Philippa Gregory, The Boleyn Inheritance

The Boleyn Inheritance

Philippa Gregory

Touchstone, Dec 05 2006, $25.95

ISBN: 0743272501

By 1539, thirty-something widow Jane Boleyn continues her plotting to gain power and wealth, as she more than just survived the execution of her husband and her sister-in-law, the late wife of King Henry VIII six years ago. She insured she was not associated in any way with the "plot" against the Tudor monarch, which also meant her spouse had no outside champion to save his life.

Henry chooses the Germanic Princess Anne of Cleves to be his next wife based on the recommendation of his Thomas Cromwell, in order to obtain an ally in the ongoing cold war with Spain and France. Jane plans her demise, as her ambition is to be the last woman sitting on the throne. At the same time the Duke of Norfolk brings his precocious, beautiful fifteen year old niece Katherine Howard, a cousin-in-law to Jane to court, to tempt the aging ruler with the energy of youth as he sets his schemes in motion.

Told predominately from the perspective of the three females, readers obtain a powerful insightful look at the court of Henry VIII, in which Machiavellian manipulations is the only way of life. The contrasts in personalities and supporters between the three women make the tale a winner for historical fans, especially those intrigued by the Tudor court. Jane is the professional schemer, using her wits to tear down her opponents; Anne is a naive outsider, used to being ordered about, and is uncomfortable with her new role; and Katherine is a vain kitten, flirting with everyone, but mostly with the King. Philippa Gregory follows up her THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL with an excellent intriguing sixteenth century tale of court manipulations and spins, that readers and Karl Rove would appreciate.