**Spoilers** Summary of The Boleyn Inheritance (Philippa Gregory)

Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Inheritance precedes her novel called The Constant Princess. In such regard, the novel recounts the tales of three different women that all have two things in common: 1) they are, at a certain point in their lives, a lover to King Henry VIII and 2) they all have had their chance in immersing themselves in the Boleyn Inheritance.

The novel takes place towards the middle of 1500s, after the death of King Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour (Katherine of Aragorn being the first wife and Anne Boleyn being the second). The King is once again on the prowl for a new wife. He has his eyes settled on Anne of Cleves. Jane Rochford, after a long stretch of time, comes back to Court. She is the widow of George Boleyn whom was executed along with Anne Boleyn having to be accused of adultery, incest and treason for plotting against the King. It is because of this that Jane Rochford does not have many pleasant memories of Court life. At the same time, a woman by the name of Katherine Howard also enters Court by decree of her uncle to attain high reputation amongst reputable people.

Throughout her life as the new Queen, Anne of Cleves has trouble getting along with King Henry VIII, especially her step-children, since it enrages her husband. She speaks very little English and even mistakes the King for a worthless drunk upon her arrival. Although she tries to make amends, the King is scornful towards her. King Henry VIII questions his marriage with Anne of Cleves, but he does so anyway, perhaps to win the eyes of the public around him. Anne of Cleves has a plain appearance: this is noted in the novel in the perspective of Jane Rochford and Henry VIII himself. Everybody is surprised by the way Anne of Cleves carries herself; she does not dress in high fashion, but rather like a country bumpkin. All in all, it only takes a few months after their marriage that King Henry VIII is already tired of his wife and wishes to get rid of her. In addition to Anne's story, her marriage with King Henry was never consummated. She was eager to sign an annulment that says that she was previously engaged to Francis of Lorraine. Whatever the case, King Henry VIII has already set his eyes on a new woman: Katherine Howard.

King Henry VIII quickly divorces his fourth wife and marries Katherine Howard, one of his previous wife's lady-in-waiting. Again, there is much tension for fourteen year old Katherine Howard. This seems to be a trend for all of King Henry VIII's wives. However, Katherine is infatuated with one of the King's favorite courtiers, Thomas Culpepper. Not only that, but she is unable to win over King Henry VIII's step-children, especially Mary, who thinks that Katherine Howard is too self-indulgent. She is at first in love with the idea of being Queen; however such thoughts began to spiral downwards once she begins to take notice of a few things surrounding her. For one, King Henry VIII is showing age and he has now put on a few pounds. He is disgusting at this point, since he is now too heavy for her liking. He also has a tumor in his leg that is always leaking pus and blood. She begins to sneak out of the King's bedchambers at night to accompany Thomas Culpepper in his room at night, having her friend Jane Rochford guard the door.

Katherine's life takes a turn for the worse towards the end of the novel as an old flame shows up in Court. She gives her former lover a position within her household, but has negative feelings towards this. Her affairs with Culpepper is then found out by her close friends and enemies. Everyone around her deserts her in order to avoid getting themselves into trouble with the King. Katherine becomes frightened and hysterical as she is investigated. She is then found guilty of adultery and treason, executed at the age of sixteen, alongside Thomas Culpepper and all those that were involved, including Jane Rochford.