Book Review: Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin

Title: Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain
Author: Margaret Irwin
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1402229985
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

First published in 1946, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain continues the “vivid, psychologically brilliant” (Times Literary Supplement) journey begun in Young Bess and Elizabeth, Captive Princess. Philip, Prince of Spain, the unwilling bridegroom of Queen Mary, has been warned about the young Elizabeth. According to all reports, she is a heretic, a rebel, and a potential enemy—but she’s also alluring. Accused of treachery by Mary, Elizabeth finds herself teetering between Mary’s vengeance and Philip’s uneasy ardor, with her life in the balance.

My Review:

Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin is the third and final book in her Elizabeth I Trilogy, and while I did read and review Young Bess, I missed the second book Elizabeth, Captive Princess, so I am unable to let the readers know how well Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain flows from the second book, however I believe it can indeed be read as a stand alone book. With that said, Irwin captures the sound, look, and tempo of the time period so well I cannot imagine readers wanting to miss one of the books. In Irwin’s stunning conclusion, the reader is drawn into Elizabeth’s continuously tumultuous life, as Prince Philip is to wed Queen Mary, who is no friend to Elizabeth and even accuses her of treason. Philip has very strong feelings for Elizabeth and to further complicate matters, there is the disparity of religion. Robert Dudley enters the scene, much to my happiness, as he is a person in history who has always intrigued me. Elizabeth works to clear her father’s name and to prepare for what history will prove to be a brilliant legacy. Irwin’s writing is impeccable, impassioned and well informed. The readers are immediately whisked back to the sixteenth century and the characters spring to life under the skillful hand of Irwin. My only complaints, which are not the fault of the author, are two-fold. I failed to read the second book, how I missed it I do not know and secondly, the trilogy has ended and I yearn for more. I highly recommend not only Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, but also the previous two books in the Elizabeth I trilogy, Young Bess and Elizabeth, Captive Princess.

About the Author:

Margaret Irwin (1889-1969) was a master of historical fiction, blending meticulous research with real storytelling flair to create some of England’s best-loved and most widely acclaimed novels, including Young Bess, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain, The Gay Galliard, and the Stranger Prince.

I received a complimentary ARC Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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