Margaret Irwin

[sweetpotatoboy]

Margaret Irwin's Elizabeth trilogy has just been republished (in the UK) in one volume. So for £9.99 (or cheaper online), you can get all three books, whereas each of the three separate reissues costs £7.99.

Amazon UK says the book isn't out till end-October, but I saw it sitting pretty on the shelves in Waterstone's today. I might just take this opportunity to read these books as I've been meaning for ages.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-I-Omnibus-Margret-Irwin/dp/0749079827/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_3

[Margaret]

I've only read the first book in the trilogy so far, but it's smart and witty - well worth reading. I've reviewed it at http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Young-Bess.html.

[Carine]

Hey, that's great news !! I have them on my "wishlist" at Bookdepository, the seperate ones that is, but this one volume is better indeed ! Thanks for the tip Sweetpotatoboy.

[annis]

Has anyone read her 1937 book about Prince Rupert of the Rhine, "The Stranger Prince"? The only review I could find (on Amazon.co.uk) wasn't very promising.
I came across this title a while ago when looking for books about Prince Rupert. I found another one, a suspense/ romance set in the court of Charles I by Cheryl Sawyer, called "The Winter Prince", and I remember that he features in Diana Norman's novel "The Vizard Mask".

[Amanda]

I thought that "Young Bess" was probably the best telling of Elizabeth's early life that I have read.

I also have some of her other books that I haven't read yet. I have Rupert, the Gay Galliard, the Royal Flush, and I think there may be another one about Walter Raleigh too.

[Carla]

Thanks for the info! This trilogy is among the best on Elizabeth I that I've read.

[cw gortner]

I agree! I loved these novels; the third one, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, is exceptional.

For Elizabeth, oddly enough, as much as she's been "done" in historical fiction, there are very few I actually like. One of my all-time favorites is still "Legacy" by Susan Kay, despite the horrible cover art. It sat on my shelf for years; I bought a used hc with that illustration of Bess looking like Heidi Klum at the Ren Faire with her gay contingent of models standing with cocked hips and sultry pouts in the background and I just couldn't bring myself to read it. Then one day, out of sheer boredom, I picked it up - and found it was in fact beautifully written, with a hint of darkness.

Go, figure.

[SonjaMarie]

I read the first one ages ago, I didn't even know there were 2 others in the series till a few years ago. Maybe one day I'll read all 3.

SM

[princess garnet]

I've read the first 2 books--borrowed from my high school library--but they didn't have the 3rd book. It'll be nice if these books become available in the US.
I have Plaidy's Queen of This Realm reissue which covers Elizabeth's life.

[love_uk]

For Elizabeth, oddly enough, as much as she's been "done" in historical fiction, there are very few I actually like. One of my all-time favorites is still "Legacy" by Susan Kay, despite the horrible cover art. It sat on my shelf for years; I bought a used hc with that illustration of Bess looking like Heidi Klum at the Ren Faire with her gay contingent of models standing with cocked hips and sultry pouts in the background and I just couldn't bring myself to read it. Then one day, out of sheer boredom, I picked it up - and found it was in fact beautifully written, with a hint of darkness.

Go, figure.

Legacy was the 1st book about Elizabeth that made me actually LIKE her as a person - something about the way her relationship with Dudley is portrayed is different in this book. It shows the deep love on both sides as well as the obsession. For all his conniving, I saw what drew her to him. Even my husband liked this one!

Also - I have a different cover: purple with a hanging pearl brooch!

[Nefret]

I have the trilogy (as three books, not one). And the Mary, Queen of Scots book. The books are currently under the TBR pile. But I did start Young Bess, and like it so far.

[Margaret]

Sourcebooks has just brought out a new edition of the second in the trilogy, Elizabeth, Captive Princess (see review (http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Elizabeth-Captive-Princess.html)). I enjoyed it even more than Young Bess, which is saying something. Now I'm looking forward to reading the final novel in the trilogy.

Has anyone read any of Irwin's standalone novels? Are they as good as the Elizabeth novels?

[princess garnet]

Has anyone read any of Irwin's standalone novels? Are they as good as the Elizabeth novels?
Just finished reading The Stranger Prince, a novel about Prince Rupert of the Rhine, one of Elizabeth of Bohemia's older sons. Very interesting read! It's slow in parts but the story moves along. There are some battle scenes--general action movements nothing graphic. The bulk of the novel is in England with Rupert and his other brothers visiting or fighting. Stage time is given to the widowed Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia and her kids as well as the English royal family.
Out of print but you may be able to find a copy at the library. It's been reissued before, the last time was in the mid '80s.

[Misfit]

Just finished reading The Stranger Prince, a novel about Prince Rupert of the Rhine, one of Elizabeth of Bohemia's older sons. Very interesting read! It's slow in parts but the story moves along. There are some battle scenes--general action movements nothing graphic. The bulk of the novel is in England with Rupert and his other brothers visiting or fighting. Stage time is given to the widowed Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia and her kids as well as the English royal family.
Out of print but you may be able to find a copy at the library. It's been reissued before, the last time was in the mid '80s.

Oh that could be interesting. Rupert's one I'd like to read more about.

[annis]

Stranger Prince is also part of a trilogy, though it can be read as a stand-alone. The other two are The Proud Servant, the story of Scottish nobleman James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, Charles I's great supporter, and The Bride, the story of the doomed romance between Montrose and Prince Rupert's sister, Louise Hollandine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Hollandine_of_the_Palatinate). Louise was a noted artist (as was the multi-talented Prince Rupert.) Some of her work can be seen here (http://www.artnet.com/artist/641959/louise-hollandine-princess-of-palatine.html).

[Misfit]

Thanks Annis. The Rupert book must have been mentioned here before as I already had it on my wish list - and the library has it.

[annis]

Misfit, I'm pretty sure we discussed Prince Rupert novels on the English Civil War thread at one stage :)