Search - The Virgin's Lover

A very different picture of Amy Dudley than was in the Queen's Fool. Also a very different picture of Queen Elizabeth than most biographies would show. Even so, this was a very enjoyable read and follows right along with Ms. Gregory's historical novels.

I probably should've read the "prequel", The Queen's Fool, prior to reading this since there were lots of references made. I couldn't really get into this book because quite frankly, the two main women, Elizabeth and Amy Dudley, annoyed me to no end. The book started to read as a broken record esp. with Elizabeth's dialog. Started to pick up at the end, though, as we read more into foreign policy and negotiation (well, I find that stuff interesting). The historic note at the end is really thought provoking.

As always, Philippa Gregory does an oustanding job of showing strengths and weaknesses of the historical characters that, heretofore, one has not seen. I love that she does such a thorough job of researching the individuals, and yet, is able to approach the stories in such a novel light.

My first Gregory. Enjoyed it very much and it has led to the others...

I've always heard good things about Gregory's books. This was my 1st one and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. It was not a bad story, per se, but not the great story that I was expecting.

I was disappointed in the way Queen Elizabeth was portrayed. Gregory shows Elizabeth as an almost weak-willed, indecisive woman ruled by her love of a person she knows she can not not have. She can not make a firm decision about war with France. She's left scandal about her and Dudley to run amok, let her attention stray from matters of state and her safety, since early in her reign it was anything but secure, all for her love of Dudley.. except when Dudley is ready to be her King and not King-Consort, as Phillip was for Queen Mary. And then she was ready to scheme with Cecil to remove him as a love interest and remove any hope Dudley has of becoming her husband and King of England. The switch was too sudden for my taste. In a night's time, she is gone from not being able to function without Dudley to being able to put him aside.

Also, from the jacket cover, the story outline leads you to believe this book is about the issue of Amy's death and the impact it had on the Queen and her court, especially Dudley. This is not even really touched on. Amy didn't die until almost at the very end of the book (her death was on page 410 of about 438 pages of actual story material). The scandal of her death and Elizabeth and Cecil's seemingly forehand knowledge is barely mentioned. As a book that takes place during a period of history that I find very fascinating, I have to say it was not nearly as good as I would have hoped and didn't really explore the aftermath of the scandal in the depth I thought it would.

This is my first Phillipa Gregory novel and I enjoyed it. She interwines history, suspense, romance, and politics very well. I would recommend this book but I think the blurb at the back of the book is deceiving. It says "When Amy is found dead, Elizabeth and Dudley are suddenly plunged into a struggle for survival." Amy's death happens very late in the book, perhaps with less than 100 pages to go so the conflict between Dudley and Queen Elizabeth ends quite swiftly.

One of Gregory's best. If you love Queen Elizabeth, you'll enjoy this saucy romp.

I truly truly loved this book, very well written and very enjoyable to read!

Philippa Gregory is a master at historical fiction from the Henry XIII era. The Virgin's Lover is not quite as good as the Other Boleyn Girl, but is worth the read. I recommend you read the Other Boleyn before the movie comes out this summer!

The story of England under the Tudors is fascinating, complex and confusing. The Virgin's Lover takes the story of young Queen Elizabeth I and untangles much of the web. It is the story of her relationship with Robert Dudley and all the intricate twists.

Another good P. Gregory book. The story revolved around Robert Dudley (same character from The Queen's Fool) and his love affair with Queen Elizabeth. I found Elizabeth to be more whimpy then I expected. Besot over Dudley, she seemed not to be the woman that we saw glimpses of in the other P. Gregory books leading up to this one. But P. Gregory did great with Amy's character, she made you want Amy, Dudley's wife, to triumph.

Of the books I've read in the series so far, this is my least favorite. It is more of a romance than a history, but it is good to read if you want to round out the series. Elizabeth, of course, is awe-inspiring. To read the series in chronological order, read as follows: TCP, TOBG, TBI, TQF, TVL, and TOQ (The Other Queen will be available in September, 2008).

This is my second Gregory and while this one is not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl, it is still very good. It covers a lot more of the political side than TOBG does, so if you are interested in that aspect, you will enjoy this. The story is intriguing and the last 200 pages or so are very gripping. The characterization of the three main characters leaves a little to be desired though. This is defintely one of those that you would have to read for youself to judge for yourself. I can't really say that you will either love it or hate it, but it will definitely make you think.

I couldn't get into this one. Really enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl but gave up on this one a third of the way through.

I love Philippa Gregory, but this was one of my least favorites. Could be the abundance of Elizabeth I books/movies now. Entertaining, but forgettable.

I suppose that I read this book with great bias because I love history, and I love any story dealing with Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. I could not put this book down. Philippa Gregory's story is well researched and paints a very colorful picture of life in the court of the young Queen and her struggle to gather respect and maintain power. I absolutely loved it! Genny

Great book if you like historical fiction. I typically don't like pre 1970 fiction but Philippa Gregory is an exceptional writer. A quick read but you might need a dictionary to understand some of the 16th century vocabulary that isn't in use today.

I love Philippa Gregory, but this one was my leat favorite of all the ones I have read so far.

wonderful reading. I couldn't put it down.

Another great read by Philippa Gregory! I suggest reading "Queen's Fool" prior to this book.