Rival to the Queen [Hardcover]

Carolly Erickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2010

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Wife of Henry VIII comes a novel about the bitter rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and her fascinating cousin, Lettice Knollys, for the love of one extraordinary man.

Powerful, dramatic and full of the rich history that has made Carolly Erickson’s novels perennial bestsellers, this is the story of the only woman to ever stand up to the Virgin Queen— her own cousin, Lettie Knollys. Far more attractive than the queen, Lettie soon won the attention of the handsome and ambitious Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a man so enamored of the queen and determined to share her throne that it was rumored he had murdered his own wife in order to become her royal consort. The enigmatic Elizabeth allowed Dudley into her heart, and relied on his devoted service, but shied away from the personal and political risks of marriage.

When Elizabeth discovered that he had married her cousin Lettie in secret, Lettie would pay a terrible price, fighting to keep her husband’s love and ultimately losing her beloved son, the Earl of Essex, to the queen’s headsman.

This is the unforgettable story of two women related by blood, yet destined to clash over one of Tudor England’s most charismatic men.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Virgin Queen Elizabeth I and her heart's consort, Lord Robert Dudley, the earl of Leicester, continue to exert a seductive hold on the imagination as fodder for fiction. Now Erickson examines a rival for Lord Dudley's affections, Leticia œLettie  Knollys, a Boleyn relative who, along with her sister, served in Elizabeth's court and eventually became Lady Leicester. Erickson (The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots) paints Elizabeth as an enormously selfish, envious monster, and Dudley as a handsome rake who's devoted to his own agenda and to his queen. But due at least in part to politics, his relationship with Elizabeth doesn't end in the marriage he's longed for, and the marriage he does have, to Lady Amy, ends with her untimely death, a possible suicide. Dudley's marriage to Lettie produces a son who later dies, and a liaison with Lady Douglass Sheffield produces a bastard, or œbase son.  Erickson writes gracefully, but his Elizabeth is too cartoonish, and Lettie, his narrator, reveals her history with a stereotypical dispassionate air that fails to engage the reader emotionally.
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Review

“In her sixth historical novel, Erickson again displays her remarkable ability to paint an exquisitely realistic portrait of Tudor England. . . . This is much more than a historical romance; Erickson's attention to historical detail and the depiction of Elizabeth's struggle to maintain her control over her kingdom make for compelling reading. Fans might also be interested in one or more of Erickson's four Tudor biographies. Historical fiction fans can’t get enough of the Tudors; this engaging story is a worthy addition to the genre.”—Library Journal

“Erickson turns her attention to the dramatic love triangle that changed history. One man, Robert Dudley, held Elizabeth I’s heart and Erickson draws on that love to bring the life of Elizabeth’s cousin and rival, Lettie Knollys, to readers. Erickson portrays Elizabeth as a jealous woman, Dudley as a rake and Lettie as the innocent, endearing her to readers. Rival to the Queen gives this forgotten woman a place in history.”—RT Book Reviews (4.5 stars)

“Erickson's knowledge and exacting recreation of how it really was in the 1500's is astonishing and adds much to the story. (It also reminds me that royalty of that period is not to be envied.)  Beautiful, intelligent and independent, Lettice leads a life of luxury, but because of the times in which she lived and because of her beauty, her life was always lived on the razor's edge. . . . If you are a fan of Carolly Erickson or historical fiction, this book is for you.”—Affaire de Coeur

“Erickson writes gracefully.”—Publishers Weekly

“The romance between Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley is a story that has survived the centuries, but what about the woman who married Robert, Lettice Knollys, Elizabeth’s own cousin. . . . A new Carolly Erickson novel is a wonderful and decadent treat, eagerly awaited and Rival to the Queen is no exception. . . . Rival to the Queen shows that political sex scandals and intrigue are not a new thing, and that murder, romance, and power don’t mix well for a happy ending. Fans of Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory will want all of Carolly Erickson’s books on their shelves, these are definitely novels you don't want to miss out on!”—Night Owl Reviews

“Rival to the Queen is a richly detailed telling of a woman who falls in love with the man whom Elizabeth loves to dangle and toy with.  From beginning to end, the life and times of Lettice Knollys is intricately portrayed, from her service at court, throughout her first marriage to Walter Deveraux, and on to the days when she meets and falls in love with Robert.  She could easily have died for marrying a man—the queen’s favorite!—without Elizabeth’s consent, but instead she is banished from court forever. In part, Rival to the Queen is historical fiction blended with nonfiction, with a sprinkling of romance to boot!”—Romance Reviews Today

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312379749
• ISBN-13: 978-0312379742
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carolly Erickson is the bestselling author of many distinguished works of nonfiction and a series of historical entertainments, blending fact and invention. She lives in Hawaii.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rival to the Queen, October 5, 2010

By 

Nell Gwynn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rival to the Queen (Hardcover)

I found this a most annoying book. It combines some fact with a lot of fabrication. While historical fiction necessarily employs imagination to develop dialogue, describe meetings etc. and while questions about Elizabeth's personal life and complex personality give ample opportunities for invention in describing her court and those surrounding her, this book sets forth implausible events as well as situations that are in direct contradiction to historical evidence. It also makes many unwarranted assertions about various people. In the process, it trivializes fascinating characters and tells a much less compelling story than what is on the record. If the reader is interested in Lettice Knollys and her family, he/she would be better off reading "The Lady Penelope" by Sally Varlow, which tells the real story, insofar as it can be ascertained, in a far more satisfactory manner. Above all, the reader of "Rival to the Queen" should not approach it as an accurate reflection of events or characters, but simply a novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Carolly Erickson Should Know Better, June 12, 2011

By 

Thalassa "Queen of Air & Darkness" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rival to the Queen (Hardcover)

With the amount of historical non-fiction Erickson has written, she should have enough research to tell the story of any Tudor courtier with correct facts and accurate period detail. This clumsiness written hash fails to use known facts and invents awkward conjecture to tell the story of one of the most interesting women Elizabeth's Court. A disappointment, especially since the the facts as they are known make for better storytelling details than the ones Erickson has spun. The heaving bosom prose of Holt's "My Enemy the Queen" still manges to tell the tale more truly than this mess.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Agree with the Reviews, November 25, 2010

By 

The Famous Jano (Birmingham Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rival to the Queen (Hardcover)

These days as I read a book and I am not quite sure how I feel about it, I wonder what reviewers on amazon are thinking about the book. I would give this one a 3.5.

As with others here, I highly recommend one of my favorite books by Victoria Holt, My Enemy the Queen. Holt's take on Lettice and Dudley is different than Erickson's. As I read this book, I felt the author made the principals a little too "nice".

I also recommend a great book which captures the feeling of the times, this one about Lettice's daughter "Lady Rich;: A novel of Penelope Devereux at the Court of Queen Elizabeth [Hardcover]" by Elizabeth Boatwright Coker.

Its great historical fiction.

One thing that I felt was wrong is when Lettice's brother says to her "I won't let Father control my destiny" or something like that, referring to her being made to marry the eventual Earl of Essex. I just don't think that would have happened in those days when young women of family were made to marry whomever their parents (usually fathers) chose for them, like it or not.

Even though it wasn't quite the same as others of the subject matter, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it as a light, easy read.