I might add this would not stop me from reading any other novels by the same Author.


could have been better   January 3, 2005
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I enjoyed this book, in fact I read it in 2 days. But I do agree with the other reviewers here. It is not as good as the queens fool or the other boylen girl.

I think that this was because the history wasnt as exciting as those in the previous novels. Her other novels had me on the edge of my seat, had a real sense of urgency but this one did not. Maybe it was because for the 1st time the author told the story from the queens and dudleys points of view and not as an outsider looking in as with hannah the fool and mary boylen.

However this was a good read, i recommend it.


A bit of a disappointment   December 29, 2004
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Compared to Philippa Gregory's other historical novels, particularly The Other Boleyn Girl, The Virgin's Lover is a bit disappointing. While an entertaining read by an author who always does her research meticulously, it lacks the tension and the sympathetic characters which have driven her other books. It centres around Elizabeth I in the early days of her reign, along with her lover Robert Dudley, his wife Amy and Elizabeth's advisor Cecil. The problem is that Elizabeth is alternately weak and pathetic, and selfish and ambitious; Robert is almost entirely unlikeable as an ambitious, selfish womaniser; Amy, who is the least disagreeable of the central characters, is given less "air time" and though she wins the reader's sympathy she is too submissive and unassuming to be a heroine. Gregory presents an interesting version of the events surrounding the still-mysterious death of Amy Dudley, but which lacks the page-turning appeal of her other work.


Entertaining but not necessarily historically correct   December 29, 2004
 27 out of 30 found this review helpful

I have to admit that I do like Philippa Gregory's novels, her style of writing and that she tries to give a new perspective of events and personalities. Of course as a novelist she is freer than a historican to paint a picture of those personalities involved.

Her way of seeing Queen Elizabeth I. and the two leading men of her reign (Cecil & Lord Robert Dudley) was going to be controversial:The Queen and Lord Robert being lovers in the actualy sense of the word, The Queen promised to marry Lord Robert and The Queen and her first minister plotting and putting into effect the death of Dudley's first wife in order to put a moral obstacle to marriage to Robert and honouring her promise.

The Book made me laugh with regards to the title: The VIRGIN's lover... if they were lovers as the author claims than the title is quite wrong or can one say it makes The Queen a professional virgin?

The theories on the death of Lady Amy Dudley are numerous; none has really escaped of being pointed at as the guilty part. The theory that The Queen and Cecil really plotted the death in order to bar Robert from marrying the Queen was quite new to me. It is interesting and I believe mainly based on the assumption that the throne always meant more to Elizabeth than marriage or love. When her throne became endangered than rid herself of this danger, even if she had to go against her own emotions. Well, why not as a base for a novel. However, I have to admit I am not convinced.

But nevertheless I find this book highly entertaining being written with great flow and understanding. 4 stars well deserved.


Not a total waste of time!!   December 16, 2004
 1 out of 4 found this review helpful

Honestly this is the first of Philppa Gregory's historical fiction series that I have read. However being a huge fan of historical fictions, I would have to say this was not the most intriguing buy!! The book took a while to get a feel for, and only really picked up midway. I felt it lacked any real emotion and whilst it is well written, it does not draw the reader into the hearts of the characters!! I was further dissappointed when the book came to a sudden and I think badly timed end. Whilst I am used to the cliffhangers of other continuing books, this one I felt began badly and ended terribly!!

Furthermore, the author has taken a classic female icon from 16th century history and made her into a flimsicle, weak willed and malleable character, controlled only by men and desire. This is not the impression one wants to have of a historical figure such as Elizabeth I!!!

Criticism aside however, whilst I felt this book by far did not nearly compare to many others that I have read (such as the Boudica series by Manda Scott, or the Emperor series by Conn Iggulden), it is not a complete waste and could be a possible read when one has absolutely nothing else to do!! The only way in which this book has undoubtedly succeeded, is that it has not failed to invoke many critical and aggravated responses.