The Virgin's Lover

I was sorely disappointed in this book, having heard from several people how good it was. Unlike most of the nonfiction work I have read, Queen Elizabeth is made out in this story to be an indecisive romantic simpleton who had to be lead to every important decision she made by the men surrounding her. Instead of masterfully playing the field to keep alliances as most historians feel she did, she is portrayed as whining and indecisive about her lovelife as well, controlled totally by Robert Dudley and William Cecil. I found this book almost insulting in it's lack of strong feminine characters - and here is one of the strongest, most heroic female characters of her age. If you are looking for a hot romance book - this is it. If you want a good piece of historical fiction about Queen Elizabeth I then read Alison Weir.

This delightful story is about the early days of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. I'd suggest that first you watch the movie Shekhar Kapur's 1998 film Elizabeth in conjunction with the book. The film is about Elizabeth taking over as Queen, and taking Sir Robert Dudley as a lover.

This book is about the same time frame, but written more from the side of Sir Robert and particularly that of his wife Amy. This is a novel, after all who can really report on the detailed conversations between people so long ago. But it is exhaustively researched to give both the actual events and more especially the tone of the times when a young virgin queen took over a bankrupt country, riven by enmity, where treason is normal and foreign war a certainty and dissension between Catholics and Protestants tore at the very foundation of society.

This is the second book I've read by this author - The Other Boleyn Girl being the first - and I loved both. I found the book mesmerizing. The author's style is spare and smart, and her characters deeply flawed, like humans are. I have no difficulty imagining a young Elizabeth as much less formed than an older Elizabeth - more needy of the opinions of others, less sure of her own mind, much more driven by sexuality and desire for love. I have no trouble imagining Robert Dudley as driven by a potent combination of lust and ambition, with a dose of love thrown in in his nobler moments. The least credible character, IMO, was Amy Robsart, who was alternately cloying, resolute, innocent, and wily. No, I am not a scholar of the period, but I am not seeking a scholarly work in historical fiction, either. I am seeking a page-turning read based on, but not limited to, real events. This achieves that goal beautifully. Kudos to the author.

Just like everything else Philipa Gregory writes, The Virgin's Lover is completley enchanting! Once again she visits the Tudor period and drops us into their world of lust and intrigue. All of Her books are beautifully written and this one is no different.

This book tells a fictionalized account of the rumored romance between Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth. Were they truly lovers? How did it happen? Was it true love? Or simply a quest for power on Dudley's part? What might have happened between closed doors?

I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fictin or romance, because The Virgin's Lover fits into both genres nicely. Give it a shot, you won't be disapointed!

I've read several of Phillipa Gregory's books, inlcuding the Constant Princess and the Other Boleyn Girl. I thought this book was a giant disappointment. It lacks the pace of the others and as another reader remarked, it doesn't have a single likeable character. Ms. Gregory focuses a lot on telling readers what a stud Dudley is and what a conniving, weak and ignorant girl Elizabeth is. Also, poor Amy Dudley...what a sad woman. But not enough backstory to really understand her. The closest to sympathy I had for any character was Cecil who was oiften so fed up with Dudley and Elizabeth that he wished he could escape them all. Me too, Cecil, me too.

Phillippa Gregory's latest novel "The Virgin's Lover" is much better than her previous one, "The Queen's Fool." Gregory has returned to fabulous STORY telling, loosely based on history & filled in with fantastical "what if?" ideas. Fans of Elizabethan history be warned: this is a story, so let it sweep you up for a few days & just ignore all of the inconsistencies!

I was disappointed that Gregory did not develop a truley ruthless character in this book as she has in others such as "Wide Acre," "The Favored Child" and "The Other Bolyen Girl." Those characters make her books a true guilty pleasure... the characters do reprehensible things, but yet you can't wait to read more! Cecil, Elizabeth & Robert Dudley may behave unethically, but the circumstances (political, ambition, etc...) seem to make them almost understandable. That took away some of the fun I had hoped for.

If you are a fan of Phillippa Gregory, and especially if you were let down by her last book, you will enjoy this one.

After watching the Tudors, I wanted to learn more about that time period and people who were mentioned in the series. What better place to start than Elizabeth I, the only child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn? The title of this book sounded like as if it took a close look at Elizabeth's inner world but I found it misleading. It seems like a lot of research went into writing this book but it is mostly about Amy Dudley, Robert Dudley's first wife, not Elizabeth I.

Since the way she is described in the book makes Amy a likeable person, and one doesn't hear about her often, I enjoyed reading and learning about her. I was disappointed with this book since I got to understand inner world, feelings, and motivations of Amy Dudley but there was hardly any description of Elizabeth's or Robert's personality traits or motivations behind their behavior. When I finished reading this book, I still didn't know if Robert wanted to marry Elizabeth I for wanting to be the king of England or he just loved her.

Overall, it is a well-written book but the content didn't meet my expectations.

I found this book incredibly frustrating. As I was reading I kept on trying to identify the protagonist. After finishing the book, I'm still looking! Elizabeth is a childish, indecisive, helpless, and conscienceless brat who depends on the men around her to make every decision for her. Amy - for whom the book is titled - is an annoying simpleton who halfway through the book suddenly transforms (seemingly inexplicably) into a quiet, selfless martyr. And Dudley is simply a two-timing cad.

But beyond a lack of having someone to really sympathize with, there were some major flaws in the story itself. Dudley's motivations are suspect throughout - does he love Elizabeth or is he simply using her? And I found it extremely hard to swallow that he should abuse his wife throughout the entire novel but then as soon as she's dead he pines after her as if she were the love of his life. The 180-degree emotional conversion was not only unbelievable, but almost laughable. If you want a good historical fiction about Queen Elizabeth I recommend 'I, Elizabeth' by Rosalind Miles.

Philippa Gregory's third novel on the Tudors focuses on Elizabeth I's accession to the throne and her youthful romance with Robert Dudley, the Earl of Liecester.

In The Virgin's Lover readers are placed into the minds of Elizabth, Dudley, William Cecil-Elizabeth's chief advisor, and Amy Robsart-Dudley's first wife. This gives a well-rounded view of Elizabeth's first few tumultuous years on the throne.

All in all a very wonderful glimpse into Tudor court life. One negative is that Gregory writes Elizabeth as very indecisive and easily dominated, especially by Dudley; with this it leaves one to wonder how she became the much adored "Gloriana".

However, a page turner. Gregory uses her own conclusions as to who killed Amy Robsart, the planned assasination of Mary of Guise, and whether Elizabeth and Robert actually consummated their relationship; in true history the actual answer is not known.

I was sucked in by the atmosphere, intrigue and action of *The Other Boleyn Girl* (by the same author),but this book, eagerly snatched from the offerings of an airport bookstore, simply irritated. In the book, Dudley woos Queen Elizabeth and ignores his poor wimpy wife. Meanwhile, a wimpy and indecisive Queen Elizabeth can't make up her mind about anything, except to sleep with Dudley (thus rendering the title ironic). If only Queen Elizabeth ! had some resemblance to her historical self, I could have finished the book on plane, but, as it is, I had to slowly slog through it with gritted teeth. I couldn't even muster sympathy for Dudley's wife, although I knew what her fate would be. This is not the fun and fast-paced novel that Gregory can and has written.

I loved "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Queen's Fool" finding them, actually two of the most wonderful, fascinating, gripping books I've ever read. The best! Then went to the early trilogy and was so disgusted I threw them in the garbage. Now there's "The Virgin's Lover." I paid lots of money to buy this in hardcover, expecting to be transported, and I'm on page 53 and still plugging away, trying to get into it. Seems likely I'll chuck it. It just doesn't flow like TQF and TOBG, feels "made-up" and stilted where those came totally to life. When I read TQF and TOBG I thought they were the result of an artist finally coming into her own, so complete they felt almost channeled. This, on the other hand, seems more like someone trying to cobble something together, forcing it rather than feeling it.

This book was not horrible. (When a review starts out with that it is not a good sign) I found it to be sided against Elizabeth or at least I found it to contradict a lot of what I have previously heard about Elizabeth. This book represented her as a woman completely dependant on men. Overall, I found myself mostly bored, but half interested in what was going on. I felt like there was way too much back story for what the book was supposed to be about (Amy Dudley's murder). By the time the climax happens the book is almost over and I found I liked the ending mostly because I was happy to finally be finished. I did learn some interesting things from this book, but overall I would have to say that I do not recommend it. I was hoping for more, but this book did not deliver.

I loved "The Other Boleyn Girl" when I read it last year, especially because of the interesting topic. It was with great anticipation then that I picked up this book, especially having read several Elizabeth biographies. This book wasn't nearly as good.

First, the historical accuracy isn't so good. One glaring mistake: the book has Elizabeth coronated in March, not November.

Second, the characters are really annoying. The Elizabeth here is weak and whiny, not how she was in real life. Robert Dudley is impossible to like. Amy is the worst though. All she does is whine about how much she loves Robert and how horrible Elizabeth is, not showing any will at all. Cecil is the only one to like.

Third, towards the end of the book, it just drags on and on. The readers know that Amy is going to die, so why prolong the inevitable? That, coupled with the endless "I love yous" from Robert and Elizabeth made me just stop reading then and there.

I highly recommend The Other Boleyn Girl, but not this book.

This book is well written, and flows keeping the readers attention. For a historical novel, she does a great job in keeping the reader enthralled. There are much better reviews than mine that go into more depth, but short and to the point this is a great novel written by a very good author and I do not think you will be dissapointed. I must also say that I did read two other books alongside this one called "My Enemy the Queen" by Victoria Holt, and the other, "Queen of This Realm: The Tudor Queens" by Jean Plaidy aka Victoria Holt. These three books are all great reads about Queen Elizabeth I and they do go into much depth, they do not dissapoint.

I find Ms. Gregory's fiction enjoyable and very readable. However, I find it a little disconcerting that one can see at a glance just what her view is on Queen Elizabeth I - she just does not have a good opinion of this queen and has made someone who changed the shape of the world into an almost manic sex-crazy flirt. Yes, documented facts say that Elizabeth was a flirt and she certainly had tons of scandal to live down over her behavior with Robert Dudley (at the time, Mary Queen of Scots was a saint in comparison). But her characterization in this book was totally unbelievable. To believe that she was so sex-crazy that she couldn't do a think without a morning visit from Dudley is stretching the imagination. Clearly, Ms. Gregory is on Catherine of Aragon and Bloody Mary's side, and is against Anne Boleyn and her daughter.

Philippa Gregory is definitely one of the more popular historical novelists today, and she spins a good yarn overall. I recommend her on my lists because I think there's room for all kinds of books in the genre, and I'm so happy there's more historical fiction being published these days.

That said, "The Virgin's Lover" veers more toward romantic fiction than historical. It is a tepid approach to the tumultous and ultimately deadly triangle between Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart, with Elizabeth in particular depicted as an insecure, vacilliating, and fearful partner to Robert Dudley's overpowering virility and ambition. The strategy of telling part of the story through Amy's eyes offered a lot of promise, but her dependance on Robert and refusal to face the facts of her marriage - even after he has left her alone in the country for most of the book! - starts to look pathetic and not in a way that rouses much sympathy from the reader.

However, the portrayal of Robert himself is compelling; it reminded me in a way of C.W. Gortner's depiction of a much younger yet equally arrogant Robert in "The Secret Lion" and it is here where Philippa Gregory scores points. She has captured the pride and seething need to prove himself that drives Robert. An interesting addition to the canon but not one of my favorites.

I love Philippa Gregory's other novels, but the factual liberties she took were too much for me. Painting Amy as some sort of hero is ridiculous. She was well educated, not some sort of simpleton as she makes her out to be. Couldn't finish it, it was too awful.

I usually love Philipa Gregory books, but this one I am struggling to get through. With her other Tudor series books, it seemed that I would finish them in a matter of days. This one has taken me much longer to finish - mostly because I just don't care about the characters. It's fine to take liberties with history and paint Elizabeth as a younger, less confident queen at the beginning of her reign, but please give her some redeeming quality for me, as a reader, to care about! I ended up going to Wikipedia just to find out what actually happened to the characters because I couldn't wait any longer for this long, plodding book to tell me. Honestly, I found the Wikipedia account more interesting. I just don't understand how you can fill hundreds of pages with text and still have a story that doesn't go anywhere.

It appears that Philippa Gregory may be using a technique encountered only rarely. She seems to be telling virtually identical stories from a different perspective in each of her Tudor novels. This is a fascinating approach taken by Susan Howatch in her Starbridge church of England series (another excellent series). Gregory also employs it with good effect. While her plots sometimes do bog down, her characters and their motivations are deep and thoughtful, with solid historical fact and plausible psychological insight. It's always a challenge to portray an historical icon, and Gregory does it well. I've found this series to be both entertaining and informative, and have enjoyed all three volumes thoroughly.

This story is from 1558 - 1560. It started very slowly, picked up somewhat in the middle but definitely sizzled in the last third.
When Queen Mary died without an heir, Princess Elizabeth the uncontested heir to the throne became queen. Her friend Robert Dudley was about to see his wealth and priviledges restored. William Cecil continues in the role of long time advisor.
Robert and Elizabeth carry on a love affair, even though he is married to Amy Robsart, whom he tries to get rid of. But hooray to Amy, who does not cowtow to Robert. In fact she tells him that he is a braggart and she is worth ten of him.I rather liked this character.
On the other hand Elizabeth is portrayed as weak, frightened and bewildered most of the time. She relies heavily on Cecil and Dudley oftentimes playing one off against the other. I think the reader will certainly enjoy the last part of the book.

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.

I love Philippa Gregory's Tudor novels and am only sorry that I have now concluded reading all of them. This one has some problems that disappointed me - Elizabeth is a giggling, easily-led dope, and not the shrewd manipulator and politician that we know her to be from historical record. I suspect Dudley and Cecil are fairly accurately represented, however, and I was very interested in the viewpoint of Amy Dudley, the innocent wife cast aside in favor of power and the title of King.

This was an interesting read, and one that kept me turning the pages, but it was not up to the standard of the other Tudor books. I preferred Boleyn Inheritance and The Constant Princess for intrigue. I hope for better things in the future.

I was a little disappointed. Primarily it's because I didn't like her portrait of Elizabeth. However accurate or inaccurate it may have been. Elizabeth is one of my heroes, but in this book she is whiny, capricious, indecisive, foolish..... I didn't like her at all. Allison Weir's portrait of the young Elizabeth in "The Lady Elizabeth" is more likeable, and yet apparently is still a version of Elizabeth that is grounded in the historical facts that are known.

However the mystery surrounding Amy Rosbarth was very interesting. This is worth reading if you are a Gregory fan or a Tudor history fan.

I can only review this book in context of having read The Other Boleyn Girl and the Queen's Fool in quick succession. I quite enjoyed the other two books -- I would not consider them fine literature, but enjoyable reads, which whet my interest in learning more about Tudor times. In fact, after reading the first book, I watched a series of documentaries about Henry VIII's wives! So, I was looking forward to reading this book, too.

Unfortunately, I was annoyed with it as early as the first few pages. Why portray Elizabeth in The Queen's Fool as flirtatious, shrewd, ambitious and cunning, only to paint her in this book as simpering, weak, indecisive and unable to take action on her own? Why describe Elizabeth and Robert as being involved with each other in the Queen's Fool BEFORE she took the throne, only to forget all that? I understand why Amy needed to be redefined, but at least make her sympathetic, instead of annoying. The two Elizabeth's described in the two books are comletely different people -- and I didn't like the Elizabeth described in the book that was about her (The Virgin's Lover). A book about the strong, shrewd, politically astute, flirtation, lusty who knew just how to manipulate the men around her -- as depicted in the Queen's Fool -- would have been fun. This book was not.

That said, I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 or none because I was compelled to keep reading it, and it did prompt me to want to do a little research into the history -- and I plan to re-watch the movie Elizabeth this evening!

Still, stick with the Other Boleyn Girl and the Queen's Fool, and don't read this one. You'll enjoy the other two, and you'll be annoyed at this one.

I am only about 3/4th into the book, and boy am I glad I didn't actually pay anything for it! I can't believe that Ms Gregory portrayed Elizabeth this way... I am going to keep reading because I want to at least get to the part when Amy Robsart falls down the stairs and see how the author handles that ... I am really surprised that a female author would portray all her women characters this way, including even Elizabeth. It sounds like a mysogenist wrote this book - the female characters are all so unlikable and even pathetic! It's really too bad because Philippa Gregory is a popular author (although for the life of me I really can't figure out why) and many people think that her stories are historically accurate....

For anyone who is unaware, Queen Elizabeth I is widely viewed as one of, if not THE greatest monarch to ever rule. Period. Ignored as a child, she possessed the drive, intelligence, and ambition to pursue her own education, all qualities she brought to the throne. She stabilized a country on the brink of civil war, restored faith in the monarchy, rebased the coinage, expanded the empire, defeated the French and the Spanish, held her own against a male-dominated court and Parliament, created a culture that was idolized by Europe, and created a world superpower that set the stage for the Golden Age and Imperialistic times of Britain, all with a politically brilliant, ruthless mind.

In this book, none of that is evident. She is a whiny, complaintitive, immature, dull, incompetant, you-know-what.

I love Phillippa Gregory's style of writing, her thorough research, and ability to bring a new light to old history, but this complete assassination of Elizabeth is horrendous and unbelievable. I give the two stars for the parts with Lord Cecil, who is a sympathetic, believable character. Every description and dialogue from Elizabeth made me want to scream.

I read the Queen's Fool and really liked it. So naturally I had to go get the next book. I was disappointed in the fact she didn't use a original fictional character like Hannah, but never the less it was pretty good. Her description of the Tudor ear is beautifully written. I thought that Amy wasn't as constantans as her attitude had been in the first one. It was interesting to see all the different viewpoints of how people saw Robert. As a finial note some of it did seem to drag on and the plot was driven by this one piece of mysterious history that she really wanted to point out. Don't get me wrong it was interesting, but certain parts were dry.

The story of Queen Elizabeth should be as much if not more compelling than the Boleyn sister's story but I felt that The Virgin's Lover was lacking in it's depth of emotion. The book had its fair share of true facts as well as greatly elaborated ideas of what may have been fact. I'm not sure if it was that the events of this time were simply not interesting enough or if it was Gregory's choice to write in third person in this novel but I personally was not drawn in like I was in The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. It was most likely the later since I fell in love with Mary and Hannah of the other books and not so much Elizabeth in this book. Not to be entirely negative, I must say that the great task the author clearly took on in her deeply involved research was impressive since information of all facets were included from fashion to politics to war strategy. I can't say it's worth reading but if you are the type of person who can read 500 pages in 2 days then maybe it would be. In my personal opinion I feel that I benefited from reading this novel in only that it increased my knowledge of one former queen but I did not take an incredible amount of pleasure in its characters and the soap opera that was their life.

I usually really like Philippa Gregory, but this book is awful. Like other reviewers, I can't tell who the main character is supposed to be. Elizabeth is remarkably silly and immature (a few times, her eyes have "filled with tears" during official meetings), and she keeps getting swept away by Robert Dudley for no identifiable reason except that he walks up to her and makes sexual innuendos. His wife Amy is one-dimensional and annoying. I'm very disappointed!

After thoroughly enjoying "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Queen's Fool" I was looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I was disappointed. In "The Queen's Fool," Elizabeth and Robert Dudley are flawed yet still likeable characters. I did not like them at all this time, plus I had been hoping that the story of Hannah and Daniel would continue on.

I am glad that I waited and borrowed this book from the library rather than rushing out to buy it in the hardcover edition.

For a much better read, try "I, Elizabeth" by Rosalind Miles.

Elizabeth I may be the greatest most interesting ruler ever and I love Philippa Gregory, so what happened here? I know Elizabeth relied heavily on Robert Dudley but this book ONLY focused on the vigins "lover" so the other more compelling strengths of Elizabeth are just not mentioned. This book provides a distorted, narrow view of Elizabeth. I have learned more about Elizabeth I's strengths through other books and also the HBO movie "Elizabeth I" with Helen Mirren which was excellent. I suggest other sources for Elizabeth stories - keep looking.

Well researched, and well written. Kudos to Phillipa Gregory for writing an historical novel that inspires! Once you finished this book, it leaves you wanting to know more about English history. It takes you out of the classroom and into the castles, fields, and wars that took place during the reign of Elizabeth I. Robert Dudley is the Master of the Horse and it is well known as the Queen's lover. Amy Dudley, his dutiful wife is unknowingly in all but the official sense, cast aside by her husband, and his blatant romantic overtures towards Queen Elizabeth. Devote their lives to the Protestant Queen or to the Pope? It is a question many grapple with throughout England. Spain, Scotland, France, and England are all ready to do battle to fight for supremacy. Alliances are proposed and broken via promises of marriage. Elizabeth wants to defeat Mary Queen of Scots, to stop her from using her Coat of Arms. Robert Dudley wants Elizabeth to free him from his wife so they can marry. Amy Dudley is found dead one morning, with a broken neck. Robert is free to marry but all eyes of suspicion rest upon him. The Queen ends all association with him. The Virgin's Lover is an easy to read novel that anyone with a love of history will enjoy!

Unlike other reviewers here, I haven't yet read the other two books in the series by Philippa Gregory. I picked up The Virgin's Lover at the library and from the first page to the end, I was never completely enthralled into the tale. It's not a boring story, but a story that is known too well.

Of course, I love reading famous and interesting stories in history again and again. The problem was that Philippa Gregory encased her characters with one simple personality that annoyed me throughout the reading. I would have wanted more depth to the characters than the well-known generally used ones that we all know today.

Overall, this isn't a bad read, but nothing special. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series, which I hear are better.

I had enjoyed a Phillipa Gregory book set in World War II, so I picked up this book on CD to listen to in the car, without having read her other books. I assume I was supposed to sympathize with Amy Dudley, but I found her to be such an annoying, wimpy nag I fast-forwarded through many of her exceedingly repetitious speeches. With a print page it's much easier to skip. I found myself rooting for William Cecil, the only one who seemed to have any sense. Entertaining, but flawed. Makes me want to look further into the matter.

This is an excellent, fast paced book about Queen Elizabeth and her lover Sir Robert Dudley. Dudley is a cad that married for love and then attempted to put aside his wife when Elizabeth gained the crown. This book involves a murder mystery that tantelizes our imagination. Other reviewers did not take into account that this is a work of FICTION and therefore should not be taken as an exact recounting of historical fact. If you like a star crossed love story and a murder mystery wrapped in one then you will like this book.

My first Philippa Gregory book was "The Queen's Fool" which I throughly enjoyed. I could not waited to have time to sit and read! So as I was towards the end of "The Queen's Fool" I began to see what other books were available by this author. I bought "The Virgin's Lover" since to seemed to follow "The Queen's Fool". Within the first 36 pages, I was completely frustrated at the layout of the novel. TOO MUCH BOUNCING ABOUT WITH THE TIME FRAME. And the time frames within the book do not match those in "The Queen's Fool". For instance, in "The Queen's Fool" Queen Mary dies in Winter 1558 but in "The Virgin's Lover" The Queen dies in Autumn 1558. Another example is Lord Robert. In "The Queen's Fool" Lord Robert lives at St. James Palace (Autumn 1558) and presses Queen Mary to name an heir (Winter 1558). However, in "The Virgin's Lover" Lord Robert is low man in court with no where to go but to his wife's StepMother's.

I think part of the problem with this type of time framing is the use Seasons. Winter 1558....is this November December or January February? Because further in the book the use of Winter 1558-59 is used. The back and forth at the beginning of the book set me up to confusion a few later chapters into the book. I spent more time concentrating on keeping the time frame correct then actually enjoying the book which must be quite evident by now with me taking the time to write this review!

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.

When this book came out, I was excited. I heartily enjoyed Philippa Gregory's other Tudor novels, and I'm fascinated by Elizabeth I. I wish I had never read it.

The characterizations of Elizabeth and Dudley and all the rest--blech! I was halfway through and I wanted to do nothing more than smack Elizabeth around for being a weak, empty headed IDIOT. The only thing she could do competently in this "novel" was bang Dudley. And don't get me started on Dudley. Oh please please PLEASE don't get me started.

This was such a disappointment. I expected Gregory to be a bit hazy on the historical accuracy (hell, that's why it's called fiction) but to come up with this? It's absolute drivel. I'm so glad that all Gregory's other Tudor novels were better written and so much more engaging.

I wish Philippa Gregory had stopped after The Queen's Fool. I was excited and intrigued by the concept of a novel written from the point of view of Amy Robsart, the long-suffering wife of Robert Dudley, the love of Queen Elizabeth's life. However, the book was mostly about Robert, and both the women in his life were portrayed as whiny, annoying, and more than a little crazy. Serious fans of Elizabeth will not be amused. I found myself waiting anxiously for the stair scene as Elizabeth and Dudley's romance drug interminably on and on, like listening to whiny teenagers.

I felt the charactors thoughts, motivations and walked with them. As true with Gregory's writing, sometimes there are slow parts- personally I either enjoy the richness or skip a page here and there. I found myself re-reading many of her books. If you enjoy this, you will enjoy her others.. her books are very well researched and well written.Okay, a point or two made me feel she could have edited more, but I haven't found a single book that I felt was "rushed" or left feeling confused/too many untied stories. Go with the flow and enjoy a good read.

As a work of fiction, this is an excellent book. I love historical novels and this one kept me turning the pages, as I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.

As far as historical accuracy was concerned, though, I felt it left a lot to be desired. Other reviewers have already mentioned some of the minor errors, such as the references to riding side-saddle and drinking from wine glasses. But the biggest inaccuracy by far was the portrayal of Amy Dudley as a semi-illiterate fool who had no idea about her famous husband's need for status and recognition. This is far from the truth - Amy would have been skilled in running an estate and, after her father's death, the proceeds from his estate were paid directly to her. She was also able to read and write legibly: some of her letters to tradesmen still exist today.

Like some other reviewers, I also found the portrayal of Elizabeth I unbelievable and I certainly don't believe that she and Robert had a full-blown love affair. As Queen, Elizabeth would always have been surrounded by servants. She would also have been only too aware of the false accusations that had been made about her mother, Anne Boleyn, so it hardly seems likely that she would sneak off for an illicit bonk whenever the fancy took her (that's British slang for sex, by the way!) And who made those little hand-sewn 'guardians'...?

Overall, I would have liked to give this book two scores - 5 for its compelling narrative, but only 1 for historical content.

After first reading this book I thought the portrayal of Elizabeth was somewhat harsh. Shortly thereafter, I saw the PBS Masterpiece Theater presentation of her and consider Philippa Gregory's treatment of her kind!

The book is wonderful and weaves the story of her reign and relationship with Robert Dudley to the ultimate reader enjoyment. Gregory fans will no doubt loves this story.

This book is too long! I grew weary of this Elizabeth and her co-dependent love relationship with Dudley. Such a simpering and sick romance. Where is the Elizabeth of courage, of strong will and true wit, of courage and character, of one who kept her head when many others lost theirs. She certainly is not in this book. although I enjoyed the setting, the background characters, the political intriques, the plotting and re-plotting, I did not enjoy the main event. Too much of the book was romance; I wanted a historical novel with fresh and exciting insights on Elizabeth and her times. Gregory has a great writing style and can tell a good story. I did finish the book because there was sufficient background interest. But I hope to find a meatier main event in Gregory's next novel.

I loved Gregory's other two recent novels, "The Other Boylen Girl" and "The Queen's Fool", but was extremely dissapointed with "The Virgin's Lover".

While it wasn't terribly written it got rather boring and repetitive halfway through. Sure there were some racy parts, but it was altogether really unexciting.

It was interesting to learn more about the life of Robert Dudley (though we learned a lot in "Queen's Fool"), and nice to read about Elizabeth's early years as queen, but this was more sensational than historical, and even as sensational it still wasn't very entertaining like Gregory's other novels.

I was also dissapointed that this was only available in hardcover, and thus more expensive than the other two novels. I was excited for this book to come out, but now I just feel like I wasted my money.

Save your money and your time, at least until it's on sale or in paperback.

This book is a Historical fiction of Queen Elizabeth I and her lover. I find that in historical fictions the names of the people get in the way. I think that this is the case with this book the beginning of this book dragged a bit while everyone was being introduced. The ending was good however and worth the read.

I enjoy Philippa Gregory usually...but this was a little too biased against Elizabeth and possibly historically inaccurate to be palatable. I found Alison Weir's Elizabeth, the Queen to be far more objective and dealing with both the good and the bad without deifying or demonizing (as in this book) Elizabeth. But three stars for creating the historical atmosphere.

I was very excited when this book came out, as I had just finished reading Philippa Gregory's two previous Tudor-era novels. Alas, I found the book much harder to get into and I found no character genuinely likeable. By the end, I pitied some characters and loathed some characters, but none really stuck out as "wow! what a remarkable character!" I prefered "The Other Boleyn Girl" much more to this one. One I got more into the swing of the story, it was much easier to read and the history about Elizabeth's I first few years of her reign was compelling. This book was good, but definitely not amazing.

I've been reading many Philippa Gregory books lately. This one is my least favorite and it's taken me 6 weeks to finally get through it (took 2 days to finish "The Queen's Fool"). Redundant, wordy, and no heart in it whatsoever. I felt disconnected from the the plot and the characterss. Disappointing.

I started with the Other Boylen Girl and loved it. Lots or drama, twist, and suspense but the other two books have been predictable and almost boring (The Queen's Fool and the Virgin's Lover). I did buy the Boylen Inheritance and hope that it is much better. As one reader to another, skip these two books. History is great but the story in between lacks.

The problem I had with this book was one that others have mentioned - there is no likable character. However, I have to say that I felt that way about The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool also - even though I liked the stories and the writing style, it is hard to really enjoy a book when you have no one to root for. I keep reading this author because I admire her ability to portray historical detail and find the time period fascinating, but I just don't like her characters. The Virgin's Lover was definitely the worst of the three in that respect. The Other Boleyn Girl was better than either of the other two - I read it twice, but I doubt I'll ever reread the others. (My true test of a book's merit - is it worth rereading??)

Philippa Gregory's books are all amazing. But among the best I think are The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool, Wise Woman, and The Virgin's Lover. And Virgin Earth! I love them all...if you are considering reading one of Gregory's books, you won't be disappointed. I was hesitant with buying a few of her books after reading some of the reviews on here, but I have read most of her novels (still working on the 18th and 19th centuries) and I was NEVER disappointed.

While I have enjoyed several of Gregory's other works, including The Constant Princess, The Queen's Fool, and The Other Boleyn Girl, I couldn't even make it through this book. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction and never have I been so disgusted with a portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. Gregory writes about an immature, one-dimensional girl unable to make the simplest decisions without her lover, more focused on lust and adolescent games than running a country. Despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth I was fluent in English, Latin, Greek and had studied War, Science, Mathematics and was a model pupil throughout her schooling, Gregory expects you to view the Virgin Queen as little more than a village idiot who has the crown thrust upon her. While Gregory's works are on the whole fulfilling this left me completely dissatisfied and unimpressed with her writing.

In a word or at least 20, this is my favorite book of all time, but then Elizabeth the First is my obsession. I have read every piece of historical fitcion and non-fiction I could get my hands on regarding the regal tales of this particular queen, and Philippa's rendition of this timeless forbiden-soured love affair hits the mark. Though it focuses on a small time period in Elizabeth's reign, this book has all the right ingredients. It has love, jealousy....loads of jealously, murder? or accidental death?, spy masters,asasins,lovers, liars, and one queen who is played to be the sheepish girl who must be Queen in a country desperate for a King......Pray God there was Cecil. I found it interesting that this book owed Elizabeth's bravery and high intelligence to both her mentor Cecil and the affectionate yet ever plotting Robert Dudley and not to that legendary fierce red headed woman we all call Elizabeth Tutor. If you are looking for a powerful queen....don't look here. If you are looking for love and are willing to pay the price for that highest point "the throne", this is the book to read. It is even more fun to hear Graeme Malcolm narrate it in the unabridged version on audio. I think I will listen to him read this book to me a hundred thousand more times in my lifetime. And perhaps I will stand quietly listening till the end against the advice of friends.

Philippa has a habit of not doing her homework or changing facts to make her stories more interesting. Her books are an entertaining way to start your journey into medieval England but when you're really hooked, move on to Alison Weir and Sharon Kay Penman.

This reworking of the story of Elizabeth I and her relationship with Robert Dudley will be thoroughly enjoyed by those looking for an Aga saga, but if you want true history, leave it alone. Gregory's portrayal of the young Elizabeth paralysed by lust and unable to make a decision without a man at her side will cause feminists (or even just capable women!) to throw the book at the nearest wall. This is a woman who is acknowledged to be one of the greatest monarchs, male or female, that England has ever had, yet Gregory has reduced her to a lovesick fool. The portrayal of Cecil the schemer is the most accurate characterisation in the book; for the rest, if you want to know what really happened, stick to David Starkey.

What a disappointment this book was. The author portrays Elizabeth as a mindless pawn in the hands of the traiterous Robert Dudley. Anyone who has done much reading about Queen Elizabeth I knows that she was a brilliant linguist and astute politician and was extrememly wise in her choice of advisors. No one put words or ideas in her head that were not her own. To portray her as an emptly headed, mindless individual with no thought beyond what Robert Dudley wanted does a great disservice to one of the most successful and brilliant historical figures ever. She was way ahead of her times in her thoughts on politics and religion. I would not have finished the book except I was hoping to see some redemption somewhere in the final pages. Shame on you Phillipa Gregory for your unfounded and false portrayal of Elizabeth.

The Virgin's Lover picks up right where The Queen's Fool leaves off and describes the infamous Queen Elizabeth I's rise to power, early reign, and love affair with her Master of Horse Sir Robert Dudley. The reader will quickly fall in love with Queen Elizabeth and with Philippa Gregory's writing.

Fantastic love story that has meaning and implications that run deep throughout Philippa Gregory's words. If you're looking for thematic undertones and hidden meanings, you're sure to find it. If you' don't care for that stuff, it's still a great love story.

I would read The Queen's Fool first... provides some context.

I enjoyed the book. The author makes her theory work while giving interesting insights into the life of the times. She's a good craftswoman who knows how to twist together the threads of a novel. We'll likely never know the truth of this subject, but it's fun to imagine the woman who changed the world as a lovesick girl enjoying a lover's touch. I recommend it.

This is a well written and exciting book. I love anything by Philippa Gregory and really enjoyed the Bolyn Trilogy. This is a must read for any book club. The detail and descriptions make you feel like you are back in old England hanging out at court. I have passed this book along to so many friends that it is starting to show it's wear. But we all agree that it's one of those rare books that you just love to read and talk about often.

While I have enjoyed several of Gregory's other works, including The Constant Princess, The Queen's Fool, and The Other Boleyn Girl, I couldn't even make it through this book. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and non-fiction and never have I been so disgusted with a portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. Gregory writes about an immature, one-dimensional girl unable to make the simplest decisions without her lover, more focused on lust and adolescent games than running a country. Despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth I was fluent in English, Latin, Greek and had studied War, Science, Mathematics and was a model pupil throughout her schooling, Gregory expects you to view the Virgin Queen as little more than a village idiot who has the crown thrust upon her. While Gregory's works are on the whole fulfilling this left me completely dissatisfied and unimpressed with her writing.

In a word or at least 20, this is my favorite book of all time, but then Elizabeth the First is my obsession. I have read every piece of historical fitcion and non-fiction I could get my hands on regarding the regal tales of this particular queen, and Philippa's rendition of this timeless forbiden-soured love affair hits the mark. Though it focuses on a small time period in Elizabeth's reign, this book has all the right ingredients. It has love, jealousy....loads of jealously, murder? or accidental death?, spy masters,asasins,lovers, liars, and one queen who is played to be the sheepish girl who must be Queen in a country desperate for a King......Pray God there was Cecil. I found it interesting that this book owed Elizabeth's bravery and high intelligence to both her mentor Cecil and the affectionate yet ever plotting Robert Dudley and not to that legendary fierce red headed woman we all call Elizabeth Tutor. If you are looking for a powerful queen....don't look here. If you are looking for love and are willing to pay the price for that highest point "the throne", this is the book to read. It is even more fun to hear Graeme Malcolm narrate it in the unabridged version on audio. I think I will listen to him read this book to me a hundred thousand more times in my lifetime. And perhaps I will stand quietly listening till the end against the advice of friends.

Philippa has a habit of not doing her homework or changing facts to make her stories more interesting. Her books are an entertaining way to start your journey into medieval England but when you're really hooked, move on to Alison Weir and Sharon Kay Penman.

This reworking of the story of Elizabeth I and her relationship with Robert Dudley will be thoroughly enjoyed by those looking for an Aga saga, but if you want true history, leave it alone. Gregory's portrayal of the young Elizabeth paralysed by lust and unable to make a decision without a man at her side will cause feminists (or even just capable women!) to throw the book at the nearest wall. This is a woman who is acknowledged to be one of the greatest monarchs, male or female, that England has ever had, yet Gregory has reduced her to a lovesick fool. The portrayal of Cecil the schemer is the most accurate characterisation in the book; for the rest, if you want to know what really happened, stick to David Starkey.

What a disappointment this book was. The author portrays Elizabeth as a mindless pawn in the hands of the traiterous Robert Dudley. Anyone who has done much reading about Queen Elizabeth I knows that she was a brilliant linguist and astute politician and was extrememly wise in her choice of advisors. No one put words or ideas in her head that were not her own. To portray her as an emptly headed, mindless individual with no thought beyond what Robert Dudley wanted does a great disservice to one of the most successful and brilliant historical figures ever. She was way ahead of her times in her thoughts on politics and religion. I would not have finished the book except I was hoping to see some redemption somewhere in the final pages. Shame on you Phillipa Gregory for your unfounded and false portrayal of Elizabeth.

The Virgin's Lover picks up right where The Queen's Fool leaves off and describes the infamous Queen Elizabeth I's rise to power, early reign, and love affair with her Master of Horse Sir Robert Dudley. The reader will quickly fall in love with Queen Elizabeth and with Philippa Gregory's writing.

Fantastic love story that has meaning and implications that run deep throughout Philippa Gregory's words. If you're looking for thematic undertones and hidden meanings, you're sure to find it. If you' don't care for that stuff, it's still a great love story.

I would read The Queen's Fool first... provides some context.

I enjoyed the book. The author makes her theory work while giving interesting insights into the life of the times. She's a good craftswoman who knows how to twist together the threads of a novel. We'll likely never know the truth of this subject, but it's fun to imagine the woman who changed the world as a lovesick girl enjoying a lover's touch. I recommend it.

This is a well written and exciting book. I love anything by Philippa Gregory and really enjoyed the Bolyn Trilogy. This is a must read for any book club. The detail and descriptions make you feel like you are back in old England hanging out at court. I have passed this book along to so many friends that it is starting to show it's wear. But we all agree that it's one of those rare books that you just love to read and talk about often.

I loved this book, as I do all of Pillippa Gregorys work. The negative reviewers complain that Elizabeth was portrayed as a giggly little girl, but really, why shouldnt she have acted giddy and happy for once in her life after being motherless at such a young age, declared a bastard by her father, poorly treated, fearing for her life from the moment her sister took the throne. For once she was free to be happy. And what this book portrays is her early days as queen. She was not yet the serious monarch known as Elizabeth I. I think that this book shows a different side of Elizabeth, someone who did fall in love, but because of her position could not act on it.

Philippa Gregory's 'The Virgin's Lover' demonstrates a unique perspective on the early years of the most renowned female monarchs of the Tudor reign. Whilst in Gregory's previous tales (which I would like to note are equally excellent) she tells the story through the first person narrator, using one character or jumping between a select few, this story is from the the third person perspective. This does not take away from the tale as the reader can still gain access to the thoughts of the protagonists. In fact it only heightens the suspense as the reader gains bits and pieces of information, it is as though they are one of the gossips attending the Tudor court attempting to piece together truth that is beneath layers of deceit and fear of treason. Gregory brilliantly weaves in the love story whilst not taking away from the political and religious agenda's of the time and wonderfully encapsulates the fear and paranoia that plagued the Tudor reign.

This is #5 in the Tudor Court series. It takes place starting in 1558 with the crowning of Queen Elizabeth I of England, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. She has scandalized England by her associations with Earl Robert Dudley, who is still married to Amy Dudley. They are a mismatched pair, yet you do feel sorry for Amy. The story is told with Gregory's consistent skill.

I have read The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool and loved both of those novels. However, this novel just did not impress me at all. There was no likeable character throughout the whole book. They took Queen Elizabeth, who is usually considered one of the greatest ruler's of England and turned her into an insecure whinny girl. Robert and Amy Dudley's characters were very stagnant. Robert seemed focused on being the King the entire time and Amy was just sad and crazed half the time. The books is really boring all it talks about is who Elizabeth is flirting with or how she does or does not want to invade Scotland. Save your money and your time and read her other books.

I couldn't tell you who this book was about, but it certainly wasn't Elizabeth I. Portrayed by Gregory as a dependent almost stupid neurotic, this estimation of her character flies in the face of all accepted scholarship. And the writing isn't so hot, either. If I had to read one more time that Elizabeth was picking her cuticles, I would have gone mad. The Other Boleyn Girl is a much better effort.

What a masterpiece!! Gregory has surpased herself yet again. I ended up taking this book everywhere with me. On the tube to work, weekends in the garden, before bed. I could not put this down. I would urge anyone that's either interested in Tudor times or would like to learn more about this period (as there is so much I learnt from this, along with the other 2 previous titles)to read Gregory's work. One note of caution: start with The Other Boleyn Girl to set the scene, then move on to The Queen's Fool and end on The Virgin's Lover. You'll see why it's important to read them in this order once you've read them. Enjoy!!

Philippa Greggory does NOT disappoint. just as riveting and exciting as her other books. I am a Philippa Gregory FAN! whatever she writes come to life. I could not put this book down. i often read 2 books at a time however this story captivated me so i put the other book down. I've ventured out for other writers who can do justice to the Tudor story line or other writers who focus on Monarchs and i've always been disappointed... like ALison Weir. She has let me down twice....i won't buy a 3rd book. but i own 5 novels by Philippa Gregory and no one catches me like she does.

I don't know if the writing was just really good, or if I just felt sorry for Amy Dudely, but I can honestly say that by the end of the book, I thoroughly hated Robert Dudely. Queen Elizabeth is written to be a weak lovesick woman, which I'm not sure if I agree with, and the book takes about 100 pages or so to get interesting. There's a brief cameo of Hannah Verde (Green) from the preceding book "The Queen's Fool" and Catherine Knolly (Mary Boleyn's Daughter) also has a cameo in this book. Overall, I give the book 3 stars, not my favorite by Gregory, but not the worst either.

This was my first Philippa Gregory book. It was a very enjoyable read, and I especially liked how she integrated historical events into the narrative. If you enjoy Elizabethan era history and movies like "Shakespeare in Love" you will enjoy this book.

I'm not much of a history buff, but I decided that I would read this book after it was recommended to me. I really enjoyed it. It may not be the most historically correct book (it is a novel), but it caught my interest enough to research a bit about Elizabeth and this era. I had a hard time putting this book down!

Once I read this book (about 1 year ago) I rushed out and picked up all of her books. However, this book is in between on the must read list of hers. When I decided to write a review I was thinking this book was just ok...but then I realized this is THE BOOK that turned me onto Philippa Gregory! I've since read 10 other of her books and this one falls in between. Thus if you have read Meridon, this book is much better...but compared to THe Other Boleyn Girl...this book is not nearly half as good!

I have not read very many books and a relative new-comer to the book club. Thus, with the authority laid upon me by the limited collection I have gone through, I can claim that this is the most impressive book I have read in this genre. The superlative should be excused as it will most likely be duplicated in other reviews - It is very temporal as much as it is relative. After sifting through the first few pages, I came across a variety of characters - all of them extraordinary in a way but real people.

Virgin's Lover is an awesome book (I do use "awesome" rather liberally).

Philippa Gregory has masterfully told the tale of Queen Elizabeth and the troubled times she faced. One striking aspect of the book is that none of the central characters are heroic or a villian. It was very difficult to read a book with such a theme. After reading books like the "Lord of the Rings" (I gave up after the first book) - absence of an evil eye and innocent hobbits, I found it difficult to even accept this book. I was a couple of hundred pages into the book and I found myself wondering when the good guy will come and save all of them? We (liberally used to mean myself) are so used to stories which involve good guys coming in and destroying bad guys and bad people are always doomed towards destruction. 200 pages into the book and everyone in the story was evil (again, not an accurate description). Queen Elizabeth was in love with a married man Robert and wandering off to be with him instead of being a Queen. The married "Lord of the Horse" (Robert) of the Queen was "cruel" to his wife, Amy and a very ambitious man: ambitious enough to want to sit on the throne not by dethroning Elizabeth but by marrying her. Amy, sobbing and loving, but jealous of Elizabeth. Cecil - a master politician, who probably would be the only character who is good but his determination to drive Robert away from influencing Elizabeth even to the point of killing an innocent woman, does not help much in establishing him to be a "Good" guy.

Back to the book, It will be difficult for me to comment on this book. I was much immersed in knowing and trying to comprehend the history. I would have described any book which described "Elizabeth's" story and describe it the same manner. Every character was a villian, committed treachery, and were murderers, conspirators and what not? How each character loves another and how difficult it is to do anything about it? And when they do, how much it complicates things?

It took me less than a day to finish this book.

I loved "The Other Boleyn Girl," so I was very excited to see this book when it came out. What a disappointment! Elizabeth is a shrill, narcissistic, and totally unbelievable character; Amy Dudley is a brainless, insipid whiner. While the facts are more or less true, the characterizations are dull, repetitious, and finally boring....this is one of the few books I've ever failed to finish. I just couldn't slog my way through page after page of the same dull dialogue. If you are interested in learning more about Elizabeth, I would highly recommend Alison Weir's book; although it is nonfiction, it is much more interesting than this novel.

I wanted to love this book. I think the mistake I made was reading The Fool's Tale by Galland right before this one, and that is just one of those books that can't be surpassed in excellence. This book was just slow to get into, for me. Once I did, though, I did become taken with it. I was very surprised at what happened at the very end--I knew there would be some significance with the jewel box, but I didn't know till the last two pages!

This book was utterly amazing. I started reading Phillpa Gregory's works with "The Other Boleyn Girl" and have ravenously devoured all the series since. This was one of my favorite books, someone you feel for all three characters (Amy, Robert, and Elizabeth). It is amazingly well written as always, although I will say Elizabeth's "I'm sooo afraid of war! Someone save me! We'll fight! Wait no, I take it back! No, wait, we will fight! Oh, I'm so afraid!" routine. It kind of makes you want to grab her and shake her around! But, all in all, this book is wonderful, and if you are a fan of this author, you should enjoy it as much as I did!
By the way, buy it from the store, I'd never thought to check here, and I was super mad at myself when I saw that it's only $4.00 here...I paid $18.00 after taxes from Barnes and Nobles! It was worth it, but if you have the choice, order from here!

I thought this books was so juicy with scandal and background information of this royal family. I think I might have liked it more than The Other Boleyn Girl. This is my favorite book of the Tudor age so far.

I have read all of Ms. Gregory's books. This one was a shock to my sense of expectation from this normally breathtaking author.

Her portrayal of Elizabeth I was rediculously biased and slanted. It was much closer to reading a trashy romance novel than a 'fictional',historical portrayal of a woman such as Elizabeth I.

Ms. Gregory did all she could to give readers the sense that Elizabeth was nothing more than a manipulative, weak, immoral and oversexed vixen. I was disappointed in such a depiction. As a successful woman herself, Ms. Gregory was off her game to deliberately portray Elizabeth in such a manner. Perhaps the author's depiction of catty Elizabeth is instead a self portrait? This book would not be suitable enough to be used as kindling in my fireplace.

After reading The Other Boeylen Girl and The Queens Fool I was starved for more. The Virgins Lover was just what I needed. The book is a page turner and when you are done you will want to know all you can about the historical characters Gregory portrays so vividly. Never has Queen Elizabeth nor those around her have been brought back to life in such a way. Gregory is ince again on top of her game. A must read by anyone who truly enjoys historical fiction.

Not among my favorite of Philipa Gregory's novels. Although it is beautifully written and no doubt capitivating it seems to stray a little too far from historical fact. Queen Elizabeth is protrayed as more of a weak minded woman, easily swayed by the men of her council, especially Robert Dudley. I would have liked to have seen her portrayed more as the strong, independent leader that she no doubt was and less like a fairy tale princess unable to draw the line between her role as a monarch and her life as a woman.

I've never read historical fiction before finding Philippa Gregory. I was shocked to see that this book didn't have a higher rating. Gregory makes the characters leap from the page. I would find myself slowing down toward the end of the book because I didn't want the book to end.

The amount of research the author must do is amazing. The reader truly feels transported to England and the royal courts. You won't be disappointed!

If you love Historical fiction about British Royalty like I do, then you'll love this book. While I doubt Philippa Gregory could ever replace Jean Plaidy as my favorite historical fiction author, she could definitely come a close second. Her writing isn't quite as elegant as Jean Plaidy but she does have better sex scenes then Plaidy ever did. I'm definitely looking forward to reading her other novels. A

I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. I'm a big fan of Ms. Gregory. This read a bit like a Harlequin Romance Novel after reading Allison Weir's "Innocent Traitor." It still held my interest (which is hard when there are so many great books out there deserving of one's time). I did not love it as much as The Other Boleyn Girl or the Boleyn Inheritance but it was nonetheless a a good read.

An enjoyable read - not her best in my opinionbut definitely worth the time. Gregory presents an interesting and quite plausible take on the death of Amy Dudley and gives us a historical novel full of the intrigue and romance we have come to expect from her.

Philippa Gregory has done wonders in opening the door of Tudor England to my world! I am fascinated with the players and customs and scandals. It was an amazing read, coupled with the previous two "The Other Boleyn Girl" & "The Queen's Fool", I feel like I truly spent time in the English courts!!

I thought the most impressive fact about this book was that Ms. Gregory portrayed Elizabeth as being less than the "powerful leader" that the world thinks her as, and more as a normal person, suspectible to the same viles and emotions that everyone else goes through. It was a very good way of twisting a story many of us already knew.

I was completely involved in this book after the first chapter. Go and read!!

Phillipa Gregory really scored with this one!! This Elizabethean era novel depicts some of the more important and influential men in Queen Elizabeth's life and the effects they had on her (personally and politically). Her portrayal of Elizabeth is simply astounding--she shows a more vulnerable, young and naive side (that surely existed).

Simply marvelous!!!

If you love Historical fiction about British Royalty like I do, then you'll love this book. While I doubt Philippa Gregory could ever replace Jean Plaidy as my favorite historical fiction author, she could definitely come a close second. Her writing isn't quite as elegant as Jean Plaidy but she does have better sex scenes then Plaidy ever did. I'm definitely looking forward to reading her other novels. A

I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. I'm a big fan of Ms. Gregory. This read a bit like a Harlequin Romance Novel after reading Allison Weir's "Innocent Traitor." It still held my interest (which is hard when there are so many great books out there deserving of one's time). I did not love it as much as The Other Boleyn Girl or the Boleyn Inheritance but it was nonetheless a a good read.

An enjoyable read - not her best in my opinionbut definitely worth the time. Gregory presents an interesting and quite plausible take on the death of Amy Dudley and gives us a historical novel full of the intrigue and romance we have come to expect from her.

Philippa Gregory has done wonders in opening the door of Tudor England to my world! I am fascinated with the players and customs and scandals. It was an amazing read, coupled with the previous two "The Other Boleyn Girl" & "The Queen's Fool", I feel like I truly spent time in the English courts!!

I thought the most impressive fact about this book was that Ms. Gregory portrayed Elizabeth as being less than the "powerful leader" that the world thinks her as, and more as a normal person, suspectible to the same viles and emotions that everyone else goes through. It was a very good way of twisting a story many of us already knew.

I was completely involved in this book after the first chapter. Go and read!!

Phillipa Gregory really scored with this one!! This Elizabethean era novel depicts some of the more important and influential men in Queen Elizabeth's life and the effects they had on her (personally and politically). Her portrayal of Elizabeth is simply astounding--she shows a more vulnerable, young and naive side (that surely existed).

Simply marvelous!!!

I am absolutely addicted to Philippa Gregory's books, and this is a great one. I just discovered her about two months ago, and I am devouring her books because they are not only good reading, but she includes so much history that I really feel it's valuable reading. This book paints an even more vivid picture of Elizabeth. I couldn't put it down!

This book brings history alive. It is well researched and follows events from Great Britian's past in acturate detail, while still allowing the reader to see the historical characters portrayed as very human. I would highly recommend this book and all others by the same author I have read all her work, and as a British Literature teacher, I found them all delighting.

Wonderful novel. I read The Other Boelyn Girl, then The Queen's Fool and finally The Virgin's Lover. Some of the best books I have read in twenty years. Fun, interesting and a wonderful story. Never thought I would enjoy reading about life in the 1500's and I could not put it down. Very well written. Cannot wait to give it to my old boarding school friends to read...they will love it!

I have read several of Philippa Gregory's books and this is one of my favorites (the first one being The Other Boleyn Girl). It continues with the same themes of love and greed that appears in the other books but they are presented from the perspective of a man. Which make is quite interesting because all her books are usually written from a females perspective.

This book isn't worth the money. It's not even worth the time to take it out of the library. Having read (and loved) her other books, I was really disappointed in this one. It's boring, petty and whiney. It reads more like a Barbara Cartland novel, than informative, historical fiction. I'm glad that I waited to get it at the local library because I would have been pretty ticked off if I had paid money for it.

I love it when you can learn something and enjoy a great story all at the same time! A wonderful story about Queen Elizabeth I and her lover(?) Sir Robert Dudley. The story delves into the question of Elizabeth's relationship with Dudley and how it affected her kingdom and court. I read this book in just a few days and I can't wait to start "The Other Boleyn Girl"! GREAT BOOK!

Taken from the back cover of the paper back: As the young couple falls in love, a question hangs in the air: can he really set aside his wife and marry the queen? When Amy is found dead, Elizabeth and Dudley are suddenly plunged into a struggle for survival.

Nice summary, however, Amy Dudley doesn't die until page 410 (of 438). You will read 94% of the book with Amy alive, knowing that she will die. Whoever wrote the summary on the back is an idiot because it definitely ruined the book for me. I would have read it completely different if I had not known Amy would die - and that fact could have been an actual surprise. I also would not have been waiting for it for 410 pages!

Overall a good book, I just feel like I wasted my time.

It is a good book, but I am used to her stories being amazing. Worth the read, but not sure it is worth the money. Her heart didn't seem to be in this one. I am not sure Mrs. Gregory felt too fond of this queen.

of this book. It doesn't compare in entertainment value to The Other Boleyn Girl (the best) or The Queens Fool. It drags and then abruptly ends when the last 70 pages finally start to really move the plot. Oddly, the Authors Note at the end is more interesting than the book - although it runs right into her footnotes - be sure not to miss it.

Wonderful slightly fictional account of the turbulent period of the dreadful Henry Eight and his six wives.All accounts are written like eye

witness which really brings the book alive and personal.I read it and then

went right back to read it again. Excellent.

Malcolm Blair

I loved the first two books in this series but this one was extremely weak. The characters were not likable and it was very slow from beginning to end. There was very little history from the era and not a lot of "plot" or intrigue. I would pass on this altogether.

I did not like this book at all. She portrayed Elizabeth as a simpering fool who could not make a decision without a man. I know it is fiction, but come on.... This is not the Elizabeth that gave rise to the Golden Age. It is also missing Walsingham, which is quite a big omission. Don't waste your time.

I really enjoyed this quick read. Philippa manages to tell her stories from such an interesting perspective. Very creative and thoughtful. She weaves pieces of history into this fictional story. Highly recommended.

Queen Elizabeth will always be my favorite queen. It's fun to get an indepth look at her life and loves. I love the way Gregory writes. It's like I'm actually transported back in time and I'm a member of the court.

I am a great lover of Elizabethan anything and when I found this book I was overjoyed! It seemed very realistic and I loved that it was from Amy Dudley's viewpoint, a person we don't really know much about. If you're reading P. Gregory for the first time be prepared to love her work and just know that you can't read just one...wonderful author, wonderful book!

Three pages into "The Virgin's Lover" and I suspected that I was onto a winner: I was right! With delicacy and ease, Philippa Gregory has once again penned another enthralling and beguiling tale, this time set during Elizabeth I's first year as queen, ably presenting all the political difficulties that the young queen and her advisors faced (at home and abroad) that first year, the forbidden love affair that developed between Elizabeth and her Master of Horse and childhood friend, Robert Dudley, and presenting us with her own idea as to how Amy Robsart, Robert's wife, died.

Robert Dudley always believed that he and his family were destined for greatness. But the past years, following the ill fated attempt to make Lady Jane Grey (the widow of Edward VI) queen and her second husband, Guilford Dudley, king, have been hard ones for the surviving Dudleys -- Robert in particular. For an ambitious man, used to power and court life, being stripped of his titles, land and wealth, has been particularly unbearable. And he is also beginning to realise that his choice of wife, the slightly older, uneducated and totally unambitious Amy Robsart, may have been a disastrous one. And then in 1558, Queen Mary dies without issue, and names her half-sister, Elizabeth as heir to the throne. For Robert, this means only one thing: his star is on the rise again. As he quickly settles into life at court again, he begins to realise that the new queen, his childhood friend, needs guidance in a great many things, guidance he is only to happy to give much to the dismay of Elizabeth's other advisors. William Cecil in particular. Cecil is at his wit's end as to how to thwart Robert's influence over the queen which seems to grow each day. Worse, Cecil is beginning to suspect that the queen has fallen in love with the strikingly handsome and debonair Dudley. Fortunately Dudley is already married, so that Cecil doesn't have to face the awful possibility that Elizabeth will demand that she be allowed to marry Dudley. But what Cecil doesn't know is that Robert Dudley has already began to think about putting his wife aside so that he can marry the queen. A task easily accomplished now that Elizabeth is head governor of the Church of England. Will Robert get his way? Will Elizabeth help him achieve his dream of kingship? And what will happen to Amy Robsart? As the country already bankrupt by the previous queen teeters between war and scandal, Elizabeth and Dudley continue their mad dance that could spell the end of the Tudor reign over England...

For me, "The Virgin's Lover" proved to be as wonderful a read as "The Other Boleyn Girl." Historically speaking everything covered in "The Virgin's Lover" is old ground -- nothing earth-shatteringly new revealed is revealed in this novel. But what makes "The Virgin's Lover" a fantastic and completely absorbing read is how the author brings characters and events to life. Vividly and grimly, Ms Gregory conveys what a young man used to wielding power must have felt when faced with ruin and low fortune, after his father's execution and the loss of all his wealth. Accurately she paints the ruthless Dudley need to succeed and his ache for power; and poignantly she paints the unhappy marriage of Amy Robsart, a young unambitous and uneducated woman, married and still in love with a younger man who no longer feels anything but irritation for her. Also nicely done is manner in which she presents, as a background, a country torn apart by religious wrangling and poverty, and titillated by the latest royal scandal. As soon as I saw "The Virgin's Lover" on the shelving cart, I knew that I had to read the book at once. From the first page to the last, Philippa Gregory held me captive. "The Virgin's Lover" was a fantastic read, and one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

This book sucks.

First of all, the women in this book are absolutely pathetic.

I couldn't even muster the strength to feel sorry for them while they

desperately love a man who never existed. They are pretending he is something he

is not.

It saddens me that a woman who rules England, Elizabeth, is so caught

up with a two timing slim ball that she fails to adequately rule her

country. Who's kidding? She wasn't a queen. Furthermore, how could she

possible think Robert might be Prince Charming? Perhaps the saying,

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks" did not exist in the 1500's.

Never-the-less, I'm pretty sure she would understand the term

'home-wrecker'.

Silly Amy. Personally, I think someone should hop in a time machine,

zip over to Amy's meager farm, slap her and hand her the book titled

He's Just Not That in to you. I'm sure she would have learned a lot and

spared her own life. I'm embarrassed to have to share the same name as

her.

In addition, this book adds to my current lack of faith in honest men.

Great. I can just see myself in 50 years... I will be a bitter old

lady who lives in a creaky house full of mothballs and smelly cats.

Thanks Robert Dudly. You're a winner!

Perhaps, the only way I might have enjoyed this book is if Elizabeth

and Amy had a little pow wow, drank a few bottles of wine, compared notes

on Robert and then dumped his sorry ass.

Oh and where were the hot steamy sex scenes?

In addition, I never really followed what was going on outside their

sad relationships. What happened in that war? I didn't learn much which

is always disappointing when reading historical fiction. The story

jumped from moment to moment, kind of like this book review.

If you enjoy, Historical fiction, I suggest the following books:

This first set is a trilogy - Read the first book! I promise you will

not be able to put it down and will read the remaining two.

The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe

The Last Great Dance

By Sandra Gull

Also, The Book of Eleanor (A Novel on Eleanor of Aquatine) By Pamela

Kaufman

I loved this book. I found it extremely interesting and very hard to put down at times. I would recomend it strongly. It's a creative portrayal of what goes on behind the scenes in 16th century England.

As a descendant of Lady Jane Seymour (yes, the wife of Henry the Eighth..I'm sure there are thousands of descendants like me)...it is nonetheless very concerning to keep popping open these..novels(?).. that claim to be - albeit loosely - based on facts about women who are long dead and cannot stand up for themselves or their characters, which are being smeared to the author's obvious amusement throughout this series.

Ok. If you want scandal and complete fiction only lightly based on fact, look here.

Ie: Rumour has it that Thomas Seymour may have been involved in some sort of indecent relationship/molestation with Elizabeth when she was only a teenager..an age when most of us are either helpless to adults or make some pretty bad mistakes.

But widely known "facts" like that are awfully flimsy to be touted as enough to hold up an "historic novel".

And I hope my review sounds dependable, though it's coming from an amateur history buff who is hopping mad right now, and always is when seeing such books.

So if you want something a little more substantial, (and perhaps, since this could be my FAMILY, I'm biased?) PLEASE turn to someone like Alyson Wier, or David Starkey, though it seems he has some biases for or against certain royal figures as we all do.

Even historians will run the gamut with Lady Jane, saying she was everything from "mousy and docile" to "mean"! (the latter comment based on her famously not-so-great looks).

There.

I feel better now.

Oh yeah, and as to my opinion of this woman's series so far?

I think the rating says it all.

I can't even label how I feel right now.

Writing is so personal, I can't, as a layperson, insult this author here in public.

Any writer does lay out alot of themselves for all to see in each book, and that, even that's all, is something I respect here.

Thanks for listening.

I hope my two cents helps guide anyone who impressionable and/or is truly looking for history,to read another author.

History can be SO compelling without all the embroidery and modernization of character of those who lived so long ago, that life was too different to describe.

Look for authors who at least try to hit closer to the mark, folks!...