Historians have long whispered that Elizabeth “the Virgin Queen’s” passionate, lifelong affair with Robin Dudley, Earl of Leicester, may have led to the birth of a son, Arthur Dudley. In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of the child switched at birth by a lady-in-waiting who foresaw the deleterious political consequences of a royal bastard.
Set against the sweeping, meticulously rendered backdrop of court intrigues, international scandals, and England’s battle against the Spanish Armada, The Queen’s Bastard deftly juxtaposes Elizabeth and Leicester’s tumultuous relationship with the memoirs of the adventurous son lost to them — yet ultimately discovered.
What a Queen Readers who are fair game for the Tudors and their doings will enjoy this tale, even when somewhat improbable. Elizabeth I is a fascinating figure and stories about her, especially those with a new twist, always entertain, and make one willing to suspend dis-belief. That said, this book is well written, with an engaging young man as its protagonist. Much research obviously was done and too much detail is jammed in, interrupting the flow. But it’s easy to speed-read it away. Of course, there’s…
The Queen had a human side. A Good Read. It is an imaginative, fresh look at the mystery of the Virgin Queen. I enjoyed the approach of the subject. The facts that are part of history and the romance woven in between. It gives Queen Elizabeth I a more human look. Her strength was amazing and her subjects loyal. I would read it again. So that makes it pass my test. Thanks for the novel “Robin Maxwell”. You have done your research.
Couldn’t put it down! I’ve watched too many Dateline episodes to really believe Arthur Dudley was the son of Elizabeth and Leicester, but it intrigues me that he COULD have been. The author has at least convinced me that it was possible, and that’s why I couldn’t stop reading. But then, I believed the Polish woman who claimed to be the Arch-Duchess Anastasia might possibly be telling the truth—until DNA proved she was not.But I liked the Queen portrayed as a real person, an imperfect, compassionate…