The Virgin's Lover (The Tudor Court, #5)

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The Virgin's Lover (The Tudor Court #5)

by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 27,222 ratings · 1,519 reviews

From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool comes a stunning portrait of the first perilous years of Elizabeth I's reign.

As a new queen, Elizabeth faces two great dangers: the French invasion of Scotland, which threatens to put Mary Queen of Scots on her throne, and her passion for the convicted traitor Robert Dudley.

Bud Dudley is already married, and his

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Hardcover, 441 pages

Published November 16th 2004 by Touchstone

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Sep 10, 2011 Shaya rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, school-reading

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was on my summer reading list. I read many of the other reviews. I don't understand why this was one of the books for us to read. It sounds like one of the author's other books would have made a much better choice. I thougth it was pretty awful. The book should have been 200 pages, not 430.

I don't quite understand how this book is appropriate. There are at least five pretty detailed sex scenes, and two detailed murders. I didn't mind the sex scenes, but for a school that uses the term "co-...more This was on my summer reading list. I read many of the other reviews. I don't understand why this was one of the books for us to read. It sounds like one of the author's other books would have made a much better choice. I thougth it was pretty awful. The book should have been 200 pages, not 430.

I don't quite understand how this book is appropriate. There are at least five pretty detailed sex scenes, and two detailed murders. I didn't mind the sex scenes, but for a school that uses the term "co-ed nudity" when referring to the fact that wearing sexual references on clothing is against school policy, I was surprised.

There was one fifty page stretch, perhaps more, when absolutely nothing happened. It could have easily been summarized in five pages.

The overall writing was a bit dreary to get through. Not that many page turning parts. It did feel like it was rushed and not edited well. I would guess a good editor would have cut significant parts to make it shorter and bearable. There were also several grammar and spelling mistakes that I caught, that annoyed me.

I only had sympathy for two characters and only actually liked one of the characters. Amy's story, Dudley's wife, is told with honesty and I fet sympathy for her. Elizabeth and Dudley are horrible, making quick decisions based on emotion with no thought to their greater responsibility. I have always thought fondly of Elizabeth and her political grace in that period, but this book did not portray her in a postive light. I also felt sympathy for Cecil who was just trying to do his duty. He did get snubbed at one point, but came back. He was good at his job even if his morals are questionable.

I did see an underlying current of lines that I liked. Dark understatements, usually in the form of thoughts, that sum up an event well. If her other work has more of that I would be more inclined to try her again with one of the other books people enjoyed more.

I did like the ending. The fact that Amy was dead made it less interesting for me to read but I slogged up to that point. The cleverness of Gregory's writing shows through with Dudley's realization of the huge mistake he made: trading one good women who loved him and stood with him when he lost his prosperity and honor in the court, for the queen's quick love and the possible postion of being a king. In the end he's left a ruined man, with neither a loving wife nor a crown. At that point he finally realizes the worth of Amy. "A little bit late, I might add."(less)

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Jun 19, 2008 Debs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Debs by: Judy

Shelves: 2008, historical-fiction, borrowed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First Instinct Review:
Elizabeth: Waaaaa! I can't rule England without you!
Robert: Come my Sweet! I shall pet you and stroke you and rule you and call you George.
Elizabeth: Ooo, Lord Robert!
Me: Shut the hell up!

With A Little More Thought:
The verdict after reading The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Queen's Fool and The Constant Princess is that this one is definitely the worst.

I hated the way Elizabeth was portrayed. Yes, from historical records it does seem as though she was inde...more

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Jul 28, 2008 Kendra Kettelhut rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Again, my love for this author grows. I have watched the movie Elizabeth a long time ago, and really remembered none of it....but following the history from each book, and building on all the events in these stories, I have gained such a wealth of knowledge, and appreciation for this period of history.

Since my knowledge of Elizabeth and her reign of power is very limited (pretty much nonexistant) I found her love affair with Dudley very intriguing; especially after following The Queen's Fool and...more Again, my love for this author grows. I have watched the movie Elizabeth a long time ago, and really remembered none of it....but following the history from each book, and building on all the events in these stories, I have gained such a wealth of knowledge, and appreciation for this period of history.

Since my knowledge of Elizabeth and her reign of power is very limited (pretty much nonexistant) I found her love affair with Dudley very intriguing; especially after following The Queen's Fool and learning a bit of background of his early relations to the monarch and Elizabeth herself. I felt this story developed futher into the details of his character. In The Queen's Fool he is almost a likeable character, and although he still has parts of him that draw you in throughout The Virgin's Lover, Phillipa Gregory develops the story and the characters in such a way that you understand the reasoning and logic behind most all of their actions, including the actions he ambitiously takes as well as those painful actions taken against him. Although Dudley's motives are usually self serving, the author does a brilliant job of humanizing each and every character so you can see the whole story as well as how each indiviual character may see it through their eyes. You are made to feel such an expanse of emotion from utimate heartbreaking pity for the character Amy Dudley, to such an appreciation for the cunning strength and intellect that William Cecil uses in order to keep the balance of the kingdom in check, and ultimately sustained. Again, I would like to continue to develop my knowledge and research this amazing woman that reigned for so many years, Queen Elizabeth. This book gives such an insight into this woman that held and reigned in an empire solidly for so many years. One fact I have dicovered more clear than anything in my expolartion of these 5 novels is that the position of King or Queen is not one of comfort or joy for long, in fact I may go as far to say it is not an enviable position at all.

I was sad to close that book, although I hear she has another coming out this fall about Mary Queen of Scots....and a few other books that are definitely on my list of MUST READS....until the next book ends, happy reading!(less)

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Sep 10, 2011 Ryan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 25, 2008 Cherie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

It's 1558, and Elizabeth, daughter to King Henry VIII and 2nd wife Anne Boleyn, has just been crowned Queen of England. After the brief but strict reign of her Catholic half-sister Mary, what is England to expect from the Protestant Princess who wants to abolish the Catholic ways? In a country full of turmoil, Sir Robert Dudley, longtime friend of Elizabeth since their days growing up at court together, seeks to better his position and maneuver himself into a position of power at Elizabeth's sid...more It's 1558, and Elizabeth, daughter to King Henry VIII and 2nd wife Anne Boleyn, has just been crowned Queen of England. After the brief but strict reign of her Catholic half-sister Mary, what is England to expect from the Protestant Princess who wants to abolish the Catholic ways? In a country full of turmoil, Sir Robert Dudley, longtime friend of Elizabeth since their days growing up at court together, seeks to better his position and maneuver himself into a position of power at Elizabeth's side.

But what of his wife: the forgotten Amy Dudley who doesn't come to court but instead remains back home in the country, forever waiting for her husband to put aside his ambitions and return home to her, for the love of a good woman. Unfortunately, the only love Dudley's seeking is the Queen's. But to what lengths will he go to achieve his means?

This was another great read in the Tudor series! Though the work itself is considered fiction, the author bases the stories themselves on fact. Of course, we cannot truly know everything that went through the minds of Elizabeth, Robert, William Cecil, and the others as not as much was recorded in the way of diaries and actual day-to-day events. But despite that, Ms. Gregory is able to take the facts from numerous sources and build a very real feeling story that draws you right in and makes you feel as if you were right there in the Renaissance period, experiencing everything firsthand along with the rest of the court. It's as if she's reconstructed history right before your very eyes!

I was never much for History in school; it was always one of my worst subjects and I could never garner enough interest to retain the facts that were constantly drilled into my head. However, the way these stories are composed by Ms. Gregory, I enjoy them so much that I actually find myself easily retaining all the information I so easily forgot before, even long after I finished the book. My high school history professor would be so proud! LOL(less)

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Jun 13, 2007 Sammy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: b-the-good

Philippa Gregory is still unable to catch up to the success of The Other Boleyn Girl. Her past two books have just not been quite up to par with her first one. While I still enjoyed the The Virgin's Lover I was far from impressed because I know what Philippa Gregory has the capability of doing.

The writing was still beautiful, as always, but the story line (though taken from history and elaborated upon) was lacking. This time the story was not told from one person's perspective, but several. I th...more

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Apr 19, 2008 Hanley rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book taught me something about myself: I have to have someone to root for in fiction. I was disgusted by the three main characters: Elizabeth for her selfish, destructive weakness, Robert Dudley for his selfish, destructive ambition, and Lady Amy Dudley for her stupid, pathetic devotion. Even William Cecil, who clearly fought every day for what he thought was best for his country, was ultimately a smarmy man. Why would I want to read about people who revolt me? Especially when it's a fictio...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Robin rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: england, historical-fiction, tudor

I love Gregory's books and was looking forward to this one because I love to read about Elizabeth I, but I was a bit disappointed in the way she is portrayed in this version. She comes across as a weak woman who is letting herself be bullied by the ambitious man she is in love with. While I don't know that much about Robert Dudley, this book makes him seem very selfish and determined to do anything to be King of England. I also switch between hating his first wife, Amy, and feeling sorry for her...more

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Jul 27, 2008 Phillipylorna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this historical novel. It was a little bit depressing because a man falls in love with the queen and he is already married. I felt bad for his wife who is desperately in love with him. She knows of his infidelities and is heart sick over it. Her husband works closely with Elizabeth the new queen of England and falls in love with her. He is actually more in love with the power and longs to be the new king but because he is married he can not marry Elizabeth. He wants a divorce but...more

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Feb 01, 2008 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

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

I was disappointed in the way Queen Elizabeth was portrayed. Gregory shows Elizabeth as an almost weak-willed, indecisive woman ruled by her love of a person she knows she can not not have. She can not make a firm decision about war with France. She's left scandal about her and Dudley to run amok, let...more

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Jul 22, 2007 Yvette rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high hopes for this novel, after the lovely experience I'd had with Phillipa Gregory's The Queen's Fool.

I love just about anything to do with Queen Elizabeth I, and a historical novel of her romance with Robert Dudley was intriguing, to say the least. However...

The novel was weak at best. Oh, the writing is not bad, although the number of typos and grammatical errors really threw me for a loop--how can a work of this calibre fail so miserably in basic grammar and punctuation? Moreover, the...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Ginny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great fast paced read.

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Feb 12, 2009 Toni Osborne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This novel addresses another fascinating aspect of the Tudor Court drama. The Elizabethan enigma left us with an unsolved crime of passion that shocked a nation through history.

At the time of Queen Mary's death, the young princess had yet to act in a significant role on the great stage of England. The plotting of other legitimate heirs and powerful bishops who fear the return of Protestant rigors and Henry's rules leave Elizabeth beset by treachery on all sides. Left with few resources to protec...more

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Dec 13, 2008 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008-reads

Philippa Gregory is unable to reach the success of The Other Boleyn Girl with The Virgin’s Lover. While I still enjoyed the The Virgin’s Lover I was far from impressed because I know what Gregory is capable of producing.

The writing was still beautiful, as always, but the story line, though taken from history and elaborated upon, was lacking. This time the story was not told from one person’s perspective, but several. I think it gave the story less dimension because you found yourself unable to f...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Nicole rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

AMY ROBSART WAS NOT ILLITERATE. The historical record shows that she was well-educated and there are letters that were preserved written in her own hand. She also was the financial manager of the Robsart estate. It bothers me that, rather than relying on the historical record, Gregory chose to portray Robsart as poorly educated, flaky and with no money of her own in order to make her seem more dependent on those that surrounded her. Gregory also omits Robsart's visit to court in 1559, when she s...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am generally a big fan of Philippa Gregory. While I enjoyed this book I cannot say this is one of her best! When I read a book I need a lead character to care about. I did not form that relationship with anyone in The Virgin's Lover. Robert Dudley was a confused character who was loyal and loving (when it suits his purposes)and driven by ambition. Elizabeth was portrayed as weak and simpering...making decisions on a whim and following directions from Robert...a commoner who treats her in a con...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Luci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to admit that this was my first Gregory novel. I plan on reading the two other novels in this "trilogy" of sorts. When I first approached this particular novel, however, I was worried that it would read like other weighty historical novels, like Margaret George's Henry VIII. However, as I got further into the novel, it picked up speed.

Now, I do agree with many of the other reviewers regarding Dudley and Elizabeth. This novel offered an alternate view of Dudley and Elizabeth as star crosse...more

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Dec 19, 2012 James rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Historical fiction is always a difficult one- although the word 'fiction' is in there people tend to get rather prejudice about it and sadly this book only continues to feed that prejudice further.

Having come from reading 'The Queen's fool' straight into reading this book maybe i'm looking at it from the slightly wrong angle, but in that story there was so much action- we had battles, plots, intrigue, romance, just about everything really! Sadly this story as some other reviewers pointed out jus...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Tammy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is book took a little longer to read. I had a hard time getting into it at first but as the pages progressed I found it more interesting. Gregory painted a different Elizabeth from grand Queen of the hisory books. I feel that Elizabrth had many secret lovers, for she was the product of Henry VIII and the Boleyn/Howard line. She would never give anyone her power but she would not life the life of a complete virgin. She craved power not Chastity. Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert Dudley, became...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have always been fascinated by Queen Elizabeth I and was excited to read this book. I was not disappointed. Philippa Gregory pays careful attention to detail and historical facts when she writes and I appreciated her hard work.

The story follows the first several years of Queen Elizabeth's reign. It was a time of political and religious unrest in England's history. Elizabeth was a young woman. She was pretty, smart, and not as easy to manipulate as the men around her would have liked. Except b...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have read The Queen's Fool, which was great. I also have read a lot about the Tudor period. So I came to this book with a lot of anticipation. Some things about it were great. I liked the the way she got inside the heads of her main characters, even though I was disappointed (as were many other reviewers) by the unsympathetic portrait of Queen Elizabeth. The interpretation of the relationship between Dudley and the two women, and the tragic event that happens at the novel's end, are also quite...more

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May 31, 2012 Lottie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The sequel to The Queen’s Fool, it was equally appealing but great because it was the sequel and picked right up where the Queen’s Fool left off. Luckily, it was published just as I finished reading the Queen’s Fool, which was nice since I discovered the Queen's Fool by chance. This story doesn’t feature Hannah and her first person narrative, instead it focuses on Elizabeth as she comes into being a queen and her trials and challenges doing so. Her lover (as in the title) is Robert Dudley who we...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Aubrey Coletti added it · review of another edition

This is one of the worst books I've ever read from one of my favorite authors.

Now, that that is out of my system, let me begin: I am a big Gregory fan: "The Other Boleyn Girl" is one of my favorite novels. However, when a writer abandons filling in what we don't know, for downright changing the facts, they are no longer writing historical fiction, but fantasy: and that is what this book is. The problem? Gregory's attempt at maligning Elizabeth the First's character.

Now, I knew she had a strong l...more This is one of the worst books I've ever read from one of my favorite authors.

Now, that that is out of my system, let me begin: I am a big Gregory fan: "The Other Boleyn Girl" is one of my favorite novels. However, when a writer abandons filling in what we don't know, for downright changing the facts, they are no longer writing historical fiction, but fantasy: and that is what this book is. The problem? Gregory's attempt at maligning Elizabeth the First's character.

Now, I knew she had a strong love of Queen Mary from "The Queen's Fool", where she attempted to paint Mary as a decisive, loving, and good queen who just fell upon hard times and was a victim of circumstance, instead of the inferior ruler, even if loving woman, that history shows us she is. However, he description of Elizabeth, while it viewed her as conniving and a bit of a whore (also very unlikely considering her mother's death) also acknowledged her strength, as an intelligent, decisive woman with a will to survive and lead, one who would, in the words of her character Hannah Green "fight like a bated cat" rather than give up and weep.

But with Elizabeth front and center, Gregory cannot contain her venom, and changes her OWN portrayal of Elizabeth so roundly that one would think it was written by a different person altogether! No doubt the Virgin Queen had her flaws: history shows us she was vain, ruthless at times, and had a serious temper. However, history, every POSSIBLE historical source, shows us she was also intelligent, wise, strong-willed, and took a full hand in ruling her country. Indeed, a great point is made in how many times she shot her councillors down to do what she had determined was right: and it turned out best for her country. But Gregory attempts to paint her as a weak-willed ninny, who was foolish and lazy caring only for love, and who could barely rule herself, let alone a country. This is, quite simply, not true, and for a historical fiction writer to ignore historical fact, when she had so closely followed it before, suggests a deep seated anger and resentment, the source of which I cannot fathom.

This hatred, or disdain, IS indeed the problem with The Virgin's Lover: Gregory doesn't like ANYONE she is writing about. Lord Dudley is a selfish conniving bastard. His wife Amy is infuriatingly annoying and simpering, and the picture of a stereotypical raving woman: you start off with a wealth of sympathy to give her by virtue of her situation, that of a woman in love with a cheating man she cannot leave, but by God if she doesn't throw it all out the window and try her very best to make you want to strangle her by her bodice laces. And Elizabeth is, of course, to Gregory, the devil in a woman's shape.

If Gregory doesn't like her characters, why should we? Her skill at painting the details of the past and bringing the reader into the days of Renaissance England are utterly wasted on characters who are completely unlikable, and on a story which reads like a 1500's Catholic smear pamphlet against Elizabeth and not a novel.It is just plain boring, and a waste of your time. Her desperate attempts to do all she can to convince people Queen Elizabeth wasn't a competent ruler against all historical fact simply make for a downright bad book. If you want a good look at Queen Elizabeth the First pick up ANY historical book on her life: her life is interesting enough without fiction. If you want an exciting, engrossing look into Tudor/Elizabethan and now War of the Roses era England try ANY of Gregory's other novels.

Gregory is a fine author when she is writing about characters against whom she does not have a severe vendetta. No one wants to read a book with no one to root for. Ignore this pile of venom, and pick up "The Other Boleyn Girl."

(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Kylie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pretty good read.
I love the Queen Elizabeth I, and this was the first novel I read about her. (I have read some biographies; I'm always reading about her mother).
This was an interesting story, really. It portrays the love triangle (?) between Elizabeth, the swashbuckling Robert Dudley, and his 'inconvenient' wife, Amy Robsart.
It's a sweet little love affair; they want to wed so much, but for the good of her kingdom, Elizabeth has to marry for policy/diplomacy what with their war with the French...more

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Sep 10, 2011 Apple rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have a love/hate relationship with this author. Her books are always either a Hit or Mess for me and this book was definitely under the Miss list.

After reading the Other Boleyn Girl and the way PG portrays Anne Boleyn as an evil, unsympathetic, absolute harpy to everyone around her I was sure she had this hatred for Anne Boleyn and is clearly biased against her.

... On the contrary she clearly had a huge amount of respect and likeness for Katherine of Argon and her daughter Mary as is made cle...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Carol Rogers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book immensely, but found the length of the book its one drawback. I feel that the story would not have been compromised in the slightest by reducing the 438 pages. I don't usually worry about the length of the book, but this time I felt that the plot was drawn out over too many pages.

That being said, I found that the writing was good and have had to remind myself of the historical facts to find out where history ends and fiction begins. This is truly the way historical fiction sh...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

More foreign-policy oriented than her other books I'd read (Other Boleyn Girl, Boleyn Inheritance), which mostly dealt with the intrigue and insular dynamics of courtly life. It was somewhat tedious to keep track of all the different heads of state - kings, queens, princes, princesses, nobles, lines of succession, and the various agendas of all the aforementioned. The "claim to the throne" agendas & potential successors were always a part of the other books, but it seemed intensified 100x mo...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Sierra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The sequel to The Queen’s Fool, it was equally appealing but great because it was the sequel and picked right up where the Queen’s Fool left off. Luckily, it was published just as I finished reading the Queen’s Fool, which was nice since I discovered the Queen's Fool by chance.

This story doesn’t feature Hannah and her first person narrative, instead it focuses on Elizabeth as she comes into being a queen and her trials and challenges doing so. Her lover (as in the title) is Robert Dudley who we...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Philippa Gregory continues her focus on the Tudor dynasty with another great read. This time, the focus is on the love triangle that has formed between the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth, her friend and lover Robert Dudley, and his wife Amy.

Elizabeth has been doing a good job of getting a handle on being the ruler of her small island nation. This is in spite of the religious disparities among her people. This is highlighted when the Pope offers a dispensation for anyone who might want to protect...more Philippa Gregory continues her focus on the Tudor dynasty with another great read. This time, the focus is on the love triangle that has formed between the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth, her friend and lover Robert Dudley, and his wife Amy.

Elizabeth has been doing a good job of getting a handle on being the ruler of her small island nation. This is in spite of the religious disparities among her people. This is highlighted when the Pope offers a dispensation for anyone who might want to protect the true faith by assassinating her. The result is a country where she is having trouble finding a bishop who will actually crown her in an official coronation.

If that were the least of her problems, Elizabeth would be struggling, but she is also confronted with a country with a high level of debt, a French monarch in Scotland (Queen Mary Guise) who would love to spread her own kingdom by taking the throne of England, and an army that is demoralized by a lack of pay while they fend of a potential civil war and a possible invasion out of the north.

With the help of William Cecil, her closest court adviser, Elizabeth navigates through this time of difficulty, which also includes a political need to find a husband. Elizabeth, who is less than thrilled, with the various options because she has no intention of ceding power to a husband when she can lead just as well. The potential husbands include King Philip of Spain (her sister's widower), a pair of archdukes from Austria, a prince from Sweden, and even the unlikely choice of her beloved Dudley.

Throughout the book, Elizabeth deftly handles the various challenges, proving to be one of England's most able monarchs. At the same time, Elizabeth does not always come across as being the noble monarch that history has seemed to portray her as. There is definitely evidence of a queen with more human failings, such as selfishness, jealously and even a willingness to connive to get her man.

This becomes most evidence in the presentation of the love triangle. All three characters are presented with a certain level of sympathy. There is no question that there are feelings involved among the two couples. Amy is definitely dedicated to her beloved husband Robert, but their relationship is scarred by his need to achieve this family's previous high ranking in the kingdom, particularly since he might have a chance of ruling himself if he was to marry Elizabeth. Elizabeth also cares a great deal for Robert, and makes some moves that would be surprising to increase the chances of their being able to be together.

As usual, Gregory has done a wonderful job of capturing the feel of the period with her writing and research. She carefully describes the mystery with which the book concludes so the readers will know what is really known about it and why she made certain choices in presenting it in that manner. The mystery itself is made more complex by the flawed, likable, yet human people that are involved.

Surprisingly, court intrigue is not highlighted quite on the same level as in the previous books in the series. That is likely because the conflicts are really not totally from within the court, but from outside influences or within Elizabeth's love life. The one exception is the really interesting dynamic that occurs as Cecil and Dudley vie for political superiority in her court. Neither is really fond of the other, and they both seem to know that the other is a threat to their own place in the queen's favor.

This is definitely a must-read for fan's of Gregory's works, though, I think it could be read without having access to the earlier books. Their is one section at the beginning of the book in which Amy interacts with Hannah Green, the protagonist from the previous book in the series, but it is done in a way that no previous knowledge of the character is needed to understand what is going on.

I have quickly grown addicted to Gregory and this series!(less)

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Sep 13, 2010 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: boooooring, historical-fiction

I may be speaking out of turn here, having never published a book,* but I imagine a "best practice" fiction writers may want to follow is to develop characters that readers can't get enough of. Some writers have figured this out on their own, and as such, Atticus Finch isn't a Southern stereotype with nothing to say, Anna Karenina isn't as sparklessly dull as a Siberian winter, and (to throw our reviewed author a bone here) Henry VIII in The Other Boleyn Girl** isn't a kind-hearted, just and car...more

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About Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acc...more

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Books by Philippa Gregory

The Other Boleyn Girl (The Tudor Court, #2)

The Constant Princess (The Tudor Court, #1)

The Boleyn Inheritance (The Tudor Court, #3)

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“The truth is the last thing that matters,' she said. 'And you can believe one thing of the truth and me: I keep it well hidden, inside my heart.” — 26 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1162091.The_Virgin_s_Lover?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348466935l/1162091.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1162091.The_Virgin_s_Lover?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory[/url]

The Virgin's Lover (The Tudor Court #5)

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