The Queen's Fool
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Philippa Gregory |
| Products | Historical fiction novel |
The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory is a 2003 historical fiction novel within the Tudor series, which also features The Boleyn Inheritance. Set during the years 1548 to 1558, the story traces the lives of Mary I of England and her half-sister Elizabeth through the eyes of Hannah Green, a fictional Marrano girl escaping Spain after her mother was executed for practicing Judaism. Discovered by Robert Dudley and John Dee, Hannah becomes a fool to Edward VI, witnessing court intrigues as Mary, Elizabeth, and Dudley use her to gather intelligence. The narrative spans Hannah's coming-of-age from fourteen to nineteen. The book reached #29 on the New York Times Best Seller list, selling 165,000 copies within three weeks.
Historically, a female jester named "Jane Foole" served at the English royal court during this period, though details about her are scarce.
Plot summary
At nine years old, Hannah Green watches Thomas Seymour flirt with Elizabeth while delivering books for her father. She foresees Seymour’s execution after noticing a scaffold behind him.
Hannah and her father operate a bookshop on Fleet Street after fleeing Spain due to the Inquisition. Robert Dudley and his tutor John Dee visit; John recognizes Hannah’s prophetic ability ("the Sight") when she mentions the Angel Uriel. Despite her father’s objections, Robert and John employ Hannah as a holy fool to King Edward VI. The king accepts her after she predicts heaven opening for him. Hannah reluctantly adjusts to court life, serving the Dudley family and performing various duties.
Robert assigns Hannah to spy on Lady Mary. After Edward’s death and his will naming Protestant Lady Jane Grey as heir—declaring Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate—Jane is briefly crowned before Mary claims the throne with Hannah’s support. Queen Mary’s coronation pleases Hannah but leads to Robert Dudley’s imprisonment for his involvement in Northumberland’s conspiracy.
Historical jester Will Sommers mentors Hannah in entertainment. Her fiancé, Daniel Carpenter, grows jealous as Hannah harbors feelings for Robert Dudley but doubts their marriage prospects. Following Mary’s marriage to Prince Philip of Spain, who supports the Inquisition, Daniel’s family plans to escape England for Calais to wed immediately. Hannah promises to join them after serving Elizabeth at the Tower of London but returns to court instead. She receives a letter from Daniel professing love but remains uncertain.
Over a year later, with the Inquisition spreading in England, Hannah is arrested for heresy but rescued through John Dee’s intervention. She flees with Daniel and her father to Calais, where she embraces ladyship and marries Daniel despite tensions with his family. After discovering Daniel fathered a son with another woman during her absence, Hannah leaves him and opens a bookshop with her father.
Following her father’s death, Daniel inherits but transfers assets to Hannah. When Calais falls to the French, Hannah flees and encounters Robert Dudley along with the mother of Daniel’s son. The mother entrusts baby Daniel to Hannah before dying in battle. Protected by Robert and his allies in England, Hannah faces rumors about the baby’s paternity but clarifies he is Daniel’s son. Robert respects her loyalty despite disappointment over her refusal to become his mistress.
Back at court, Queen Mary asks Hannah to predict Elizabeth’s religious stance; Hannah foresees Elizabeth will not maintain Catholicism but will be a strong queen. When English prisoners are ransomed by France, Hannah returns to Calais; Daniel is released and agrees to accept baby Daniel as his son once informed of his paternity. They reunite and live as a Jewish family, reaffirming Hannah’s religious identity.
Reception
The Queen's Fool attained the position of #29 on the New York Times Best Seller list and achieved sales of 165,000 copies within its first three weeks on the market.
AudioFile commended the depth and memorability of the central characters Mary, Elizabeth, and Hannah, while also emphasizing narrator Bianca Amato's exceptional delivery in the audiobook version.
External links
- 2003 British novels
- Novels set in Tudor England
- Novels by Philippa Gregory
- Novels set in the 1540s
- Novels set in the 1550s
- Cultural depictions of Edward VI
- Cultural depictions of Lady Jane Grey
- Cultural depictions of Mary I of England
- Cultural depictions of Elizabeth I
- Simon & Schuster books
- HarperCollins books
- Cultural depictions of Lord Guildford Dudley
- Cultural depictions of Philip II of Spain