The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn)
by Philippa Gregory
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Book Reviews of The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn)
Book Review: Historical romance, not historical fiction
Summary: 2 Stars
I love historical fiction, especially when it pertains to medieval and renaissance England and Europe. So I was eager to read Gregory's novels. I liked The Other Boleyn Girl, tho I had quibbles about her characterizations of Anne and Mary; absolutely loved Queen's Fool, and was very disappointed in this one.
Except for Cecil, her long suffering advisor, none of the characters come with the complexity she gives those in her other novelsDudley comes off as a power hungry egotist. Elizabeth, the great queen for whom the Elizabethan Era was named, comes off as a bubble headed princess without a thought in her pretty head but to make love to Dudley, unable to see the consequences of her actions. She can't make decisions, she is constantly fearful, needs men to help her decide and then backs out of the decision - this is not the Elizabeth I have learned about. While reading, I kept thinking about the Eliz as portrayed in Black Adder part II....And Amy - dear lord, she is portrayed as such a simpering clingy shrew that you wonder that Dundley didn't try to kill her off earlier...And the plot - well, its really all about their romance. The historical events around them, the start of the 30 year religious war, the conflict between England and Scotland, the economy of the country is all simply background to their love affair.
She is a good story teller, and I was able to finish the book once I realized it was a romance, and not historical. But what a disappointment. I recently received her new book about Katharine of Aragon for Chanukah. Hopefully that one will redeem this one.
Book Review: Nothing like Gregory's other works
Summary: 1 Stars
Don't be fooled by the cover; this book is not written on the same level as the author's similarly covered books, "The Other Bolyn Girl" and "The Queen's Fool". She has dumbed down her writing style for this book, I can only assume on a dare, to the level of pulp romance. Maybe it was meant for a 5th grade age level? Maybe this is her way of getting back at an agent who urged her to write a more romantic book? The characters are totally one dimensional; no one has any personality or motives outside of a romance novel stereotype; Elizabeth is a "giggling" blushing dimwit who "giggles" to everyone in almost every piece of dialogue. There is no description of anything or anyone, outside of the ubiquitous word "pretty". The writing is loaded with cliches, and in fact "pretty" appears in virtually every paragraph. At one point, Cecil speaks "sweetly" to Roberty Dudley. Ooooo kay. The love scenes come right out of "Top 10 phrases for romance writing" checklists. Utterly boring at best, and cringeworthy at worst. Seriously, fans of Wideacre and other Gregory books will wonder what is up the minute they begin reading. There is an inexplicable "cameo" by "The Queen's Fool" protagonist Hannah Green that goes absolutely nowhere. it is hard to imagine that this is the same author who created multi-dimensional characters in her other books. I have no idea what happened, but the writing style is markedly different, and downright horrible. If you want a book about Elizabeth that gives a romantic liason with Dudley, try "I, Elizabeth" by Rosalind Miles but steer clear of this wholly uninspired, dumbed down book.Book Review: a worthy contribution to elizabethan fiction, and yet . . .
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Virgin's Lover," though an engaging read, somehow lacks the psychological depth of character and lush detail of time and setting that make so many other of Gregory's books virtually shimmer on the page. The story stands admirably on its own, but compare it to "Virgin Earth" or the Wideacre series and the characters appear no more than sketches, the backgrounds a cardboard cut-out. The most engaging character in "The Virgin's Lover" is, in fact, Elizabeth's advisor, William Cecil; his frustrations are somehow the most heartfelt, his thoughts the most interesting. Dudley's plottings never seem quite believably motivated, and Amy's desolation is repetitive rather than poignant. The story is worth reading in full, however, to watch Elizabeth turn from a frightened child into a glimmer of the hard-faced, imperial queen we know she will later become; her betrayal is dramatic, utterly absorbing, and completely believable. Perhaps the well-trodden ground of the Elizabethan era makes it difficult for even Gregory, an established queen of historical fiction, to bring her usual vigor to bear. Still, the prose of this book far outshines other lengthy Elizabeth-centric tomes such as Rosalind Miles's "I, Elizabeth," and fans of the period--or of "The Other Boleyn Girl"--will nonetheless enjoy Gregory's depiction. But for a real Gregory treat, once you've finished this one, clear your schedule for a few days and pick up "Earthly Joys" or "A Respectable Trade" and prepare to be transported. Or, if you prefer scheming women, go find "The Wise Woman" and prepare to have your toes thoroughly curled.Book Review: Gregory is a Born Storyteller
Summary: 5 Stars
Born in Kenya in 1954, Philippa Gregory moved to England with her family at the age of two and was educated in Bristol. Philippa now lives in the north of England with her husband and two children. She has written a number of highly acclaimed historical novels and her latest ones revolve around the rich tapestry provided by the Tudor period. I have not read all of the authors books but Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth were among the ones I have read and I found those two fascinating.
In the novel The Virgin's Lover the church bells have rung out across the land to let the people of England know that Elizabeth is queen. The people are happy to hear the news. There has been much unrest in the country since the death of Henry VIII. But one woman is not so pleased to hear the bells, Amy Dudley the wife of Sir Robert knows that once the queen is settled on her throne, Sir Robert will be called back to the intrigues of the Tudor Court. Amy's hopes that the Dudley families ambitions had died with the death of Robert's father, had ended. The bells were once more summoning her husband to the power struggles of the court.
Elizabeth has inherited a land in turmoil, close to rebellion and her chief advisor warns that she can only rule if she marries a strong prince, but the only man that Elizabeth is interested in is her childhood friend.
Robert Dudley is sure that he can make a name for himself and discover is destiny at the side of the queen and as their love for one another grows, Dudley begins to think that the impossible could happen . . .
Book Review: Who is the Elizabeth in this novel?
Summary: 2 Stars
The Elizabeth portrayed in this novel most certainly isn't the great Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabeth in this novel is whiny, weak, easily manipulated and cannot do her job if a man isn't by her side. Elizabeth couldn't even make up her mind until the end of the novel! I found myself constantly getting frusterated with not just Elizabeth-who-is-not-Queen Elizabeth I but every character in the novel. The only character I found likeable was poor old Cecil.
Also, the love story is a shaky, simpering mess. It wasn't the grand story of a queen who lays down her love of a man to rule a country. It was...well, I'm not exactly sure what it was. While Robert Dudley and Elizabeth constantly said "I love you" to each other, I wasn't really convinced that either party really knew what love was.
To give the author some credit, the story did initally draw me in. Robert Dudley's character was very layered and well drawn as was Cecil and Lettice Knollys. Phillipa Gregory also did her research well. I was impressed with her knowlege of the early Elizabethen court at the time (even if she did make some large fictional leaps). However, the farther I read the more bored and angry I became.
I think I would have liked this book more if my expectations hadn't been so high. After reading The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool and Earthly Joys, I was expecting something truly magnificent. Sadly, I was dissapointed. Please, do yourself a favor and read The Other Boleyn Girl instead. Or try Elizabeth I by Rosalind Miles.