The Boleyn Inheritance
My Review
This is a delightful book even though it documents the growing tyranny of an ill fat old king. Seen from the perspective of three ladies in the court, two of them queens, one replacing the other, the action unfolds remorselessly, telling the story of the fourth and fifth queens of Henry VIII. Anne of Cleves is quickly rejected by the king but manages to avoid the block. Philippa Gregory portrays her as a strong and eminently sensible woman caught up in the political games of the men around he...

The Other Boleyn Girl
My Review
This is a great book by Philippa Gregory where Mary Boleyn tells her story and inevitably tells Anne's story too. I'd never heard of this sister of Anne Boleyn. Mary is Anne's younger sister and becomes Henry VIII's mistress and gives him two children, a daughter and a son. There is always great rivalry between the sisters. Anne is at the French court when Henry first notices Mary. They are both pawns in the hands of their family, who have no care for either sister but want to use them to gai...

Virgin Earth
My Review
I loved Virgin Earth. It is about John Tradescant the younger. Read about his early life in Earthly Joys, see below. John junior lives in the 1600's and we see the days of Charles the first through his eyes. Also of course the roundheads. We also see him travelling to the New World and spending time with the native Americans. Always, as a gardener he is collecting plants and also rare objects. There is plenty of variety in this book. You get a real glimpse of the times. John Tradescant is an ...

Earthly Joys
My Review
This book is one of Miss Gregory's historical novels and is the story of John Tradescant gardener to the rich and royalty. He also manages to get involved in war. It is a rich and moving book, giving a vivid picture of the 1600's.