This Tudor era based novel offers a refreshing perspective on Jane Boleyn who served five queens at court.
With her latest novel, Philippa Gregory offers a chance to re-evaluate the character of Jane Boleyn to re-evaluate her relationships with her husband George and sister-in-law Anne Boleyn as well as the work that she did at court – first for the Duke of Norfolk and then Thomas Cromwell.
Taking us through the Tudor Court as seen through the eyes of Jane, Philippa Gregory offers a perceptive take that shows the increasing level of danger that Henry VIII posed as he became increasingly unpredictable during his reign. There is a lovely build up as each of his marriages came to an end, highlighting the rise and fall of each queen, while highlighting the change in policies as Jane is forced to lie and spy her way through life at court.
Through her writing, there is great tension and suspension highlighting the important parts of the history but without getting too heavily bogged down by it. As always the focus is on the characters and relationships that offers a richness and a deeper sense of tragedy of how things unfold – particularly in the case of Katherine Howard which highlights her naivety and the way in which she was used by her uncle.
Even though Gregory has covered the fate of Jane Boleyn (with a slightly darker take on her character) in her earlier novel The Boleyn Inheritance before, this is a fascinating read (even if you know how it all plays out) as it highlights her intelligence and insight into the way in which the court works – but equally in a subtle way shows her ambition gradually comes to light.
Yes it could be argued that a lot of the plot will be familiar to those who familiar with Tudor history and have read Gregory’s previous novels on the subject, but what makes this a strong book is the way in which it emphasises Henry VIII’s increasing tyranny causing fear and uncertainty.
Structurally, the book flows with great ease and you gradually become invested with all of the characters. In particular it is interesting to find out more about Jane’s relationships with George and Anne that puts a slightly more positive spin on it – leaving the question – did Jane really have anything to do with their downfall? Meanwhile, Jane’s friendship and bond with Thomas Cromwell is particularly fascinating to read about – showing that she matches him in terms of intelligence in many ways.
There is also a strong argument that this book is well timed to point out from a modern perspective of the dangers of tyranny and not standing up to those who abuse their power which feels extremely relevant given everything that is happening in the world at the moment.
Overall, The Boleyn Traitor is an insightful and well written book that enthrals from start to finish. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a refreshing perspective on the Tudor court.
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Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️