The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

In The Constant Princess, we were introduced to the character of Princess Catalina of Spain who through many tribulations finally became Katherine Queen of England. In The Other Boleyn Girl, we are introduced to two girls – actually three – who ruin everything for not only Katherine, but for the way the world worked as well.

Mary Boleyn is thirteen and married when the book begins with the beheading of someone that the king was close to. Mary is befuddled that the king didn’t stop the beheading, thinking that he would have offered clemency. She asks her mother this, and her mother tells her that that is not how it works in the court and if she continues to think that way then she is a fool. A year later, and Mary’s sister – Anne - has come back to the English court from France. By this time Mary is fourteen and has caught the wandering eye of the king. He flirts openly with her and the family begins to plot. Mary is commanded to woo the king and become his mistress, by this point Katherine is becoming infertile and the king is losing his patience with her. He must have a son to take over his throne.

After getting a girl on her, Mary does produce a son, but by this point it is already too late. While Mary was in confinement, her family commanded Anne to detour the king’s affection, so that way his thoughts were always on Mary. But when she comes out of confinement, she can tell with just one look that the king is besotted with Anne and another plot by the family is formed. This time it goes for all the marbles.

This is the third time I’ve read this book and I’m always astounded by how for such a smart woman Anne surely acts stupid and reckless. Personally, I’m astounded by all of the women characters in this book. The king is not a faithful person, so why do you keep demanding it of him? And why do you act surprised when he strays? My only explanation that I can think of is that they wanted to believe that they could be the one to hold him. It didn’t really work out, did it?

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I really don’t understand how Henry and Anne couldn’t have worked out. They were perfect for each other! They were both vain and wanted the whole world to revolve around them. I felt bad for Mary who had to watch the death of her own sister, thinking – like at the beginning of the book – that the king would offer clemency at the last minute. Hadn’t she learned her lesson?

Bookshelf worthy? Considering how many times I’ve read this book, yes!

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

As I have stated in my reviews for The Boleyn King and The Boleyn Deceit, anything that has to do with the Tudor court and Elizabethan England I find completely fascinating. Philippa Gregory is actually the main reason for this, six years ago I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

The Constant Princess is the sort of prequel to The Other Boleyn Girl. The story follows that of Princess Catalina of Spain who is to become Queen Katherine of England. It follows her as she falls in love with her first husband Arthur – Henry’s brother – and is thrown for a ride when he dies and makes her promise that no matter what she will become Queen of England, even if that means telling the world a lie.

I found this book fascinating. I always felt bad for Katherine while I was reading TOBG. How sad is it to be married to the King of England, and not only does he sleep around with other women, but he has the gall to ask her to give up her crown so he can crown one of his other mistresses? Terrible. This book made me feel even worse for her. She goes through so much! First, trying to fall in love with her first husband, and then when she finally does he makes her promise on his deathbed that she will marry his younger brother. Then there’s trying to persuade the King that she’s the perfect fit for the only heir now to the throne, and it turns out the King has been lusting after her this whole time. EW. Then, when she spurns the King, he makes her suffer by having her wait in poverty for six years until his demise.

Finally she does get her way and marries Henry, but even that has its problems. When she is with child and goes in for her isolation, Henry strays. What did people see in this guy, honestly? If he strays once, he’s going to keep on straying, especially if you don’t give him what he wants. I think what was amazing to me was the fact that Katherine did actually bare Henry a son, even if he did die ten days after his birth. Who knew?

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. A great insight on to how Queen Katherine came to be and what she went through to get her crown. The only thing that I didn’t like was the pages after the death of their son. There really wasn’t a point to the story and considering the jump to when she is called to court because of Anne Boleyn, it would have made more sense to end it with the death of their son.

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