A Favorite of the Queen: The Story of Lord Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I (A Novel of the Tudors) [Paperback]

Jean Plaidy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2010 | Series: A Novel of the Tudors

Torn between her heart’s passion and duty to her kingdom, a young queen makes a dark choice…
 
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester was the most powerful man in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. Handsome and clever, he drew the interest of many women—but it was Elizabeth herself that loved him best of all. Their relationship could have culminated in marriage but for the existence of Amy Robsart, Robert's tragic young wife, who stood between them and refused to be swept away to satisfy a monarch’s desire for a man that was not rightfully her own. But when Amy suddenly dies, under circumstances that many deem to be mysterious at best, the Queen and her lover are placed under a dark cloud of suspicion, and Elizabeth is forced to make a choice that will define her legacy. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama.” –New York Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (March 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307346234
• ISBN-13: 978-0307346230
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gay Lord Robert, March 12, 2010

By 

bagelpuss (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Favorite of the Queen: The Story of Lord Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I (A Novel of the Tudors) (Paperback)

I'm pretty sure this is a re-issue of Gay Lord Robert, so if you've read that book, don't bother buying this one. On the hand, if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it! Why does this publisher insist on changing the titles of her books? Is it a copyright issue or are they just trying to "trick" us into buying books we've already read?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gay Lord Robert, May 9, 2010

By 

Alex (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Favorite of the Queen: The Story of Lord Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I (A Novel of the Tudors) (Paperback)

This is the last book of the Tudor Novels and it's a very nice ending for them. This is the story of two people, Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, both of whom had to use their wits to survive to end up as they did. They were a pair and both knew it. Many rumours went around about both of them, concerning both of them, and Plaidy doesn't skimp on the details. She even leaves it up to the reader to decide the murder of Dudley's wife. Did he or didn't he or even did she?

Overall this book is better to me than Gregory's The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn) because this book is written just like a historical fiction novel should be, not a historical soap opera. Though some parts of the book dragged on, this is still light years better. I liked the interaction between Dudley and the Queen much better. They seemed like ruler and subject, not lover and obsessed girl. I also like how Plaidy handled the incident of Amy Dudley, though I didn't get as good a feel for her as I did in Gregory's book(the only thing I liked better than Plaidy's.) I also liked that she explored his other love interests and showed that he wasn't a perfect man. This book goes from the beginning of his life(and indeed before it) to the very end of his life, to show how his relationship with Elizabeth changed from passion to a mature love.

Overall this is a good ending for the Tudor novels. I do wish sometimes that she told the story of Elizabeth I and Dudley's stepson, the Earl of Essex.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lord Dudley, April 30, 2010

By 

D. A. Haines "txpv" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Favorite of the Queen: The Story of Lord Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I (A Novel of the Tudors) (Paperback)

Good read but not as intense as Phillapa Gregory's similar book which was a real page turner. The book does provide better context for the evolution of the Dudley family and their power than does Gregory. You will enjoy this book if you are interested in the Tudors and the rise of Elizabeth I, and if you are interested in good historical fiction.