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Summary: I enjoy this time period for romance!
Review: The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory is a fun story taking place in an era that I truly enjoy reading about and I believe anyone that enjoys getting lost with a romance of yesterday would enjoy this book as well.
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Summary: THERE IS NO FOOL LIKE THE QUEEN'S FOOL...
Review: This best selling English author of historical fiction has written yet another interesting work. This novel takes place during the reign of Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. She would leave a legacy that would cause her to be known as "Bloody Mary" for her burning of heretics.The narrator is a girl named Hannah Green, a young teenager who has fled Spain and its Inquisition with her father, following the death of her mother. She had been burned alive at the stake as a heretic, when it was discovered that she was a "Marrano", a false Christian, that is, a Jew who has converted to Christianity but who follows the Jewish faith in secret. Landing in London, where her father opens a book store, Hannah makes the acquaintance of a handsome rake, Sir Robert Dudley, who discovers that Hannah has the gift of sight. She develops a personal relationship with him that eventually sees her enter into Queen Mary's service as her fool. Hannah serves Queen Mary, but at the same time, is sent by the Queen to serve her half-sister the Princess Elizabeth and spy upon her. Meanwhile, Sir Robert Dudley also uses Hannah in his treasonous plot to see the Princess Elizabeth on the throne of England. So, Hannah finds herself walking a dangerous tightrope and is fearful of discovery of her role in the political intrigues that are welling around her, as well as discovery of her own background, which would be grounds for death. Her worst fears are nearly realized when the Queen marries Prince Phillip of Spain. In the midst of all this political intriguing that appears to be going on all around her, Hannah has her own immediate future to think about, as she becomes betrothed to another Marrano such as herself. Infatuated with Lord Dudley, loyal to both Queen Mary and the clever and manipulative Princess Elizabeth, Hannah finds herself putting her own future happiness at risk amidst the political and religious turmoil of the time. This is a fast paced, breezy read about an independent, young woman who finds herself at a crossroad in her life and begins a voyage of self-discovery that will ultimately change her life. The story takes place in sixteenth century England, amidst all the political strife and religious upheaval of the time. The author weaves an intriguing tapestry of historical events and personages together with the intrigues that were rife in the Tudor court of the Queen who would become known as Bloody Mary.
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Summary: Entertaining Lite History
Review: This book of Gregory's could be seen as a sequel to The Other Boleyn Girl, covering the time period after Henry VIII's death until Elizabeth's ascension to the throne. I like this book better that TOBG, because I am interested in the conversos of Spain and their journeys throughout Europe to find refuge. However, I fear that many of the fans of TOBG will not find this book as satisfying because Hannah Verde is not one of the "beautiful people" of court, even though as the Queen's fool, she is privy to an astonishing amount of information and action. Gregory again delivers a work in modern language about the sex, intrigue, and conflicting loyalties of the English court. A real page-turner, but serious history buffs probably need not bother, it would only frustrate them.
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Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: This book was so interesting. It told a historical story using a character that we wouldn't look for in the history books. It made me wonder about all of the little people who influence major historical events but aren't recognized because they seem unimportant. I really felt like I was THERE, experiencing everything firsthand because the descriptions were so good. I felt Hannah's frustrations and suffered through her choices with her.
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Summary: Hannah Rocks
Review: This is about a Jewish girl named Hannah. She flees Spain, with her father, during the Spanish Iquisition.Then they go to England to go to Hannah bethroaled She is very scared becuase her mother was buried at the stake. She is hired by King Edward VI to be a fool, because of her gift of "Sight." Hannah becomes fool to Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. She also eventually marrys Daniel.
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Summary: Riveting time period and character portrayals
Review: This novel set in 16th century England about a young Jewish girl who is snatched up from her normal life to become a fool for Queen Mary and consequently becomes intimately involved in all the intrigue surrounding this time period and especially the relationship between half-sisters "Bloody" Mary and Elizabeth I. All the characters are real except for the young girl and her family.
I loved this book because I had seen documentaries about Elizabeth and this time period before, but this book made it truly come alive and portrayed the complexities of both Mary and Elizabeth's personalities as well as the religious turmoil existing at this time in a very real way as Jews literally ran for their lives and everyone else constantly had to change their religion depending on who was on the throne. Kept me reading and sparked a renewed interest in learning about this time period.
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Summary: "I was connected with everyone whose name was danger"
Review: Throughout her young life Hannah Green has been forced to hide her true identity for fear of her life. Fleeing Spain in 1553 during the Inquisition after her mother is burned at the stake for being a Jew she must pose as a boy while traveling with her father to safety. Settling down in Protestant England the Greens are relieved to have escaped danger in Spain, but they must continue to hide their religion and their love of books. Political instability and religious warfare plague England and Europe as a whole and threats of heresy and treason deem that nobody is safe, least of all the Greens. After becoming a member of the royal court as a fool, or a constant companion to the king or queen, Hannah continues to wear pants and pass as a fellow Christian. Her time in the royal court is filled with deception, intrigue, and worry, as she becomes a loyal friend and servant to both Catholic Queen Mary and her younger sister, Protestant Princess Elizabeth. Hannah straddles the line between royal foes while risking her own life as a spy and heretic. As time progresses she becomes a static member of the royal court and finds it difficult to return to her ailing father and the life of a commoner. THE QUEEN'S FOOL is a compelling, fast-paced novel that draws the reader in from the first chapter and doesn't let go until the last page. I was fully intrigued with the tale of Hannah Green and the life that she had lived and I had a difficult time putting it down. It is obvious that Philippa Gregory has spent much time and effort researching for this book, which enabled her to create such a convincing tale. THE QUEEN'S FOOL succeeds in giving one a glimpse into the life of the royal court during the 16th century and adds a human face to this distant time. Highly recommended.
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Summary: highly enjoyable
Review: Very satisfying read. Not the most believable of historical novels, but it is a novel after all.
Hannah Green may find Mary a sympathetic character, but I did not think Philippa Gregory meant for her (Mary) to be read as such. She is still portrayed as doing horrible things and is quite hated by England by the end of the book (as she should be).
Hannah was an interesting protaganist as she is not always likable and does not always make the best decisions (or, the decisions that I wanted her to make :-)
This makes her more interesting and makes it very easy for one to become very involved in the book.
As good as "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "Meridon".
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Summary: Gregory Does It Again!!!
Review: What can't I say about this book?
I loved it, couldn't put it down (just how I felt about "The Other Boleyn Girl") Hanah Green is such a compelling character. I wanted to learn everything about her. I love how P. Gregory can put you completely into the story by the end of the first chapter, she has a way with words, paints a picture that you become part of. As a bookworm and a history lover, this has everything to fuel my imagination: intrigue, drama, romance, betrayal, mystery, secrets, facts and a heroine! (Infact there are 3 of them: Mary, Elizabeth and Hannah, all 3 womendraw you in and you feel like Hannah, torn between two amazing women.)
I dare anyone not to love this book for the storytelling and bonds that Philippa has managed to pull off for the 2nd time.
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Summary: Excellent historical fiction
Review: While the spotlight of historical fiction has often shined on Queen Elizabeth I, only seldom has it shone on her older sister, the infamous Mary Tudor. In this fine work, Phillipa Gregory makes a sympathetic character out of the woman history has dubbed "Bloody Mary", and shows us the darker side of England's greatest queen, the beloved Elizabeth. Hannah Green is a young girl when she first encounters the then Princess Elizabeth, who is at the time acting in an inappropriate fashion with her stepfather. This image haunts Hannah, who becomes "Fool" to the ill-fated King Edward, then his sister, Queen Mary, by virtue of her gift of Sight. A Jew masquerading as a Christian, Hannah quickly learns to adapt to the religious changes that accompany the change of monarch, and learns to love Mary, whom so many in history have hated. Still, she is drawn to the glittering Elizabeth as a moth to a flame. As she matures, Hannah learns to appreciate her heritage, her family, and the love of a good man. Only in nearly losing all does she begin to appreciate the life she has. An excellent read, I recommend it highly to all those interested in the concept of religious tolerance, English history and the Tudor family.
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