Environmental History as a Model of Eco-Criticism in Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl and Virgin Earth

Eco-criticism brings a change in literary studies by linking literary criticism and theory with the ecological issues at large. In fact, Eco-criticism proceeds a call to literature to connect to the issues of today’s environmental crisis. In other words, ecocriticism is instantly concerned with both nature and the environment. A new eco-literary discourse can statement nature's voice without permeating it with human primacy. As Hughes (2009) debates, even though eco-criticism has become a field in literary theory and in the extensive landscape of environmental history, it could benefit from an enhanced framework. Environmental History is relevant to numerous things, including the history of the mutual relations between the human race and remnants of nature. It studies the related effects that other types, natural powers, and sequences have on a human being, and the web of connections with non-human organisms and entities has been affected by the actions of individuals. This study attempts to analyze Philippa Gregory’s “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “Virgin Earth” based on the features of environmental history as a model of ecocriticism. In her novels, Gregory tries to define the true history and surroundings of the 16th and 18th centuries of Britain, particularly among the kings and queens who are seeking power even with the war. First, with the reference to the features of environmental history a model of analysis will be structured. Then, the analysis of Gregory’s selected novels based on these features will be indicated. Finally, the results of the analysis will be discussed to confirm how it can be implied as a novel’s approach to literary theory.