Virgin: Prelude to the Throne

by Robin Maxwell

Book Overview

A book of passion, of sixteenth-century England, of greed and political ambition unto death. Historians and novelists have written extensively about the various aspects of Queen Elizabeth I's long,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559705639
• ISBN13: 9781559705639
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Arcade Pub
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

fleshy, moving and evocative novel of the life of the young princess Elizabeth

I have for a while now, been fascinated by the early years of Elizabeth I. What created this great woman who was one of the greatest rulers of England ever, the queen who refused to marry though her suitors included some of the most powerful monarchs of Europe at the time. It has been theorized, that the Elizabeth, whose mother was branded a whore and executed when Elizabeth was only three years old, and a few years later a similar fate meted out to her young stepmother Katherine Howard, never married because she associated marriage with death. In this exciting and moving book, Robin Maxwell explore the young princesses life at Chelsea House where she was sent to live with her stepmother the Queen Dowager Katherine Parr, after the death of her father Henry VIII, and the ascension to the throne of her younger brother Edward VI. While the Queen dowager gave Elizabeth love and was the only mother Elizabeth was known, Queen Katherine's husband Sir Thomas Seymour, charismatic and irresistible to women, sets his sights on the vulnerable and innocent young princes Elizabeth. Seymour lures the young princess into sexual interplay, and in a strange twist there are incidents where the Queen Dowager herself, driven mad by the evil of Seymour, helps him to abuse Elizabeth. Through suffering Elizabeth is strengthened, into the great ruler she will be, but as an abused pawn, it seems at the time far off her ever being the most powerful person in England. An insight into Elizabeth,s painful early life, her mother butchered on Henry VIII's orders, the little princess ignored and bastardized by her father, the mother figure she had trusted and loved she saw turned into a mad woman, and the man who had beguiled i her into giving him all her heart and soul, tried to rape and destroy her. A fleshy, moving and evocative novel of the life of the young princess Elizabeth, who would be one of the greatest figures in England's history.

Fascinating1

A well-written and interesting book on a little-known part of Elizabeth's life. I would also reccomend David Starkey's "Elizabeth: the Struggle for the Throne" for a non-fictional account of this same period.

Wonderful Fiction Filled With Charistmatic Characters

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.

Best Book I have ever read!!!

This book is amazing. It gives a wonderful description of an area of Elizabeth's life that few have ever explored. You really get a good sense of the times as well as the characters. A MUST READ!!

Fascinating account of little-known part of Elizabeth's life

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!