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50th out of 350 books
—
904 voters
My Enemy, the Queen
It was Lettice who married the Earl of Leicester, whom Elizabeth I loved. And it was Lettice who was the mother of the Queen's beloved Earl of Essex. That young earl would one day break the Queen's heart.
It was always Lettice, the constant spoiler in the triangle of love surrounding Elizabeth...
It was always Lettice, the constant spoiler in the triangle of love surrounding Elizabeth...
Mass Market Paperback, 0 pages
Published
September 12th 1981
by Fawcett
(first published 1978)
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Just arrived from Finland through BM.
The first part of this book was just about the love affair between Lettice, Elizabeth I and Earl of Leicester, nothing else. After Leicester's death then the plot became quite interesting with the characters of Earl of Essex, Francis Bacon and Raleigh.
The first part of this book was just about the love affair between Lettice, Elizabeth I and Earl of Leicester, nothing else. After Leicester's death then the plot became quite interesting with the characters of Earl of Essex, Francis Bacon and Raleigh.
Jan 01, 2010
Kaye
added it
This one is amazing. Honestly, i don't like history but when I encountered this wonderful book of victoria holt, I can't help but read it, and re-read. The story was fantastic and the use of first person point of view to make it more entertaining. In some sense, ,lives of women during the elizabeth era, I say was not given much importance. I never encountered situations in the book that reveals the prerogative of women to holt high office (exception of course, the queen) and to serve during warf...more
Told in the 1st person with so much feeling and verisimilitude, I kept forgetting it was a novel I was reading, not actual history although it was well-researched and historically correct. Queen Elizabeth loved two men: the Earl of Leicester and later the Earl of Essex. Leicester married Lettice, a Bolyn cousin of the Queen; it is her story. She was also the mother by a previous marriage of the boy who became Earl of Essex. This love triange with Elizabeth, Lettice and the men they loved is the...more
I just finished Elizabeth I by Margaret George and had been disappointed in it. Since it started when Elizabeth was 57, I wanted to know more about her earlier life. This book was mentioned in the back by Ms. George. I happen to have it on my bookshelf, but had never read it, so I thought I would try it now. I really enjoyed it. It filled in a lot of gaps and I felt I knew the characters a lot better. (I should probably now go back and reread the novel by Margaret George, but that isn't going to...more
Lettice Devereaux tells the tragic story of Elizabeth I and her love for two men - the Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Essex. One must move past the persona Lettice projects to see the essence of this tale. Lettice's life revolves around court and the Queen who is her cousin. A vain woman who prides herself in her beauty, she falls in love with the queen's favorite, the Earl of Leicester, a womanizing and most ambitious man. He is handsome, charismatic, and devilishly capable of extracting him...more
I read this back in grade school when I was first getting into historical fiction. Jean Plaidy/Victoria Holt was one of the first authors I read because my mother had lots of her books. I enjoyed this one immensely when I read it, but later Plaidy reads haven't been nearly as exciting. IMO Plaidy is a great author to learn about a time period or historical figures, but one you know the history the prose gets kinda dull as it tends to read like lightly-dramatized biography.
So this book started off pretty good a little slow but I hate the fact that author gives away bg things before they happen so you know whaen someone is going to die (for instance)so then you know whats going to happen next which doesnt exactly keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. I got down to the last like 50 pages and stoped reading it beacuse i knew how it was going to end. So over all - disappointed.
I read this ages ago (like back in high school) when I was fascinated with Elizabeth I. I don't remember much about it, but I've never been able to part with it because I have a feeling that if I really liked it. Which could easily mean it was melodramatic and trashy.
I have read this book several times over the last thirty years, it is my all time favorite read! I love how well it is written, there is such depth to the characters and the story line just memorizes me. I would consider this book a classic.
This book could have been better. The likeness between Queen Elizabeth and the heroine of this novel was uncanny. They may have been double cousins. However, I felt Lettice lacked the brains, caution or wit to deal with Elizabeth.
Translation was so bad, but the story itself wasn't that bad. I loved the way the author expressed details of the 16th century. I think if there were more heros and more actions it would be much more beautiful.
An absolutely fascinating account of the lives of Lettice Knollys, Robert Dudley, and (of course) Queen Elizabeth I. You'll be rooting for the adorable, mischievous Lettice the entire time.
Nov 22, 2011
Angela Joyce
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
fun
I'm amazed more books aren't written about Lettice Knollys-- there are so many more about tragic victims like Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. But hey, sometimes it's great to read about tough-minded survivors, too!
To be fair, I read this one when I was still quite young.
I'm quite impressed by how much this book managed to hold my attention enough for me to actually finish it.
I'm quite impressed by how much this book managed to hold my attention enough for me to actually finish it.
I love Victoria Holt's books... She has that knack for transporting you to a different time and place! This one is my favorite!
Not fantastic nor an easy read. It almost keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out what happens, but is dully written.
History part was interesting, but probably would have enjoyed straight history more than the not-very-good attempt at fictionalizing. Maybe my recent craving for historical fiction has been satisfied for a while now.
I've probably read this book at least 10 times--and I love it every time I read it.
Another Coconis Masterpiece and that is Catherine of the Savage Sands on that cover!
This is not the Victoria Holt I remember from High School. Lots of repitition of ideas and statements - very sappy - the main character was whining all the time.
Read this in my 20s - not quite sure how I would like it now.
Great book. Great character and history illustration.
Jan 11, 2010
Mary.schiltz
added it
I just began this, but looks like a good winter read
Read and loved this as a teenager. Great stuff!
Read this one year ago....love period novels!
The court of Elizabeth I from another viewpoint. Interesting read, I was fascinated to learn more about Lettice Knowles. From previous books I have read about the period, I had heard Lettice's name occasionally, and knew there was some speculation about whether or not Henry VIII fathered her mother during his affair with Mary Boleyn. We'll never know.
All in all an enjoyable read - not the greatest in the historical fiction genre, but worthwhile to learn more about the secondary players in the t...more
All in all an enjoyable read - not the greatest in the historical fiction genre, but worthwhile to learn more about the secondary players in the t...more
One of my favourite historical novels.
kind of cheesy but not a bad read.
The book that started my obsession...
loved it
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
More about Victoria Holt...
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
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Jun 02, 2011 10:57am
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