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'More Tudor gusto and verve than David Starkey' VICKI WOODS, The Telegraph 'One of Britain's most accomplished historical novelists. Her love and respect for the past shines through every page' SARAH DUNANT 'Margaret Irwin's books have an unsurpassed colour and gusto' THE TIMES
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Philip of Spain, unwilling bridegroom of Queen Mary, has been warned about the Queen's half-sister, the young Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn. According to all reports, she is a heretic, a rebel and a potential enemy with 'a spirit full of enchantment'. But Philip is not deterred, and Elizabeth must advance warily towards her destiny, running the gauntlet between Bloody Mary's jealousy and morbid outbursts of hate, and Philip's uneasy ardour...
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'My father has fought bulls singlehanded in the arena,' said the boy. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
'My father has fought bulls singlehanded in the arena,' said the boy. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This novel is my favourite by Margaret Irwin, as it explores the psychological battle between Elizabeth and Philip II of Spain before she became Elizabeth I.
Mary Tudor has married Philip II and is hopeful of bearing him an heir so that England may remain Roman Catholic after her death. Philip is an indifferent husband and it is clear that he married Mary purely for his own, and his own country's ends, and not for love. Elizabeth is in the background and Philip observes the sisterly rivarly between her and Mary very closely, but protects Elizabeth from Mary's jealousy. Elizabeth fascinates him and there is a strong sexual attraction to her. What if Mary died and Elizabeth were free to marry him? The possibilities are endless and how powerful Spain would be. She would, of course, have to convert to Catholicism and forsake her heretic ways, but she is young and could bear him children.
What ensues between these two characters is a very elaborate chess game, with two highly intelligent people plotting every move with precision. Philip is a cold, emotionless man (apart from his political ambitions) whereas Elizabeth is fire itself. The novel also brilliantly shows how dangerous Tudor England was for a royal woman who was considered a very real danger to her sister's rule.
A perfect nove, and one that will be re-read this autumn. Superb!
Mary Tudor has married Philip II and is hopeful of bearing him an heir so that England may remain Roman Catholic after her death. Philip is an indifferent husband and it is clear that he married Mary purely for his own, and his own country's ends, and not for love. Elizabeth is in the background and Philip observes the sisterly rivarly between her and Mary very closely, but protects Elizabeth from Mary's jealousy. Elizabeth fascinates him and there is a strong sexual attraction to her. What if Mary died and Elizabeth were free to marry him? The possibilities are endless and how powerful Spain would be. She would, of course, have to convert to Catholicism and forsake her heretic ways, but she is young and could bear him children.
What ensues between these two characters is a very elaborate chess game, with two highly intelligent people plotting every move with precision. Philip is a cold, emotionless man (apart from his political ambitions) whereas Elizabeth is fire itself. The novel also brilliantly shows how dangerous Tudor England was for a royal woman who was considered a very real danger to her sister's rule.
A perfect nove, and one that will be re-read this autumn. Superb!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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9 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
More of the Tudors
1 May 2011
Format:Paperback
Elizabeth and the Price of Spain by Margaret Irwin is the third in a series of novels by Margaret Irwin. This novel is about the relationship between Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII, and Prince Phillip of Spain who is the soon to be husband of King Henry's oldest daughter Mary, who is the current Queen of England. The series was first published in 1946-1953. This newly released novel from Sourcebooks tells the story of the love /hate relationship between Princess Elizabeth and Mary. This historical novel gives us an insight into the Tudor court with the Catholic Mary and Phillip and Protestant Elizabeth. Mary hopes with the help of Phillip that she can bring back Catholicism to England. Phillip in the meantime becomes attracted to Elizabeth. I think this is actually the first account I read which explains the animosity that is to come between Phillip and Elizabeth during Elizabeth's reign. This series is very well researched and even though it was written in the early 50's, it still has a modern feel to it. Any historical buff will enjoy this series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
well written insightful look at three rivals
24 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
A religious zealot and totally dedicated to his nation Spain, Philip, King Consort knows he is to marry Princess Mary I. However, she mirrors him in terms of intelligence and beliefs. Instead he is attracted to his betrothed's dynamic sister, the Protestant Elizabeth. He loathes his desire for his future sister-in-law, as she brings out carnal feelings he knows are unholy. Neither is aware of what awaits them and their nations in three decades.
At the same time they do their careful two steps, Robert Dudley is in love with Elizabeth. Obsessed with restoring God's laws, Mary orders the Papal legate Reginald Pole, the great-nephew of Edward IV and Richard III to lead the reversal of the heresy her father Henry VIII caused. However, the brilliant Pole who knows overturning the Anglican heretical legacy would be a tribute to his late mom killed by the former monarch. However, he lacks the energy and ambition to take charge of the royal demand.
This is a reprint of the third young Elizabeth trilogy (see Young Bess: The Girl Who Would Be Queen and Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne) written in 1953. The story line has a historiographical feel to it as readers will see a different style and tone than in present day written Tudor novels. Still, fans of the era will appreciate the well written insightful look at three rivals competing for power at a time of intense turmoil.
Harriet Klausner
At the same time they do their careful two steps, Robert Dudley is in love with Elizabeth. Obsessed with restoring God's laws, Mary orders the Papal legate Reginald Pole, the great-nephew of Edward IV and Richard III to lead the reversal of the heresy her father Henry VIII caused. However, the brilliant Pole who knows overturning the Anglican heretical legacy would be a tribute to his late mom killed by the former monarch. However, he lacks the energy and ambition to take charge of the royal demand.
This is a reprint of the third young Elizabeth trilogy (see Young Bess: The Girl Who Would Be Queen and Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne) written in 1953. The story line has a historiographical feel to it as readers will see a different style and tone than in present day written Tudor novels. Still, fans of the era will appreciate the well written insightful look at three rivals competing for power at a time of intense turmoil.
Harriet Klausner
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Impeccably researched, compelling portrait of the politics of the time
8 July 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Let the reader beware: you won't find any bodice-ripping here. This book, the last in Margaret Irwin's trilogy telling the story of the young Elizabeth I up to her accession to the throne, was published in 1953. For those accustomed to the faster pace and more scandalous nature of today's historical fiction, this book will seem old-fashioned. But if you come to it with an open mind and allow the story to unravel, I believe any reader could come to enjoy it as much as I did.
The "Prince of Spain" in the title of the book is Philip, King Consort to Elizabeth's sister, Mary I. His character, so often misunderstood, comes to life here. Emotionally recalcitrant, dutiful, zealous, and mediocre in intellect, he finds himself drawn like a flame to the brilliant and troublesome Elizabeth. His lust from the first is mixed with hate (he imagines having her burnt or drowned in their first meeting, in a wonderfully eerie passage), which foreshadows the later bitter rivalry the two will engage in, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The lack of sex scenes only increases the tension in their dynamic.
Although the Elizabeth/Philip relationship is the focal point, other wonderful characterizations abound. Standouts include Emperor Charles V, a Robert Dudley besotted with Elizabeth, and the Papal legate Mary summons to restore the Catholic faith in England, Reginald Pole. The last is particularly well-drawn. Pole is the last of the Plantagenets, a great-nephew to Edward IV and Richard III. Henry VIII had his mother butchered by an axeman. Although very intelligent and gifted, Pole spends his life floundering in his incredible privilege, lacking the vigor and character required to effectively use his talents.
This is not a book that is easy to read. It is detailed, rich in subtleties and requires re-readings to fully appreciate it. I wasn't sure about it on my first read, but now it has become one of my favorite books on the Tudor period. Highly recommended.
The "Prince of Spain" in the title of the book is Philip, King Consort to Elizabeth's sister, Mary I. His character, so often misunderstood, comes to life here. Emotionally recalcitrant, dutiful, zealous, and mediocre in intellect, he finds himself drawn like a flame to the brilliant and troublesome Elizabeth. His lust from the first is mixed with hate (he imagines having her burnt or drowned in their first meeting, in a wonderfully eerie passage), which foreshadows the later bitter rivalry the two will engage in, culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The lack of sex scenes only increases the tension in their dynamic.
Although the Elizabeth/Philip relationship is the focal point, other wonderful characterizations abound. Standouts include Emperor Charles V, a Robert Dudley besotted with Elizabeth, and the Papal legate Mary summons to restore the Catholic faith in England, Reginald Pole. The last is particularly well-drawn. Pole is the last of the Plantagenets, a great-nephew to Edward IV and Richard III. Henry VIII had his mother butchered by an axeman. Although very intelligent and gifted, Pole spends his life floundering in his incredible privilege, lacking the vigor and character required to effectively use his talents.
This is not a book that is easy to read. It is detailed, rich in subtleties and requires re-readings to fully appreciate it. I wasn't sure about it on my first read, but now it has become one of my favorite books on the Tudor period. Highly recommended.
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