Please let us know your views on this, I am holding off getting it till I know what to expect. Mainly can I read it as historical fiction or just fiction..
I'm going to start reading it tomorrow apres going to see The DaVinci Code (tho I am sure it will be a bad movie LOL)
I knew the author's name sounded familiar....I've actually read an "Elizabethan Mystery" she wrote a while back & it wasn't bad, so maybe this will be ok as well.
You might be surprised by the "Da Vinci Code', I was! And found the movie to follow the book better than any other book to movie that I have ever seen. Only one slight change and that was Sophie's relationship to Sauniere. I anxiously await your opinion on 'The Last Boleyn'....
OK Judy, tis safe to go for it Definitely a novel historical rather than a historical novel if you know what I mean, but it's a good read nonetheless. What I found interesting in the author's notes was that this book was originally published in 1983 but had been reissued due to the resurgence of Boleyn interest so I guess a tip of the hat there to Philippa Gregory after all Puts The Other Boleyn Girl to shame tho....Mary's character is much more dimensional & human in this book, you have a much cleare picture of how women of the time really were male chattel & didn't have a lot of options if they didn't toe the family line in how Mary bowed under familial pressure in becoming the mistress of both Francis & Henry. I enjoyed how Harper made William Stafford a constant presence in Mary's life from the time she was in France as her best friend, conscience, advisor, confidante, & that relationship evolved into a love relationship eventually.
I almost forgot....for some bizarre reason Harper has Anne & the boys arrested in February not May, but that was really the only glaring histotical license in the whole thing.
Thanks so much for all the info, and especially that it was written in 1983 as I was able to order it 'used'. I also thought it was a new novel as well. Guess we have something good to thank 'The Other Boleyn Girl' for.
I just finished "The Last Boleyn", and am happy to say it was excellent...Thanks for recommending it, Greensleeves. I looked up several dates of events, and found the book to be quite accurate in facts as we know them to be. This was historical fiction at its best, and like when I read historical fiction like to learn something new, and I did reading this. I had known that Mary sort of "lived happily ever after", but thought it was with Will Carey, I am now straightened out on that....
I think this is the only Tudory book Harper's done, but she's apparently quite prolific so perhaps her other fiction would be just as entertaining. I enjoyed how Will Carey was portrayed because cmon, NO husband is THAT complaisant, king or not bedding the wife!
I really loved this book and I've read it several times. I have always admired Mary Boleyn for finally escaping the trap that was family and breaking away into the country with Stafford. I so enjoyed this book that I gave it to a friend to read, but since she wasn't a Tudor or history enthusiast, she said it was really boring, which I found rather upsetting. No one else in my family has read a single Tudor book of mine and has no interest, so I'm so glad that the people on here like and dislike the same books as I do.
Rank:Silver Member Score:83 Posts:83 From: United Kingdom
RE:The Last Boleyn
(Date Posted:09/24/2009 1:10 PM)
I know what you mean. Isn't it annoying when people don't like your favourite book or film, I want to hit them for being so stupid. I've stopped recommending my favourite novel as no-one else has liked it as much as me.
usertype:6 tt= 0
-------------------------------------------------------------- You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning.
Arnold Bennett
I know! Its really sad because you so much want to share something that you thought was really good, but no one is interested. I think its best to just re-read books I enjoy so I can keep enjoying them without worrying about what other people think of them lol
Rank:Silver Member Score:83 Posts:83 From: United Kingdom
RE:The Last Boleyn
(Date Posted:09/25/2009 7:46 AM)
My favourite novelist is Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) who was born in north Staffordshire and set many of his novels in that area. It's possible to visit some of the locations, he disguised them only vaguely, and walk in the footsteps of his characters.
usertype:6 tt= 0
-------------------------------------------------------------- You're playing chess with Fate and Fate's winning.
Arnold Bennett
That would be really interesting. Most of the books I read are set in England, so I can't exactly walk out the front door and be there
I'm currently reading 'The Outlandish Knight' by Richard Adams (I picked it up in a library discard sale). I found myself smiling when I was reading the names of some of the towns the main character was visiting, since on my trip to England I had been to them (Chipping Norton was in there).
Close it
Anyone read this yet?
ReplacedJudymar
Puts The Other Boleyn Girl to shame tho....Mary's character is much more dimensional & human in this book, you have a much cleare picture of how women of the time really were male chattel & didn't have a lot of options if they didn't toe the family line in how Mary bowed under familial pressure in becoming the mistress of both Francis & Henry. I enjoyed how Harper made William Stafford a constant presence in Mary's life from the time she was in France as her best friend, conscience, advisor, confidante, & that relationship evolved into a love relationship eventually.
not May, but that was really the only glaring histotical license in the whole thing.
