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She definitely can build a suspense and make the reader believe that they are actually included in the thinking processes of the mightiest people in England. Deciding to read all of Gregory's Tudor works in chronological order, I have arrived at "The Virgin's Lover", the novel of Elizabeth I's first two years as the Queen of England, as seen through the eyes of the two most important men in Elizabeth's life at the time: Robert Dudley and William Cecil. Also, I loved Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl", as well as her "The Constant Princess". The fact that the novel reads as a romance novel more than anything else is a matter of taste for individual readers, a matter that did not particularly appeal to me personally. And while there is very little doubt that there was some sort of intimate relationship between Elizabeth and Dudley, Gregory's assertion of a full-blown relationship and almost marriage, prevented only by William Cecil, is a bit far-fetched. Good narration loosely relying on history makes the novel entertaining.
At 25 years of age, Elizabeth was vibrant and full of life, her very existence a promise of a better future for England. At the time of her death Mary I was widely disliked, largely because of her husband, King Philip II of Spain, but also because of religious persecutions and wars that almost bankrupted the treasury of England. As a single, young woman, Elizabeth was not secure on her throne, making marriage the top priority for Elizabeth's advisors.Being painfully aware of her own mother's demise, as well as having had suspect encounters with married men in her life, the most famous being Thomas Seymour and King Philip II, Elizabeth was more than suspicious of marriage. Her favorite at court, Robert Dudley, Master of Horse and Elizabeth's confidant, was also married. As stated in my other reviews of Philippa Gregory's books, I am fascinated with the Tudor period. Robert Dudley, widely thought to be the best looking man in England at the time, indeed ambitious and calculated, sees Elizabeth as his ticket to Kingdom and power."The Virgin's Lover" reads more like a Tudor-time romance novel involving the Queen of England herself than a novel of historical fiction. While I know that Gregory emphasized the fact that this novel is a work of fiction, I am still disenchanted by this description of Elizabeth.
Gregory's elaboration of Amy Dudley's death was actually pretty good. The death of Lady Dudley is still a mystery for the historians.Philippa Gregory is very good with narratives and character development. While there is no doubt that Elizabeth was some of these things, Gregory's novel portrays this queen as none of the good things that she undoubtedly was. Gregory throws in the view of Robert Dudley's wife, Amy Dudley, into the equation as well.Elizabeth I came to the throne of England upon the death of her sister Mary, in November 1558. Gregory does stretch her fictional license by describing Elizabeth I in terms that are utterly unflattering to this great monarch.
A master of flirtation and vacillating between marriage and single life, Elizabeth bade her time while trying to secure the country.Gregory's version of Elizabeth I is that of a young woman uncertain of anything in her life: cowardly, adulterous, unscrupulous, selfish, fickle, calculated and capricious. In "The Virgin's Lover" we see Amy Dudley's suffering as her husband Robert, driven by ambition, all but abandons Amy in favor of Elizabeth and the court. The novel, however, is very easy to read, even if one disagrees with Gregory.All in all, "The Virgin's Lover" is a well-written novel about the first years of the reign of Elizabeth I; a novel concentrating on Robert Dudley's attempt to sway the Queen into marrying him. Recommended with caution.
A good read, would give three and a half stars.not as good as "The Other Boleyn" though, which I thought was amazing.
If you're looking for thematic undertones and hidden meanings, you're sure to find it. The Virgin's Lover picks up right where The Queen's Fool leaves off and describes the infamous Queen Elizabeth I's rise to power, early reign, and love affair with her Master of Horse Sir Robert Dudley. The reader will quickly fall in love with Queen Elizabeth and with Philippa Gregory's writing.Fantastic love story that has meaning and implications that run deep throughout Philippa Gregory's words. If you' don't care for that stuff, it's still a great love story.I would read The Queen's Fool first. provides some context.
Listening to Amy whine was just one of the barbs that annoyed me beyond measure. The Virgins Lover was to me the same rehashing of one of the best known assumed romances. The same enamoring story just was not there for me with The Virgins Lover.The prose itself was not the problem for as far as writing style it is the same style I have come to appreciate with Phillipa Gregory, but the story itself was lacking. I was however a little disappointed in this book. As my yearly renaissance festival rolls closer I decided to embroil myself for a little bit into the time period by reading The Virgins Lover by Phillipa Gregory. They can't all be winners after all. But I was a bit disappointed. Though on the flip side, he should have been a better husband without a doubt.The story of Robert Dudley and Elizabeth is not a new one, but I had hoped for some excitement from one of my favorite historical authors.
So as much as I love Phillipa to me this is one to skip. But when one married a man in such a time you had to expect some of the things that would be happening. I have been a big fan of her stories, and am always happy to read a tale as told by her. It was a dragging read for me. Now I can understand her pain, and believe me I do. Her husband was almost killed, she should have been happy he was not. But it won't stop me from continuing to read her works.
I got lost in discussions about French, Scottish and English alliances--it turned into a history lesson. In Philippa's other books, I've become attached to at least one character, and can't wait to find out what happens to them.
The good news is there is a twist at the end. The bad news is, it's pretty slow before that.
I wanted to finish the series, so I forced myself to finish this one. Without all the twist and turns of her other books with a large cast of characters, there isn't much intrigue here.
I'm guessing Philippa was trying to cover the whole era, and this part is a yawner. There is really only 2 main characters, with three minor characters.
I didn't have any favorites here. You could probably skip this one without losing your place in the series.
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