I found this book quite by accident at a fundraising book sale at the museum in Jasper over the summer – and wow am I ever glad I did!

As with most people I knew the basic story of Ann Boleyn… second wife of Henry VIII, the English king notorious for his love of beheading wives. That her ghost still wanders the halls of the Tower of London and all that jazz. But did you ever wonder about what happened before the famous separation of her head from her body? I never did… until this book.

Historical fiction, if done well, has no substitute, and this is one of those. Phillippa Gregory is an amazing author who has brought the world of the English court of the Tudor era (in the 1500s) to life. The ways of life, the social statuses, the strict caste system and how people got around all of it is relayed beautifully in these pages.

Written from the point of view of the ‘other Boleyn girl’, Anne’s younger sister Mary the story follows the pair who both love each other and regard each other as fierce rivals for the King’s attention and their place in the royal court.

Following actual recorded history well, the author recounts Mary’s life starting as a 12-year-old bride arranged by her family, to the King’s mistress and on through the next 15 years while Ann rises to power, eventually becomes Queen, and ultimately loses her head to treason. The interesting part is that Ann’s story is only half of the tale. The rest of the story belongs to Mary: her life, her children, how she views the world, the rules, the King, her sister and a myriad of things. Every day life is examined through her eyes and is captured well.

This novel had me completely enthralled. The style of writing is relaxing while compelling and the story intriguing from the very first page. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in bringing history to life and enjoying the world as it once was.