The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl (2001) is a historical women’s fiction novel by British author and journalist Philippa Gregory. Gregory first reached bestseller status with her debut historical novel Wideacre (1987). The Other Boleyn Girl won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was adapted into a film. The novel is narrated by Mary, the Boleyn daughter whose more famous sister, Anne, has overshadowed her in the historical record. Mary is married young and installed as a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII. Mary’s ambitious family pressures her to become the king’s mistress. While Mary bears his children, Anne wins the king’s interest and gambles on becoming queen. Mary stands to lose everything—including her children and the husband she loves—when the king turns against Anne and the Boleyns. The Other Boleyn Girl explores themes of The Cost of Conflicting Loyalties, The Price of Personal Ambition, and Support and Rivalry Among Women. Gregory has written subsequent novels about the Tudor and Plantagenet families. She has been recognized for her contributions to literature as Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 

This guide refers to the Touchstone trade paperback edition published by Simon & Schuster in 2003.

Content Warning: The source text and guide feature depictions of sexual content (including suggestions of incest), pregnancy loss, gender discrimination, antigay bias, illness and death, child death, and graphic violence. 

Language Note: The source text includes offensive language that reflects the historical period’s gender discrimination and criminalization of LGBTQ+ identity. 

Plot Summary

In spring 1521, Mary, the eldest Boleyn girl, watches the Duke of Buckinghamshire’s execution for joking that King Henry has no son. Soon thereafter, Mary’s sister, Anne, joins the court as a lady in waiting for Queen Katherine. When Mary catches the king’s eye, her ambitious family, headed by her Uncle Howard, separates Mary from her husband, William Carey, and encourages her to become the king’s mistress. When she is sent to the family estate of Hever, Mary finds she enjoys life in the country. However, she is excited to return to court, and the king’s attention flatters her. While the Howards and Boleyns look for ways to use Mary’s favor with the king to advance the family, Anne arranges a secret marriage to Henry Percy, one of the richest noblemen in the land. Anne is heartbroken and angry when Cardinal Wolsey, the king’s advisor, refuses to permit the marriage and parts the two lovers.

Mary bears two children to the king: a daughter, Catherine, and a son, Henry. When it becomes clear Queen Katherine will bear no further children, Henry frets how to end his marriage. Her family wants to put Mary forward as his next queen since she already has a son by the king, but Mary refuses to try to replace Katherine. Anne willingly steps in, becoming Mary’s rival for the king’s affection. While Mary is soft, loving, and wants to retire to the family estate of Hever to be with her children, Anne is determined to be the next queen and willing to sacrifice what she must.

Mary returns from visiting her children at Hever to become Anne’s attendant and ally as Anne exerts herself to keep the king’s interest. Their brother, George, also supports Anne’s efforts, often spending time with the girls in their bedchamber. Despite Anne’s efforts, Henry cannot put Katherine aside easily. Katherine is related to Charles of Spain, who has been Henry’s ally in fighting King Francis of France. When the pope refuses to grant Henry an annulment, Henry quarrels with religious leaders in England and demands to restructure the church so he might obtain a divorce. Anne vindictively delights in Cardinal Wolsey’s fall from grace. However, as Henry’s will changes both the religious and judicial landscape and pushes the Protestant Reformation forward, the common people begin to turn against Anne.

No longer the king’s mistress, Mary reconciles with her husband. When William Carey dies of plague, the family debates which Howard girl to put forward for the king’s favor. Anne and Mary share a bitter sense of being pawns for their ambitious family, but rivalry wins over sisterhood when Anne decides to adopt Henry, Mary’s son. Mary is deeply hurt that Anne has taken everything from her, and she sympathizes with the increasingly abandoned and alienated Queen Katherine, who is eventually banished from court.

Anne grows colder and more ruthless in her ambition to be queen. Mary is increasingly drawn to the quiet, steady companionship of William Stafford, but she knows her family won’t allow marriage below her in station. When Anne becomes pregnant, Henry marries her in a secret ceremony. The marriage is made public when Henry finally breaks with the Catholic Church. At Anne’s coronation, the crowds are silent, showing that public opinion is not in her favor. Sick of court life, Mary sneaks away to find William Stafford at his farm. They marry in secret, and he returns to court with her, where Mary helps Anne during her pregnancy and confinement. When Anne gives birth to a girl, Elizabeth, the pressure on her to bear a son increases. After she miscarries her next child, Anne is furious when she learns Mary is pregnant. Anne banishes Mary from court, and Mary returns to their farm with William. She longs to have her other two children with her but lives happily as a farm wife and gives birth to a baby girl.

George summons Mary back to court to help Anne, who is pregnant once more but feels embattled and alone. Jane Seymour entrances the king, and Anne cannot contain her jealousy or fear. When she flies into a rage after catching the king flirting with Jane, Anne miscarries her baby, a boy. The midwife claims the misshapen child is the work of the devil, and Anne must have dabbled in witchcraft. This final straw turns the king against Anne. 

That spring, several courtiers, including George, are arrested and accused of adultery with Anne. Anne is sent to the Tower on charges of using sorcery against the king. The trial is swift, and despite Mary’s pleading, the Boleyns and Uncle Howard do nothing to protect Anne. After Anne is executed, Mary asks William to live quietly in the country, but William reminds her that her children are Boleyns and may have great futures.