Mary Boleyn

By: Alison Weir

Narrated by: Maggie Mash

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Boleyn was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife. In this astonishing and riveting biography, Alison Weir’s extensive research gives a new and detailed portrayal, in which she recounts that, contrary to popular belief, Mary was entirely undeserving of her posthumous notoriety as a great whore.

©2011 Alison Weir (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd

Enjoyable look at the Boleyn family

Any additional comments?

Though Alison Weir is always a little extreme in her views, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. It is easy to delineate between fact and the author's opinions. It was good to learn about Mary, as she has become a popular figure without really being better understood. The narrator was fine, though halfway through her voice changes so much that for a couple of minutes I thought they had replaced her.

Academic Study Filled With Intelligent Speculation

I must admit that although I am a fan of Alison Weir and have enjoyed everything that has flowed from her pen, this book in my humble opinion was not her best. It is heavy with speculation that is definitely 'out of the box'. It delves into the period 1522 until around 1536. There is a lot of background information regarding Henry's ever evolving personality plus we read much about the Boleyn family dynamic. Alison Weir discusses the possibility that Anne may well have been the elder daughter which based on my studies was quite an eyebrow raiser!

Normally I cannot put down one of Alison Weir's books as to date I have found that they are real page turners. I may well give this a second listen in the future as it was interesting but not engrossing.

Disappointed.

I am a huge fan of Alison Weir. Having said that, this book is a real disappointment to me. There are simply too many "maybe's." For instance, "Maybe Mary never saw Anne again." There is simply too much supposition in this book for me to take it seriously as an historical work. While Mary Boleyn was in many ways a minor character in the Tudor saga, she still had a life unto herself which, if one is endeavoring to chronicle, deserves more fact and less supposition.

Wishy washy

I have loved Allison Weir’s other books and was so looking forward to this new one, however the beginning is dull as dirt; do I really need pages and pages and pages of speculation of when Mary was born and still don’t ever get an answer. She starts out saying she wants to write a definitive biography of Mary but there is a lot of; well this is what is known, not known, speculated, but I still can’t give you any answer, so why am I reading if you’re not going to tell me anything?

I have to say I like Alison Weir’s fiction better than her non-fiction this one she just seems to be calling out other historians mistakes but she doesn’t really give the correct information just what others have said is wrong.

This did get better in the second half and kept my interest as I said I am a huge fan of Alison Weir however, this one won’t be up there with my favorites of her books.

I think this book should have been a biography of the Boleyn family there is so much more about Mary’s father, brother, sister and of course Henry VIII. I think I wouldn’t feel like she’s padding the book if it told you in the beginning that this is a biography of a family because we sure don’t really find much out about Mary, what does all Henry’s other affairs and illegitimate children have to do with a bio of Mary?

I am sorry as much as I like Alison Weir this one just didn’t do it for me I know she is a great researcher and that’s what this book is lots and lots of research told in a very textbook like manner, I think I will stick to Weir’s historical fiction rather than her non-fiction.

If you are new to Alison Weir don’t start here, start with Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey then The Lady Elizabeth I loved these 2 books, this one not so much.

I must give props to the undeniable amount of research Weir does. And the rating on this has to do with the fact that this book does not answer any questions about Mary and was about so many other people than her and there is a lot of guess work still going on. There is just too much, must have, maybe have, could have, and not enough really did!

Maggie's narration was well done but didn't save me from being bored to tears at times.

3 Stars

Loved it!!!

I absolutely love this book. So many new details about Mary that I didn't know. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys documentaries and accurate facts.
I am definitely going to be listening to it again.

great info

lots of detail on Mary's life and info on all her family, including her children

Little facts and many maybes

About 14 chapters of what could have been two. I admire the research; however, something's just need more information.

Real History of a Complex and Hidden Character

It takes a historian to do the necessary research to find facts about a little-known historical character, about whom much has been said but little actually known. When you do the work (and here Weir has done it for us), the truth is always much more interesting than contemporaneous accounts. Mary escaped the agony of Anne's life and lived long enough to bring up her children and grandchildren and influence the future Queen Elizabeth I. Very interesting book for Tudor addicts like myself.

Enjoyable and great performance!

What did you love best about Mary Boleyn?

I really like the fact that Alison Weir always provides lots of details based on her extensive research.
After reading a lot about Tudor period this book has a lot of new details about Mary Boleyn, her sister Anne and the Boleyn family.

Have you listened to any of Maggie Mash’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I really enjoy Maggie Mash as a narrator. She is one of my favorite!

Maggie Mash makes a mash of voicing males

Where does Mary Boleyn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Enjoyed the history; reader interfered with enjoyment

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mary Boleyn

How did the narrator detract from the book?

This is the second time I've listened to a book with Maggie Mash as reader. When she switches voices for a quote from some historical male, she only obscures the words. Sounds like an old crone, instead of a different character. Her regular reading voice is very pleasant and easy to listen to. I would be pleased if she developed a different male voice, or better "quote" voice.