Philippa Gregory

Mention historical fiction and author Philippa Gregory's books jump to the front of the line. Among her best selling books in this genre, and there are quite a few, is the runaway hit, The Other Boleyn Girl (2002), which exemplifies her extraordinary ability to use meticulous research to bring the past alive. This powerful New York Times bestseller that tells the story of Anne Boleyn's little-known sister has been published in 26 countries with more than a million copies in print in the United States alone. A classic-in-the-making, it won the Parker Pen Novel of the Year award in 2002, and was adapted as a television drama in England and a feature film in the United States. But few readers may know that these best selling books spring from the mind of a woman who holds a Ph.D. in 18th-century literature. Clearly, historical fiction is dear to her heart, as the success of The Other Boleyn Girl led to a succession of New York Times bestsellers, among them The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess, and The Boleyn Inheritance. Yet Philippa Gregory's books, her Gothic romances, in particular, were already beloved among readers. Wideacre, The Favored Child and Meridon were all great hits before she turned to historical fiction. Author Philippa Gregory, who was born in Kenya and moved to England when she was 2 years old, now lives in North England with her family. Besides writing best selling books, her other great interest is Gardens of Gambia, the charity she founded almost twenty years ago.