Virgin: Prelude to the Throne (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The King is dead..." (more)
Key Phrases: queen dowager, waiting lady, south garden, Thomas Seymour, John Dudley, Robin Dudley (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In yet another zesty retelling of English history, Maxwell (The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn; The Queen's Bastard) chronicles the sexual development of Elizabeth I known as the Virgin Queen during her volatile teenage years. Banished after the beheading of her mother, Anne Boleyn, princess Elizabeth leaves court life until Henry VIII's last wife, Catherine Parr, brings her back into her father's good graces. Upon Henry's death, Elizabeth's nine-year-old brother, Edward, ascends the throne, and Catherine soon marries lusty, ambitious Thomas Seymour. Thomas's attempts to seduce Elizabeth both confuse and excite her. Meanwhile, at court, the boy king rules only in theory, as his unscrupulous uncle and guardian wields the power. After the suspicious death of Catherine and despite the warnings of her friend Robin Dudley, Elizabeth falls for Thomas, a one-dimensional bad boy motivated by a simplistic plan to overthrow the king and marry Elizabeth in order to capture the crown for himself. In an atmosphere of power wresting and backstabbing, young Elizabeth matures through suffering, learning how to be a successful queen. Maxwell's interpretation of Thomas's aggressive attempts at seduction puts a new, plausible spin on period speculation. In an epilogue, she admits that only writers of historical fiction can fill a "hole in history," in this case by imagining Elizabeth's secret compliance and eventual disillusionment. While the prose lacks the nuance of her earlier work, Maxwell is a skillful writer, and this thoroughly adult novel about a pubescent princess's dangerous romantic missteps depicts an intriguing slice of Elizabethan history. 6-city author tour. (June)Forecast: An arresting cover picture of the young Elizabeth will draw readers to this book, allotted a first printing of 25,000; Maxwell's reputation as a lively and dramatic writer will supply name recognition; and the perennial fascination of the Virgin Queen should earn brisk sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

When King Henry VIII dies, 13-year-old Elizabeth moves to the estate of Henry's kind and generous widow, the Queen Dowager Catherine Parr, who provides well for her stepchild. Surrounded by loved ones such as Catherine, Kat Ashley, and her dear friend Robin Dudley, Elizabeth is quite happy. This contentment is short-lived, however, for within months the Lord High Admiral Thomas Seymour courts and marries the queen, taking up residence at the estate. Handsome, charismatic Seymour effortlessly conceals his manipulative, evil nature until the lives of those in the household are forever changed. Elizabeth herself, under Seymour's influence, experiences a powerful adolescent sexual awakening and cannot seem to avoid indiscretion and political intrigue. Elizabeth I has recently enjoyed renewed interest, but this chapter of her life is generally ignored. Virgin, the third in Maxwell's series (The Queen's Bastard, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn) is tense, absorbing, highly entertaining, and recommended for all public libraries. Jean Langlais, St. Charles P.L., IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 243 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (June 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743204859
• ISBN-13: 978-0743204859
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #513,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating account of little-known part of Elizabeth's life, May 22, 2001

By	Pamela Berkman (San Anselmo, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Virgin : Prelude to the Throne: A Novel (Hardcover)

Robin Maxwell is an excellent writer who brings her flawless research and sense of pacing to the high drama that was Tudor England. Although many people know the basics about Elizabeth I and the story, better than any melodrama or soap opera, of her father Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn, most people haven't heard about her life as a teenage princess and the challenges she faced in the house of her stepmother and her stepmother's husband, the charming Thomas Seymour. In Maxwell's hands, this becomes the story of Elizabeth's coming of age and also of how she first learns the art of "spin" that serves her so well later on. That alone makes the novel absorbing. But in addition, Maxwell's book is engaging and sexy and brings Elizabeth alive!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bewitching, November 8, 2002

By	i didn't ask (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Maxwell has delivered a deftly written novel that covers Elizabeth's life during the reign of her brother, Edward VI, and illustrates how Elizabeth, even in her formative years, was full or grace, dignity, intelligence and cunning. The portrait Maxwell paints is one of a young girl unsure of her position in the world, yet fiercely proud of her heritage. Elizabeth is both worldly and naive, an irresistable combination. We experience Elizabeth's first pangs of love and lust, her burgeoning friendship with Robin Dudley, and the conspiracies set against her by her own people. A brilliant concluding novel to Maxwell's trilogy. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Fiction Filled With Charistmatic Characters, March 8, 2005

By	Gangofgin13 "Cinderella" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

Although the author admits she may have strayed off the precise history of the events that took place before Elizabeth took the throne, the story she tells is one full of passion, love, friendship and gives a good example of what many suppose the Tudor era was like. Her descriptions of each character, although extreme at times, portrays a good example of what history show them to be like.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a deep interest in Queen Elizabeth or the tudor era who is tired of reading the facts and wishes to enjoy a nice story along with it! Informative yet interesting all in one jolly package.