by Philippa Gregory, 2001
Racy novel about 1500-1536 England with King Henry VIII. Mary Boleyn, the sweet one, is the only one to survive. Brother, George, and sister, Queen Anne, are beheaded in 1536, accused of adultery. Anne was evil, ambitious – ruined Queen Katherine – poisoned a man – would do anything to get herself to the king. He eventually did marry her after taking over the church. The people of England despised her. She fell out of favor when she didn’t have a son – had daughter, Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth – and 3 miscarriages – one of whom was a monster (deformed).
George, the brother, was accused of homosexuality and hinted at incest with Anne. Mary had 2 of the king’s children when she was his mistress at age 14 (while married to William Carey!) Then the king lost interest in her because of Anne’s seductive ways. Mary eventually falls in love with William Stafford and lives happily ever after with her kids on a farm.
Really good read – pretty historically accurate – “the broad facts of Mary Boleyn’s life are accurate.”
The witchcraft and incest (George and Anne) is debatable.