Best of the Spectator Book Club: Philippa Gregory
Oct 3, 2025
Philippa Gregory, a best-selling historical novelist known for her works on the Tudor era, chats with Sam Leith about her new book, Boleyn Traitor. She aims to reexamine Jane Boleyn's misunderstood legacy, discussing her transformation from victim to political survivor. They explore Henry VIII's descent into tyranny, the political intricacies of Anne Boleyn, and how Tudor court rituals disguise ambition. Philippa also shares her methods of blending meticulous research with imaginative speculation, while revealing the contemporary echoes of Tudor tyranny in today's world.
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Jane's Survival Suggests Hidden Agency
- Jane Boleyn's odd survival and repeated promotions suggest a purposeful agency rather than accidental luck.
- Philippa Gregory hypothesizes Jane acted as a rational, Cromwell-aligned spy to secure her position.
From Maid Of Honour To Executed Courtier
- Jane starts as a 12-year-old maid of honour and marries George Boleyn, rising suddenly when Anne becomes queen.
- She then serves successive queens and is executed after Catherine Howard's fall, despite earlier promotions.
Hardening Into Political Survival
- Jane's hardening follows her brother's execution and marks a shift into pragmatic survival at court.
- Gregory frames this as an awakening to Tudor tyranny that forces political ruthlessness.
