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The Tudor Trilogy #3
Die Rivalin der Königin
Im Mittelpunkt des neuen großen Romans von Elizabeth Fremantle steht Penelope Devereux, eine für ihre Zeit ungewöhnlich selbstbestimmte und mutige Frau. Sie ist nicht nur schön, sondern auch gewitzt. Als Hofdame lebt sie im Machtzentrum der alternden Elizabeth I., verfolgt Ränkespiele bei Hofe und ist dabei selbst nicht ganz unbeteiligt. Trotz ihrer Proteste muss sie den unsympathischen Robert Rich heiraten, handelt aber mit ihm aus, dass er sie gehen lässt, wenn sie ihm zwei Söhne geboren hat, denn ihre ganze Liebe gilt Philip Sidney, der für sie hinreißende Sonette schreibt.
Mitreißend und farbig erzählt Elizabeth Fremantle die wahre Geschichte einer faszinierenden Frau am englischen Hof.
Mitreißend und farbig erzählt Elizabeth Fremantle die wahre Geschichte einer faszinierenden Frau am englischen Hof.
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
170 people are currently reading
2745 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Fremantle
13 books562 followersElizabeth Fremantle is the critically acclaimed author of Tudor and Elizabethan set novels: Queen's Gambit, Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady and Times Books of the Year: The Girl in the Glass Tower and The Poison Bed, a historical thriller written under the name EC Fremantle described as 'a Jacobean Gone Girl.'
Her latest novel is The Honey and the Sting, published August 6th 2020 as EC Fremantle
She lives in London
Her latest novel is The Honey and the Sting, published August 6th 2020 as EC Fremantle
She lives in London
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
September 16, 2018
The famed beauty Penelope Devereux, reported to be the muse of poet Robert Sidney, was born in 1563. She’s the great grand-daughter of Mary Boleyn by Henry VIII and her mother is Lettice Knollys who vexed Elizabeth I by marrying her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester after Penelope’s father dies. Her beloved brother is Robert, second Earl of Essex and she will support him in all his political endeavours, even the final one: . Robert will shockingly cast aspersion on Penelope’s own loyalty to the queen. His was a star that shone brightly in the Elizabethan court as he became the monarch’s new favourite and his fame grew strong among the English public. But even Penelope could see that as his public popularity grew, Elizabeth was becoming less enthralled with the handsome soldier and courtier.
“When Nature made her chief work, Stella's eyes,
In colour black why wrapt she beams so bright?
Would she in beamy black, like painter wise,
Frame daintiest lustre, mix'd of shades and light?
Or did she else that sober hue devise,
In object best to knit and strength our sight;
Lest, if no veil these brave gleams did disguise,
They, sunlike, should more dazzle than delight?
Or would she her miraculous power show,
That, whereas black seems beauty's contrary,
She even in black doth make all beauties flow?
Both so, and thus, she, minding Love should be
Plac'd ever there, gave him this mourning weed
To honour all their deaths who for her bleed.”
From Astrophil and Stella 7 by Sir Robert Sidney
Penelope does not lead a charmed life; although her father wished her to marry Robert Sidney, Elizabeth matched her with the Lord Rich; a complex man, he was Puritan by creed but pursued intimacies with those of his own sex. At court, the Queen’s principal secretary, the crooked spined Thomas Cecil, treats Penelope with disdain and distrust; he will employ spies to watch her every move. Quietly and stealthily, Penelope and her brother carry on making political overtures to James, King of Scotland; even as they are aware of the huge risk involved. After Penelope fulfils her side of the marriage bargain she has with Lord Rich, she carries on a long-term affair with Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy, resulting in another four children. Theirs will be a very happy union but after Penelope divorces Rich, the monarch will not allow her marriage to Blount to go ahead.
Elizabeth Fremantle presents to the reader an Elizabethan woman who was very unlike the other Court women. She does not buck the system outwardly but very quietly shores up her family’s strength and wealth and supports their political dreams. She builds up her own network of spies and informers at a time when most court women were fussing about fashion, husbands, jewellery and currying favour with Elizabeth. She is an interesting woman of history and Fremantle’s book has certainly sparked my interest in Penelope and her relationship with her brother Robert. Fremantle’s writing is such that I had over twenty passages earmarked with page flags; she is a lovely writer, never soppy or romantic: she has an intelligent, interesting style which leaves the reader wanting more.
Watch the Lady: A Novel is the story of a woman but also of a time, of a monarch and of history. I will be pursuing her other books. A huge thanks to Marita: her review was why I picked up this novel. A very definite 4★.
“When Nature made her chief work, Stella's eyes,
In colour black why wrapt she beams so bright?
Would she in beamy black, like painter wise,
Frame daintiest lustre, mix'd of shades and light?
Or did she else that sober hue devise,
In object best to knit and strength our sight;
Lest, if no veil these brave gleams did disguise,
They, sunlike, should more dazzle than delight?
Or would she her miraculous power show,
That, whereas black seems beauty's contrary,
She even in black doth make all beauties flow?
Both so, and thus, she, minding Love should be
Plac'd ever there, gave him this mourning weed
To honour all their deaths who for her bleed.”
From Astrophil and Stella 7 by Sir Robert Sidney
Penelope does not lead a charmed life; although her father wished her to marry Robert Sidney, Elizabeth matched her with the Lord Rich; a complex man, he was Puritan by creed but pursued intimacies with those of his own sex. At court, the Queen’s principal secretary, the crooked spined Thomas Cecil, treats Penelope with disdain and distrust; he will employ spies to watch her every move. Quietly and stealthily, Penelope and her brother carry on making political overtures to James, King of Scotland; even as they are aware of the huge risk involved. After Penelope fulfils her side of the marriage bargain she has with Lord Rich, she carries on a long-term affair with Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy, resulting in another four children. Theirs will be a very happy union but after Penelope divorces Rich, the monarch will not allow her marriage to Blount to go ahead.
Elizabeth Fremantle presents to the reader an Elizabethan woman who was very unlike the other Court women. She does not buck the system outwardly but very quietly shores up her family’s strength and wealth and supports their political dreams. She builds up her own network of spies and informers at a time when most court women were fussing about fashion, husbands, jewellery and currying favour with Elizabeth. She is an interesting woman of history and Fremantle’s book has certainly sparked my interest in Penelope and her relationship with her brother Robert. Fremantle’s writing is such that I had over twenty passages earmarked with page flags; she is a lovely writer, never soppy or romantic: she has an intelligent, interesting style which leaves the reader wanting more.
Watch the Lady: A Novel is the story of a woman but also of a time, of a monarch and of history. I will be pursuing her other books. A huge thanks to Marita: her review was why I picked up this novel. A very definite 4★.
April 27, 2025
Once again Elizabeth Fremantle fails to impress.
Penelope Devereux, the sister to Robert, led a very exciting life during the Renaissance reign of Elizabeth I and I've tried to read every book I could find about her.
With such riches from which to mine when writing this book, Fremantle's characters never come alive and the book is never exciting.
For new readers just discovering this subject I imagine it would be a very exciting read.
Penelope Devereux, the sister to Robert, led a very exciting life during the Renaissance reign of Elizabeth I and I've tried to read every book I could find about her.
With such riches from which to mine when writing this book, Fremantle's characters never come alive and the book is never exciting.
For new readers just discovering this subject I imagine it would be a very exciting read.
October 6, 2016
For many of us history buffs, the story of the Earl of Essex is well known, but not so much the story of his older sister , Penelope. The author of this book expressed her desire to adhere to historical fact whenever possible, but she often had to resort to conjecture because so much is not known. Having said that, I finished this book having developed great respect for the courage for this great lady of the Elizabethan age. She had guts for sure. She lived life by her rules.
I also realized I have one of the author's redirects on my shelf here at home to read, The Lady Penelope: The Lost Tale of Love and Politics in the Court of Elizabeth I by Sally Varlow. I'm excited to read a bio about her to get a more historically accurate account of her life.
I also realized I have one of the author's redirects on my shelf here at home to read, The Lady Penelope: The Lost Tale of Love and Politics in the Court of Elizabeth I by Sally Varlow. I'm excited to read a bio about her to get a more historically accurate account of her life.
November 9, 2020
"Watch the lady; watch and wait" Lord Cecil admonishes his overeager son. "Water hollows a stone, not by force but by falling often."
The lady in question is Penelope Devereux, a descendant of Mary Boleyn and therefore related to Queen Elizabeth I. She is also the object of Robert Cecil's wrath, convinced that she and her brother Essex are traitors to the Queen. The wheel of political power is forever turning and churning, with Cecil at the top, then the Devereux back again, in a court intrigue that takes years until its catastrophic culmination
I overall enjoyed this story, especially because of the writing style. Penelope remembers her mother tucking her in before going to a party at court. As she leaned in to kiss her daughter those jewels would tumble forward with a soft clatter, like rain on a window. Growing up, she reflects on her naivety when she first arrives at Elizabeth's court as a young girl. The hardened courtier she is now is different from that girl as an egg from an oyster. When the pain of her broken heart is too much to bear, Penelope enclosed her heart in a membrane, like a baby born in the caul, so it was inaccessible, even to her.
The writing style made up for a rather uninspiring subject. Lady Devereaux and her troop of bumbling fools mount such a hopeless, disastrous attempted coup against Elizabeth I that I cannot hold her in awe as the author does. Fremantle goes to great length to drive the proposition that Lady Penelope is a she-wolf to match Elizabeth I and had she but been born a man, she would have been an equal match to the Queen but I think she does not make her case here. I would recommend this book to uber fans of Tudor historical fiction.
The lady in question is Penelope Devereux, a descendant of Mary Boleyn and therefore related to Queen Elizabeth I. She is also the object of Robert Cecil's wrath, convinced that she and her brother Essex are traitors to the Queen. The wheel of political power is forever turning and churning, with Cecil at the top, then the Devereux back again, in a court intrigue that takes years until its catastrophic culmination
I overall enjoyed this story, especially because of the writing style. Penelope remembers her mother tucking her in before going to a party at court. As she leaned in to kiss her daughter those jewels would tumble forward with a soft clatter, like rain on a window. Growing up, she reflects on her naivety when she first arrives at Elizabeth's court as a young girl. The hardened courtier she is now is different from that girl as an egg from an oyster. When the pain of her broken heart is too much to bear, Penelope enclosed her heart in a membrane, like a baby born in the caul, so it was inaccessible, even to her.
The writing style made up for a rather uninspiring subject. Lady Devereaux and her troop of bumbling fools mount such a hopeless, disastrous attempted coup against Elizabeth I that I cannot hold her in awe as the author does. Fremantle goes to great length to drive the proposition that Lady Penelope is a she-wolf to match Elizabeth I and had she but been born a man, she would have been an equal match to the Queen but I think she does not make her case here. I would recommend this book to uber fans of Tudor historical fiction.
July 11, 2015
This was another great read by Elizabeth Freemantle. This time she delves into the later years of the reign of Elizabeth I by telling the story of Penelope Devereux, lady in waiting to Elizabeth and sister of Elizabeth's favorite of the time; the second Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux.
What I loved most about this novel was how the author was able to create the atmosphere of backbiting and jealously in Elizabeth's court. The rivalry between Robert Devereux and Robert Cecil (son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and later Earl of Salisbury under James I) was vicious at times. The novel was full of intrigue and conspiracy and yet not to the point of conjecture on the author's part, keeping this novel's foot holding firmly in the historical fiction pool and not in it's subgenre of historical mystery. Not that I don't love a good historical mystery but often they can favor speculation and hyperbole over fact and as the author states at the book of this novel: "I have adhered closely to historical fact".
Penelope Devereux is a fascinating character and what I particularly enjoyed was that the author did not concentrate solely on her being the inspiration for Sir Phillip Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella" sonnet series. Yes Sir Phillip is in the novel but it is the later years of Penelope's life that make for the most interesting read. She had a sharp mind and a keenness for politics. She was in contact with James VI of Scotland long before he became James I of England. She was part of her brother's rebellion of 1601, although to what extent we can only speculate. It is very interesting that Penelope was the only person on the list of rebels given to the Queen that did not face trial.
Overall I found this to be a compelling and enjoyable read. The characters were well-developed and the content thought-provoking. It was interesting to see the outsider portrayal of the later years of Elizabeth's reign. I have read a lot of historical fiction about the earlier years, but there does not seem to be as much about the years leading up to her death. Although this novel somewhat puts you in the Devereux camp I still found Elizabeth's story to be quite saddening in the end.
What I loved most about this novel was how the author was able to create the atmosphere of backbiting and jealously in Elizabeth's court. The rivalry between Robert Devereux and Robert Cecil (son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and later Earl of Salisbury under James I) was vicious at times. The novel was full of intrigue and conspiracy and yet not to the point of conjecture on the author's part, keeping this novel's foot holding firmly in the historical fiction pool and not in it's subgenre of historical mystery. Not that I don't love a good historical mystery but often they can favor speculation and hyperbole over fact and as the author states at the book of this novel: "I have adhered closely to historical fact".
Penelope Devereux is a fascinating character and what I particularly enjoyed was that the author did not concentrate solely on her being the inspiration for Sir Phillip Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella" sonnet series. Yes Sir Phillip is in the novel but it is the later years of Penelope's life that make for the most interesting read. She had a sharp mind and a keenness for politics. She was in contact with James VI of Scotland long before he became James I of England. She was part of her brother's rebellion of 1601, although to what extent we can only speculate. It is very interesting that Penelope was the only person on the list of rebels given to the Queen that did not face trial.
Overall I found this to be a compelling and enjoyable read. The characters were well-developed and the content thought-provoking. It was interesting to see the outsider portrayal of the later years of Elizabeth's reign. I have read a lot of historical fiction about the earlier years, but there does not seem to be as much about the years leading up to her death. Although this novel somewhat puts you in the Devereux camp I still found Elizabeth's story to be quite saddening in the end.
August 8, 2024
Review from 2015
A-/B for narration / B+ for content.
Watch the Lady is a fascinating piece of historical fiction based on the life of Lady Penelope Rich, the sister of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Penelope is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Sir Philip Sydney’s famous sonnet sequence, Astrophel and Stella; and her life was an unconventional one, to say the very least. She was beautiful, possessed of a fine mind, took a keen interest in politics and, for a woman of the time, was able to live life on her own terms, sustaining a long-term relationship with a man to whom she was not married while at the same time retaining the favour of the queen, who was not a woman tolerant of any sort of impropriety among her ladies.
The story takes place in the later part of the sixteenth century, in the last twenty-five years or so of Elizabeth I’s reign. Penelope Devereux is the step-daughter of the queen’s favourite, Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, who married Penelope’s widowed mother against Elizabeth’s wishes; and while Leicester managed to regain his position at court, Penelope’s mother did not and has been permanently banished. At eighteen, Penelope takes up a position among the queen’s ladies, and not long after that, is informed that she is to be married to Lord Rich. She is devastated by this news, having believed herself to have been betrothed to the handsome soldier-poet Philip Sydney, with whom she has fallen in love.
But that betrothal was long since broken, and now she can do nothing but submit to her step-father’s – and the queen’s – will that she marry Rich, whose wealth will go a long way towards filling her family’s empty coffers.
Already resentful at the queen’s treatment of her mother, this is another mark against Elizabeth in Penelope’s book; and it’s the beginning of an antipathy that will see Penelope making overtures of friendship to King James of Scotland long before he was named as Elizabeth’s successor, and in her taking part in Essex’s failed rebellion of 1601.
While the bulk of the story, especially in the early stages, is told from Penelope’s point of view, as the book progresses, we hear more and more from the Essex camp’s greatest rival, Robert Cecil, the son of Elizabeth’s chief advisor, Lord Burghley. Cecil plays a long game, watching and scheming over the years and waiting for his opportunity to bring down the ascendant Essex, whom he has hated since they were boys.
The story is rich in historical detail and Ms Freemantle brings Elizabeth’s court to life in vivid colour, with its atmosphere of back-biting, treachery and jostling for position. The principal characters are strongly drawn: Penelope – a shrewd, clever woman, is determined to do the best for the brother she loves; Essex – mercurial, headstrong and adored by almost everyone, is never content; Cecil, in the background, gradually gaining power and confidence, is desperate to win his father’s approval; Elizabeth, the ageing monarch who nonetheless maintains an iron grip on just about everything around her, but who, in refusing to name her successor, is responsible for much political unrest.
Ms Freemantle’s writing is excellent and her research has clearly been extensive. But this is no dry history lesson; the author writes a touching, intense and ultimately heart-breaking love story between Penelope and Sydney, and renders the listener on edge during the sequence of events which lead to Essex’s downfall. It’s a terrific story, and although I haven’t read or listened to anything by this author before, I intend to rectify that situation very soon.
The main reason I selected this title for review was because one of the narrators is Georgina Sutton, whose performance in Georgette Heyer’s The Corinthian I enjoyed very much. She has a mellow, slightly husky voice which is very attractive, and because it sits in the contralto register, she performs the male characters easily. Her portrayals of Penelope’s love-interests – Philip Sydney and Charles Blount – are both very good, sounding appropriately masculine and, in Sydney’s case, impassioned and romantic. Her husband, Lord Rich, sounds stuffy and, at times, menacing, and Elizabeth is often brusque, her tone bright and clipped with a hard edge that suits the imperious, ageing queen. Ms Sutton does an equally good job in her interpretations of Essex and Cecil (pronounced “Cicil”), conveying the former’s confidence and charm as expertly as his bouts of mania, and giving Cecil an air of quiet, authoritative calm.
Roy McMillan isn’t a narrator I’ve heard before, but he acquits himself creditably here, reading those sections of the story that are told from Robert Cecil’s point of view. His pleasant, cultured tones are easy to listen to, although I felt he could have slowed down just a fraction. While he portrays many of the same characters as does Ms Sutton, the majority of his narrative consists of Cecil’s thoughts and introspection. He differentiates well between the characters he performs, but I didn’t find his interpretations to be as colourful or engaging as his co-narrator’s.
That is a very minor reservation, however, because both narrators do a splendid job, and I’d certainly recommend Watch the Lady to anyone looking to enjoy a well-written and performed piece of Historical Fiction.
A-/B for narration / B+ for content.
Watch the Lady is a fascinating piece of historical fiction based on the life of Lady Penelope Rich, the sister of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Penelope is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Sir Philip Sydney’s famous sonnet sequence, Astrophel and Stella; and her life was an unconventional one, to say the very least. She was beautiful, possessed of a fine mind, took a keen interest in politics and, for a woman of the time, was able to live life on her own terms, sustaining a long-term relationship with a man to whom she was not married while at the same time retaining the favour of the queen, who was not a woman tolerant of any sort of impropriety among her ladies.
The story takes place in the later part of the sixteenth century, in the last twenty-five years or so of Elizabeth I’s reign. Penelope Devereux is the step-daughter of the queen’s favourite, Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, who married Penelope’s widowed mother against Elizabeth’s wishes; and while Leicester managed to regain his position at court, Penelope’s mother did not and has been permanently banished. At eighteen, Penelope takes up a position among the queen’s ladies, and not long after that, is informed that she is to be married to Lord Rich. She is devastated by this news, having believed herself to have been betrothed to the handsome soldier-poet Philip Sydney, with whom she has fallen in love.
But that betrothal was long since broken, and now she can do nothing but submit to her step-father’s – and the queen’s – will that she marry Rich, whose wealth will go a long way towards filling her family’s empty coffers.
Already resentful at the queen’s treatment of her mother, this is another mark against Elizabeth in Penelope’s book; and it’s the beginning of an antipathy that will see Penelope making overtures of friendship to King James of Scotland long before he was named as Elizabeth’s successor, and in her taking part in Essex’s failed rebellion of 1601.
While the bulk of the story, especially in the early stages, is told from Penelope’s point of view, as the book progresses, we hear more and more from the Essex camp’s greatest rival, Robert Cecil, the son of Elizabeth’s chief advisor, Lord Burghley. Cecil plays a long game, watching and scheming over the years and waiting for his opportunity to bring down the ascendant Essex, whom he has hated since they were boys.
The story is rich in historical detail and Ms Freemantle brings Elizabeth’s court to life in vivid colour, with its atmosphere of back-biting, treachery and jostling for position. The principal characters are strongly drawn: Penelope – a shrewd, clever woman, is determined to do the best for the brother she loves; Essex – mercurial, headstrong and adored by almost everyone, is never content; Cecil, in the background, gradually gaining power and confidence, is desperate to win his father’s approval; Elizabeth, the ageing monarch who nonetheless maintains an iron grip on just about everything around her, but who, in refusing to name her successor, is responsible for much political unrest.
Ms Freemantle’s writing is excellent and her research has clearly been extensive. But this is no dry history lesson; the author writes a touching, intense and ultimately heart-breaking love story between Penelope and Sydney, and renders the listener on edge during the sequence of events which lead to Essex’s downfall. It’s a terrific story, and although I haven’t read or listened to anything by this author before, I intend to rectify that situation very soon.
The main reason I selected this title for review was because one of the narrators is Georgina Sutton, whose performance in Georgette Heyer’s The Corinthian I enjoyed very much. She has a mellow, slightly husky voice which is very attractive, and because it sits in the contralto register, she performs the male characters easily. Her portrayals of Penelope’s love-interests – Philip Sydney and Charles Blount – are both very good, sounding appropriately masculine and, in Sydney’s case, impassioned and romantic. Her husband, Lord Rich, sounds stuffy and, at times, menacing, and Elizabeth is often brusque, her tone bright and clipped with a hard edge that suits the imperious, ageing queen. Ms Sutton does an equally good job in her interpretations of Essex and Cecil (pronounced “Cicil”), conveying the former’s confidence and charm as expertly as his bouts of mania, and giving Cecil an air of quiet, authoritative calm.
Roy McMillan isn’t a narrator I’ve heard before, but he acquits himself creditably here, reading those sections of the story that are told from Robert Cecil’s point of view. His pleasant, cultured tones are easy to listen to, although I felt he could have slowed down just a fraction. While he portrays many of the same characters as does Ms Sutton, the majority of his narrative consists of Cecil’s thoughts and introspection. He differentiates well between the characters he performs, but I didn’t find his interpretations to be as colourful or engaging as his co-narrator’s.
That is a very minor reservation, however, because both narrators do a splendid job, and I’d certainly recommend Watch the Lady to anyone looking to enjoy a well-written and performed piece of Historical Fiction.
September 28, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book it was really interesting. Recommended.
June 4, 2019
I liked that this was about completely different members of the Tudor Mess.
Still this dragged in places and was too romantic for me.
Still this dragged in places and was too romantic for me.
January 3, 2018
What a wonderful book! A fascinating look at the last 15 years or so of Elizabeth I's reign, a time that rarely receives attention, focusing on charismatic siblings and Elizabeth's favourites Penelope Devereux and the Earl of Essex.
February 3, 2018
Really enjoyed. Recommended.
August 30, 2015
Penelope Devereux, daughter of Lettice Knollys, the woman Queen Elizabeth I called the “She-Wolf” for marrying the royal favorite, is pitted against the Essex faction’s rival, Robert Cecil, in this panoramic Tudor narrative. Penelope, beautiful, level-headed and witty, makes a perfect waiting lady and voice for the out-of-favor Devereux family, though it is her brother who catches the Queen’s attention.
Robert Cecil, son of the Queen’s most trusted advisor, Lord Burghley, has loathed Robert Devereux since childhood, when the latter joined in to bully the physically weak Cecil. Thus an enmity existed when they each became an important fixture at court. Penelope, ever her brother’s champion, lead the family through the tangle of intrigues, deftly extracting herself from scandal time and again. Cecil, however, recognized her as the intelligent schemer she was, but was also devastatingly attracted to her. He continuously warred with himself over his desire to bring the family down.
At over 500 pages, this is a detailed story, but one that holds the attention and doesn’t unnecessarily lag. Penelope is an interesting lead with her relationship with the poet Philip Sydney, and famous role as Stella in the sonnet Astrophil and Stella. While this builds her personality, she is a character who grows up within the pages–probably all the more noticeable next her brother’s instability. Cecil, also intriguing, has redeeming qualities while dealing with his own demons. Their political tête-à-tête becomes the main theme of the story, and even if the reader isn’t quite taken with the Essex agenda, Penelope remains the true protagonist.
The only possible issue with this book is its size, but as it doesn’t bore, this isn’t a problem for voracious readers. Historically sound details, expertly crafted dialog, and a satisfying pace set this novel apart from others in the genre. It is highly recommended for Tudor enthusiasts–especially those interested in the twilight of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known character of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.
Robert Cecil, son of the Queen’s most trusted advisor, Lord Burghley, has loathed Robert Devereux since childhood, when the latter joined in to bully the physically weak Cecil. Thus an enmity existed when they each became an important fixture at court. Penelope, ever her brother’s champion, lead the family through the tangle of intrigues, deftly extracting herself from scandal time and again. Cecil, however, recognized her as the intelligent schemer she was, but was also devastatingly attracted to her. He continuously warred with himself over his desire to bring the family down.
At over 500 pages, this is a detailed story, but one that holds the attention and doesn’t unnecessarily lag. Penelope is an interesting lead with her relationship with the poet Philip Sydney, and famous role as Stella in the sonnet Astrophil and Stella. While this builds her personality, she is a character who grows up within the pages–probably all the more noticeable next her brother’s instability. Cecil, also intriguing, has redeeming qualities while dealing with his own demons. Their political tête-à-tête becomes the main theme of the story, and even if the reader isn’t quite taken with the Essex agenda, Penelope remains the true protagonist.
The only possible issue with this book is its size, but as it doesn’t bore, this isn’t a problem for voracious readers. Historically sound details, expertly crafted dialog, and a satisfying pace set this novel apart from others in the genre. It is highly recommended for Tudor enthusiasts–especially those interested in the twilight of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known character of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.
February 5, 2022
The ending of a tudor drama trilogy I will remember for a long time to come. Magnificent achievement by Elizabeth Fremantle who simply took my breath away. Loved all three books in the series and will definately read her standalone novel, The Girl in the Glass Tower.
Wonderfully readable. A 5 stars series 😁
Wonderfully readable. A 5 stars series 😁
August 27, 2015
It was hard, but I refrained from googling to I could see how it all turned out! Oh, but it was so hard! My fingers were itching to see how it all would play out, but I stayed my course, and finished the book, and then googled! A good historical fiction novel always makes me google everything, and everyone.
Penelope Deveraux, the name does not tell me anything. Her brother, Earl Essex tells me more. But then the author does mention how history likes to erase those women who did more than they should.
Penelope comes the court of Queen Elizabeth and becomes a favorite, and then we get to follow her life. Her unhappy marriage, how poetry was written about her beauty. Her lover and scandalous life. And her mind, if she had been born a man she would have gone places. Now she schemed in the background.
I know from page one that it would be good, and it was. I liked reading about Penelope, and how the author portrayed her. She lived an interesting life, not always a happy one, but she did her best. A fascinating story
It does make me want to go back and read what else she has written. The author keeps you on your toes so that you never lose interest.
Penelope Deveraux, the name does not tell me anything. Her brother, Earl Essex tells me more. But then the author does mention how history likes to erase those women who did more than they should.
Penelope comes the court of Queen Elizabeth and becomes a favorite, and then we get to follow her life. Her unhappy marriage, how poetry was written about her beauty. Her lover and scandalous life. And her mind, if she had been born a man she would have gone places. Now she schemed in the background.
I know from page one that it would be good, and it was. I liked reading about Penelope, and how the author portrayed her. She lived an interesting life, not always a happy one, but she did her best. A fascinating story
It does make me want to go back and read what else she has written. The author keeps you on your toes so that you never lose interest.
April 28, 2015
This was the best Elizabeth Fremantle book so far and I truly hated for it to end. I did not know much ( or anything actually) about Penelope Devereux and just a bit about her brother, Essex. Written about one of my favorite families, the children and grandchildren of Mary Boleyn.
Fascinating and well done history( yes I looked things up)about a family who events forced to live in normalcy for the most part. They were Elizabeth Tudor's support team,with little credit for it from a shrewish woman who vacillated emotionally throughout her life.
In Queen's Gambit, the heroine was lackluster but Penelope was anything but that. She learned to have an emotionally satisfying life while not coming to a tragic end like most people who surrounded the Tudors. I recommend it to all and enjoyed in immensely.
Fascinating and well done history( yes I looked things up)about a family who events forced to live in normalcy for the most part. They were Elizabeth Tudor's support team,with little credit for it from a shrewish woman who vacillated emotionally throughout her life.
In Queen's Gambit, the heroine was lackluster but Penelope was anything but that. She learned to have an emotionally satisfying life while not coming to a tragic end like most people who surrounded the Tudors. I recommend it to all and enjoyed in immensely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2015
It's good to read something about the OTHER people in the courts -- Penelope Devereaux, Elizabeth's cousin, lived a fascinating life and one you don't hear much about. She was actually quite influential and close to the queen.
September 20, 2015
Elizabeth Fremantle is fast becoming my favourite historical author.
September 24, 2018
The final book in Elizabeth Fremantle’s Tudor trilogy, Watch the Lady, features a woman who was both prominent and notorious in her own time, but mostly forgotten today - Penelope Devereux. Most of those familiar with Elizabethan England will be well aware of her younger brother, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, favourite of the aging Queen Elizabeth and, ultimately, traitor. Penelope, however, was in her own way just as dashing, just as brilliant, and just as dangerous.
The Devereux siblings were the children of Lettice Knollys, cousin to the Queen, and her first husband, Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex. Lettice was the daughter of Catherine Carey, herself the daughter of Henry VIII’s mistress Mary Boleyn and often thought to be the unacknowledged daughter of the king. Lettice is said to have looked very much like the Queen, and their relationship while Lettice was at court is usually portrayed as something of a rivalry. However, when Elizabeth’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, entered into a secret marriage with her following the death of her first husband, she was exiled from court, and Elizabeth took much care in seeing that Robert was kept at and away from Lettice as much as possible.
Penelope came to court as a maid of honour to Elizabeth when she was 18, and her bold manner won her favour with the queen. She was much admired at court for her beauty, her musical ability and her dancing, as well as her lively manner. The poet and courtier Philip Sidney, nephew and at ine time heir presumptive of Robert Dudley, wrote the famous sonnet sequence Stella and Astrophel about her. There had been discussion of a marriage between Penelope and Sidney when the two were young, but ironically, the birth of Penelope’s half-brother to Leicester and Lettice ended Sidney’s hopes of inheriting money and titles, and the plan was dropped. Both Sidney and Penelope would marry others, and it is unknown if the sonnets were just the result of poetical fancy, or if they actually had an affair.
Fremantle begins her novel with Penelope’s arrival at court and establishment as a favourite of the Queen. Not long after her arrival, she was married, against her will, to Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick. They had a spectacularly bad marriage; Penelope was flagrantly unfaithful with at least one lover, Sir Charles Blount, and other than spending enough time with him to produce seven children, lived a relatively independent life, which he supported financially. Rich was unusually tolerant for this era, and Fremantle speculates that he was a hidden homosexual, which Penelope promised to keep secret as long as he allowed her to live freely.
Fremantle gives Penelope a significant role in the shaping of her brother Essex’s rise to power, and in the intrigues that ultimately led to his execution. It is Penelope who advises him, trues to talk him out if the worst excesses if his pride, intercedes with the Queen when she can, and helps organise his intelligence network. It is Penelope who engages in a battle of influence at court, her opponent the wily young Robert Cecil, who succeeded his father to the position of the Queen’s chief advisor. And it is Penelope who forges a connection with James of Scotland, though by the time James does come to the throne, Essex is no longer living and it is Penelope alone who benefits from the long secret alliance.
It’s a fascinating portrait of a woman who, rather like Elizabeth herself, lived her own life in a world not yet ready for strong and independent women. She used every possible weapon to achieve her goals - intelligence, beauty and sexuality - and appears to have lived life on her own terms until the end.
I also enjoyed some of the little things buried in the story. Fremantle has some literary fun, for the sharp-eyed - at one point she has Cecil regretting the recent murder in Deptford disguised of one of his chief spies. As most Elizabethan aficionados know, Christopher Marlowe was thought to be a spy for the Queen, and died in a barfight in Deptford. And there’s a scene where a bold young actor, performing at a house party at Essex’s estate, parodies the style of one of Sidney’s Stella sonnets, with one of his own - the poem is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, “My Mistress’ Eyes.”
The Devereux siblings were the children of Lettice Knollys, cousin to the Queen, and her first husband, Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex. Lettice was the daughter of Catherine Carey, herself the daughter of Henry VIII’s mistress Mary Boleyn and often thought to be the unacknowledged daughter of the king. Lettice is said to have looked very much like the Queen, and their relationship while Lettice was at court is usually portrayed as something of a rivalry. However, when Elizabeth’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, entered into a secret marriage with her following the death of her first husband, she was exiled from court, and Elizabeth took much care in seeing that Robert was kept at and away from Lettice as much as possible.
Penelope came to court as a maid of honour to Elizabeth when she was 18, and her bold manner won her favour with the queen. She was much admired at court for her beauty, her musical ability and her dancing, as well as her lively manner. The poet and courtier Philip Sidney, nephew and at ine time heir presumptive of Robert Dudley, wrote the famous sonnet sequence Stella and Astrophel about her. There had been discussion of a marriage between Penelope and Sidney when the two were young, but ironically, the birth of Penelope’s half-brother to Leicester and Lettice ended Sidney’s hopes of inheriting money and titles, and the plan was dropped. Both Sidney and Penelope would marry others, and it is unknown if the sonnets were just the result of poetical fancy, or if they actually had an affair.
Fremantle begins her novel with Penelope’s arrival at court and establishment as a favourite of the Queen. Not long after her arrival, she was married, against her will, to Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick. They had a spectacularly bad marriage; Penelope was flagrantly unfaithful with at least one lover, Sir Charles Blount, and other than spending enough time with him to produce seven children, lived a relatively independent life, which he supported financially. Rich was unusually tolerant for this era, and Fremantle speculates that he was a hidden homosexual, which Penelope promised to keep secret as long as he allowed her to live freely.
Fremantle gives Penelope a significant role in the shaping of her brother Essex’s rise to power, and in the intrigues that ultimately led to his execution. It is Penelope who advises him, trues to talk him out if the worst excesses if his pride, intercedes with the Queen when she can, and helps organise his intelligence network. It is Penelope who engages in a battle of influence at court, her opponent the wily young Robert Cecil, who succeeded his father to the position of the Queen’s chief advisor. And it is Penelope who forges a connection with James of Scotland, though by the time James does come to the throne, Essex is no longer living and it is Penelope alone who benefits from the long secret alliance.
It’s a fascinating portrait of a woman who, rather like Elizabeth herself, lived her own life in a world not yet ready for strong and independent women. She used every possible weapon to achieve her goals - intelligence, beauty and sexuality - and appears to have lived life on her own terms until the end.
I also enjoyed some of the little things buried in the story. Fremantle has some literary fun, for the sharp-eyed - at one point she has Cecil regretting the recent murder in Deptford disguised of one of his chief spies. As most Elizabethan aficionados know, Christopher Marlowe was thought to be a spy for the Queen, and died in a barfight in Deptford. And there’s a scene where a bold young actor, performing at a house party at Essex’s estate, parodies the style of one of Sidney’s Stella sonnets, with one of his own - the poem is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, “My Mistress’ Eyes.”
August 12, 2017
I think it's safe to say that Elizabeth I would not have liked this book as she is not the star of the show, instead it is someone I had never heard of: Penelope Devereaux. I had, however, heard of her famous brother: the queen's favourite, Essex. I do love to read both fiction and non-fiction set in the Tudor period and it does seem to be a popular topic with lots of authors, but what makes this stand out from the crowd is the main character, Penelope.
Penelope is the queen's goddaughter and also one of her favourite maids; she is such a strong character and is never afraid to stand up to Elizabeth, no doubt because Henry VIII's blood also flows through Penelope's veins. For Penelope's grandmother, Catherine Carey, was reputed to be the child of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. Scandal continues to follow Penelope's ancestors as her mother is Lettice Knollys who was cast out of Elizabeth's court after she secretly married one of the queen's favourites, Robert Dudley.
Like all maids in the Tudor court, Penelope is subject to an arranged marriage. At one point she was promised to Philip Sidney, and although the marriage never came to fruition she never stopped loving him and was infact the muse for some of his poetry. Instead, Penelope marries Lord Rich but it is a loveless marriage and they strike an unconventional deal that will leave Penelope free to follow her heart, wherever it may take her.
With well known names from the Tudor Court, including Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys, Charles Blount, Essex, Sir Walter Ralegh and Francis Bacon, this is a story of scandal and intrigue with deceit and backstabbing a-plenty as people jostle for position. Like a Shakespearean play, with the bard himself making a brief appearance, there are a lot of characters so I think it could have benefited from a character list at the beginning or end. It was nothing that google couldn't fix as I wracked my brain for the history behind certain well-known names.
There's treachery afoot in the Tudor Court and with so many people under suspicion you can't keep your eye on them all, so make sure you Watch the Lady. Definitely recommended for historical fiction lovers as Elizabeth Fremantle certainly gives Philippa Gregory a run for her money.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Penelope is the queen's goddaughter and also one of her favourite maids; she is such a strong character and is never afraid to stand up to Elizabeth, no doubt because Henry VIII's blood also flows through Penelope's veins. For Penelope's grandmother, Catherine Carey, was reputed to be the child of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. Scandal continues to follow Penelope's ancestors as her mother is Lettice Knollys who was cast out of Elizabeth's court after she secretly married one of the queen's favourites, Robert Dudley.
Like all maids in the Tudor court, Penelope is subject to an arranged marriage. At one point she was promised to Philip Sidney, and although the marriage never came to fruition she never stopped loving him and was infact the muse for some of his poetry. Instead, Penelope marries Lord Rich but it is a loveless marriage and they strike an unconventional deal that will leave Penelope free to follow her heart, wherever it may take her.
With well known names from the Tudor Court, including Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys, Charles Blount, Essex, Sir Walter Ralegh and Francis Bacon, this is a story of scandal and intrigue with deceit and backstabbing a-plenty as people jostle for position. Like a Shakespearean play, with the bard himself making a brief appearance, there are a lot of characters so I think it could have benefited from a character list at the beginning or end. It was nothing that google couldn't fix as I wracked my brain for the history behind certain well-known names.
There's treachery afoot in the Tudor Court and with so many people under suspicion you can't keep your eye on them all, so make sure you Watch the Lady. Definitely recommended for historical fiction lovers as Elizabeth Fremantle certainly gives Philippa Gregory a run for her money.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
July 13, 2018
A very interesting and engaging story of the later part of Elizabeth I's reign. I've read more about her earlier days with Robert Dudley and William Cecil but this story is focused around Elizabeth's later favourite, Robert Devereux, his sister Penelope Devereux and Robert Cecil. Palace intrigue, vying for power and plenty of treason.
The story is told alternating Penelope's and Cecil's points of view. Both characters are very well developed and fun to follow, but Cecil was definitely my favourite. Informative and entertaining.
The story is told alternating Penelope's and Cecil's points of view. Both characters are very well developed and fun to follow, but Cecil was definitely my favourite. Informative and entertaining.
September 29, 2021
Underwhelming. Bis auf einige kleine Ausnahmen konnte ich nicht wirklich Beziehungen zu den Charakteren aufbauen. Zwar ist dieses Buch eine Nacherzählung einer wahren Begebenheit, aber es ist eben auch ein Roman. Und das hat mir gefehlt. Ich habe kaum mit einem der Charaktere mitgefühlt und auch die Beschreibung der Orte und Situationen war ein bisschen flach. Vielleicht ist auch irgendwas an mir vorbeigegangen und ich bin voll im Unrecht. Aber für mich: underwhelming.
June 17, 2017
Ich hatte das Buch bis zur Hälfte eher für schwächer gehalten, doch dann hat es an Fahrt gewonnen und die Stärke der Protagonistin noch einmal besonders herausgestellt. Also doch ein toller historischer Roman! Meine ausführliche Rezension gibt es bald auf meinem Blog: https://liveyourlifewithbooks.wordpre...
August 9, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! It was truly fascinating reading about Penelope Devereux and learning more about that period of history. I would definitely love to read more books by Elizabeth Fremantle.
December 13, 2019
I have read all the books in the series and loved them all. I love how the characters are written, especially the women, and how the story progresses. There was no point where I was bored and I just wanted to read more. I will definitely read more from this author.
July 28, 2023
3.5⭐️
June 22, 2015
I have been a fan of Elizabeth Freemantle's and this, her latest, is surely one of the best.
The Devereux and Knollys families were key peers during the Elizabethan period. Penelope was the daughter of the Queen's nemesis, Lettice Knollys, and the sister of the Queen's young favorite, the Earl of Essex. Penelope appears to have been the brains of the Devereux clan, while the Earl was the charmer of the family who gained great notice by being doted on by the Queen.
As a fan of non-fiction, I was pleased at how the story follows the facts and at how seamlessly Ms. Freemantle blended fact with fiction - offering well fleshed characters and smooth flowing prose.
This book follows the story of Penelope, her brother, the Earl and, interestingly, Cecil, the maverick spymaster and counselor. (Son of Lord Burghley). Cecil was intrigued by Penelope; he admired her beauty and went head to head with her brains. Cecil also, both actively and covertly, was no fan of the Earl's. Indeed he was largely responsible, through his plotting, for the events that led to the downfall and ultimate death of the Earl of Essex who was tried for treason and met his death at the hands of a headsman.
The book is slightly sympathetic to Cecil and it is largely favorable to Penelope. Despite keeping her head and ultimately being reunited with her truest love, Blount, their happiness was to be short lived. Penelope's forced marriage to the unlikeable Sir Richard Rich is also a focus of the book. He is a character that I have never liked in any non-fiction reading that I have done. Penelope lived her life on her own terms while still trying to work within the strictures of maintaining the dignity of the Devereux name.
She was a remarkable woman for her day...for any time really...and I am eager to read her biography now to fill in more facts.
This book should hold great appeal for any fan of excellent historical fiction, the Tudor and Elizabethan periods or any fiction buff in general.
Well done Elizabeth Mantle. I cannot wait for your next book!
The Devereux and Knollys families were key peers during the Elizabethan period. Penelope was the daughter of the Queen's nemesis, Lettice Knollys, and the sister of the Queen's young favorite, the Earl of Essex. Penelope appears to have been the brains of the Devereux clan, while the Earl was the charmer of the family who gained great notice by being doted on by the Queen.
As a fan of non-fiction, I was pleased at how the story follows the facts and at how seamlessly Ms. Freemantle blended fact with fiction - offering well fleshed characters and smooth flowing prose.
This book follows the story of Penelope, her brother, the Earl and, interestingly, Cecil, the maverick spymaster and counselor. (Son of Lord Burghley). Cecil was intrigued by Penelope; he admired her beauty and went head to head with her brains. Cecil also, both actively and covertly, was no fan of the Earl's. Indeed he was largely responsible, through his plotting, for the events that led to the downfall and ultimate death of the Earl of Essex who was tried for treason and met his death at the hands of a headsman.
The book is slightly sympathetic to Cecil and it is largely favorable to Penelope. Despite keeping her head and ultimately being reunited with her truest love, Blount, their happiness was to be short lived. Penelope's forced marriage to the unlikeable Sir Richard Rich is also a focus of the book. He is a character that I have never liked in any non-fiction reading that I have done. Penelope lived her life on her own terms while still trying to work within the strictures of maintaining the dignity of the Devereux name.
She was a remarkable woman for her day...for any time really...and I am eager to read her biography now to fill in more facts.
This book should hold great appeal for any fan of excellent historical fiction, the Tudor and Elizabethan periods or any fiction buff in general.
Well done Elizabeth Mantle. I cannot wait for your next book!
July 21, 2015
Ever since Queen's Gambit took the world of historical fiction by storm 3 years ago, Liz Fremantle's books have been the ones to watch in the world of Tudor fiction. The combination of depth, intelligence and real historical imagination that she brings to bear on the lesser-known (but immensely powerful) women of the Tudor era is unmatched in contemporary writing and gets better with each book. Not that either of the previous ones were sub par - far from it, they were exceptional - but, as with all good writers, the apprenticeship of each book sees its realisation in the one that comes after it and there's a steady rise in the textures and depths and many-layered plot threads.
The Lady we watch here is Penelope, sister of the notorious Essex, wife of a man who doesn't want to bed her, lover of those who do - though never the most important one: that love is unrequited and all the more powerful for it. The machinations of Elizabeth's court were never easy, but became positively frenetic as she edged towards death and refused to name a successor and the way the ageing monarch plays Cecil against Essex, as seen through the eyes of the woman who has to navigate a clear path through the chaos is brilliant. In fact, the shift of viewpoint from Penelope to Cecil and back again is the core strength of this book. Neither is an entirely reliable narrator, even to themselves, but taken together, they mesh to make a hologram of a time in history that is endlessly fascinating, but never fully understood.
This book is glorious. It will delight fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory alike, but will also garner a whole new audience from those who just love good writing, whatever the genre, whatever the era.
The Lady we watch here is Penelope, sister of the notorious Essex, wife of a man who doesn't want to bed her, lover of those who do - though never the most important one: that love is unrequited and all the more powerful for it. The machinations of Elizabeth's court were never easy, but became positively frenetic as she edged towards death and refused to name a successor and the way the ageing monarch plays Cecil against Essex, as seen through the eyes of the woman who has to navigate a clear path through the chaos is brilliant. In fact, the shift of viewpoint from Penelope to Cecil and back again is the core strength of this book. Neither is an entirely reliable narrator, even to themselves, but taken together, they mesh to make a hologram of a time in history that is endlessly fascinating, but never fully understood.
This book is glorious. It will delight fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory alike, but will also garner a whole new audience from those who just love good writing, whatever the genre, whatever the era.
May 18, 2016
This is an extremely intelligent novel, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, even though this is not - definitely not - 'my' period of history.
SOME SPOILERS BELOW:-
I had heard of Penelope Devereux before, indeed have come across her in various works of fiction, but she really comes alive here. Freemantle's Penelope is beautiful (and we have the evidence of Sidney's poems for that) but also highly intelligent, politically astute and remarkably independent for a woman of the era. This independence she gains largely by striking a deal with her unwanted (and rather pathetic) husband Lord Rich, by which she agrees to give him two sons before going off to do her own thing. Penelope basically doesn't give a **** what people think about her personal life. Politically she is all out for the advancement of her family, in particular her much-loved brother Essex. Quite formidable in her dealings, she eventually comes to an accord with her brother's enemy, Robert Cecil, which ensures her own survival.
I'm note sure whether I liked the character of Penelope, but she certainly earns respect. This is largely a 'political' novel, and we only see inside her head and Cecil's. Despite Penelope's romantic interests there is actually little 'romance' and still less sex. Still, since I don't need to read the detail of every exchange of body fluids this didn't trouble me.
This book is a definite 'keeper' as far as I am concerned. I suspect it will not be to everyone's tastes however, and it is not what might be called a 'light' read. Previous knowledge of the history of the late Elizabethan court is probably an advantage. (less)
SOME SPOILERS BELOW:-
I had heard of Penelope Devereux before, indeed have come across her in various works of fiction, but she really comes alive here. Freemantle's Penelope is beautiful (and we have the evidence of Sidney's poems for that) but also highly intelligent, politically astute and remarkably independent for a woman of the era. This independence she gains largely by striking a deal with her unwanted (and rather pathetic) husband Lord Rich, by which she agrees to give him two sons before going off to do her own thing. Penelope basically doesn't give a **** what people think about her personal life. Politically she is all out for the advancement of her family, in particular her much-loved brother Essex. Quite formidable in her dealings, she eventually comes to an accord with her brother's enemy, Robert Cecil, which ensures her own survival.
I'm note sure whether I liked the character of Penelope, but she certainly earns respect. This is largely a 'political' novel, and we only see inside her head and Cecil's. Despite Penelope's romantic interests there is actually little 'romance' and still less sex. Still, since I don't need to read the detail of every exchange of body fluids this didn't trouble me.
This book is a definite 'keeper' as far as I am concerned. I suspect it will not be to everyone's tastes however, and it is not what might be called a 'light' read. Previous knowledge of the history of the late Elizabethan court is probably an advantage. (less)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2015
The last years of Elizabeth I's reign were perilous times for many courtiers but particularly so for the Devereux family: Robert, the charismatic and unpredictable Earl of Essex and his sister Penelope, beautiful, spirited, married to a man who doesn't desire her as well as becoming the muse of renowned poet/soldier Philip Sidney. Penelope's role as 'Stella' to Sidney's 'Astrophil' takes up part of this book, and was a deep but unconsummated love, however for the most part 'Watch the Lady' is taken up with the politics of the dying days of the Tudor court. The Cecil family, especially the fiercely clever Robert, are to the fore and as ever, the figure of the rapidly ageing Elizabeth I looms over everyone. I always find Elizabeth hard to like at this stage of her reign: she is suspicious, envious and paranoid, jumping at every shadow on the wall. Yet, at the same time, it is hard to fault her for that - she is the last of her line, an old, childless woman in a court of ambitious young men who all have their own best interests at heart. They're all just waiting around, longing for her to die, whilst secretly corresponding with her successor. Penelope, a lady of ambition herself with no real love for the queen, tries to play the game of thrones but it is her brother who dies for it. The fate of Essex hangs over the whole novel and provides much of its moody atmosphere. I liked that aspect of the story a lot and Elizabeth Fremantle did a great job portraying not only the characters but a whole world, Tudor England, grinding to a halt. Really enjoyable book.
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