickly for me, and I was honestly interested in the story, particularly that of Mary and William's courtship. It takes a large imagination and no small amount of talent to invent such a touching courtship, and for that, she is to be commended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Barely 14 years old, Mary becomes the first Boleyn sister to win the king's favor. Despite her marriage to one of the king's courtiers, she is forced by her family into Henry's bed, producing a daughter and a male heir. Son, the king's attention turns to her scheming and ambitious sister Anne, who will stop at nothing - including murder, witchcraft and incest, with the help of Mary - to dethrone Katherine of Aragon, declare herself the rightful queen and create a legitimate heir. But the cost of Anne's devious plan may be her family - and possibly her own head.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Delicious page turner. Even though you know how it will end, you still want to keep reading. The romance between Mary and the "Nobody" is lovely. The Anne character is so enchanting and so so manipulative.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Other Boleyn Girl covers a very important era in England historically speaking and does address the immense changes happening at the time; but, at times, it can read like a gossip magazine. The backstabbing, secrets, lies, betrayal all contribute to this feeling. Whether this was done intentionally by Gregory or not, it certainly increased the book's popularity among teenage girls. It was much more interesting than a normal history book. Even though many of the described historical happenings were inaccurate or exaggerated, the book was not necessarily dependent on these events. The book is popular because it offers a different, more personal take on a very well-known story. It gives the reader a glimpse into an unknown world- that of the royal court of England. If you're looking for a detailed, factual account of the reign of Henry VIII, this is not your book, but if you're looking for a fairly quick read and entertaining story, as I was, this is definitely the book for you.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Filled with sex, scandal, corruption, and reckless ambition, The Other Boleyn Girl is a must-read for historical fiction fans. Told through the point of view of Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister, you can't help but despise and pity Anne Boleyn at the same time. As Anne and Mary are both used as pawns in the quest for power, it becomes very clear what a dangerous game they play. In the end, it's the success that they have that will be their ultimate undoing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great storytelling. Rushed ending. Otherwise, I'd have given it 5 stars.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I love historical fiction! This was another one of those watching and reading experiences -- like Dexter -- for me :-) We've been watching the Showtime series "The Tudors", so this book went along perfectly! Great book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tudor royalty has always held a fascination for me. This is a familiar story - told from an unusual point of view. I knew (from Victoria Holt's novel of Katherine) that Henry had Anne's sister Mary for a mistress, but having Mary tell the story is very interesting. The ruthlessness of the Boleyn family (with the Howards) was brilliantly portrayed through Mary's eyes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I know nothing of the Tudors except for what I read in this book and the author claims that she was accurate. Of course, there's no way to be certain. History is told by the winners, so if Anne Boleyn was a saint there's no way of knowing. Apparently, historians want us to believe that she was an ambitious witch-bitch of a woman that enchanted the king and gave him only one heir (and not a bad one).

    Despite all of that, the book is wonderfully written. If it's historically accurate, then those Tudors were a trashy group of people and a lot of fun to read about!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'm starting to think that I really like historical fiction. Some things about this book definitely bugged me (mainly how she skipped over months at a time and yet the book still manages to be 600+ pages), but overall I really enjoyed it. Of course I knew who Anne Boleyn was, but I didn't know anything beyond her marriage to Henry VIII and her beheading. I didn't even know why she was beheaded. And I knew nothing of any of the other Boleyns. What a fascinating family! Not exactly the nicest Tudors, but interesting nonetheless. Gregory does a great job of making this book entertaining and readable and still filling it with history. I will certainly be reading more by her in the future!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "The Other Boleyn Girl" is the heart-wrenching tale of Anne Boleyn and the Boleyn family. Told from the perspective of Anne's sister, Mary, the book takes the reader through the tumultous Henry VIII's court, full of love, hatred, deceit and devotion, re-telling the Boleyn family's rise and eventual fall from royal favour. Masterfully told, leaving the reader unable to set it down at times, the book is infinitely better than the movie adaptation. Capturing the feel of Tudor England, and the hardships of women in 16th century Europe, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is not to be missed!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I didn't like any of the characters, and yet I couldn't put the book down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Interesting historical fiction, in which Anne Boleyn's sister Mary becomes mistress to King Henry VIII. When he tires of her, Anne steps in to take her place. Full of historical detail (though like many historical novels I have no idea how much is real fact and how much conjecture), this is a fascinating tale with plenty of plots and intrigue.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent book and I learned a great deal I didn't know about this era even though I am English and it's a favourite part of history for me. I am now working my way through buying the rest of her books. Anybody want to sell any second hand?