"Henry the VIII, I am, I am. I got married to the widow next door. She's been married seven times before. And everyone loves Henry. Henry the VIII I am." Herman's Hermits
The time is spring 1521. The Boleyn girls have just returned from France and are being introduced at the English court of Henry Tudor, King of England. There is much at stake. Henry is married to his deceased brother's wife, Katherine, and thus far, she has been unable to provide the King of England with a son and heir.
Thus sets the stage for a revolution of sorts. Both Boleyn girls, Anne and Mary, are beautiful young ladies. Anne is dark, and Mary is fair-skinned and light. Both have been educated in France, but Anne is trilingual, well read, and highly intelligent. The girls' father and uncle want power, and they believe one way to achieve that power is to place one or both of the Boleyn girls under the nose of the king. If either girl can entice the king to cast off his wife and marry her, then the Boleyn-Howard family will be the most powerful family in the land.
This book is rich with details of what a life at court would be like in the 16th century. Women were used as bait for men to get the power and lands they wanted. Life at court was never dull, but everyone was expected to make the king happy - no matter the cost.
Mary Boleyn takes center stage in the book and tells her story. As the Boleyn girl who was cast aside, she is able to see what life might be like outside of court as a "nobody."
I know the historical aspects of this story. I know that a great monarch will come in the late 16th century. This great monarch will change the course of history forever. This is part of her story as well.
If you like history and are especially intrigued by the life and wives of Henry the VIII, then you will enjoy this book. It is not completely historically accurate, but it isn't terribly off course. Now I am off to play some tennis - a sport that Henry dearly loved.
Cheerio!
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