Boleyn book keeps head

Best-selling author Philippa Gregory is at it again with The Boleyn Inheritance, her latest historical fiction piece about the life of an English courtier. Like the book's successful predecessors The Other Boleyn Girl and The Constant Princess, The Inhertance chronicles the court of Britain's King Henry VIII. This time, Gregory explores Henry's later years, when he was married to Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, his fourth and fifth wives, respectively.

These two queens and Jane Boleyn, a background character from Gregory's earlier novels, narrate the secrets, lies and deterioration of a has-been king, never straying far from the successful combination of sex, love and scandal that has given the Boleyn novels their wide appeal.

This same formula, however, may be the book's only fault-Gregory's readers are ready for something fresh from the popular author. Although it is difficult at times to recall the family trees and networks of characters that have set the stage for and appear in the latest installment, Gregory does an adequate job of writing the story as one that can stand alone. Despite the lack of originality, Gregory delivers another fascinating look at British history that will keep even those without any interest in history from putting it down for too long.