The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory (Published in 2004 by Simon & Schuster) Set in the early, unpredictable years of Elizabeth I’s reign, The Virgin’s Lover is full of court intrigue, plots, schemes and power plays. The story follows three main characters: Queen Elizabeth I, William Cecil, her canny and shrewd Secretary of State, and Lord Robert Dudley, her childhood playmate and aspiring lover. William Cecil despairs of a woman’s ability and capability to rule England and subtly endeavors to guide Elizabeth in her role as queen. Lord Robert Dudley is married, his family in disgrace from his grandfather’s and father’s acts of treason, and trying to rise out of the depths to restore his families’ former glory and power in England’s court. As Lord Robert’s star steadily rises, he and Cecil are at constant war and in a struggle for power to win Elizabeth’s affection and the control of England. In the background, but never far from the minds of everyone, is Lord Robert’s innocent wife, Amy Dudley, who has ever been constant in her love and loyalty to Lord Robert, despite his sometimes cruel behavior towards her and his certain abandonment of her. The entire story leads to an unsolved crime of passion which has fascinated historians for centuries.

Philippa Gregory’s descriptions of life in the Elizabethan court are detailed and historically accurate. The constant plotting, scheming and ever present intrigue by the main characters are mind boggling, but sadly true. I found the book to be a slow start because of all the background history on the characters involved, but it definitely picked up speed as the story developed and moved along. You find yourself as frustrated as Cecil is as he tries to counsel a strong-minded, stubborn, vein, unhappy woman who is in the throes of her first love, while watching his country come to the brink of a war with France which it would very probably lose. You will also find yourself shocked by the lengths Lord Robert will go in order to regain his family’s former glory and power. But, you will also learn how deeply he was affected by the loss of his family’s former wealth, title and estates and understand his motivation. And, all the while, you will feel total sympathy for Amy, Lord Robert’s lonely, lovely wife who, through no fault of her own, is shamed because of her husband’s not so secret affair with the Queen of England.

If you are interested in life at court in Elizabethan England, no one writes it better or more accurately than Philippa Gregory. Two other recognizable titles of Ms. Gregory’s are “The Other Boleyn Girl” (2008) and “The Other Queen” (2008). Both excellent reads.