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The Queen's Fool (The Tudor Court #4)

by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 45,519 ratings · 2,193 reviews

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love.

It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight,"...more

Paperback, 504 pages

Published February 3rd 2004 by Touchstone (first published November 1st 2003)

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The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Best Historical Fiction

51st out of 3,221 books — 13,998 voters

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Best Books About Tudor England

5th out of 353 books — 920 voters

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Jul 16, 2012 Mira, a escriba rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Desejava perder-me nos corredores dos castelos, conhecer personalidades fascinantes e cativantes, e, principalmente lançar-me nos meandros da História de uma forma que só Philippa Gregory consegue recriar. Depois de ler 5 livros da autora já sei com o que posso contar e estava ansiosa por ler este - embora soubesse que a personagem principal é fictícia, ao contrário, dos restantes livros.

Oliver e Hannah Verde “Green”, pai e filha naturais de Aragão, Espanha, são honestos e trabalhadores, esforça...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Mariel rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dudleys picked on in school

Recommended to Mariel by: hood on my hair

Philippa Gregory writes royalty fanfic, pretty much. Sometimes she'll throw in a Mary Sue stand-in based on an actual figure from history (such as Mary Boleyn in The Other Boleyn Girl) and ground her story on some small fact she wanted to do a what-if on. That's okay, but it still feels like putting in your own new character into someone else's story (this time a real one) and adding importance to them that they didn't have. Just like fanfics.
The Queen's Fool hones in on fictional Spaniard Jewis...more Philippa Gregory writes royalty fanfic, pretty much. Sometimes she'll throw in a Mary Sue stand-in based on an actual figure from history (such as Mary Boleyn in The Other Boleyn Girl) and ground her story on some small fact she wanted to do a what-if on. That's okay, but it still feels like putting in your own new character into someone else's story (this time a real one) and adding importance to them that they didn't have. Just like fanfics.
The Queen's Fool hones in on fictional Spaniard Jewish girl Hannah Greene. The best parts were about her life in Spain, and trying to be true to their faith in that environment (nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!). Hannah gets married to a boy who is stretched too thin trying to take care of his mama and sister as well as taking a wife. More than sharing his time, Hannah wants to get down and do the nasty. Hannah can't get anything she wants. She has to practice being a good jew in secret from the government, and then hide very real parts of herself from everyone, including those who share her faith (and supposedly) her body.
That was the best part of the book. The standard fanfic historical fiction fare was the "Oh yay Robert Dudley is so sexy!" and "Won't the impossibly cool Queen Elizabeth notice me?" [There's no way that Robert Dudley was the hottie that historical fiction makes him out to be.] Then Elizabeth is a bitch they "have to" (I don't see the need for it. She was who she was. Fascinating, not a saint) rationalize everything because apparently people can't just be complex individuals. 'Boleyn' was the same way about Henry VIII. He didn't need to be a bodice ripper type. He got his, and they were the harem girls waiting around. (The best part of that book was the "new" sexual practices from French court, such as fellatio.) What do I expect from a genre that makes either Elizabeth or Dudley's wife the villain, and Dudley always the poor torn soul.
There had to be interesting things going on back then that did not involve royalty. I know they need a selling hook, but c'mon.
The Elizabeth/Dudley stuff was the weakest part.
I think that it is best to read only one of these types of books at a time. It's confusing for me to read one book with Mary Tudor as the heroine and then switch around and she's the baddie in Elizabeth's story.(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Crystal Starr Light rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anachronistic-heroine, historical, audiobook, so-boring-it-s-boring, hello-my-name-is-mary-sue, idiot-protagonist

Hannah Verde "Green" is a young Jewish girl who poses as a boy to apprentice to her father, a bookkeeper. But when Lord Robert Dudley realizes she has "The Sight", she becomes King Edward's Fool. Hannah The Fool gets to experience the King's death, Queen Mary's rise to the throne, and Princess Elizabeth's eternal scheming to get on the throne all from the front seat of the court. But the real question is: Will Hannah ever find Twoo Lurve?

The last Philippa Gregory book I read, The Other Boleyn Gi ...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Kerrie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, from-library

I'm done with Philippa Gregory.

This is the 4th book of hers that I've experienced. I was hoping that, not being constrained by the limits brought by a historical figure, she could create a fuller character than the shallow cardboard cutouts of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Anne of Cleves, and Katherine of Aragon in her other novels. But no... The character of Hannah Green was by far the most confusing and maddeningly inconsistent character I've read outside of fanfic. This wasn't complexity, bu...more I'm done with Philippa Gregory.

This is the 4th book of hers that I've experienced. I was hoping that, not being constrained by the limits brought by a historical figure, she could create a fuller character than the shallow cardboard cutouts of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Anne of Cleves, and Katherine of Aragon in her other novels. But no... The character of Hannah Green was by far the most confusing and maddeningly inconsistent character I've read outside of fanfic. This wasn't complexity, but simply a sloppy author who had no idea want kind of character she wanted.

Hannah, we are told constantly, is a free-spirited, strong-willed woman who does not want to have to be subservient to any man. A tall order in 16th century England, and an attitude that would quickly put a bull's eye on her even if she wasn't a Jew hiding on the downlow from the persecution of both Catholics and Protestants. And yet, Gregory obviously wanted to write a romance, so this strong-willed woman who wants to be self-employed and free from any male rule swoons at even the mention of Robert Dudley. Compelled to be his vassal, even when he releases her from his service, she runs back to him when the going gets tough. This raging Tudor feminist cannot exist without a man. It would be one thing if this irony was addressed, but it is not - Hannah is always treated as a strong, indomitable woman by the author.

I didn't find Hannah a sympathetic character at all. She looks down on the Princess Elizabeth as a whore, tempting other womens' husbands, and yet would have no problem becoming Dudley's mistress but only refrains because she "loves" her husband. One of her positive traits in Gregory's eyes is her loyalty, and she is... loyal to everyone, even those on opposing sides. So, by being loyal to all, she is loyal to none. She speaks in absolutes constantly - Mary Tudor is "the most courageous woman," Elizabeth is "the cleverest," phrases like "that I had ever known" and "greatest" regularly punctuate the narrative. Is this a character trait, or just really godawful writing? I'm suspecting the latter.

Because of the emphasis on romance in this novel, Gregory's usual lackluster prose became glaringly obvious. It doesn't even approach the skill of some romance writers, and Gregory can't even use the excuse that she's a historian with a sideline in writing. Her degree is in English Literature, not History. (It seems that fact needs to be reiterated to correct the prevailing myth out there.) And the writing was droning and repetitive in this novel even more than the others. It could easily have been shortened by a good 50 pages or more if she hadn't repeated information that she had mentioned just a few pages earlier. For example, after introducing the character of Marie and having a scene with her, is it necessary, 2 pages later, to mention her as "my father's nurse?" We already know that. And the most egregious example, more than 3/4 of the way through the book, after the wedding and several scenes of married life, have Hannah say "there stood my husband, Daniel Carpenter?" WE KNOW THAT! Vapid, repetitious filler like this with no letup sorely tried my patience with this novel.

I could go on and on about the shortcomings. The only positive feature of this book was Mary Tudor. It was a different characterization from the typical "Bloody Mary" persona - this was a tortured woman who had finally achieved the throne that she'd been waiting for her entire life, and her reign was marked by disaster. Partly her fault, because of her blind devotion to "The Truth Faith," but her quest for love with King Phillip was a doomed one. In contrast, Gregory's treatment of Elizabeth was cartoonish and disrespectful (I don't think Elizabeth has been referred to as a whore so many times in a book before!) and brought the novel down even further into the depths of unimaginative prose, characterization, and general storytelling.

And lastly, since this is an audiobook... Bianca Amato's narration didn't have the listless suicidal monotone that was so grating in her reading of Anne of Cleves in The Boleyn Inheritance. However, it is very difficult for a female speaker to play the part of men, and all her men sounded nearly the same. So, this is my last Gregory novel, and last Bianca Amato reading.(less)

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Oct 20, 2008 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Philippa Gregory Fans, Historical Fiction Fans, Tudor History Buffs

Recommended to Annie by: Alaine Bucknall, Sheree McLeod

Shelves: read-in-2008, favourites

Gregory, the reigning Queen of historical fiction, weaves a tale that is as much an insight into the Tudor court as it is into religious history. The protagonist Hannah, is a secret Jew serving a Catholic Queen and befriending a Protestant Princess. What a catalyst for an electrifying plot!

Being that this story is based in history and immersed in fact, there are twists and turns that you will anticipate. However the addition of a completely fictional heroine adds a layer of intrigue and provide...more Gregory, the reigning Queen of historical fiction, weaves a tale that is as much an insight into the Tudor court as it is into religious history. The protagonist Hannah, is a secret Jew serving a Catholic Queen and befriending a Protestant Princess. What a catalyst for an electrifying plot!

Being that this story is based in history and immersed in fact, there are twists and turns that you will anticipate. However the addition of a completely fictional heroine adds a layer of intrigue and provides you with plot points you will not see coming. It is such a satisfying narrative arc that you won't want it to finish and you certainly won't want to leave Hannah behind.

Hannah is a character full of contradictions. Like many women of the time, Hannah's age and her sexual innocence leave her at the mercy of men who would use her for social elevation. However her education and life experience make her cunning a formidable player in these war games. She gives her heart freely to Robert Dudley, Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth all at once and in doing so endears them all to the reader. Yet she finds it hardest of all to give herself over to a love far greater than any of these, one grounded in safety and protection. She is a tangible character and one I am sorry to say goodbye to.

This was one of the most enjoyable history lessons I've ever had and a formidable novel next to 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. I am so grateful for the sympathy and understanding I now have for England's first female ruler and one of history's most notorious tyrants. I saw 'Bloody Mary' through Hannah's eyes and now history is not just black and white, it is all shades of red.

Don't read this if: You don't like reading.
Read this book if: You want to be swept away to another world and another time. If you even have a vague fascination with history than read this book! You may get more out of it if you're interested in Tudor and religious history however the narrative and characterisation is so strong it wouldn't matter.(less)

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Jan 06, 2009 Selah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this book tremendously, with the exception of the ending, which felt weak and rushed compared to the rest of the book. Excellent historical fiction. I'm buying all this author's books.

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 22, 2008 Azar rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of historical fiction

An engaging heroine--if somewhat too contemporary in her attitudes for the 16th Century, IMO--narrates this unusual perspective on Tudor England which I enjoyed very much. Not an instant favorite, but definitely a diverting read that I don't regret spending time on. I'll have to read a few more titles by the author before I can say whether or not she's earned her title as queen of Elizabethan fiction.

One thing I found especially intriguing was her unusually sympathetic portrayal of Mary Tudor. M...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 10, 2011 Orsolya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mistresses-royalty, queens, tudor-england, library, elizabeth-i, own

Gregory truly captured an "underdog" in her novel depicting Hannah, the Queen's fool in the novel by the same title. Hannah, a Jewish exile is brought to court and although she is a "Fool", she becomes so much more. Strong, intelligent, and ambitious; Gregory shows that even "lesser" court members were at the top of their game.

The novel is very vivid to say the least (do you expect any less from Gregory?) and is an entertaining and easy read. How historically accurate is it, you ask? Well, let'...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Judy by: Naomi Jensen

Shelves: available-for-swap, my-2012-books

I found this book interesting from a historical perspective and also because the main character Hannah was a Marrano Jew. Marranos were originally Jews living in the Iberian Peninsula who had converted, or been forced to convert, to Christianity, some of whom continued to observe rabbinic Judaism in secret. The converts were also known as Cristianos nuevos (New Christians) and conversos (the converted). It's interesting to note that Marrano used to mean pig or filthy back in the 1500's. I couldn...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-influence, historical-fiction

This was the first book I've read (more specifically, listened to) by Philippa Gregory. After seeing the enormous popularity of The Other Boleyn Girl, I had kind of wondered what it was that made this author so appealing.

Before reading this, I already knew that most of Gregory's books were historical fiction told from the perspective of women who lived or might have lived during medieval and early modern times. So, I wasn't surprised to find strong female characters who nonetheless live within...more This was the first book I've read (more specifically, listened to) by Philippa Gregory. After seeing the enormous popularity of The Other Boleyn Girl, I had kind of wondered what it was that made this author so appealing.

Before reading this, I already knew that most of Gregory's books were historical fiction told from the perspective of women who lived or might have lived during medieval and early modern times. So, I wasn't surprised to find strong female characters who nonetheless live within the constraints of their times. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author was an absolute expert at portraying multiple, conflicting sides of characters and situations sympathetically.

The main character, Hannah, is drafted into the service of the dying King Edward as a fool, but she soon ends up working for multiple powerful royals and nobles. As a spy, she has close contact with people like Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth, and the influential Robert Dudley, and she finds qualities to admire in each of them, even when they're working against each other. Her allegiances and loyalties are not so much fluid as complex. She can love someone and hold them in high esteem while seeing their faults clearly. As a reader going along with Hannah's first-person perspective, I found myself seeing both sides of the coin too. A lot of authors create multifaceted, grey-area type characters, but I thought Gregory was especially adept at it. Queen Mary, for example, seems like a really good person whose heart is in the right place--right up until she starts burning heretics. And even then, she seems to truly believe that she's doing the best thing for her country. Yet I still felt some sympathy for her at that point, and so did Hannah, who as a Jew living in secret had every reason to fear the heretic burning.

Hannah's love life was similarly confused. I liked the fact that she wasn't too good. She followed one man with the doggedness and blindness that (hopefully) only comes with youth and inexperience, while resisting another and the very thought of marriage with considerable strength. However, I did think that something that happened towards the end was kind of convenient in terms of making Hannah into a "better person." It just seemed like she came around to a completely different perspective so fully that it was a little strange, and I thought she didn't need to beat herself up so much about having been (somewhat justly) angry and resentful in the past.

A little on pacing: the story starts out in such a way that it immediately draws the reader into the lives and intrigues of people long gone. Historical details are included in a non-intrusive way so that information flows naturally into the grain of the story. For me, the story dragged a little in the middle while Hannah was still at court (the first time). But when she leaves, several unexpected plot twists grabbed my attention and made me really want to know what happened next with all these characters and their dangerous world, where one day something is the law and the next day it's treason or heresy. I got a good flavor for the times, learned some history, and enjoyed the story. (less)

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Jun 11, 2013 Cassy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anna Silverburg

Shelves: books-in-2011, historical-fiction, favorites, books-in-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was the first Philippa Gregory book that I ever read. I always had an obsession with Tudor England and I loved the way that Gregory portrayed that England. She always gave the tudors such character, such regalness and such humanity.

To this day, I still think that this is one of Gregory's best novels. I like that it's told from the perspective of someone who is seeing everything from the outside. Hannah is our main character and everything is seen from her eyes, eyes that are scared. She is...more This was the first Philippa Gregory book that I ever read. I always had an obsession with Tudor England and I loved the way that Gregory portrayed that England. She always gave the tudors such character, such regalness and such humanity.

To this day, I still think that this is one of Gregory's best novels. I like that it's told from the perspective of someone who is seeing everything from the outside. Hannah is our main character and everything is seen from her eyes, eyes that are scared. She is a Jew, living in secret in England, pretend to be a protestant, then a Catholic. Anything that will keep her from being burned at the stake like her mother was. I really like how Gregory uses Hannah to show us the history of not only England but Spain. It lets the reader know what's going on at the time (the inquisiton) with out burdening us with to much back story and facts. I also like it because it gives a lot of character to Hannah. There's a reason she's so scared that Phillip of Spain is coming to marry the Queen Mary; she fears the inqisition in England and that's a justified fear. Mary essentially brings it upon her people, though not because Phillip suggests it.

I also like seeing the prelude to Elizabeth. Everyone knows that, eventually, Elizabeth is destined to take over as one of the greatest monarchs of England. So to see her life in turmiol this whole time, plotting to take over Mary's throne. Many people assume that Elizabeth is just an innocent bystander but that's not the case. She plans down to the minute how she's going to take the throne from her sister, forever putting them at odds when Gregory puts them as friends (which, is less then true but a nice thought.)

It's a tragic story to read about. Mary has to hold her head high through two false pregnancies. An entire kingdom is ridiculing her and she still fights until the last minute. Despite her flaws, and she has many, she is still a Queen to be reckoned with. She is not someone who is overtaken lightly. She stands her ground often and stands for what she believes in and you can see that pride in Gregory's book.

I also liked seeing Hannah grow. I liked that in the beginning, she was just really a child. It took her a long time, much of it spent in the court in England, to become the woman that she did. Even when she was finally married to her husband, she still wasn't ready to be the person everyone wanted her to be. She wasn't someone who was going to be ridiculed, someone who was going to be ruled by others that she didn't think were worthy of her. Even her and her husband were equal partners because that's how she had done things all her life. She had never really had to subject herself to someone.

Gregory did put a slight twist in there, making it that Hannah could see the future due to a holy gift from God. Though it seems a bit out of place for a historical fiction book, it was something that didn't bother me. It was something that was done well and not overly so. Hannah wasn't haven't visions every five pages. She had maybe four throughout the entire book. I like that she didn't take it too far.

Overall, I think this is one of the better historical fiction books out there about Tudor England and definitely one of Gregory's best. I recommend it to anyone who likes this time period and might enjoy a good story.(less)

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Dec 05, 2011 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 2011

Every time I pick up a Gregory novel, I want more. I love her Tudor series so much I went out and bought almost every Tudor book I could find (at Border's going-out-of-business sale). My obsession began when my best friend said, hey, you know that movie The Other Boleyn Girl, I just read the book and I know you are going to think I'm crazy because it's so smutty, but I loved it... you should try it too. Of course, I was hesitant at first, but she's my best friend, if I can't trust her reading re...more

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May 08, 2008 Annalisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Annalisa by: Melinda

Shelves: historical-fiction, chick-lit

What I did like about this book is that she showed us Queen Mary's court from a Jew hidden in a battle between Catholic and Protestant loyalties where the wrong choice could get you killed. This girl had fear of both sides. It was an interesting choice of voice. What Gregory didn't seem able to give voice to were the fool's wits. And now I see why she never showed us Anne's wit in The Other Boleyn Girl: she herself is void of intelligent humor.

I enjoyed grasping bloody Mary's motives. One thing...more What I did like about this book is that she showed us Queen Mary's court from a Jew hidden in a battle between Catholic and Protestant loyalties where the wrong choice could get you killed. This girl had fear of both sides. It was an interesting choice of voice. What Gregory didn't seem able to give voice to were the fool's wits. And now I see why she never showed us Anne's wit in The Other Boleyn Girl: she herself is void of intelligent humor.

I enjoyed grasping bloody Mary's motives. One thing Gregory does well is given her royal villians (so to speak) believable motivations. It seemed strange to juxtapose the composed convictions of Queen Catherine (her mother) with this murderous queen who wanted to mother her people. Plus she has her own disjointed behavoirs of burnings Protestants at the stake while granting treasonous pardons. She didn't make sense to me before this read.

In the book you see how Mary wants to reclaim, set right, a country her father stole from her mother's church in a tough love sense. You see that she pardons plans against her crown because they are not mistakes binding your soul to hell and the wrongdoers can be repentant while allowing the root of Protestantism to grow will kill the souls of her patrons and it must be stamped out. Besides, her grandparents (Ferdinand and Isabella) initiated the Spanish Inquisition to wide-spread praise. So even though I had this picture of a revengeful bloody Mary in my head, that is not root of her motivation.

I was in contrast disappointed in was her interpretation of Elizabeth. It could be that I want to set her on a pedestal ignoring all her actions that I would find appalling in a modern-day leader. But I couldn't accept the character when she introduces her as a lustful child chasing after her guardian father. So I did my own research and it seems she was correct in her flirtations with Thomas Seymour. But I don't think it was her chasing him as Gregory implies. It was Stockholm's syndrome. Any child that is raped and then lead to believe it was their fault (particularly since she was a woman and women were seen as seductive) is going to be flirtatious, loose with her morals, but ultimately ill-trusting of men. That was Queen Elizabeth and so it seems an obvious choice of explanation. It bothers me that she was blamed, but then again those were the times.

My reservations about Gregory still stand and there were instances where the narrative dragged, but overall I liked this story. It wasn't as page-turning as The Other Boleyn Girl, but it was better than The Boleyn Inheritance. (less)

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Aug 17, 2007 Lee rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lady Historical Fiction Fans

Shelves: historical-fiction

Our protagonist is a young Jewish girl who escapes the Spanish Inquisition by fleeing to England with her father where they pose as non-Jewish bookmakers. She eventually works her way into favor with Henry VIII's eldest daughter, Queen Mary, because she has flashes of clairvoyance [a "fool" at this point in history is a person kept around by royalty for any kind of amusement - not a moron, as the title might suggest...].

She's also of interest to the future Elizabeth I, and her infamous lover, Lo...more

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Jul 08, 2008 Kim Andrew rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jan 15, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, history, i-own, kindle-books, favorites, top-reads-of-2012, books-read-in-2012

This book was really good, I've read a lot of Tudor fiction over the years but this has to be one of the best books that I have read based in that time period. I think part of that is because it's not telling the story of a main character from that period of history. So whilst you have your king Edward and your queen Mary and princess Elizabeth and lady Jane grey, it's not really about them so much as another character whose life happens to be determined by these people. I ploughed through this...more

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Oct 20, 2008 Meghan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Meghan by: Stenney

10/20/08 - After finishing this book, I am excited to read the other books that Philippa Gregory has read. I absolutely loved this book!
10/20/08 - have 30 more pages I just couldn't stay awake to read as it was almost 3am. Philippa Gregory is such a wonderful author and I now totally understand why some of my friends think she is such a great author. This book is a great read and something I recommend to everyone.
10/16/2008 - Started this book yesterday (10/15) and so far absolutely love it!

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Nov 19, 2011 Annabelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is a lot to say about this 500 page book. Author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory is an expert on pre Elizabethan England as Henry VIII’s heirs, Edward, Mary and then Elizabeth take the throne from 1548-1548. First off, why does she use the raunch factor. It opens with 14 year old Elizabeth being seduced and liking it by her step dad, Tom Seymour who is later beheaded. There are other moments of desire and girls leaning into hard members, but why? Is history boring. The main conceit is an...more

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Feb 08, 2009 Toni Osborne rated it 5 of 5 stars

The story is told from Hannah Green's perspective, a young Jewish girl who flees Spain with her father to escape persecution and lands in England. Hannah is a seer and has visions, a sought after talent during the troubled times for the Tudor court, she first serves King Edward, then his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, as a holy fool. She is also a vassal to Robert Dudley who she adores. This is a very dangerous time where every action is under scrutiny and many lives are in peril due to laws again...more

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Dec 04, 2008 Antof9 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007-read, alterna-history, couldn-t-put-it-down

Written in my hotel room after reading this too late: I should be asleep, but I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up way too late in my hotel room, reading, and now I must go to bed! But I have to say that I loved this book -- definitely more than any of her others that I've read so far, and was totally engrossed. I loved the story, I loved things like the Verde/Green name, I loved Hannah's choices to be honorable, I loved Mary, Daniel, etc., etc.

I know nothing of the Jews during this time i...more

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Jul 26, 2007 Jessica rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: modern-fiction

The Queen's Fool was stupid. Historically inaccurate and completely out of touch with the tone of the era. Some books - Michael Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White comes to mind, or Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell - can walk and talk like historical fiction, and still prove irresistably interesting to contemporary audiences. (Postmodernist historical fiction?) This one, however, fails miserably. I thought I was going to like it. I really, really didn't.

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Jun 09, 2013 Kristen McDermott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, reviewed-books

Philippa Gregory is at the top of her game with this book. As in the Meridon trilogy and "Wise Woman," she infuses her historical romance with a touch of mysticism. She takes the daring approach here of making Mary the sympathetic Tudor and Elizabeth the nasty one, and creates a most likeable heroine in Hannah Green, a Jewish clairvoyant in boy's garb who is a nice mixture of audacity and empathy. It sounds far-fetched, but Gregory pulls you in with believable (though not exactly period) dialogu...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Lydian Averitt rated it 2 of 5 stars

It says a lot about this book that one of its most compelling characters, courtier extraordinaire Robert Dudley, spends most of his time languishing in the Tower. And yet, he manages to be more active and interesting than many of the characters who are mobile and, allegedly, spying, scheming, loving or cheating.
As a historically-based spy novel, this book had a lot of potential. Even the invention of a totally extraneous character, Hannah Greene, when so many incredible "real life'' characters a...more It says a lot about this book that one of its most compelling characters, courtier extraordinaire Robert Dudley, spends most of his time languishing in the Tower. And yet, he manages to be more active and interesting than many of the characters who are mobile and, allegedly, spying, scheming, loving or cheating.
As a historically-based spy novel, this book had a lot of potential. Even the invention of a totally extraneous character, Hannah Greene, when so many incredible "real life'' characters abound to tell the story, is OK; it's interesting that she's Jewish and anachronistically independent. But Hannah never gets to do much actual spying, for all that it's eerily easy for her to get very close to the highest heads of state; she mostly just stands around, worrying with them. The fact that all the historical events take place through her eyes, and yet,her character is always a little in the dark about what's going on, means that the reader is in the dark, too, and big chunks of interesting intrigue slide past with just a one-sentence mention or a vague reference. Also, Hannah speaks at least four languages and can read, remarkable for that time, but these skills are never brought to bear in the plot in any substantial way, which seems like a waste. Whole characters are wasted, too: John Dee, Philip of Spain - even Hannah's father, a Jewish scholar who, as a character could have given the reader a vastly different look at the times, or at least help the reader understand Gregory's intentions through advice to Hannah - say very little, have few opinions, or have most of their action "off-screen.''
But it's the part of the book that wants to be a romantic triangle that just killed the story for this reader. The hero we're supposed to pull for is Daniel Carpenter, Hannah's betrothed, who comes across initially as a (historically correctly) sexist jerk, ordering Hannah around. As a character, he has two modes: "You will be my wife'' and "I will keep you safe,'' but the plot never places him at court, or with Elizabeth, or at the front line in Calais, or anywhere Hannah is in actual danger, so he never has the chance to save her from anything. Instead of interacting with Hannah the spy, Daniel does lots of waiting around while "scowling with anxiety'' or "turning pale,'' both of which appearances take the place of actual character development - the reader never knows what that means exactly; is he worried? Afraid? Or is it indigestion?
The reader keeps waiting for him to make a difference in the novel, or at least be given something to do, since this domestic angle is fully half the book. But when Daniel does swing into action, it is to...cheat, and that plot twist turns the novel in an entirely different direction: no longer is it about Tudor court intrigues, but about men behaving badly. We're left to surmise that Daniel's infidelity is the price Hannah pays for her darned independence in leaving him alone so much, but it struck this reader as an unnecessary, out of character complication - why not make the conflict between Hannah and Daniel center around his growing into an appreciation of her learning, since Hannah's independence is such a key element in the novel? It also kills any sympathy the reader may have for Daniel, who degenerates as a character from boring to hypocritical (although, when he is found out, he immediately goes back to turning pale and waiting around for her, again, which we surmise is supposed to illustrate his basic faithfulness.)In fact, Daniel never seems to come to any real appreciation of Hannah's skills and abiliities, another waste; instead, Gregory uses downright gushy writing to turn Daniel into a martyr to Hannah's independence, and then turn Hannah's character on a dime into a woman who can suddenly forgive everything, acknowledge her own shortcomings and raise a child who's not her own. At least, in the process, she shows Daniel and his catty family that she can't be taken advantage of with impunity.
The third leg of the triangle is Robert Dudley, who is well-drawn as a dashing rake and schemer who has no qualms about sending Hannah to set wheels of revolution in motion - we think? Gregory is never clear on what she's doing, exactly. In spite of this, however, Dudley is a fairly straight shooter with Hannah: whenever he's about to put her in danger, he generally lets her know what he's doing, and Hannah usually knows when she's being manipulated. What's more, he seems to value her as an educated, independent woman more than anyone else in the novel. His liasons with other women, unlike Daniel's, come as no surprise, and Hannah has no delusions about is feelings for her or lack thereof. But although Hannah's feelings for him, the reader is told, are love, it never seems legit; she seems like an infatuated child who knows that he's not a bit serious about her, and the reader never really thinks of Dudley as a credible threat to Hannah's domestic happiness. Minus this, the love triangle-aspect breaks down, along with the second half of the book.
In general, this was a good enough, historically-based read that couldn't make up its mind about what it wanted to be: a spy novel? A domestic drama? A dissertation on men behaving badly? The novel is partly all of these, yet the disparate parts never come together. Despite some interesting moments, this lack of direction keeps the book a jumble, as a whole.(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Lktrigueros rated it 2 of 5 stars

Marks against:
*Protagonist is supposedly a strong female (because no other personality is politically correct for a woman), but she is not strong enough to form her own opinions at court. She is loyal to anyone in whose presence she stands, so not really loyal to anyone. Her mixed alliegences somehow never manage to get her in trouble, yet always put her in just the right place -- the one with the best view of the historically important moment.
*Protagonist doesn't ever do anything, not even her...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Desiree Washington added it

The Queen's Fool is a historical novel about a fourteen year old Jewish girl, Hannah Green who is prosecuted by the Inquisition. Hannah and her father was forced to run away from Spain. Hannah is no ordinary run away, she has a gift of "Sight,"; the ability to envision the future. She gets adopted by the stunning Robert Dudely, the son of King Edward's protector, who takes her to court to be a "holy fool" for both Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. Hired to be a fool, but assigned to work as spy,...more

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Dec 25, 2012 K rated it 5 of 5 stars

PHILIPPA GREGORY'S BEST BOOK. Hands down, without a doubt. This was the first novel I read by her, and I hoenstly think it's better than The Other Boleyn Girl (which is great) but this is fantastic because it goes a step further than the consummate historical novel and adds the voice of not only a "commoner", but of one who is viewed as "the Other" in Protestant/Catholic England. The story of the battling sisters' reigns Mary I and Elizabeth I is told through the eyes of Hannah Verde, a young gi...more PHILIPPA GREGORY'S BEST BOOK. Hands down, without a doubt. This was the first novel I read by her, and I hoenstly think it's better than The Other Boleyn Girl (which is great) but this is fantastic because it goes a step further than the consummate historical novel and adds the voice of not only a "commoner", but of one who is viewed as "the Other" in Protestant/Catholic England. The story of the battling sisters' reigns Mary I and Elizabeth I is told through the eyes of Hannah Verde, a young girl from Spain who is Jewish and whose mother was murdered by the Inquisition. She and her father fled Spain, as did so many other Jews and Muslims, to disperse across Europe. Needless to say, the theme of identity and religious persecution becomes a central one to the novel. Yet, I think the reason I love this book so much is that, like The Other Boleyn Girl, it finally gave popular readers a sense of the misinformation about historical characters. This is one of the first books to stick up for Mary I, who is too-often unfairly and entirely maligned as "Bloody". What about her father, who not only killed two of his own wives, but also had 19,000 people executed during his reign for "treason"? Oh, and don't forget the seizing of the monasteries thing. But anyway.
Gregory shows that she is a true historian, showing Mary's truthful dedication to her younger sister (before she began to harbour suspicions of Elizabeth's allegiance). It also shows Elizabeth as the shrewd, calculating character rarely seen in fictionalized versions of the young Elizabeth. She is the figure who carried on an affair with her stepfather at 13-14 under the nose of her stepmother, Catherine Parr. When Thomas Seymour (the stepfather in question) was later beheaded for treason, Elizabeth denied having anything more than a "passing acquaintance" with him. Survival? Maybe. Of course. But this book characterizes two very different sisters; the traditional and noble Mary, who, it turns out, can be prone to deep lows because of her own suffering, and Elizabeth, irreverent and bold, whose cunning and knack for survival might(admittedly) have reduced the flames of religious tension in England.
But no matter.
Fabulous characters ,and through it we get to see the story of Hannah Green, a "normal person", and her travails in her own life through love, religion, and loss.
Honestly, my favourite book. Ever.(less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Brynn Sugarman rated it 5 of 5 stars

As someone who has just written a time travel/historical fiction novel for Middle Grade readers ("Midnight at the Taj Mahal",) I often consider which authors/books pointed me in my chosen direction. One such author is Phillippa Gregory, who makes history juicy.

I love her books but sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between one novel and another. This book stands out because rather than only highlighting characters who made up the monarchy, this book's protagonist is a Jewish girl who is h...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Shana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Yes, I am on a Philippa Gregory kick! I am particularly enjoying how her various novels weave into each other. For instance, The Queen’s Fool includes Robert Dudley who was a main character in the The Virgin’s Lover, but this time we see parts of his story from the perspective of Hannah Verde, the court fool.

Hannah and her father fled the Spanish Inquisition that took her mother’s life and ended up in England. Their Jewish heritage made them an easy target, and they lived fearfully but hopefully...more

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May 31, 2012 Lottie rated it 3 of 5 stars

What I did like about this book is that she showed us Queen Mary's court from a Jew hidden in a battle between Catholic and Protestant loyalties where the wrong choice could get you killed. This girl had fear of both sides. It was an interesting choice of voice. What Gregory didn't seem able to give voice to were the fool's wits. And now I see why she never showed us Anne's wit in The Other Boleyn Girl: she herself is void of intelligent humor. I enjoyed grasping bloody Mary's motives. One thing...more What I did like about this book is that she showed us Queen Mary's court from a Jew hidden in a battle between Catholic and Protestant loyalties where the wrong choice could get you killed. This girl had fear of both sides. It was an interesting choice of voice. What Gregory didn't seem able to give voice to were the fool's wits. And now I see why she never showed us Anne's wit in The Other Boleyn Girl: she herself is void of intelligent humor. I enjoyed grasping bloody Mary's motives. One thing Gregory does well is given her royal villians (so to speak) believable motivations. It seemed strange to juxtapose the composed convictions of Queen Catherine (her mother) with this murderous queen who wanted to mother her people. Plus she has her own disjointed behavoirs of burnings Protestants at the stake while granting treasonous pardons. She didn't make sense to me before this read. In the book you see how Mary wants to reclaim, set right, a country her father stole from her mother's church in a tough love sense. You see that she pardons plans against her crown because they are not mistakes binding your soul to hell and the wrongdoers can be repentant while allowing the root of Protestantism to grow will kill the souls of her patrons and it must be stamped out. Besides, her grandparents (Ferdinand and Isabella) initiated the Spanish Inquisition to wide-spread praise. So even though I had this picture of a revengeful bloody Mary in my head, that is not root of her motivation. I was in contrast disappointed in was her interpretation of Elizabeth. It could be that I want to set her on a pedestal ignoring all her actions that I would find appalling in a modern-day leader. But I couldn't accept the character when she introduces her as a lustful child chasing after her guardian father. So I did my own research and it seems she was correct in her flirtations with Thomas Seymour. But I don't think it was her chasing him as Gregory implies. It was Stockholm's syndrome. Any child that is raped and then lead to believe it was their fault (particularly since she was a woman and women were seen as seductive) is going to be flirtatious, loose with her morals, but ultimately ill-trusting of men. That was Queen Elizabeth and so it seems an obvious choice of explanation. It bothers me that she was blamed, but then again those were the times. My reservations about Gregory still stand and there were instances where the narrative dragged, but overall I liked this story. It wasn't as page-turning as The Other Boleyn Girl, but it was better than The Boleyn Inheritance. (less)

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Apr 20, 2012 Laia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookclub-read

Fun, easy read. This is the type of historical fiction you pick when you want something to just get carried away into another time & place & fictional life, maybe learn some history along the way. It's like the brownies I bake with some "healthy" ingredients thrown in. When you're not in the mood for serious health food like broccoli, you can enjoy them, and not feel guilty from eating completely empty calories, because they do have some redeeming value. Books like this walk a narrow tig...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)

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

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Quotes from The Queen's Fool

“I have seen sights and travelled in countries you cannot imagine. I have been afraid and I have been in danger, and I have never for one moment thought that I would throw myself at at a man for his help.” — 31 people liked it

“Daniel, I did not knowwhat I wanted when I was agirl. And then I was a fool in every sense of the word. And now that I am a woman grown, I know that I love you and I want this son of yours, and our children who will come. I have seen a woman break her heart for love: my Queen Mary. I have seen another break her soul to avoid it: my Princess Elizabeth. I don't want to be Mary or Elizabeth, I want to be me: Hannah Verde Carpenter."

"And we shall live somewhere that we can follow our belifs without danger," he insisted.

"Yes," I said, "in the England that Elizabeth will make.” — 9 people liked it

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The Queen's Fool (The Tudor Court #4)

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