So much has been written and broadcast about the Tudors that Henry VIII’s courtiers seem stars in their own right. We know their acts and allegiances, their loves and lies, their foibles and (often terrible) fates. Yet one lesser-known figure often lurks near the centre of court machinations while remaining beyond the spotlight. She is Jane Rochford, the focus of Philippa Gregory’s latest novel ‘The Boleyn Traitor’.
Plot and Plots
Lady Jane Rochford is riding high in the wake of her
husband, George, and sister-in-law, Queen Anne Boleyn. The golden trio have everything they dreamed of,
until a miscarriage sparks the king’s wrath and a dramatic fall from
grace. Cut adrift without spouse or
queen to guide her, Jane must learn a courtier’s ways, mask her true thoughts
and navigate a shifting sea of treachery.
Somehow Jane endures, living through exile and juggling conflicting alliances
with Thomas Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk.
She serves three more queens, all the while refining her skills and
making herself invaluable to powerful men. But in the end, it is an act of
kindness for Queen Katherine Howard that spells her downfall. Jane cannot dodge the axeman’s blade forever.
Portrait of a Lady
In other retellings, Jane has played many roles. The
duplicitous companion. The scheming villain.
In ‘The Boleyn Traitor’, Philippa Gregory rewrites her once again,
encouraging readers to see her as an ordinary woman surviving extraordinary
times. As you'd expect, Gregory adeptly evokes the sense
of privilege on a knife-edge that permeates Henry VIII’s court and steers
Jane’s path, making ‘The Boleyn Traitor’ an often tense read. I sympathised with Jane, felt her anxiety
waiting for news, and frustrated when she let her heart rule her head.
Overall
Once again, Philippa Gregory delivers an atmospheric and engrossing read. ‘The Boleyn Traitor’ spotlights Jane Rochford at last, adding
her to the Tudor galaxy, and encouraging us to ask “What would you sacrifice to survive?”
Looking forward to 'Royal Witch' already.
Now, what next..?
'The Boleyn Traitor' by Philippa Gregory is out in paperback in July. This post is based on the hard back edition, published by HarperCollins in autumn 2025.
