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The Virgin Elizabeth: A Novel
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this ebook
A “tense, absorbing, and highly entertaining“ novel about the younger days of Elizabeth I, as the Virgin Queen is surrounded by deception and danger (Library Journal).
Banished as a child from the court of Henry VIII—when the king had her mother, Anne Boleyn, executed—young Elizabeth grew up outside the machinations of the royal court. Then Henry married Catherine Parr, who convinced him to allow Elizabeth to return.
When the kind died in 1547, the crown went to Elizabeth’s nine-year-old brother. But the true ruler of England is Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who has boldly named himself Lord Protector and effectively seized power.
Meanwhile the duke’s equally ambitious brother Thomas deployed his charm and sexual magnetism to utmost effect by persuading Henry’s widow Catherine to marry him. His real goal, however, is the late king’s daughter: Elizabeth herself. And so the game begins—one with rules that only the ruthless, amoral Thomas understands. Into this intrigue are drawn both those who love Elizabeth and those who wish her ill. In order to escape certain doom and achieve independence, Elizabeth must stand alone.
A book of passion, greed and political ambition in sixteenth century England, this final novel in the Tudor Trilogy is “an intriguing slice of Elizabethan history” (Publishers Weekly).
Banished as a child from the court of Henry VIII—when the king had her mother, Anne Boleyn, executed—young Elizabeth grew up outside the machinations of the royal court. Then Henry married Catherine Parr, who convinced him to allow Elizabeth to return.
When the kind died in 1547, the crown went to Elizabeth’s nine-year-old brother. But the true ruler of England is Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who has boldly named himself Lord Protector and effectively seized power.
Meanwhile the duke’s equally ambitious brother Thomas deployed his charm and sexual magnetism to utmost effect by persuading Henry’s widow Catherine to marry him. His real goal, however, is the late king’s daughter: Elizabeth herself. And so the game begins—one with rules that only the ruthless, amoral Thomas understands. Into this intrigue are drawn both those who love Elizabeth and those who wish her ill. In order to escape certain doom and achieve independence, Elizabeth must stand alone.
A book of passion, greed and political ambition in sixteenth century England, this final novel in the Tudor Trilogy is “an intriguing slice of Elizabethan history” (Publishers Weekly).
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Author
Robin Maxwell
ROBIN MAXWELL is the national bestselling author of eight historical fiction novels featuring powerful women, including Signora da Vinci and the award-winning Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, now in its twenty-fourth printing. She lives in the high desert of California with her husband, yogi Max Thomas.
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Reviews for The Virgin Elizabeth
Rating: 3.3951612967741935 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
62 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you're a follower of my blog, then surely you know that of all English monarchs, Elizabeth I is in No way my favourite...Sorry- but that's just the way it is. There's just something cold, calculating and non-feeling about her- for me..yet, I keep reading more and more books on her. There's something intriguing about her that's for sure. Or maybe, I just won't allow myself to believe that what you see is what you get-- and nothing so far has really moved me to change my opinion of her...Until... Virgin: Prelude to the Throne, by Maxwell. This is the story of Elizabeth from about the age of 13 to 15- don't kid yourself, this is not children's literature. Major things happen to Elizabeth and England within these two years to spur England into a series of dramatic turnabouts that it would be impossible to write-off this important time period.Elizabeth is being raised by her step-mother, the Dowager Queen Catherine and her husband, Thomas Seymour. With Kat as her guardian-lady-in waiting, you would think that Elizabeth had a dandy 'ole time with this wonderful mom and dashing dad...Poor Elizabeth, nothing could be farther from the truth.Elizabeth endures such traumatic episodes that no child of that age should ever go through. The abuse, betrayal, confusion and major incidents that happened to her would for sure leave a mark on her forever. For me, this book helped explain so many things. The poor child was torn between guilt, so-called love, shame, loss, confusion and almost treason- with the risk of death.I think I've never despised a character more than Thomas Seymour. And- what a change of heart for me to say that Elizabeth endeared me to no end! Her story literally broke my heart. I felt so much tenderness for this young girl who had her innocence cruelly taken away. What more could she experience aftet having lost her mother in the harshest of ways, her father rejecting her when she needed him most, and then this cruel man luring her heart and young blossoming passions in such a pedophilic way...all for his own glory. Poor, poor Elizabeth!She trusted and loved this slime ball and felt guilty for thinking that she may have been the one to lure him on! These are the typical feelings of youngsters who go through abuse of this sort. Yet, after all she went through, horrible damage to her soul and person, our beautiful young royal, came out standing tall, proud and more majestic than ever, and I rooted for her all the way!I must say that I am utterly surprised that after reading so much history, I've never read anything in such detail about this particular time in Elizabeth's life. There's always bits and pieces alluding to this horrid period- but never in such detail and never so real. Even Catherine Parr's death solved a few questions I had. this book is a must read.Virgin, is a must read for all Elizabethan fans and historians who feel there is a missing link in Elizabeth's life. Robin Maxwell has helped put the pieces together for me and now Elizabeth appears as a whole new different person. Her depth in character, her choices in life, her destiny and her ruling have roots from a far deeper place. I understand her so much better.I highly recommend this beautiful, heart-wrenching and enlightening read to all. Fantastic book- Thank you so much Robin Maxwell!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wonderful book! Great writing. And wonderful story telling. It wasn't until I was almost done with this one that I found out it had two books before it.But that was still okay. This book stands alone perfect well for a Tudor fan.A wonderful story of the turmoil of young Elizabeth's life. I highly recommend this one.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Set early in the life of Elizabeth, Daughter of the Great Henry VIII, this is a part fictionalised version of her life and the scheming that she gets involved in. She is still only 15 by the book's end, so we dont see the woman who eventually ascends the throne to rule in an almost manly fashion for over 40 years. She is in fact young and immature, and infatuated with her step mother's plotting new husband.I did find the book a little too modern in some of the language that the characters used (wont pick out examples right now), and because this is a part fiction account, the second part of the book - where Maxwell admits in the post script to taking certain liberties because she is now working without public record - I do think the book was running the risk of become a little absurd.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Maxwell should have stopped after the first novel in the series. If it were possible to leave a rating lower than a 1, this book earned it.Thankfully, I bought this book at a used bookstore.