Tale of the Tudors

Winter Break Post 3 - sometime over break

As I was tucking my youngest sister into bed last night, she asked me if I had heard of the book, The Other Boleyn Girl. I said of course I had. It’s a book involving King Henry VIII. “Did you know they’re making a movie from it,” she asked. That bit of information I did not know.

I have had a fascination with King Henry VIII since middle school. One of my expository speeches during high school was on him and his wives. I wrote a 14 page paper on his second and my favorite of his wives, Anne Boleyn, during my senior year. Last year I wrote an 18 page paper interpreting Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale as the story of Anne Boleyn. Over the years I’ve continued to learn more about Henry and his wives as I find his story to be an intriguing one.

I have mixed feelings about the author Philippa Gregory. I was excited to read a book set during the Tudor period of England. She seemed to find Henry’s story just as interesting as I did. I enjoy her books. On the other hand, I feel like she beat me to the punch. I doubt that when I grew older I would have written books about Henry VIII, but it was a daydream I had more than once in my years. Now if I did it, I would feel like I was just copying her. Similarly, I’m excited for the movie, because I did like that book, but I also think I’ll be a little bitter about it.

I didn’t think I was the only one in the world who knew about King Henry VIII, but I knew more about him than anyone else I knew. It was an interest that made me unique. Now, with the popularity of her books and possibly the movie, more people will be familiar with the tale and my knowledge on the subject will no longer make me stand out.

I will continue to read her books and I plan on seeing the movie, but I want it known, for the record, that I liked and knew about King Henry and his wives before they became popular entertainment.