Gay Lord Robert

This is the last book of the Tudor Novels and it's a very nice ending for them. This is the story of two people, Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, both of whom had to use their wits to survive to end up as they did. They were a pair and both knew it. Many rumours went around about both of them, concerning both of them, and Plaidy doesn't skimp on the details. She even leaves it up to the reader to decide the murder of Dudley's wife. Did he or didn't he or even did she? Overall this book is better to me than Gregory's The Virgin's Lover (Boleyn) because this book is written just like a historical fiction novel should be, not a historical soap opera. Though some parts of the book dragged on, this is still light years better. I liked the interaction between Dudley and the Queen much better. They seemed like ruler and subject, not lover and obsessed girl. I also like how Plaidy handled the incident of Amy Dudley, though I didn't get as good a feel for her as I did in Gregory's book(the only thing I liked better than Plaidy's.) I also liked that she explored his other love interests and showed that he wasn't a perfect man. This book goes from the beginning of his life(and indeed before it) to the very end of his life, to show how his relationship with Elizabeth changed from passion to a mature love. Overall this is a good ending for the Tudor novels. I do wish sometimes that she told the story of Elizabeth I and Dudley's stepson, the Earl of Essex.

Good read but not as intense as Phillapa Gregory's similar book which was a real page turner. The book does provide better context for the evolution of the Dudley family and their power than does Gregory. You will enjoy this book if you are interested in the Tudors and the rise of Elizabeth I, and if you are interested in good historical fiction.

I'm pretty sure this is a re-issue of Gay Lord Robert, so if you've read that book, don't bother buying this one. On the hand, if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it! Why does this publisher insist on changing the titles of her books? Is it a copyright issue or are they just trying to "trick" us into buying books we've already read?

this was a very good account of robert dudley's life. i found his relationships with queen elizabeth and lettice knollys to be rather fascinating. if you love the elizabethan era, this one will charm you.