The Virgin's Lover
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| The Virgin's Lover | |
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| Author | Philippa Gregory |
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| Country |  England |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Touchstone |
| Publication date | 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0743256158 |
The Virgin's Lover is a historical novel written by British author Philippa Gregory. It belongs to her series of Tudor novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, and The Virgin's Lover.
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[edit] Plot Summary
The book opens in the autumn of 1558, just after the death of Mary I, and bells are heralding the fact that Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth, is now queen. The book is told from four main perspectives. These are Elizabeth I's; William Cecil's, the queen's main advisor; Robert Dudley, the queen's favourite; and Amy Robsart's, who is the wife of Robert Dudley. Robert Dudley returns to court upon Elizabeth taking the throne, and Amy hopes that his ambitions will not get him into more trouble. During Mary's reign, Dudley was kept in the Tower of London, his father and brother were executed, and another brother died in Calais. However, her hopes for the quiet life soon die, as Elizabeth and Robert become closer and more intimate.
Elizabeth has inherited a bankrupt and rebellious country, in turmoil as a result of the previous two monarch's reigns. Her advisor, William Cecil, warns that she will only survive if she marries a strong prince, but the only man that Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, and married man, Robert Dudley. Robert is sure that he can reclaim his destiny as Elizabeth's side. And as queen and courtier fall in love, Dudley begins to comtemplate the impossible - setting aside his loving wife to marry the young Elizabeth...
[edit] Historical Accuracy
Amy Robsart, Robert Dudley's wife, was found dead in 1560. She was lying on the floor at the foot of a flight of stairs with a broken neck. At the time, it was a common belief that he had killed her or had her killed so he would be free to marry Queen Elizabeth. However, Dudley surely knew that if he killed his wife the suspicion aroused would ruin any chance of marrying the queen. (Other theories include William Cecil, the queen's secretary, or Queen Elizabeth herself ordering the death of Amy Dudley.) Recent investigation has brought up the possibility that Amy Robsart simply fell down the stairs. She is reported as having had an ailment in her chest, possibly breast cancer or an aortic aneurism. As these conditions can lead to porous bones, she may have died from the short fall alone. The scandal caused by her death was enough to prevent Elizabeth from marrying the newly widowed Dudley.
[edit] Controversial vs Historical
Philippa Gregory is well known for her "controversial" contributions to the historical world of fiction. In the Virgin's Lover, Philippa Gregory has stated many facts that historians have found reason to dispute, such as the cause of Amy Robsart's death as well as the intimacy of Earl of Leicester I and Elizabeth I's relationship.
