The Virgin's Lover

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Overview

Autumn 1558

All the bells in Norfolk were ringing for Elizabeth, pounding the peal into Amy's head, first the treble bell screaming out like a mad woman, and then the whole agonizing, jangling sob till the great bell boomed a warning that the whole discordant carillon was about to shriek out again. She pulled the pillow over her head to shut out the sound, and yet still it went on, until the rooks abandoned their nests and went streaming into the skies, tossing and turning in the wind like a banner of ill omen, and the bats left the belfry like a plume of black smoke as if to say that the world was upside down now, and day should be forever night.

Amy did not need to ask what the racket was for; she already knew. At last, poor sick Queen Mary had died, and Princess Elizabeth was the uncontested heir. Praise be. Everyone in England should rejoice. The Protestant princess had come to the throne and would be England's queen. All over the country people would be ringing bells for joy, striking kegs of ale, dancing in the streets, and throwing open prison doors. The English had their Elizabeth at last, and the fear-filled days of Mary Tudor could be forgotten. Everyone in England was celebrating.

Everyone but Amy.

The peals, pounding Amy into wakefulness, did not bring her to joy. Amy, alone in all of England, could not celebrate Elizabeth's upward leap to the throne. The chimes did not even sound on key, they sounded like the beat of jealousy, the scream of rage, the sobbing shout of a deserted woman.

"God strike her dead," she swore into her pillow as her head rang with the pound of Elizabeth's bells. "God strike her down in her youth and herpride and her beauty. God blast her looks, and thin her hair, and rot her teeth, and let her die lonely and alone. Deserted, like me."

Amy had no word from her absent husband: she did not expect one. Another day went by and then it was a week. Amy guessed that he would have ridden at breakneck pace to Hatfield Palace from London at the first news that Queen Mary was dead. He would have been the first, as he had planned, the very first to kneel before the princess and tell her she was queen.

Amy guessed that Elizabeth would already have a speech prepared, some practiced pose to strike, and for his part Robert would already have his reward in mind. Perhaps even now he was celebrating his own rise to greatness as the princess celebrated hers. Amy, walking down to the river to fetch in the cows for milking because the lad was sick and they were shorthanded at Stanfield Hall, her family's farm, stopped to stare at the brown leaves unraveling from an oak tree and whirling like a snowstorm, southwest to Hatfield where her husband had blown, like the wind itself, to Elizabeth.

She knew that she should be glad that a queen had come to the throne who would favor him. She knew she should be glad for her family, whose wealth and position would rise with Robert's. She knew that she should be glad to be Lady Dudley once more: restored to her lands, given a place at court, perhaps even made a countess.

But she was not. She would rather have had him at her side as an attainted traitor, with her in the drudgery of the day and in the warm silence of the night; anything rather than than ennobled as the handsome favorite at another woman's court. She knew from this that she was a jealous wife; and jealousy was a sin in the eyes of God.

She put her head down and trudged on to the meadows where the cows grazed on the thin grass, churning up sepia earth and flints beneath their clumsy hooves.

How could we end up like this? she whispered to the stormy sky piling up a brooding castle of clouds over Norfolk. Since I love him so much, and since he loves me? Since there is no one for us but each other? How could he leave me to struggle here, and dash off to her? How could it start so well, in such wealth and glory as it did, and end in hardship and loneliness like this?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Gregory captivates again with this expertly crafted historical about the beautiful young Virgin Queen, portrayed as a narcissistic, neurotic home-wrecker. As in her previous novels about Tudor England (The Queen's Fool, etc.), Gregory amasses a wealth of colorful period detail to depict the shaky first days of Elizabeth I's reign. The year is 1558, an especially dangerous time for the nation: no bishop will coronate Henry VIII's Protestant daughter, the treasury is bankrupt, the army is unpaid and demoralized. Meanwhile, the French are occupying Scotland and threatening to install "that woman"-Mary, Queen of Scots-on the throne. Ignoring the matrimonial advice of pragmatic Secretary of State William Cecil, the 25-year-old Elizabeth persists in stringing along Europe's most eligible bachelors, including King Philip of Spain and the Hapsburg archduke Ferdinand. It's no secret why: she's fallen for her "dark, saturnine" master of horse, Sir Robert Dudley, whose traitorous family history and marriage to the privately Catholic Amy make him an unsuitable consort. Gregory deftly depicts this love triangle as both larger than life and all too familiar; all three characters are sympathetic without being likable, particularly the arch-mistress Elizabeth, who pouts, throws tantrums, connives and betrays with queenly impunity. After a while the plot stagnates, as the lovers flaunt their emotions in the face of repetitious arguments from Amy, Cecil and various other scandalized members of the court. But readers addicted to Gregory's intelligent, well-researched tales of intrigue and romance will be enthralled, right down to the teasingly tragic ending. Agent, Melanie Jackson. (Nov.) Forecast: The first hardcover in her series about Tudor England, this should prove Gregory's enduring appeal with a run on the lists. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Following the success of her best seller, The Queen's Fool, Gregory brings us another emotionally charged fictional account of the lives of the Tudors. This time we are drawn into the love triangle among the newly crowned Elizabeth I; her lover, Robert Dudley; and his wife, Amy Robsart Dudley. The charismatic Dudley pursues Elizabeth and her crown, and it is all too easy for lonely Elizabeth to fall madly in love with him. Meanwhile, Amy is shuttled from one house to the next and waits for the day that Robert will allow her to have a home and family of her own. As the affair between Elizabeth and Dudley becomes more obvious and scandalous at court, Amy suffers from the gossip that her husband has abandoned her. The insight into Amy Dudley's life brings a new perspective to this already captivating story. Gregory weaves an engrossing tale of passion, love, and betrayal, where the very fate of Elizabeth's reign and the Kingdom of England hangs in the balance. Recommended as a first choice. Anna M. Nelson, Seabrook Lib., NH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780743269261
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication date: 8/30/2005
Pages: 464
Sales rank: 104,127
Series: Philippa Gregory Tudor Series , #5
Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 7.90 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl. She studied history at the University of Sussex and received a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. Visit her website at PhilippaGregory.com.

Biography

Philippa Gregory, author of the bestselling Wideacre trilogy and other celebrated historical novels, holds a B.A. in history and a Ph.D. in 18th-century literature. In her youth, however, the meticulous writer-researcher almost skipped going to university (she was, as she put it, "a bit of a rebel at school"). When she finally did enroll at Sussex University, she took a course taught by the historian Maurice Hutt, and the rest is -- what else? -- history.

"It was such a powerful experience that, really, it transformed my life," she explained in an interview with The Guardian. "I was looking for something that would explain everything -- I was that kind of earnest young woman! -- and history seemed to be able to do that."

Gregory earned her degree from Sussex, then traveled to Edinburgh to research 18th-century popular novels. The research spawned both a Ph.D. thesis and Gregory's first novel, Wideacre, which was a New York Times bestseller. It came, Gregory pointed out in a Barnes and Noble interview, "at a time when people wanted a new sort of historical fiction: more realistic, more radical, more sexy, and harder edged. That's how I see the world, so I never wrote for a market, I always wrote to reflect my own view of the period, and it has been phenomenally successful."

After extending Wideacre into a trilogy, Gregory continued to write fiction, delving into 16th-century witchcraft , 17th-century political turmoil, and 18th-century slave trading, as well as exploring contemporary life.

But while Gregory -- in her own view and in the views of many critics -- continued to improve as a writer, none of her books matched the popular success of Wideacre until she wrote The Other Boleyn Girl, a provocative tale of sexual politics in the court of Henry VIII, and The Queen's Fool, the story of a 14-year-old Jewish girl brought to the court of Queen Mary. Both novels became bestsellers and widely acclaimed storytelling tour de forces.

Gregory continues to mine the territory of Tudor England for stories -- and she continues with her historical research, building up an ever more dazzling, daring and complete picture of the period. "Accuracy is very important to me because I have a total commitment to history," Gregory told The Guardian. "It answered my deepest questions, of which, I suppose, the most profound is: ‘Why am I here?' Understanding your history can tell you that. It's how I understand who I am and where I came from. I would never lie to anyone about history."

Good To Know

I love reading and I love thinking -- the reason that I love my books so much is that in order to write them I have to read and to think for years at a time about the same period of time. By the time I settle down to write I have to know fairly intensely about the characters, the period, and the issues. I always get interested in some of the side issues -- like the currency or the change of agriculture.

I have a great passion for the countryside and I can't be happy unless I am walking in the country or riding once or twice a week. When we go on author tour my husband always makes sure that we have walking breaks to keep me sane!

1. Hometown:
  
  Yorkshire, England
1. Date of Birth:
  
  January 9, 1954
2. Place of Birth:
  
  Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa
1. Education:
  
  B.A. in history, Sussex University, 1982; Ph.D., 18th-century popular fiction, Edinburgh, 1984
2. Website:
  
  http://www.PhilippaGregory.com

Read an Excerpt

Autumn 1558

Everyone but Amy.

"God strike her dead," she swore into her pillow as her head rang with the pound of Elizabeth's bells. "God strike her down in her youth and her pride and her beauty. God blast her looks, and thin her hair, and rot her teeth, and let her die lonely and alone. Deserted, like me."

She put her head down and trudged on to the meadows where the cows grazed on the thin grass, churning up sepia earth and flints beneath their clumsy hooves.

Introduction

Reading Group Guide

1. Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley were childhood playmates and also have in common the experience of being accused of treason and locked in the tower. How does Dudley use this shared history to influence Elizabeth? Is he successful?

2. What is your opinion of Amy? She says about Dudley, "In his heart I know that he is still the young man that I fell in love with who wanted nothing more than some good pasture land to breed beautiful horses" (105). Has Amy completely misjudged her husband, particularly how ambitious a man he is?

3. Elizabeth appoints Dudley Master of the Horse and later awards him the Order of the Garter. Why doesn't she appoint him to a position of political power, such as a member of the Privy Council? Dudley and William Cecil each want to be the more favored advisor to the queen. How does each man go about trying to accomplish this? Would you say they are rivals?

4. In many ways the politics of the court is like a dangerous game, fueled by rampant corruption and scheming families angling for wealth and favors from the queen. Cite some examples that illustrate this, including the people who are closest to Elizabeth.

5. It is Cecil's "deep-rooted belief that the intelligence of a woman, even one as formidably educated as [Elizabeth], could not carry the burden of too much information, and the temperament of a woman, especially this one, was not strong enough to take decisions" (93). Is Cecil underestimating Elizabeth? Discuss the way the men of the court and the Privy Council view women in general and Elizabeth, as the monarch, in particular.

6. Elizabeth, believing she is being pursued by an assassin, runs to the DiaryHouse at Kew to seek safety with Dudley. How does this encounter mark a turning point in their relationship?

7. Dudley remarks to Cecil about the Earl of Arran, "If it's not one damned opportunity seeker, it is another. To what end?" (226). Can the same be said of him? Does he truly care about Elizabeth, or is his courtship of her to satisfy his own ambition?

8. Elizabeth says to Dudley, "I have to play myself like a piece in a chess game....I have to keep the Spanish on our side, I have to frighten the French, I have to persuade Arran to get himself up to Scotland and claim his own, and I have nothing to bring to bear on any of these but my own weight. All I can promise any of them is myself" (228). How does Elizabeth use the marriage game to her advantage as a political maneuver?

9. When Dudley visits Amy at Hayes Court, he finds his wife changed and is at a loss about "how to manage this strange new Amy" (258). How do their conversations — while they are out riding and later in their chamber — show how Amy has changed? If you were in Amy's position, would you have allowed Dudley to walk away from the marriage?

10. Compare Robert's feelings for Elizabeth and Amy. Amy says to her stepmother, "He loved me once, but everyone thought he condescended to the marriage, and it was always true that he thought very highly of himself. But with her it is different. He is a man transformed. She is his lover but still his queen, he admires her as well as desires her....He aspires to love her, whereas I was always an easy love" (279). Is Amy right?

11. When does Elizabeth begin to realize that she cannot marry Dudley and also remain on the throne? Why is there such hostility toward Robert Dudley from the members of the Privy Council and other nobility, as well as from the commoners? Is it justified? In numerous instances Elizabeth says that she cannot live without Robert or rule without him by her side. Why, then, does she ultimately decide giving him up is the right course of action?

12. In reference to Mary of Guise, the regent of Scotland, Cecil says to Elizabeth, "I have no objection in theory to assassination as an act of state. It could be a great saver of life and a guarantee of safety for others" (314). Applying this same logic to Amy, can Cecil justify her death as "a great saver of life and a guarantee of safety for others"? Do you think Elizabeth knew Cecil was referring to Amy when he told her that if he carried out his plan to prevent her from marrying Dudley, one person would die?

13. When Elizabeth asks if he is bothered by Amy's death, Dudley replies, "She was my wife of eleven years. Of course I grieve for her" (417). Do you believe Dudley is truly remorseful that Amy is dead, or is it more about the circumstances of her death and what it means for his political ambitions?

14. When Dudley finds his signet ring among Amy's possessions, he knows Elizabeth had a part in what happened. What conclusions does he come to about why Elizabeth might have done this? Ultimately, does Dudley reconcile himself to not being the king of England?

15. The Author's Note reveals several significant pieces of information: 1) Dudley wrote a letter to Elizabeth on his deathbed, which she then had with her when she died, 2) Dudley married Laetitia Knollys, and 3) historical records verify Elizabeth made incriminating remarks to the Spanish ambassador prior to Amy's death. Did finding out these things change your view of any aspects of the story? Do you believe Amy Dudley was murdered?

16. History has remembered Elizabeth as one of England's greatest rulers. What is your opinion of Elizabeth as a monarch, as this book depicts her in the first years of her reign? From what you learned about her in The Virgin's Lover, what characteristics and qualities do you think made her a successful ruler?

Reading Group Guide

6. Elizabeth, believing she is being pursued by an assassin, runs to the Diary House at Kew to seek safety with Dudley. How does this encounter mark a turning point in their relationship?

Customer Reviews

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PepaLou

Posted February 3, 2010

more from this reviewer

Sort of Dissapointed

I like most of Phillipa Gregorys books, and I find them hard to put down. This story was no different. My main issue was the portrayal of Elizabeth, one of the greatest monarchs England has ever had, as a weak bumbling idiot. I had great pity for Amy, and hatred for Dudley. The characters were mostly wonderful and the book definately held my attention.
I just REALLY take issue with the portayal of Elizabeth. Other than that, the book was excellent.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted May 31, 2009

Interesting Take on History

Based on real historical figures, it is an easy read. However, not as well-written as her Boleyn books.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 5, 2011

great read!!

read this book in one day! couldn't put it down. great for a rainy day or if you just want to escape for awhile. i love the tudor dynasty and just love philippa gregory's books and style of writing. its intriguing and sucked me in instantly!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Nite-ReaderKH

Posted July 28, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Dramatic and stimulating.

Extremely informative about royalty and their interacction with "seers". Also,the long time persecution of the Jewish faith or anyone in conflict with the Church was eye-opening. Well written and well researched.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Sensitivemuse

Posted July 16, 2009

more from this reviewer

Good characters, overall a good read

First things first. I recommend you read The Queen's Fool before reading this one. It contains a bit background information and a bit of a foundation to carry you over to The Virgin's Lover. It's not necessary but it's nice to have that extra bit of info in the small moments where the book makes a reference to the past. Besides, The Queen's Fool was a good book so why would you not want to read it? :)

There's plenty of intrigue and double crossing in here, so if you're really into that this is the book for you. I love that stuff. I love seeing characters you don't like get the axe because they were too careless and got double crossed. It's just so satisfying. Which brings me to this other point.

I hate Robert Dudley.

Everything about him made me want to grind my teeth, made me want to jump into the book and punch him in the gonads, or made me want to run a lance into him. I just can't stand the guy. He oozes sliminess and his ambition is just way over the top it made you want to roll your eyes and slap him across the head with a sledgehammer. His arrogance made me want to scream. He was all right at first but once you saw past his true colors you just wanted to curl your lip in disgust at the guy. Either I need serious help, or Ms. Gregory just did a wonderful job at character development and creation here. :P I have never hated a character so much until I came across Robert Dudley.

Amy (Dudley's wife) made you want to cringe because she was everything you didn't want her to be. She was the epitome of submissive wife. There were moments where she finally grew a backbone (and you had to cheer for her during those times) but you just can't help but pity the poor woman. Of all the characters in the book I sympathized with Amy the most. It was just painful to see her pain and suffering and the way she fawned at Dudley made you want to pity her, but at the same time be quite disgusted with her. She admirable though. She put up with a lot of issues and crap for that time.

It's hard to decide how I feel about Elizabeth. She's whiny. She's NEEDY. She's clingy. She nearly made me want to jab something in my eye. However there were moments where I thought "Heeeey..she's not so stupid after all!" so it's very hard to see Elizabeth in a different view than what you usually see (usually as a very strong character who defied the Spanish Armada). So I thought it was difficult to like her in this novel. I was on the fence with her.

Overall, I thought it was a good read. There are romantic parts but not that explicit and quickly done and over with. So to me, they were tolerable. No battle scenes here which was unfortunate but wasn't really the main part of the subject anyway (this book rather focuses on Dudley and Elizabeth). The intrigue of court life was here as usual (all of Gregory's novels have it) so that was good to see. I just really enjoyed the character development and creation in this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted February 16, 2012

It's.......Ok

When I read it, it kind of played out in my mind like a movie. It had the perfect, exact "play out" that you would see in a movie.

But this book was just a little too movieish for me.
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Anonymous

Posted February 14, 2012

Another hit by Philippa Gregory

One of my favorite authors hit another home run!
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adrianamaria

Posted June 8, 2011

ok

ehhh this one was okay for me, unlike her other books in which i stay up late to continue reading and finish the book quick, this one took me quite a while to finish, it wasn't that addicting in my opinion. It got pretty boring after awhile it was the same thing over again. The book would often switch too: the lustful relationship of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley and them the heartbreak life of Roberts wife, Amy. It just got boring after a while.
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VirtuousWomanKF

Posted May 13, 2011

Just OK

I really enjoy reading historical fiction and it is my opinion that "The Other Boelyn Girl" was one of the best. In Philippa Gregory's follow-up, The Virgin's Lover", I was not near as impressed. As usual, Philippa does an amazing job with her historical research and she does write well, however, I felt as though this particular story was very slow and drawn out. However, it did leave me to question whether or not there ever was or has been a King or Queen that embodied integrity or kind and gentle spirit? Surely, Elizabeth 1 did not.
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Anonymous

Posted February 20, 2011

Great read

I really liked the book, and could not but it down. Phillippa Gregory did a great job writing the book. The plot was well thought out, and one that presented an interesting theory to a real historical event. She did a great job showing the complex court life and politics of the Elizabethan era. I liked her characterized of Elizabeth I, which was more complex then other historical novel's I've read. She added a ruthless side to her that was refreshing.
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Anonymous

Posted March 22, 2010

Such a good read!

As always, the Tudor series from this author are full of all those things we read for - lots of drama, a little history, and just plain enjoyment!
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MTK

Posted February 20, 2010

Wrong Reader

I did not buy this book! I am not able to review it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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MarathonReader

Posted February 6, 2010

Fascinating look at a young Queen Elizabeth.

I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's Tudor series, and was not disappointed in this offering. The book offers a different view of Queen Elizabeth and the turmoil England was going through at the start of her reign.
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LostInMyBook

Posted November 22, 2009

I Also Recommend:

The Virgins Lover

This book was a fantastic read.I really like Philippa Gregory's writing style.
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Annie1054

Posted May 9, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Not her best....

This book is not as well-written as Gregory's other novels in the series. I loved "The Constant Princess", "The Other Boleyn Girl", and "The Boleyn Inheritance". They are the sort of books that you can't put down. I'm having a hard time finishing "The Virgin's Lover". It seems slow-moving(even though not that much time has passed in the story), the characters are boring, and the historical parts do not captivate. Since I work full-time, I read when I can, and usually finish a book in about 2 weeks. So far, I think I've been on this book a month! I will finish because I don't like to leave a book unread, and I look forward to reading the next book, "The Other Queen". I'm hoping that one will follow in the footsteps of the rest of the series.
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SuefromBrooklyn

Posted May 4, 2009

Disappointing and sexist

Of all the Phillipa Gregory novels I have read - and I have read quite a few - for some reason this one struck me as the most implausible and actually pissed me off. Queen Elizabeth is depicted as a dopey, indecisive high school girl with a crush. It was deeply sexist and almost demeaning to read. Perhaps it is because Ms. Gordon has taken one of the most revered women in history and turned her into a stereotype of a silly 15 year old girl. I have not yet read the Queens Elizabeth - Mary novel yet, but, if the Elizabeth character is the same as in the Virgin's Lover, I am not looking forward to seeing how Mary, another strong intellegent woman, is portrayed. If the Mary - Elizabeth saga is another sexist rewrite of history, which I will glean from reading the book jacket and the first 3 pages, I will decline to read it, and all Gregory novels in the future.
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PebblesJS

Posted May 2, 2009

TAKES YOU TO A DIFFERENT TIME

I really enjoyed this book. It took me to a different time and place. I liked the language. Impressed with the scandolous stratergy of women and tugged on my heart string a little. I will definately read another Phillipa Gregory. Excellent for bookclubs,even has discussion questions at the end of the book. KUDOS!!!
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VampyrDrusilla

Posted April 13, 2009

more from this reviewer

I Also Recommend:

Virgin's Lover, a different look

This story is an interesting take on the alleged love affair between Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley. I have read many books by Philippa Gregory and I always like her stories. She has a way of making stories about the Tudor period very interesting when if you listen to other historians it sounds dull. The story of Elizabeth and Robert Dudley is an emotional rollercoaster with many twists and turns. Philippa does a great job at painting a picture and in this story, Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley are ruthless, selfish and menacing people. I rarely liked either of them in this story, but a good villan makes for a riveting story. All in all, this story is classic Philippa. It's not as involved or passionate as The Other Boleyn Girl, but that one has no equal.
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Anonymous

Posted February 9, 2009

All of her books are awesome

Gregory's entire Historical Fiction collection is awesome. I have read everything from the Constant Princess on, and although The Other Boleyn Girl was the best, they are all very gripping. Very suspenseful and juicy, and more than enough substance to keep them from being cheesy romance novels. Highly, highly recommended.
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Posted November 14, 2008

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As Good as Her Other Books!

This is one of my favorite Phillipa Gregory books.
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The Virgin's Lover

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Sort of Dissapointed

Interesting Take on History

great read!!

Dramatic and stimulating.

Good characters, overall a good read

It's.......Ok

Another hit by Philippa Gregory

ok

Just OK

Great read

Such a good read!

Wrong Reader

Fascinating look at a young Queen Elizabeth.

The Virgins Lover

Not her best....

Disappointing and sexist

TAKES YOU TO A DIFFERENT TIME

Virgin's Lover, a different look

All of her books are awesome

As Good as Her Other Books!