When the Queen and a Courtier Fell in Love |The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

What happens when a queen and a courtier fall in love? They live happily ever after if it is a romantic novel. In historical fiction, the author presents the actual tale with some vivid imagination and possible explanations for how things may have happened. Here’s a book review of The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory about the tale of Queen Elizabeth I’s controversial affair with Robert Dudley.

The Virgin's Lover book review — Historical Fiction about Elizabeth I

Synopsis of The Virgin’s Lover

Book Summary: As a new queen, Elizabeth I faces two great dangers. The French threaten to invade Scotland. But more perilous still is her passion for the convicted traitor, Robert Dudley. Dudley is already married. Amy, his wife, refuses to set her beloved husband free to marry the queen, but she cannot prevent him from becoming the favourite of the plotting, pleasure-seeking court. Yet the queen must marry.

Her wisest councillor, William Cecil, knows it must be for policy, not for passion; meanwhile, Elizabeth’s uncle hates Dudley and swears he will murder him rather than have him as part of the royal family. Behind the triangle of loves, the factions take up their places: the Protestants, the priests, the assassins, the diplomats and the moneymakers.

Then, someone acts in secret, and for Elizabeth, Dudley and the emerging kingdom, nothing will be as planned. This is an interesting book for me since the logic of the narrative and the characters involved in the story made me look at the real-life evidence for the accidental death of Amy Dudley. When I was writing the novel it was widely accepted that she had broken her neck as a result of a fall. It seemed to me that murder was a far more likely cause, and you can read the novel to see who I suspect. It was very exciting when, long after publication, the original documents of her inquest were found showing that she died from blows to the head made by a weapon. Amy Dudley was indeed murdered, but we still don’t know who was the murderer.

Book Review

Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I is considered one of England’s most successful and popular monarchs. She ruled during the time that came to be known as the Golden Age. She was also the last Tudor.

The book is a fictional account of what may have led her to take the decision of never getting married. A peep into her controversial relationship with Robert Dudley. But it is so much more.

It’s the story of a woman ahead of her time in many ways. For one, she chose not to marry when the entire country expected her to tie the knot soon after taking over as the Queen.

It is also the story of Amy Dudley, a naive woman who became the victim of Elizabeth’s self-centeredness. She is the antithesis of a woman like Elizabeth. The contrast in these two women’s characters made for interesting food for thought for me. (Centuries later, we still have Amy Dudleys who think their husband is their Lord even after he loses everything including interest in her. But that’s the topic for another day).

The book gives us an insight into Elizabeth’s journey. She was fickle-minded and indecisive yet ruthless and calculating. Easily swayed by flattery yet manipulative. Love-stricken but not a fool. She wrote her own rules of being a Queen. Very different from her predecessor and half-sister who came to be known as ‘Bloody Mary’.

What a riveting portrayal of the formidable Queen. I love how the author builds the character. Although you know the end, the character development keeps the narrative extremely engaging. You see Elizabeth growing from a nervous new Queen to an indecisive leader to a powerful monarch; from a love-stricken foolhardy to a woman who’d not let a man think he can rule her.

The Virgin’s Lover is a rich, enthralling novel of passion, betrayal, and power.

However, a lot of facts seem to have been misconstrued. For one, Amy Dudley is known to have been a well-educated woman. The book portrays her as an illiterate, incapable of writing letters. Elizabeth too has been painted as a somewhat weak character. So, if you are particular about how the facts are presented, you’d not enjoy the book.

The book also felt a little too long. It was not as pacy as Gregory’s other ones I’ve read (Taming of the Queen and The Other Boleyn Girl). But it was engaging enough to not let me leave it mid-way. My knowledge about the Queen’s controversial affair was limited, so I enjoyed reading the fictional account of how things might have transpired.