The other Boleyn Girl

Anne Boleyn - the woman who was the 2nd wife of Henry VII, the woman who managed to push Catherine of Aragon off her throne as the Queen of England, the woman who lost her head for not being able to give her husband a male heir. We all know that about her, but The other Boleyn Girl is mainly about the life of her sister, Mary Boleyn.

Mary and Anne are part of the famous Howard family and were raised at the french court, but soon Mary was commanded to come home to get married. She goes to court and becomes the favorite Lady- in- waiting of Queen Catherine. Her sister and rival Anne soon follows, although she doesn't know the purpose of it.
Mary catches the eye of the king and her family urges her to be his mistress. Anne is to be Marys advisor on how to keep the king and Marys husband is to be set aside. Meanwhile Anne also searches for a good match for herself, which she find in Henry Percy, out of the richest family right after the Tudors. Mary conceives twice over the years that she is the kings mistress, a girl and a boy, and soon has to step aside for someone else in her family's ambition.

Although Henry is happy to have the little boy, he knows that he will never be able to take the throne of England. His mood worsens as he finds out that his wife and queen cannot give him a child anymore. As Annes plans with Henry Percy are destroyed by the bishop, she reaches higher, way higher: She catches the eye of the king, just as Mary did. But her intentions are not to become his mistress. For her it is only: Queen or nothing...