The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn)
by Philippa Gregory
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Book Summary Information
Author: Philippa GregoryEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Deckle Edge
Published: 2004-11-16
ISBN: 0743256158
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: Touchstone
Book Reviews of The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn)
Book Review: Good as fiction, but disappointing as historical fiction.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a difficult book for me to assign a rating to. Most potential readers will already be at least somewhat familiar with the story of Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Robert Dudley, so I will not go into a detailed plot summary here. Suffice to say that "The Virgin's Lover" is a fictionalized account of this romance, depicting the love triangle between Elizabeth, Robert, and Robert's wife Amy. It was certainly interesting and kept me turning the pages. It is well written, and at the same time easy to read. The storyline works as far as its status as a novel goes. And as for being historical fiction, it is clear that Gregory did her research and did not alter any solid facts. Yet, at the same time, there are many things about "The Virgin's Lover" that rubbed me the wrong way.
There is no single clear protagonist. The omniscient narrator switches between the points of view of Amy Dudley, Robert Dudley, Elizabeth, and William Cecil. Since each of these four had personal interests and aspirations that conflicted with those of the others, it is impossible to root for any one of them above the rest. This is complicated even further by the fact that none of them are portrayed as being truly likeable. Certainly each had their faults in real life, but Gregory's depiction of them just didn't seem to fit the descriptions that I've read in various non-fiction accounts and, reading the story, I got the distinct feeling that I wouldn't want to be around any of these characters in real life.
Elizabeth is portrayed as wishy-washy and almost entirely dependent on the men around her. Certainly the real Elizabeth did owe a lot to her advisors, but she was also intelligent, strong-willed, and independent, none of which is evident in Gregory's Elizabeth. And certainly the real Elizabeth was very much in love with Lord Robert, but I just cannot believe that she simpered and deferred so completely to him as Gregory's Elizabeth does, allowing him to make nearly all her decisions for her and to act as her husband and superior in all but name. The real Elizabeth would never have jeopardized her crown by being as excessively foolish as this fictional Elizabeth proves to be. I also don't believe that she would have knowingly condoned the murder of Amy Dudley, especially considering how long it took and how agonizing it was for the real Elizabeth to finally order the execution of her cousin and rival monarch, Mary, Queen of Scots, who plotted against her life. If Amy was indeed murdered, it is almost impossible for me to believe that it was with Elizabeth's knowledge and, much less, approval.
Robert Dudley is also painted most unflatteringly. The real Dudley was undoubtedly ambitious, but at many points in this fictionalized account it seems to be implied that he covets the crown of England above all else, and that he is merely using Elizabeth as a tool. The relationship between himself and Elizabeth, in this book, boils down almost entirely to a combination of intense physical lust and Dudley's desire to be King of England. Gregory's Dudley often treats Elizabeth with behavior absolutely unfitting to be shown toward a Queen and, what's worse, she takes it without complaint! Dudley is also so exceedingly cruel to his wife that it is nearly impossible to feel any compassion for him, despite the fact that Gregory seems to intend for the reader to do so.
And while it is easier to empathize with Amy Dudley than with her husband, she also proves to be a character without many admirable traits. She is a victim of her husband's cruelty, to be sure, but she does little to recommend herself. She is weak, naive, childish, stubborn, and lacking in common sense. She is not very in tune with her husband's moods and tastes, and so it is not very surprising that he gets frustrated and angry with her as often as he does. I also have a hard time swallowing Gregory's theory on the manner of Amy's death. Of course we cannot know for sure what happened, since the mystery was never solved, but it's difficult for me to believe that Elizabeth okayed her assassination as a means to weaken Lord Robert's position.
The flip side of all this, however, is that if this book were purely a work of fiction, and not based on real historical people and events, I would probably give it a rating of four. It truly is a captivating story, and well told. If you are not a stickler for accuracy, this is a highly enjoyable novel. Gregory's theory on Amy's death does indeed make a great conspiracy story, and the love triangle between Elizabeth, Robert, and Amy as presented here makes a great romantic tragedy. It might have been more effective if Gregory had altered the story and characters to make them entirely fictional, as it is only the constant comparison by the reader with actual historical events that undermines Gregory's great writing. And the writing is great, captivating the reader and creating tension and intrigue between the characters.
I purchased this book for two reasons. First, I had previously read Gregory's novel "The Other Boleyn Girl" and enjoyed it immensely. It is not perfect, historically, either, but I found it much more plausible than "The Virgin's Lover." And secondly, I have always been fascinated with Queen Elizabeth I, and the idea of a fictionalized interpretation of her early life and relationship with Robert Dudley intrigued me. While the writing here was just as good as in "The Other Boleyn Girl," the characterization of the main players was disappointing. I would still recommend "The Virgin's Lover," but with reservations. Your enjoyment will depend on the degree to which you demand historical accuracy. I view "The Other Boleyn Girl" as a better book, and would recommend it more highly than this one.
Summary of The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn)
In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen. One woman hears the tidings with utter dread. She is Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert, and she knows that Elizabeth's ambitious leap to the throne will pull her husband back to the very center of the glamorous Tudor court, where he was born to be. Amy had hoped that the merciless ambitions of the Dudley family had died on Tower Green when Robert's father was beheaded and his sons shamed; but the peal of bells she hears is his summons once more to power, intrigue, and a passionate love affair with the young queen. Can Amy's steadfast faith in him, her constant love, and the home she wants to make for them in the heart of the English countryside compete with the allure of the new queen?Elizabeth's excited triumph is short-lived. She has inherited a bankrupt country, riven by enmity, where treason is normal and foreign war a certainty. Her faithful advisor William Cecil warns her that she will survive only if she marries a strong prince to govern the rebellious country, but the one man Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, the irresistible, ambitious Robert Dudley.
Robert revels in the opportunities of the new reign. The son of an aristocratic family brought up in palaces as the equal of his royal playmates, Robert knows he can reclaim his destiny at Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth cannot resist his courtship, and as the young couple slowly falls in love, Robert starts to think the impossible: can he set aside his wife and marry the young queen?
Philippa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover answers the question about an unsolved crime that has fascinated detectives and historians for centuries. Philippa Gregory uses documents and evidence from the Tudor era and, with almost magical insight into the desires of Robert Dudley and his lovers, paints a picture of a country on the brink of greatness, a young woman grasping at her power, a young man whose ambition is greater than his means, and the wife who cannot forgive them.
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