Boleyn Traitor
A Novel
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4.4 • 115 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
#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.
“Gregory skillfully captures the lust for power and wealth that overcomes those who serve a mentally unstable ruler.”--Library Journal
“Richly atmospheric, Gregory’s novel delivers a riveting portrait of Jane and drama of the cunning stakes involved in trying to survive Henry’s reign.”--Booklist
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 her: 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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
One woman does all it takes to survive in this fascinating and fresh work from author Philippa Gregory. A talented diplomat and spy who speaks multiple languages, Jane Boleyn—wife of George and sister-in-law of Anne—holds a surprising amount of power in the perilous Tudor court. Positioning herself as close to power as possible as chief lady-in-waiting, she serves the queens and does all she can to help them conceive male heirs. Philippa Gregory always creates well-researched characters who feel entirely real. Full of complicated emotions and raw vulnerabilities, they almost made us forget we were reading a novel. And despite the fates of Henry VIII’s wives being common knowledge, Boleyn Traitor still manages to be an impressively suspenseful tale. Fans of Alison Weir and Hilary Mantel will devour this fresh take on a misunderstood character too often dismissed.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gregory resumes her Tudor Series (following 2017's The Last Tudor) with an engrossing tale of lady-in-waiting Jane Boleyn. In 1534 Greenwich Palace, Jane attends to her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's pregnant young queen. Henry is obsessed with producing a male heir, and after Anne gives birth to a girl, Elizabeth, he has Anne executed. Little is known about the historical Jane, who was wife to Anne's brother, George. Contemporaries vilified her as a traitor to her husband and Anne, both of whom were executed in 1536. Playing on the fact that Jane's father, Lord Morley, studied Machiavelli and Castiglione, Gregory casts her heroine as an ambitious, Machiavellian survivor who was enlisted by Thomas Cromwell "as one of his many lady-spies in the queen's rooms." The reader follows Jane through a well-staged series of court dances, royal hunts, May Day ceremonies, and other festivities. Lurking in the background are court intrigues, Spanish spies, and power plays, all of which bring on "death, undeniable death." Gregory also sketches the inner lives of "strong man" Henry VIII and his many wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and "Kitty" Howard. It's Jane who steals the show, however, up until her tragic death in 1542. Once again, Gregory brings the Tudor era to vivid life.
Customer Reviews
A story for the ages
What happened about 480 years ago is so relevant in these dangerous times.