The Boleyn Inheritance

By Philippa Gregory

From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory, comes a wonderfully atmospheric evocation of the court of Henry VIII and his final queens.

The king will decide who will live and who will die; he has the power of God now.

1539. Henry VIII must take his fourth wife and the dangerous prize is won by Anne of Cleves. A German princess by birth, Anne is to be Henry’s pawn in the Protestant alliance against Rome, but the marriage falters from the start. Henry finds nothing to admire in his new queen, setting himself against his advisors and nobles to pay court to young Katherine Howard.

The new queen begins to sense a trap closing around her. And Jane Boleyn, summoned to the inner circle once more by her uncle the Duke of Norfolk, finds a fractious court haunted by the Boleyn legacy of death and deceit.

Nothing is certain in a kingdom ruled by an increasingly tyrannical king.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Nov 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9780007373932

Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She was awarded a CBE title for services to literature and charity in 2022. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.

Reviews for The Boleyn Inheritance

[vhartpowers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Three women:
Jane Boleyn, (Georges's wife and Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law), used as a p0awn by the Duke of Norfolk,
Anne of, who may have escaped an awful family, for what other reason would she risk living so near Henry VIII after narroly escaping the block?
Katherin Howard, (the fifth wife) and a mere girl certainly not raised in court as a maid to the queen in France as Anne Boleyn was. They were cousins and both were beheaded.
It was a good book. The only part that bothered me was the over use of Henry VIII being old enough to be Katherin's father or even her grandfather.

[missreadsalot · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book, but I had to read it a lot at a time to really get into it. I thought the ending was really cheesey. I mean Jane was going nuts and Kitty Howard was crying her eyes out. Anne acted as if nothing was happening. Overall, I thought it was a good book.

[michdubb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Follows on from The Other Boleyn Girl. Not quite as good as the others in the series but still enjoyable. It's similar to The Other Queen in that the narrator changes from chapter to chapter. Gregory is able to switch between these different voices effectively and believably.

[emcarso1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A brilliant follow-up to book-turned-movie The Other Boleyn Girl also by Philippa Gregory

[greenefingers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i knew very little about Anne of Cleves and Katharine Howard so this was a really interesting read. You should read it after the Other Boleyn Girl to properly understand the story.

[nellista_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the Philippa Gregory book that I have enjoyed the most thus far (have read The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool and The Virgin's Lover). TOBG left me thinking and imagining about the way the different characters felt, while the TQF and TVL really didn't leave an strong emotional impact on me. Having read quite a bit about Tudor times, I really liked the way PG was able to use the 3 narrators to tell the one story. The depiction of Anne of Cleves is great. While we don't and can't know everyone's thoughts and feelings, this is how I would like to continue to think of Anne of Cleves. Henry VIII just looms as huge bear that can reach out and smite with a deadly paw at any time, while the characters of the 3 female narrators Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and even to some regards Jane Boleyn, are engage the readers sympathy. We really see the meaning of being a pawn to politics and family ambition.

[bibliophile26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whoa what a gripping book! It recalls the fates of two of Henry VIII's later queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. Jane Boleyn, Queen Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, plays a pivotal role in both of their fates, just as she did in Anne's. I felt extremely sorry for all of the women who despite their faults, were victims of Henry and the evil Duke of Norfolk.

[bratlaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Because King Henry decides to form an alliance with the Kingdom of Cleves by marrying Princess Anne, This book is seen through the eyes of three of the women most effected by this alliance. Anne of Cleves, the Protestant princess that Henry marries; Katherine Howard, the English beauty that Henry falls for; and Jane Boleyn, the widow of George Boleyn, whose testimony sent her husband and her infamous sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, to the execution block.

[jmaloney17 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like Greggory's books. Yes they are filled with inaccuracies, but I do not care much. They are good stories.

[coffeenut1992 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! I'm a bit obsessed with King Henry and his many wives, and this book is about Lady Jane Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law - the one who helped send both her husband and her sister-in-law to their deaths. Philippa Gregory is a gifted writer whose books I really enjoy. Who doesn't love a big fat book?

[sioneva · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My first Philippa Gregory novel was "The Other Boleyn Girl," and I became a fast fan. I was really looking forward to "The Boleyn Inheritance," and while it was a good read, I wish Gregory had stuck with a single main character telling the story rather than the somewhat dizzying three-character perspective. That said, I understand why she made the decision and enjoyed the new perspectives - so many authors dismiss Anne of Cleves terribly easily and it was enjoyable to hear a different perspective.

[miyurose_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this. I listened to it on audio, and this is one of those cases where the audio production really enhances the story. A different actress was used for each woman, and they all did a phenomenal job. You could hear Anne’s hope, and then her fear. You could hear Katherine’s greed and sly naivety. And the disdain that pours from Jane is palpable. I was familiar with Anne and Katherine’s story, but not so much with Jane, and she was really the glue that holds this story together. She fancies herself her uncle’s equal when it comes to navigating the politics of court, but realizes way too late that she is as much of a pawn as young Katherine was. Katherine isn’t a particularly likeable girl, but it’s hard not to feel sorry for her, since she didn’t have the intelligence to realize what was happening to her. She really was just a child. My favorite here was Anne, who really shines by the story’s end. Delivering the story through the points of view of only these ladies really sells it. This was my first Philippa Gregory, and it definitely won’t be my last.

[amandazen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narration of this novel was interesting. Gregory took three women and tried to create distinct voices for each woman and use them to relay the action around them to the reader. At times this approach to narration worked and other times it was hard to see the difference between the characters. They all have their quirks which is the defining marker of their voice. Towards the end of the book each time we read Katherine she would begin her chapter by listing the things she had, which would help to identify the character (without the chapter heading of course) but there were times when the voice of Anne and Katherine is not that different (early on when they both found themselves in love). The subject matter of the book is very interesting and what drew me to the book in the first place. Gregory really made me feel for the characters. There were times in the novel when I actually felt bad for Lady Rochford. Although it was not quite as riveting as The “Other Boleyn Girl” it is worth the read.

[misfit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a must for lovers of reading anything and everything Tudor. A fascinating look at two of Henry's little known queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. This book might be difficult to get into at first if you have no prior knowledge of Henry VIII and his wives, but it's worth sticking with it. I loved the way the author told the story from the viewpoint of Anne, Katherine and Jane Boleyn (who was married to George Bolyen, the first Anne's brother). The characters were brilliantly portrayed and came alive before my eyes. Anne, just trying to stay alive in a court riddled with intrigue, Jane scheming with her uncle to put another Howard on the throne, and Katherine (LOL) the not too bright but very beautiful 15 year old who just wanted to look pretty and have pretty things and be admired by handsome men. There were times I was laughing out loud at Kitty's comments, and the chapters that repeatedly started with another accounting of "what do I have now?", as she counted her jewels and clothes. Through these three women we see Anne and Kitty caught up in something they are helpless to stop, Henry's lusting after young Kitty and his determination to put Anne aside at any cost to have Kitty. Most fascinating of all is the way Henry is portrayed through all three women, and he is terrifying indeed. An absolute ruler, with complete power over all around him and mad as a hatter. And wonderful to see that of all of them, Anne was able to come through the terror unscathed and a free, independent woman. Highly highly recommended.

[nsestak_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love her writing.

[elphaba71 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another absorbing installment from the Tudors, telling of Anne of Cleves & here brief time as Queen & Katherine Howard. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the style it was written in to start with, with each chapter being told either from Katherine, Anne or Jane Boleyn's view. Jane Boleyn was such a terrible woman having hands in the deaths of her fellow Kinsmen & ultimatley her own. This is a great historic novel based loosely on the true historic facts.

[iammbb · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While this book picks up just a bit after The Other Boleyn Girl leaves off, it doesn't manage to carry over the engrossing storytelling.Whether this is due to a fatigue with the genre/period/family or whether this is due to a lesser quality product is hard to say. I have read 5 other books by this author.Gregory presents the story of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives from the perspective of these two wives and the sister in law of his second wife in alternating chapters.As always, I found Gregory's work interesting for her take on the internal life of historical characters but I tired of her characters' narration midway through the book. Enough so that I skipped to the final chapters to see where Gregory was taking us.At this point, I'm not feeling like I'll be reading a 7th book by Ms Gregory . . .

[dgmlrhodes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Philippa Gregory has written another good continuation to the Tudor Series. This book is about Ann of Cleves, Henrys fourth wife and Katherine Howard, Henrys fifth wife. Jane Boelyn rounds out the cast of characters and the book alternates between these ladies perspectives. An interesting view of the madness of the English Court during this timeframe.

[triciadm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this was much better than the other boleyn girl!

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This work of Gregory's did not grip me as much as some of her other Tudor works, probably because I absolutely despise Jane Boleyn, and a large part of this novel is focused on her character/historical figure. If one can get past that, it is rather interesting and well-written, similar to [The Other Boleyn Girl] in nature.

[alanna1122 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was gripping - a true page turner. I would have inhaled it if I had the time to sit down and read it in big chunks - but as it was - over and over I picked it up reading bits when I could squeeze them in.I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel given how underwhelmed I was by The Other Boleyn Girl. I had low expectations for this one - especially given the lack of buzz surrounding it. When I got to the author's note at the end of the book - I realized why I might have liked it so much better - in the note she talk's about the lack of documentation around some of the main characters in this novel. I think that gave her greater freedom to fictionalize and also - since I was a history major and know some of this stuff - gave me more freedom to enjoy the stories free from all the history I read in college. On a stylistic note, I am a huge fan of her rotating point of view in this story - but even more so of her consistently very short chapters (a few pages at most). For me, this device made it a really easy book to pick up in my short widows of free time. So to sum up - I thought it was great - my heart actually pounded a few times while I was reading it - and although I may be in the minority - I thought it was a much superior novel to the one that preceded it.

[labibliophille · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

No, I am not becoming a Philippa Gregory groupie. I had purchased The Boleyn Inheritance to read on vacation. Thanks to an hour and a half flight delay, I finished it ahead of schedule and needed another airplane book. Juan Santamaria Airport (San Jose, Costa Rica) had limited options. And paperbacks that normally cost $12-$14 were selling for $22-$24. So I went with a book that wouldn't be much of a gamble, and was in the less expensive range. Hence, The Other Queen.Both works of historical fiction follow the same format: a story unfolding from the viewpoint of three characters at the same time. The chapters are short which, in my opinion, makes a great vacation book. It does seem a bit disjointed at times, though. And also tiresome given that the two books combined total over 1000 pages.The Boleyn Inheritance tells the story of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, the fourth and fifth wives of Henry VIII. Also involved in their tale is Jane Rochford, the widow of Anne Boleyn's brother George. Jane serves as lady in waiting and confidante to both queens.The Other Queen begins 25 years after the end of The Boleyn Inheritance. Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne of England for ten years. She has imprisoned her rival for the throne of England, Mary Queen of Scots. This story is told by Mary, as well as her captors, George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Bess of Hardwick.As with her other books, Philippa Gregory has done a tremendous amount of historical research. She paints a vivid picture of life among the nobility in sixteenth-century England. After reading a number of these books, I do understand English history a bit more. At least now I know the difference between the Tudors and the Stuarts and why they were rivals for the throne.I do recommend both of these books, but not one right after the other. And now I have to read the two books that cover the time span in between. My "must read" list keeps getting longer. I have three books on my nightstand, and another on reserve at the library. Well-I'd better get to it!

[wizardsheart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a fan of Philippa Gregory. I have enjoyed all the books that I have read by her. That being said, I have to say that this is probably one of the best that I have read. She tells the story of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, both wives of Henry VIII. Bridging these two together is the story of Jane Boleyn, the sister in law to his second wife Anne Boleyn. Her characterizations and the telling of the story had me on the edge of my chair. Which is pretty remarkable considering that I know the historical story. So I knew what was going to happen. If you have enjoyed her in the past...or if Gregory is new to you...give this book a shot, chances are that you won't be disappointed!

[marthahuntley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read

[jillkb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book alternates between the voices of 3 interesting women: Henry VIII's 4th and 5th wives (Anne of Cleves & Katherine Howard) and Jane Boleyn, the lady-in-waiting who serves them (as well as Henry VIII's previous 3 wives). The book focuses on the differences between the women and their relationship to one another, as well as Henry VIII's decline into tyrannical madness. Of the 3 women, Anne of Cleves is definitely the most admirable. Occasionally Katherine Howard's chapters annoyed me, since of the 3 she was the most shallow and naive in some ways, but somehow managed to make perceptive insights. But I pitied her. Jane Boleyn was definitely the most complicated -- I did pity her, but in this book, she also shows a malicious and evil streak. And both Henry VIII and the Duke of Norfolk emerge as villains (who seem to go basically unpunished, especially the latter). And I loved how each woman consciously dealt with her Boleyn inheritance.

Ultimately, I think I sympathized with all 3 women -- as fascinated as I am with this period, I would not have wanted to live through this time! Although you could read this book without having first read The Other Boleyn Girl, I strongly recommend reading The other Boleyn Girl first.

[juglicerr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not being a Philippa Gregory fan, and having not particularly liked the Other Boleyn Girl or The Constant Princess, I wasn't going to read this, but I'm a sucker for historical novels set around this time, and finding out that Anne of Cleves was going to be one of the characters, well, I broke down and read it. I was pleasantly surprised - this kept my interest, I enjoyed the combination of the three different voices. The history is much better than the previous two novels. I thought that her portrayal of Henry's court was extremely vivid, and her portrayal of Henry is frightening. Gregory does do a wonderful job of making the intimacy in which these women lived very clear: one may have know that Katherine was one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting, but the story makes it very clear what that involved. Gregory's handling of sex is not nearly as torrid as The Other Boleyn Girl, which is a plus for me, but may disappoint other readers.For the most part, the characterizations were very good. I very much liked the portrayal of Anne, although I would have liked to have seen her interact with Elizabeth and Edward. It is very odd that Gregory has made Anne her chief spokeswomen for her disapproval of Henry's religious chaos and the dissolution of the monasteries. On Anne's second day in England, Gregory has her lamenting the changes in England since the Dissolution. How would Anne know what England was like before? Who, among the English people that she has met, would have risked making critical remarks on that topc. Granted neither of her English narrators would have been a likely spokesperson either, but maybe this soapbox should have been saved for another book.Gregory boasts of how precise her history is (see her website), She may get the day of the week and the weather correct, but there are a number of larger errors. Jane Boleyn didn't actually testify at Anne & George Boleyn's trial, she submitted an affadavit. Gregory apparently starts the Dissolution of the Monasteries before the birth of Elizabeth in September, 1533. The Visitation of the Monasteries wasn't completed until 1535; the first confiscations were in 1536; and the king received all the other monasteries in 1539-1540. Gregory frequently contradicts The Marrying of Anne of Cleves by Retha Warnicke, which she lists as one of her sources. According to that book, William of Cleves wasn't a Lutheran, let alone a rabid fanatic, and Anne herself was a Catholic. Their brother-in-Law, John Frederick of Saxony was head of the German Protestant League, and it was the relationship to him that was the source of Anne's political attractiveness. And of course, there are "holdover" mistakes from her previous books. Catherine Carey was not one of Anne Boleyn's ladies while she was awaiting execution in the tower. These aren't major distortions that change the whole tenor of the book, I bring them up only because of Gregory's boasts of her perfectionism regarding detail. This will probably not bother some readers in the slightest.Gregory says on her website that she is trying to get past the image of Katherine as a "silly slut." I don't think she succeeds here, especially not with the silly part. The characterization is vivid and believable, but not terribly sympathetic. Gregory argues that Katherine had two boyfriends in her life, and that few people today would think that makes her a slut. Ah, but she is not living today. And I think that we must include among her "boyfriends" Henry "Sugar Daddy" Tudor. I think it is more the nature than the number of her relationships that cause Lacie Baldwin Smith to describe her as deliquent. Gregory certain portrays her as fickle, foolish, and grasping. Oh, I still sympathize somewhat with her: she was poorly served by her elders, and it's easy to see how she got in over her head. Her death was the same sort of travesty that Anne Boleyn's was. In both cases, Henry wanted both to annul his marriage and execute his "wife" for adultery. Still, one can pity her for being genuinely victimized and still think she was a seriously flawed person.

[scofer_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I believe this is my fifth Philippa Gregory book and, while it is not nearly as good as The Other Boleyn Girl, it’s an entertaining read nonetheless. The Boleyn Inheritance is told from the alternating first person perspectives of Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, each short chapter jumping between these three lesser known females who inhabited Henry VIII's court. I enjoyed Gregory’s exploration of sweet and simple Anne of Cleves (Henry’s fourth wife), dimwitted and self -absorbed Katherine Howard (Henry’s fifth wife) and scheming yet tormented Jane Boleyn (lady in waiting to Anne and Katherine as well as sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn). Anyone who enjoys historical fictional, particularly involving Henry VIII and his wives, will likely enjoy this book … but just do not expect to enjoy it as much as The Other Boleyn Girl.

[kaydence_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pub. Date: December 2006 * Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing * Sold by: Simon & Schuster Digital Sales * Format: eBook, 528pp * Sales Rank: 4,580 * Series: Philippa Gregory Tudor Series, #3 * Product Browse duration in Minutes: 60 * File Size: 603 KB * ISBN-13: 9780743298544 * ISBN: 0743298543The Boleyn Inheritance is told from three points of view: Jane Boleyn (wife to the deceased Thomas), Anne of Cleaves (Henry’s fourth wife), and Katherine Howard (Henry’s fifth wife). Jane is the expert maid in waiting. She is called upon by the Duke of Norfolk to keep an eye on the new queen and report back to him anything that she does. Jane owes her life to the Duke, and so she is in his pocket to survive. Jane poses as a friend to the new queen Anne and attempts to be in her confidence as the story continues. However, Jane begins to like the queen and when plots against her begin to crop up, she has doubts whether she can put another queen to death as she did to her sister-in-law Anne Boleyn. The thoughts of Anne Boleyn and her husband Thomas haunt her throughout the book. Jane poses as the wise older woman who has been through quite a lot, but her transformation towards the end shows that she still has a lot to learn.Anne of Cleaves is considered an unreformed woman by her family, but she is chosen to become the new queen of England because an alliance between England and Cleaves would be helpful. She does not speak a word of English, but as she moves into her new life, she learns quickly. Because of her troubles at home, she has no idea how to please the king in bed. This leaves their marriage unconsummated. Henry also detests her after a mix-up in one of his games. Although she is a pure and strong girl, she often finds herself bending to the will of the men that she finds in charge of her. When she is dethroned, she becomes a sister to the king and finds herself much happier in the countryside. She loves England, but counts herself lucky to be one of the few that survives King Henry’s marriage.Lastly, Katherine Howard is a young, flirty girl. Her beauty catches the king’s eye and he courts her while he is married to Anne and Katherine is a maid in waiting. Katherine’s uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, wants to see the king and Katherine wed. He schemes and encourages the flirtations until it actually happens. Katherine is a flighty little girl and only measures things in what materials she receives. She often begins her narration with a list of what she owns. This is probably because she is only around fifteen when she marries the king. She attempts to please him in bed, but it is difficult work when he is so old, fat, and wounded. Finally, with the help of Jane, she takes on a lover. Then, as with Anne Boleyn, all hell breaks loose and the king attempts to kill everyone.I know that I keep saying this, but I have been on a historical fiction kick. I really enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl (book only, movie was terrible), so I decided that I would continue with this series. As time moves on, I am hoping to go through each one. Gregory has a way with characters. It’s like you get to see into their souls and travel inside their heads with them. Anne of Cleaves was by far my favorite character in this story, but all three women were beautifully illustrated. As I was reading, I could feel my moods shift with the difference in narration. Katherine was always bubbly and it made me want to read her parts faster as if I was speaking them like a young girl would in a quicker, happier tone. The plot is predictable, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. It is nothing new what happened within King Henry’s court. Her books are much more interesting than anything else that I have read about him though. I’m sure that she has taken liberties with parts of history to make her tales more enchanting and personable, but I would recommend it to people who want a glimpse of what he was like. Gregory’s tales are definitely worth a reread and they are something that I will keep upon my shelves.5/5 stars

[blondestranger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not since the first Phillipa Gregory novel I read, The Other Boleyn, have I been this connected with a novel. The stories of Henry VIII's fourth and fifth wives is weaved through three individual perspectives. The book was hard to put down and you empathized with all of the characters.

[caroren_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Just when we think we have heard the last of the Boleyns, after The Other Boleyn Girl (2002), Gregory resurrects the ill-fated family in the persona of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. After her damning testimony results in the execution of both her husband and her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, Jane continues her ruthless scheming as she serves as lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's reviled Bavarian-born fourth wife, and naive, doomed [fifth] wife, Catherine Howard. Narrated in turn by this trio of intriguing women, this tale of court politics and treachery unfolds from three equally compelling points of view. Margaret Flanagan