The Queen’s Fool

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Queen Mary is so often presented as little more than a place holder before the glittering reign of her younger sister Elizabeth. Having read and loved “The Other Boleyn Girl,” I hurried out and bought “The Queen’s Fool” when it was first released three years ago. And I thought you moved Hannah through the story to place her at various important events with ease. I think I was waiting until she finished more so I wouldn’t have to wait for years in between books and kind of forgot about it.

Jane Foole - Wikipedia Jane Foole - Wikipedia

Some we receive from the authors, some we receive from the publisher, and some we receive through a third party service like Net Galley. A great adventure with wonderful characters that will leave readers on the edge of their seats at the same time as wanting to learn more about the period.Anne Boleyn was portrayed as an evil incestuous witch in The Other Boleyn Girl, and nothing could be further from the truth.

The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory - Dear Author REVIEW: The Queen’s Fool by Philippa Gregory - Dear Author

Jane Foole, also known as Jane The Foole, Jane, The Queen's Fool, "Jeanne le Fol" or "Jane Hir Fole" ( fl.I absolutely LOVE Hannah and I think writing her as a Jewish girl instead of a Protestant was very clever.

The Queen’s Fool | Ally Sherrick The Queen’s Fool | Ally Sherrick

This book is ideal to read as a class text and perfect for hot-seating and discussing empathy in upper KS2. She repeatedly hurls herself into dangerous situations and her puppydog infatuation with Lord Robert Dudley comes off life a teenager with a crush on a pop singer.

Another long time reader who read romance novels in her teens, then took a long break before started back again about 25 years ago. Mary gave gilt silver salts as rewards to two women who looked after her, a Mistress Ayer and a woman from Bury St Edmunds who healed her. Jane was a well-liked jester at the court of Catherine Parr, where she is mentioned by name as "Jane Foole" in 1543.

THE QUEEN’S FOOL - Chicken House Books - Home THE QUEEN’S FOOL - Chicken House Books - Home

Today, entertainers sometimes perform as "Jane" in Renaissance-themed entertainments such as Renaissance faires. One who went from beloved daughter to reviled bastard, who saw her devoted mother cast aside, who nearly lost her throne after years of waiting for her chance yet who showed her family’s courage in seizing what was hers from the upstarts who tried to wrest it from her.

I also like the fact that since the story is told from the POV of a servant, we get a total picture of life in Tudor England and English Calais before it was retaken by the French. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward’s protector, who brings her to court as a “holy fool” for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. The history of the Tudors has always fascinated me and I spent many years reading various biographies of the principle players of the era. It is known that Jane and Will Sommers often performed together, dressed in matching outfits: they are noted to have done so in 1555. I have more sympathy for her than I did yet her actions in trying to force one religion on the country reinforce my belief that Church and State definitely need to be separate.