New Biography Debunks Myths About Mary Boleyn, the 'Other Boleyn Girl'

In her book, 'Mary Boleyn: The Queen's Slandered Sister,' historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton disputes the common misconceptions surrounding Mary Boleyn, sister to Anne Boleyn and mistress of Henry VIII. Soberton presents Mary as a devoted friend and an ambitious wife, countering the narrative of her as a promiscuous woman. By revisiting primary documents, including a 1536 letter from Rodolfo Pio da Carpi that was mistranslated in the 19th century, she clarifies that it referred to 'one of' the queen's sisters. The biography explores Mary's life, her relationships with Henry VIII, her marriages to William Carey and William Stafford, and hints at a reconciliation with Anne before Anne's execution in 1536. The book is currently available in the UK and will be released in the US this year.