Margaret Irwin

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Mon September 22nd, 2008, 4:25 pm

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-Omn ... rvi_cart_3

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 3:18 am

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 · Post by **Carine** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 5:55 am

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 · Post by **annis** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 7:35 am

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 · Post by **Amanda** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 8:47 am

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 · Post by **Carla** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 2:20 pm

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

cw gortner · Post by **cw gortner** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 6:42 pm

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 · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Tue September 23rd, 2008, 6:43 pm

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 · Post by **princess garnet** » Wed September 24th, 2008, 3:23 pm

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 · Post by **love_uk** » Tue August 18th, 2009, 12:17 am

[quote=""cw gortner""]
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.[/quote]

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!