Stevie‘s review of The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
Biographical Historical Fiction published by Ballantine Books 10 Feb 15
It’s no secret that I like history and history books, and that I like historical accuracy in my historical fiction. On the other hand, I find a definite difference between books written to educate and books written to entertain. While some factual history books can be just as gripping as novels, I feel that novels need to be written in a very different style in order to grip the reader, especially one who already knows much of the background to a particular set of historical characters and events. It takes a particular sort of writer to produce both factual and fictional writing on the same subject – as I’ve learned in my own writing, and so I approached this novel by an expert on the Tudor period with both confidence that the facts would be right and a certain amount of trepidation that the book might be stashed with a few too many facts for the average romance reader.
On the first point I was very definitely proved right. Nothing in the story jumped out at me as feeling wrong or out of place compared to what I already know about the lives of Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. On the other hand, the novel is indeed stacked high with facts and well-documented incidents from each year covered by the narrative – the book is divided into years rather than into chapters – most of which feel a little too impersonal to me in the context of a doomed romance. The problem might have been that I already know the whole story – it’s difficult to live in the UK from childhood into maturity without hearing pretty much all there is to know about the Tudors, and what little information I hadn’t absorbed from popular culture, I seem to have picked up on one of my visits to Kenilworth Castle.
The story would probably resonate far better with someone who didn’t know the period and the individuals concerned quite so well. Some non-UK readers – or UK readers coming to the topic without having studied much history – might find the story covers too long a period, covering as it does pretty much the entirety of Elizabeth’s long reign, and includes too many different historical figures. Personally I would have loved a few more cameos – especially if they’d shown up in less predictable places, such as a young (if unnamed) Will Shakespeare being overheard commenting on the entertainments at Kenilworth – and I’d have liked a deeper exploration of the pivotal events of the period, such as those entertainments again, even if that came at the expense of some other details of the Queen’s life.
This book is a sort of sequel to the author’s previous book about Elizabeth’s childhood – in which the author apparently put forward some of the theories (none entirely new to me) that she expands on here. I haven’t read that earlier work, but I feel there’s at least two books’ worth of material in this latest book and that maybe a trilogy would have worked better than a duology.
Grade: C
Summary:
In this compelling novel of Tudor drama and suspense, acclaimed author Alison Weir brings to life one of England’s most scandalous royal love affairs: the romance between the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth I and her courtier Lord Robert Dudley.
Only twenty-five and newly crowned, Elizabeth vows to rule the country as both queen and king. But her counselors continually press her to form an advantageous marriage and produce an heir. Though none of the suitors have yet worked their way to her throne, the dashing—though married—Lord Robert lays claim to Elizabeth’s heart. Their flagrant flirting, their unescorted outings, and the appointment of Lord Robert to Master of Horse inspire whispers through the court, and even rumors that Elizabeth has secretly given birth to Lord Robert’s child.
Events take a dark turn when Robert’s wife is found dead. Universal shock is followed by accusations of murder. Despite the scandal, Elizabeth and Robert manage to navigate the choppy political, economic, and religious waters around them. But the greatest obstacle to marriage between the Queen and her true love may come not from outside forces, but from within.
With intricate period detail and captivating prose, Alison Weir explores one of history’s most provocative “Did they or didn’t they?” debates. The Marriage Game maneuvers through the alliances, duplicities, intrigue, and emotions of a woman intent on sovereignty—over her country and herself.
No excerpt found.
Other books in this series:
