The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Boleyn)
by Philippa Gregory
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Book Reviews of The Queen's Fool: A Novel (Boleyn)
Book Review: Three Masters
Summary: 5 Stars
Love and betrayal follow this book into one of the most dazzling, dangerous, and chaotic courts of Europe in the 1500's: the Tudor court of England. We follow Hannah Green, a young Spanish girl who is Jewish but pretending to be Christian, to the side of young King Edward, Queen Mary, and ultimately Elizabeth. Hannah Verde (or Green) has fled the Inquisition with her father because her mother was unfortunate enough to be burned at the stake. But, nothing has prepared Hannah for the life that she will lead in England. From the moment she lays eyes on Robert Dudley (son of the most powerful man in England,) she is smitten. Hannah is no ordinary girl though, and this is the most interesting part of the author's writing style. All of the historical facts given to tell the story are told through Hannah's gift, the Sight. This is the gift that gives the remarkable ability to be able to see into the future, and all of her predictions do come to pass. This is what catches the eye of young Lord Robert and brings her to court. She had seen an angel behind him and from here on she would become a fool to the young king, and later on become a priceless companion and holy seer to the Queen Mary, and dear friend to Queen Elizabeth.
Although the book is fictional many of the events that go on throughout the story really did occur. I loved the author's poetic way of expressing Hannah's feelings while combining them with historical accuracy all in one. One of my favorite visions that Hannah had was when she predicts the fate of both Mary and her sister Elizabeth. The words that the author uses while the Sight speaks through Hannah are both vivid and touching.
The main character Hannah is extremely complex which is what I love about this book. She is torn between love and loyalty. She is in love with Robert Dudley, she loves and is loyal to the queen, and like everyone else, she is drawn to the Princess Elizabeth. One of the interesting things about this book though, is that Mary was made to look like a martyr and a completely misunderstood woman, whereas Elizabeth is shown for cruel and selfish side and ambition that got her to the throne.
Another excellent quality of this book is that it shows what went on during the reigns of Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth outside of court life. In fact, we even learn of life in Calais, a city in Europe owned by the English. Besides having a life at court, Hannah is also betrothed to young man called David whom she loves dearly. He is pressing her to leave court because the Inquisition is now in Catholic England, and they are both Jewish. But once again, although Hannah loves Daniel a lot, she loves the Queen Mary and is very loyal to her, so she cannot leave her.
Hannah does end up having to leave to Calais, but soon returns to England and her dear Queen Mary. This was the rather exciting part of the novel and it takes place in Calais. It is here that we witness the war that Phillip of Spain dragged England into and drained her treasury with. It was rather fascinating seeing as how Philippa Gregory is very vivid and descriptive with her words.
This book was very enjoyable to read and rather touching. It had something for everyone. It is highly recommended for those interested in the Tudor Era or the lives of English people in the 1500's. Philippa Gregory is an excellent author and I highly recommend any of her books, and especially this one.
Book Review: Gloomy
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Philippa Gregory's books, especially about the Tudor era. This one slides over into the relentlessly gloomy. It was a perilous time for high and low, Catholic or Protestant by turns; but the heroine's thoughts never stray from the imminent possibility of death because she is a "converted" Jew, although she gains a privileged position with both of Henry the VIII's daughters at court. Likewise both Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth dwell nearly every waking moment on the possibility they will be either overthrown and put to death or put to death for treason. Yes, but there had to be more to these women. Mary enjoys brief happiness on her marriage, soon dashed. Elizabeth shakes in her boots virtually all the time. Elizabeth was a brilliant woman, considered to have the genius IQ her father, Henry, is also deemed to have had. Yet Gregory has Mary accuse her of being a bastard by a lute player, which has to be taken as Mary's hatred and paranoia. Elizabeth had too many traits in common with her royal father for anyone to believe this slur was anything but a false accusation used to send Anne Boleyn to the block. Gregory does like to revise general views of historical characters, and portrayed Anne Boleyn as a raving shrew in THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, with Katherine of Aragon rightly the victim she was. Anne Boleyn was calculating and selfish, but lost her head because she didn't bear Henry a son. However, I see a pattern emerging of soft-pedaling of the excesses of the old Catholic order and the Inquisition, while the Protestant monarchy that prevailed is denigrated by unpleasant accusations about Elizabeth, and there is inexcusable downplaying of Bloody Mary's campaign of mass murder of suspected Protestants by burning at the stake. Much blood was spilled before Mary, with priests and Catholics true to their faith masquerading and in hiding; but Elizabeth did not start burning Catholics when she took the throne. That she was a callous seductress even at age 14, rather than an awakening teenaged girl chased and perhaps seduced by Thomas Seymour, is ludicrous. Supposedly she even--gasp--swung her hips when she walked to seduce Mary's husband, Phillip. That doesn't play for me. It was a tightrope she walked, not instead her wicked nature to be a tease. She probably wasn't a virgin queen, only an unmarried one; but I think Gregory tries too hard to paint her as less sympathetic than Mary, when Mary was a woman almost addled on the subject of religion and devoid of conscience at what she did. Not that a lot of people weren't then, and still are now--witness Northern Ireland and the Islamic terrorists who bomb innocents in the name of their religion. I have to confess much as I love historical fiction, and know religious fanaticism played a threatening role in that world, I am getting bored with characters who natter on about it all the time. I disliked much about THE BIRTH OF VENUS by Sarah Dunant for this reason--I want a human story to dominate in a novel, not constant thoughts of saints or what is the correct route to heaven. Hannah Verde is the protagonist, yet she is dwarfed by the events portrayed; and there were contrived events that conveniently sent her back to England when she escaped that clunked in the plot. This isn't like Philippa Gregory, not the writer I've admired. I now hesitate to read on in her Tudor series.Book Review: A fool caught in the crux of history
Summary: 4 Stars
Gregory is well acquainted with the behind-the-scenes machinations of the English royal court of 1553; in this instance, the author addresses the rivalry between Mary and Elizabeth, daughters of Henry VIII, heirs to Henry's throne after his male heir, King Edward, dies. Here the author adds a unique character, a young converso (a Jewish convert to the Christian faith) gifted with the "Sight", Hannah Green. Using the Queen's fool as a vehicle for the story serves two purposes: the author is able to delve into the complex relationship between the royal sisters, especially during this most difficult period of their relationship, also illustrating the harried lives of the Jews during years of intense religious persecution.Hiding behind a Christian façade, Hannah is adept at concealing her religion and the traditional practices that continue in spite of persecution. Hannah is betrothed, but helplessly drawn to the royal court, in thrall to the pure-hearted Mary and the clever Elizabeth. Her gift of sight has compelled Hannah to stay at court to ease Mary's journey through a difficult reign.
The virulently Catholic, half-Spanish daughter of Catherine of Aragon, Mary is determined, almost beyond reason, to restore her English subjects to the true religion of her mother. At the same time, Elizabeth, daughter of the beheaded Anne Boleyn, incessantly plots to usurp Mary's throne. Mary has devoted herself to the well being of her younger half-sister, but now they are thrown into an adversarial situation, each fighting to control of the spiritual future of England. Queen Mary's marriage contract with King Phillip of Spain causes turmoil in the kingdom, her loyal citizens unwilling to be ruled by a Spanish King. Once married, the royal couple brings the scourge of the Inquisition to England, but it is Mary's inability to bear a child that threatens her hold on the throne.
Hannah has come to the royal court as a "wise" fool, but also as a spy for Sir Robert Dudley, an avowed traitor, who plots assiduously for Elizabeth's accession to the throne. It is Hannah's misfortune to fall hopelessly in love with the handsome Dudley, unable to refuse his bidding for all her years at court. Her senses permeated by the smell of burning flesh and the desperate flight from Spain, Hannah is in an untenable situation, living in constant terror. Her allegiance to Mary unassailable, Hannah refuses to abandon the suffering Queen, as Elizabeth's following grows daily, supported by Dudley. Hannah's challenge is whether to return to her family and marry or live at risk in Mary's court. Her decision puts her whole family in jeopardy as the flames of religious fervor burn brightly.
In this cleverly crafted scenario, Mary and Elizabeth wrestle for England, in the great clash of religious beliefs begun by Henry's break with Rome. The Catholic Queen and the Protestant Princess, cast in much the same roles as Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, are equally obsessed. In a new twist to a familiar saga, Mary teeters precariously on the throne, Elizabeth schemes with Dudley and Hannah remains torn by her allegiance to both. The daughters of the infamous Henry VIII battle for ascendancy, silhouetted against religious persecution and the terrible shadow of the Inquisition. Luan Gaines/2004.
Book Review: The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
Summary: 5 Stars
At the time of the dreaded Inquisition in Spain, Hannah Verde(Green) escapes from with her father, Oliver, a printer and bookseller, and they settle in London, England and set up a small shop. They were of Jewish faith, but after Hannah's mother was burned at the stake for heresy, they openly worshipped as Christians, but practiced their faith in secret. In order to protect his daughter, Oliver had her dress as a boy and work as his assistant.
Robert Dudley and his tutor, John Dee, come to Oliver's shop for books and believe that Hannah has "the Sight" because as they enter the shop she see a third person dressed all in white. This person does not exist.
At this time, the mid fifteen hundreds, England's King was Edward VI, the only legitimate son of Henry VIII. However, Edward was young and sickly, and the country was actually being run by his counselors and so-called protectors, the principle of whom was Robert Dudley's father. Robert secures a position for Hannah (as a boy) to become what he describes as "a holy fool" to young King Edward. Thus Hannah is introduced to court life. In the meantime, her father has bethrothed her to a young Jewish man named Daniel Carpenter, who is studying to become a doctor.
When Edward dies, his half-sister, Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, is declared to be Queen because on his death bed, Edward is forced to name her in his will as his heir. Mary, like her mother is a strict Catholic, and begins to change over the country from being Protestant to Catholic. Fearing for their lives, Hannah's father and Daniel leave and go to Calais, France.Calais at this time was under English rule. They beg Hannah to go with them, but she has become the Queen's fool and is very involved in court affairs.She also is very fond of Mary and feels she cannot leave her. There are many who plot to get rid of the Queen and place her half-sister, Elizabeth (daughter of Anne Boleyn) on the throne. At one point, Hannah is sent by Queen Mary, to spy on Elizabeth, but Hannah also becomes close to the young woman who declares she is innocent of any plots.
When Queen Mary begins tortures of all who will not turn to the Catholic faith, Hannah flees to Calais and there she marries Daniel. She finds out that he has had an affair and has fathered a son, and she leaves him. Calais is invaded and reclaimed by the French. Hannah escapes with the help of Robert Dudley who has led the English to try to retain Calais. As she is leaving, the mother of Daniel's child has been wounded and she gives her son to Hannah, who, when she reaches England again, claims as her own. She again comes under the protection of Robert Dudley and then returns to service with Queen Mary who is very ill. When Queen Mary dies, Hannah returns with Daniel's son and finds her husband. She has discovered that she truly loves him and agrees to live as his wife and accept wholeheartedly, the Jewish faith.
Like all of Philippa Gregory's books, a facinating tale is woven around true historical facts. Historical novels are among my favorites and it is my opinion that Philippa Gregory is one of the best writers of this type of literature. Alma Winters, Author, Once Upon a Time Tales
Book Review: Intrigue in the Tudor Courts
Summary: 4 Stars
With just a little too much romance to be historical novels and far too much history to be romance novels, Philippa Gregory defies categories in her two immensely readable and wonderfully informative stories of 16th century England: "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Queen's Fool." That she is able to saturate her novels with history is less surprising when one realizes that she has a history degree from the University of Sussex and a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh, but that she is able to bring history to life with such apparent ease and without breaking the rhythm of her narrative is most impressive.Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister, narrates the first, chronologically, of these two books: "The Other Boleyn Girl." She is Henry VIII's mistress and bears him two children before her more famous sister, Anne, usurps her place. Historically, that is fact, at least the first part is. Whether Anne actually connived to unseat her sister is less clear, though Gregory certainly gives a convincing case of "what-if?" Beginning with Henry's attentions to Mary, the story continues through a rumble of bedding, wedding, and ultimately Anne's beheading. Along the way Gregory paints a picture of a court in which everyone must look over his shoulder constantly, marriages are made for convenience and political alliances, and men, whether father, brother or husband, control women and use them as pawns in a risky game of power. One sister resists, the other cooperates. From the beginning, Gregory paints a picture of sisterly rivalry weighed against sisterly love. Ultimately, sisterly love wins, though the rivalry proves Anne's undoing.
Gregory continues the two themes of sisterly love and rivalry and women obeying (or not obeying, as the case may be) men in "The Queen's Fool." With the rivalry, and sometimes love, between Henry's two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth as historical background, Gregory tells the story of Hannah Green, a Jewish refuge from the Spanish Inquisition who, after seeing her mother burned at the stake, flees with her father to England where he sets up shop as a bookseller. Hannah, who narrates the tale, has the gift of "sight", that is, she has visions that come unbidden and reveal the future to her. It is one of those visions that, early in the story, lands her in court during the short reign of Edward VI and, after his death, leaves her as a pawn batted back and forth between Mary and Elizabeth. Hannah has the ability to see the best in both and, as much as possible, is loyal to both, no mean feat given that each princess see herself as destined for the throne of England. To complicate matters, Hannah is betrothed to another Jewish refuge, who like her, must keep his ancestry a secret. She is torn between her desire for independence and her passion for her intended husband. How she eventually reconciles the two is the meat of the novel.
Gregory's narrative is engrossing, her conversations engaging. Among her previous fourteen books is a trilogy that includes "Wideacre", "The Favored Child" and "Meridon." Dare we hope that she will follow "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Queen's Fool" with a third partner, focusing on Elizabeth?