Death and the Virgin cover art

Death and the Virgin

Elizabeth, Dudley and the Mysterious Fate of Amy Robsart

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Death and the Virgin

By: Chris Skidmore
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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About this listen

On 9th September 1560 Amy Robsart, the wife of Queen Elizabeth’s favourite courtier, Robert Dudley, was found lying dead at the foot of a staircase. It was a death that scandalised Tudor England. Was it an accident, suicide or murder? Robert Dudley’s open flirtation with the young Queen Elizabeth only fuelled rumours that he had orchestrated his own wife’s death. With Dudley now conveniently widowed, perhaps the queen had found her consort at last.

The death of Amy Robsart is one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of the Tudor period. Now, in this gripping account, Chris Skidmore has unearthed new evidence and is able to put an end to centuries of speculation.

©2010 Chris Skidmore (P)2010 Isis Publishing Ltd Europe Great Britain Medieval Renaissance England Middle Ages Royalty Tudor

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All stars
Most relevant
It seems at times that this is more about the rise/fall and life of Dudley than what happened to his wife, Amy. However, what happened to his wife was very closely linked to his life at court. As well as this it also gives an interesting insight into the politics of the Elizabethan Court and the diplomacy of the age.



Well researched and the narrator makes it very easy to listen to and that he actually enjoyed the book himself. Makes this period of history accessible in interesting.

Interesting and well written

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Bought this after visiting Kenilworth Castle recently where I first learned of the mystery surrounding Amy's death.

Circumstantial, you can't get away with Robert Dudley being the 'most likely to be guilty' party. But the book shows that there were other dark powers who could have arranged or indeed carried out the murder (if in fact, it was).

I don't think we'll ever know the truth,save for a written confession, but that is part of the romance of the book.

The reader or listener can only decide

Intriguing Tale

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