The Queen's Fool
Ratings25
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings25
Average rating3.7
#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory weaves a spellbinding tale of a young woman with the ability to see the future in an era when destiny was anything but clear. Winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee with her father from their home in Spain. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee; she has the gift of “Sight,” the ability to foresee the future, priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, who brings her to court as a “holy fool” for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up with her own yearnings and desires. Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen’s Fool is a rich and emotionally resonant gem from a masterful storyteller.
Reviews with the most likes.
Philippa's rendition of the history between Mary I and Elizabeth I was an interesting read. Taken from the perspective of a fictional girl, Hannah, the view of these two women were given an equal amount of attention that helped you understand the characters these women came to be.
I liked this a lot better than the other Philippa Gregory one I've read, “The Other Boleyn Girl.” I can't tell if it was because my little feminist heart appreciated reading about a woman in Tudor England whose life wasn't totally at the mercy of the men around her, or the protagonist's love interests were more appealing. Either way, consider me entertained. And pleased by the slightly cheesy happy ending.
Quite a gripping book. Not very sure about its historical accuracy after reading some critical comments online. But I think no one can deny that the story telling is good. I am glad that the “fool” does finally manage to find a happy life for herself, away from the back-stabbing, life-threatening court. I might continue reading the other books in the series, even though I have read them before.
Series
15 primary booksThe Plantagenet and Tudor Novels is a 15-book series with 15 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Philippa Gregory.
Series
8 primary booksThe Tudor Court is a 8-book series with 8 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Philippa Gregory.
