Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

                                         

 Hardback: 488 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins 2025

Source: Tywyn Library

First Sentence:  In the hammered silver of the mirror, we look like two headless ghosts - our black hoods hiding our faces.

Series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/187905-the-plantagenet-and-tudor-novels

Review Quote:  ‘An immersive visit to the Court of Henry VIII with its magnificence and machinations, its pageantry and plotting' Saga

My Opinion:

I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory for many years although I have not read any of her books in the last few years. When reading her novels it is very easy to forget that they are works of fiction as her extensive research brings history alive on the printed page.

 'Boleyn Traitor,'' is the story of Jane Boleyn who became a Boleyn when she married Anne and Mary Boleyn's brother George. It is the eleventh book in her series about the Plantagenets and the Tudors. Once thought of as a high spirited eccentric Henry VIII is these days seen more as a tyrant, a throughly unpleasant man who abused women. It is whilst living in his court that ambitious Jane survives in the service of five Queens, guiding  them as a lady in waiting  whilst watching the decline of the Kings health.  As a voyeur for Thomas Cromwell she was somewhat protected by him, so it was only after his death and later her fateful decision to help Katheryn Howard meet her lover that we witness her downfall.

If you want to read a fictional but well researched account of Jane Boleyn's life at the court of Henry VIII, then I recommend Philippa Gregory's take on the treachery of the court during this period of history, through the eyes of this lesser known Boleyn. 

Precis Courtsey of Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Philippa Gregory returns with a dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal, and survival in the court of Henry VIII.

Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens.

For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.

Philippa Gregory masterfully shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost. Perfect for fans of thrilling historical drama and readers captivated by the intrigue of the Tudor period, Boleyn Traitor is a must-read.

Author Profile:    

                                                              Courtesy of Amazon

                                                      

DR Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. She  studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia. and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

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The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile   Amazon Author Profile  Facebook Profile.   Philippa Gregory - Official Website
 

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Paperback: 409 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Pocket Books 2010   
Source: My sister.
First Sentence: 'My father is Sir Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers, an English nobleman, a landholder and a supporter of the true kings of England, the Lancastrian line'.
Review Quote:  `Robust, unpretentious and rather shamefully compelling' The Times
Favourite Quote: “He promised her that he would give her everything, everything she wanted, as men in love always do. And she trusted him despite herself, as women in love always do.” 
My Opinion: This is yet another intriguing tale from the Queen of historical romance.

I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory for many years although I have not read any of her books in the last few years, in fact the last one was in the very early days of my book reviewing in 2009, I did not realise it had been so long. This is yet another intriguing tale from the Queen of historical romance. When reading her novels it is very easy to forget that they are works of fiction as her extensive research brings history alive on the printed page. 'The White Queen', the story of Elizabeth Woodville is the first in a new series covering the Wars of the Roses, the feuds between the houses of York and Lancaster. Philippa Gregory has called this series the wars of the cousins, something I never heard this war referred to as, when we studied it in history lessons at school. As a fictional telling of the feud between these two great families she has done a great job, with plausible embellishments to the historical facts although I remain unconvinced about the witchcraft ones. I will certainly be picking up the sequel 'The Red Queen' to read in the very near future.

In this trilogy the author plans to captivate us with the stories of the women of the families of York and Lancaster, starting with the story of Elizabeth Woodville. A beautiful young widow whose husband was killed in battle she sets out to win the love of the King of England. Elizabeth was a Lancastrian but she successfully won the love of King Edward IV, from the house of York and became his Queen. Although she was successful there was always going to be complex rivalries between the two families, both with claimants to the throne. She therefore had to fight with stubborn devotion  for the success of their large family of sons and daughters, including the daughter that would one day unite the families and the sons shut away in the Tower of London. Elizabeth Woodville is one of those exceptional women in history that made some courageous decisions as she did her best to protect her loved ones during a time of war.

If you want to read a fictional but well researched account of the Wars of the Roses, then I recommend Philippa Gregory's take on the mystery of the Princes in the Tower whose true fate still remains unknown to this day.

                                 'The White Queen' Elizabeth Woodville Discussion - Philippa Gregory

 A very interesting interview with Philippa Gregory about the historical background.  My previous review on this blog was for The Other Queen

Author Profile

Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. She was already an established historian and writer when she developed her interest in the Tudors and wrote 'The Other Boleyn Girl' in 2009 which has since made into a TV drama and a film.

She now lives on a small farm in Yorkshire, where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Her website is a fascinating insight into both life on the farm and her historical research. 
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.

There was an interesting article published in  The Guardian recently about how the new incoming Director General of the BBC, Lord Hall,  believes that dramas such as 'The White Queen'' and ''Wolf Hall' can enhance the UK's cultural standing.
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The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile    Facebook - Philippa Gregory    Amazon Author Profile 
 Philippa Gregory - Author Official Website     Philippa Gregory - YouTube Channel