Sunday, December 31, 2006

#28, The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory

The Boleyn Inheritance. It wasn't bad, though it wasn't The Other Boleyn Sister, either. It was just over 500 pages, which was really about 200 pages too many. I suppose if you didn't already know what was going to happen to Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard (the fourth and fifth wives, respectively, of Henry the 8th that the book centers on) then the minute details would build suspense; but since I knew the outcome (it is historical record after all, and even has a little rhyme to go along with it if you forget), it was more like, let't get on with it! It also lacked the debauch of its predecessor, which let's face it, helps the history lesson go down better.

So in short, I'd recommend it, but only if you're a little vague on the details.

Oh, and the rhyme? Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. That Henry the 8th was a real monster. Let me just make that point too. A murderer, a madman, and a misogynist.

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