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Summary

Philippa Gregory continues her account of life in the court of Henry VIII, this time focusing on the experiences of three women: Anne of Cleves, Jane Boleyn, and Katherine Howard. The novel shows the way in which the marriages of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard to King Henry intertwine with Jane Boleyn's struggle to redeem herself following the execution of her husband and sister-in-law, Anne and George Boleyn. The story's twists and turns demonstrate the volatility of the court life during the reign of Henry VIII, as well as the precarious position of women as pawns in the ambitions of men.