Product Description A sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I, from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl.Now I can be the queen that my mother intended me to be . . . the queen I was born to be.1558. After years of waiting, Princess Elizabeth accedes to the throne of England.But the country is divided, the restoration of the Protestant faith ignites opposition from the church and beyond, and court remains a treacherous place.Many believe that Elizabeth must marry if she is to survive. For Robert Dudley, Elizabeth?s ascension is a glorious new dawn, and he quickly positions himself as the young queen?s favourite. Dudley is a man of powerful lineage; his father had been a kingmaker at the court of Henry VIII. But Dudley has many enemies, amongst them William Cecil, the queen?s most trusted advisor.As powerful families vie for stakes in the emerging kingdom, Elizabeth must secure her own future. Review Praise for The Virgin?s Lover:?A book to lose yourself in?a simmering mixture of intrigue, lust and betrayal at the court of Elizabeth I, it breathes new life into the suspected love affair between the young queen and Robert Dudley? Daily Mail?Convincing and entertaining? Daily Telegraph?An enjoyable read, and Gregory?s energetic writing carries one along? Sunday Telegraph?Gregory?s success lies in restoring humanity to her historical figures? Daily Mail?Gregory is one of the best chroniclers of the ups and downs of the turbulent Tudors?This superbly plotted drama unfolds like an exquisitely embroidered Tudor ruff? Sainsbury?s Magazine About the Author Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned author of historical novels. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh. Works that have been adapted for television include A Respectable Trade, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. The Other Boleyn Girl is now a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Philippa Gregory lives in the North of England with her family.