Love, Death & Politics
The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory (Touchstone Books $24.95)
Historian and author Philipa Gregory again delivers a gripping story surrounding the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the love of her life Sir Robert Dudley. more
Sir Robert and the Queen were childhood friends who met at the court of her father, King Henry VIII. In the turmoil that followed Henry's death, Elizabeth and Dudley were both imprisoned in the Tower of London by Queen Mary, Elizabeth's half-sister, and feared execution. So they had much in common and became even closer after Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1558. In appointing Dudley Master of the Horse and to the Privy Council, she assured him a prominent place at court and near her. Although Sir Robert was married to Amy Robsart, a woman in Norfolk, his relationship with Elizabeth was well known, as was the fact that they had discussed marriage. Gregory cleverly weaves what is known and what is unknown to offer a scenario to explain a mysterious death that has remained unsolved for centuries.
From the intimate perspective of four main players in the drama, builds an emotionally intimate page-turner filled with suspense. For Queen, Dudley, Robsart and Sir William Cecil, Elizabeth's closest advisor, a dangerous political situation and a painful emotional situation come to a head, resulting in a sudden death of Amy Robsart. The convenience of Lady Dudley's death immediately casts suspicions on Sir Robert and the Queen as well. Although an inquest ruled the death an accident, what really happened? Let Gregory tell you.
Buy this book!