Customer Reviews

The Virgin's Daughters: In the Court of Elizabeth I

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though much has been written about Elizabeth I, Westin finds yet another aspect of this extraordinary woman's lifetime: the agony of impossible passions in the Virgin Queen's court, Elizabeth's great love for Robert Dudley; Lady Katherine Grey's unrequited passion for Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford in 1562, and Mistress Mary Roger's affection for Elizabeth's godson, Sir John Harington, in 1599. In 1562, Elizabeth is not yet thirty, Kate Grey but twenty-three, both susceptible to the temptations of romance. While foreign court Elizabeth, she becomes more adept at avoiding marriage contracts, vowing "my people will be husband and children to me and it will be enough". As much to keep the throne to herself as to save Dudley from scandal, Elizabeth endures the particular pain of one who dare not give in to her heart's desire, Dudley never to rule at his beloved's side. Likewise, the queen insists that her ladies-in-waiting remain virginal as well, refusing to allow their marriages.

While Kate has put her youthful love for Edward Seymour aside, his return to court awakens a deep yearning in a solitary, lonely existence. Named heir to the throne, Kate does all in her power to alleviate Elizabeth's suspicions. Kate's sister, Lady Jane Grey, lost her head thanks to her parents' ambitions after the death of Henry VIII, Kate terrified of meeting the same fate. Now, like Elizabeth, Kate is tortured by her love for Seymour, who begs to wed her. Nothing good can come from a union the queen decries, harbinger of yet another threat to her hard-won throne. Westin describes tension-filled days at court, Kate desperate to allay the queen's suspicions, yet hopelessly in thrall to Ned. Though Dudley and Seymour risk all in pursuit of the women they love, for the women there is only danger. Elizabeth dare not tolerate any exceptions, even for herself.

The most poignant aspect of this brilliantly structured novel is the contrast between the two love affairs, Elizabeth's with Dudley and Kate's with Edward, the queen proven right by history, Kate paying a terrible price for having what the queen cannot. In 1599, Elizabeth has ruled for near forty years, Dudley replaced by the handsome and ambitious Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, the second great romantic scandal of Elizabeth's reign. Westin's Elizabeth Tudor inspires mixed feelings as she rails against the infidelities of Kate and, later, Mary, a monarch unable to bear the love matches of others when she must endure loneliness. In 1599 Mary Rogers encounters a different queen, burdened by a lifetime of difficult choices. Mary's dilemma is equal to Kate's, the monarch unbending in principle, even as she is battered by an unfortunate affection for Essex. The Virgin Queen stands alone once more.

Westin perfectly captures the relationship between queen and ladies, Kate and Mary facing years of repressed feelings and a constant fear of exposure. Ravaged by time and played false by the last of her unrequited loves, Westin's portrayal of Elizabeth is powerful, the long life and terrible choices of a queen who demands the impossible from those who love her. It is Kate's and Mary's devotion that provides the fodder for this tale of a court where love must always defer to loyalty, honor a bitter consolation in the dark. Luan Gaines/2009.

I have to admit going into this one being confused about what the story was actually about, so many reviews go into such great plot detail that I found my head spinning - I'm keeping it short and sweet. This is actually two stories of two different women who served Elizabeth Tudor at two different periods in her life. The first, Katherine Grey falls in love with Edward Seymor and wishes to marry him but Elizabeth refuses to give permission for the two to wed - and their defiance leads to drastic circumstances. The second *daughter* is Mary Rogers (distantly related to Katherine) who joins Elizabeth's household in her later years and finds herself in love with the rakish Sir John Harrington, but Elizabeth has other plans.....

And that's pretty much it. While I enjoyed a look at a couple of lesser known ladies instead of the focus being on the monarch, I have to say that this book fell a tad bit flat for this reader. I didn't find much chemistry between either pair of lovers, Elizabeth was pretty un-intimidating in the first half of the book (thankfully that improved in the latter half), but worst of all was the portrayal of Robert Dudley. Instead of being the "Machiavellian master courtier" as he's been described he reminded me more of those irritating *barflys* I used to come across in my younger days - just a man who would flirt with anything in skirts. I never felt real connection with any of the characters, nor did I feel I was immersed into the period itself - I was always on the outside looking in. A good book, just not a great one.

If this novel had a Facebook page, the line for relationship status would most definitely read, "It's complicated." The book focuses on the women of Queen Elizabeth I's court who fall in love with forbidden men and arouse the queen's jealousy and ire. Lady Katherine Grey, the queen's most dedicated servant, falls in love with a handsome earl, while Mary Rogers falls in love with the queen's godson. Both women know that to pursue these relationships will mean alienating the "Virgin" queen, who must remain unwed if she wishes to retain her power. what they choose to do, and the resulting messes that unfold, make this a gripping read.

First, a quick note...while the people and many of the events of these two stories are true, Ms. Westin has altered some things, such as the dates when certain events occured, or extended a life by a few years or so. I mention this only because I've seen many nit-picky historical fiction reviewers out there who seem to get upset when things aren't told exactly as they happened...however that's what makes this FICTION.

Now, on to the story. This is a wonderful book about two different couples and the very different paths they take regarding their love, and the the very different outcomes that happen as a result. Katherine Grey (sister of the beheaded Lady Jane Grey, Queen of nine days) and Edward Seymour fall in love in the early days of Elizabeth's reign (early 1560's). Katherine is next in line for the throne (as stated in Henry VIII's will) but has NO desire for it. She lives only to serve her Queen and cousin, whom she truly loves. Elizabeth makes it very clear that Katherine and Ned can never be married. The joining of their royal blood (Edward is a close decedent of Queen Jane, Henry's 3rd wife), and the possibility of male heirs makes them a huge threat to Elizabeth's newly acquired throne, even though they want nothing to do with it. Kate and Ned,(as she calls him), defy the queen and end up paying a most extreme price for it, one Kate believes is worse then death. Their story is so sad, and while I understand why Elizabeth did what she did, I had to wonder how she could live with herself for being so cruel.

The second story is at the end of Elizabeth's reign (1599). Mary Rogers is a country girl who comes to work for the Queen as her Mistress of the Stool (it's about as glamorous as it sounds). She falls in love with Sir John Harrington (inventor of the toilet) who is the queen's Godson. Elizabeth knows of their love, but will not allow them to be together. She has promised Lord Howard, an aging cousin of the queen, Mary's hand in marriage once his sickly wife dies. Over the few years Mary works for the queen, they become very close. Mary loves her with all her heart, and promises not to go against her wishes, though it is extremely difficult. In the end, the only thing that saves Mary from a miserable life as the wife of and old north country Lord, is the queen's death. Mary and John's story has a much happier ending, but they were also not nearly as spontaneous and reckless as Kate and Ned.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book. If your a fan of historical fictions or Tudor-era, then this is a book for you. While I previously knew of these people, and had a vague knowledge of what became of them, I am glad to have their whole story. They are characters of a time period that I love, but are not the focus of your everyday Tudor novel. It was a nice change to learn about some new people. A great job by Ms. Westin, and I look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

Katherine Grey is the sister of poor Jane Grey, the nine day queen who lost her head When Mary Tudor took back the throne. Katherine is one of Elizabeth I's ladies. She loves her cousin and is happy to do her job, that is until an old flame comes back. Edward is dashing and tries to capture Katherine's heart. But she knows that marrying him without Elizabeth's permission could be fatal.

The second half of the book deals with Mary Rogers. Her grandfather took care of Katherine in her later years(I'll skip over some details so as not to give away any spoilers). She comes to court wanting to be one of Elizabeth's ladies.

To be honest I'm not sure the author knew which direction to take this book. Instead of it being a book about either A. Elizabeth and Dudley. Or B. Katherine Grey and Edward it is a mismatch of everything in between. The reader is introduced(or reintroduced depending how many times you have read Tudor HF) to Elizabeth and Dudley's relationship. Then we have the first 100 pages had Katherine denying, then declaring she loved Edward. This cat and mouse game goes on for nearly 100 pages until she finally breaks down and marries Edward. Finally! Then the story deals with their marriage and the political trouble they have caused. Excellent. Then the story abruptly ends and the reader is whisked 37 years in the future and a new character, Mary Rogers is introduced. What the..??

I didn't care about Mary as a character. I didn't want to read about her. I was finally warming up to Katherine and the story takes one big turn in a different direction. As a reader I felt cheated.

There was so much the author could have done, but failed to accomplish with this novel. Katherine Grey is such an interesting character. She was Elizabeth's cousin. Henry VIII placed Katherine in the line of succession. She could have inherited the throne. Katherine was a threat to Elizabeth's reign, yet despite all of this the story feels flat. There is no real sense of danger. The reader is also shut out of Katherine's life. Sure we know about the first half, but what about the second? What is Katherine feeling now that her life has been ripped apart?(again I am sparing the details for fear of spoilers).

The author could have taken this Tudor novel and gone to a place no one has traveled before. Ms. Westin could have told us Katherine's story, but she failed and that's disappointing.

I gave it three stars instead of two because I know that a lot of people love Tudor Historical Fiction. Maybe they will enjoy this one. Sadly, I could not.

Elizabeth I is heralded as both the daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and the last Tudor monarch of England. But what was it like to serve in her court? Jeane Westin offers up the stories of two women, loosely connected, and shows up their views.

Lady Katherine Grey is the sister of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days. She has no desire to claim the throne but her heritage makes her a constant risk to Elizabeth. Unfortunately, so does her choice of loves, Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertford. Will their love overcome the circumstances of their birth?

Conversely, Mary Rogers is aware of Katherine's story, as her family helped care for her till her death. Mary wants only to serve in Elizabeth's court but Sir John Harington captures her attention. Elizabeth uses marriage to further alliances. Will their love stand a chance in a court where alliances matter more than love?

Jeane Westin shows a remarkable contrast between two very similar love stories in THE VIRGIN'S DAUGHTERS. The similarities, as well as the differences, show a great deal about the mercurial character of Elizabeth I, who sacrificed her own love for both ambition and the overall welfare of England.

Katherine and Mary both wish to marry the men they love and are denied by Elizabeth. However, it is there that the similarities between their stories end as each woman handles their love affair differently. Katherine had little options because of her family's history in England whereas Mary chose to serve the Queen. It's hard to be sympathetic to Mary when Elizabeth is unwilling to allow her to marry for love because frankly she should have known better. Surprisingly, however, I enjoyed Mary's story better than Katherine's. I think, perhaps, it is the picture of Elizabeth that emerges more so in Mary's story that helps add a layer of understanding to the overall story.

Elizabeth is a contrary figure, seemingly to have higher expectations for women than men. She forgives her male admirers easily, perhaps too easily as seen from the example of her "Wild Horse", but has little sympathy for the women who daily sacrifice their own needs for her. While obviously Elizabeth earned the admiration and devotion of those around her, I found it difficult to relate to such a woman, particularly when viewed through Katherine's eyes. Mary's perspective gave better insight into the various beliefs and forces that made Elizabeth such a complex and complicated person. THE VIRGIN'S DAUGHTERS is an entertaining and insightful portrayal of Elizabeth I as seen through the eyes of two women whose lives she greatly affected.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

The Virgin's Daughter is told in two parts. The first part is early in Elizabeth's reign, when she herself is in love with Robert Dudley, whom she refuses to marry. She therefore expects her ladies-in-waiting also to remain unmarried and virgins. Lady Katherine Grey has pledged her devotion to the Queen, but can not forget her love for Edward Seymour, a childhood sweetheart. When Edward begins to pursue her again, she is torn between wanting love, marriage, and family and her loyalty to the Queen. Elizabeth also uses Kate as a pawn, as her council is desperate for her to marry and name an heir. Those with royal blood can not marry without consent or can be charged with treason.


Part two takes place near the end of Elizabeth's reign. Mary Rogers has newly become a lady-in-waiting to the aging Queen. Dudley has since passed away and Elizabeth amuses herself with the affections of the Earl of Essex, but still refuses to marry, nor has she named an heir. Mary finds herself falling in love with Sir John Harrington, whom the Queen refuses permission for him to court Mary. The young couple find themselves in a similar position as Kate and Edward before them.



I liked this book but I did not love it. I did like the complicated nature of a Queen who has fought for her position and does not want to marry and be ruled by a man. Her paranoia that others were looking to replace her was justified and explained her capricious nature towards relationships. I felt that the first part of the novel was enough to show an insight into Elizabeth's court. By the second part, it just felt a little forced and repetitive. It was not as well-written as other historical fiction of the Tudors, such as The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

I agree with one of the other reviews...great story told better by other authors. It took me a long while to get into the book in spite of loving this type of historical novel. Finally well into the story and it just drops the main character like a rock, skips ahead 30 years and begins anew. Honestly, I'm so frustrated and not sure I care to continue part II of this mediocre book. Disappointing.

I loved this book!!! It's a great weekend read. I thought the writer did a great job describing her characters and really setting the mood and theme of the book.

Several reviews have praised this story as historically accurate. Although the characters actually existed and were married to each other, dates are wrong and the connections between the characters did not exist. Lady Catherine Grey died of consumption in 1568. The book has her death at about 1589(ten years before the events of the second half of the book). It is known what families kept Lady Catherine from her time in the tower until her death and Mary Rogers' family was not one of them. The most agregious error is that Mary Rogers and Sir John married in 1583 (NOT 1603), 20 years before the date used in the book. This ruins the entire plot of the second half of the book. Although this is historical fiction, when an author uses real people for characters, the plot must follow the known facts about the characters. I would rather the author had used fictional characters for the second half of the book than to take such liberties with known dates and facts.