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The Queen’s Fool

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The Queen’s Fool

By: Philippa Gregory, Kati Nicholl
Narrated by: Emilia Fox
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About this listen

Pre-order BOLEYN TRAITOR now – Philippa Gregory’s landmark return to the Tudor court, coming Autumn 2025 …

A stunning novel set in the Tudor court, from the Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory.

The savage rivalry of the daughters of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth, mirrors that of their mothers, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Each will fight by any available means for the crown and future of the kingdom.

Elizabeth’s bitter struggle to claim the throne she believes is hers by right, and the man she desires almost more than her crown, is watched by her ‘fool’: a girl who has been forced to leave her homeland of Spain, as a Jew fleeing the Inquisition. In a court where truth is wittily denied and lies are mere games, it is the fool who can speak plainly: in these dangerous times, a woman must choose between ambition and love. Elizabeth will not make the same mistakes as her mother.

 Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Romance Tudor Royalty Suspense Mystery

Critic reviews

Praise for Philppa Gregory:

‘Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing.’ Daily Mail

‘Gregory is great at conjuring a Tudor film-set of gorgeous gowns and golden-lattered dining. She invokes some swoonsome images…while the politics are personal enough to remain pertinent.’ DailyTelegraph

‘Subtle and exciting.’ Daily Express

‘Written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows.’
Peter Ackroyd, The Times

‘For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating.’ Sunday Times
All stars
Most relevant
I don't ordinarily like abridged audiobooks but this was well done and didn't skip anything vital. Loved the narrator and her accents.

I don't ordinarily like abridged audiobooks...

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book is worth a read but I wouldn't spend my last credit on it - I, stupidly, didn't realise that it was abridged and though it is ok and not obvious, the result is that it it comes across as shallow - unlike your usual Phillipa Gregory.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The end left me wanting more but I think that's, largely, due to it being abridged but you would have to listen to/read the full version to be sure.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Emilia Fox?

Yes nothing wrong with the narration Emilia Fox has a good speaking voice.

Could you see The Queen's Fool being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

Again this is difficult to say - I think it could be part of a mini series covering the whole Tudor period but know there's quite alot out there already.

Any additional comments?

A 'light' read and mildly interesting doesnt set the world on fire but is a solid read.

Good but not great

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this is a lovely book to listen to. It is well read and is full of intrigue and history. it has a different slant on english/french history from what philippa gregory usually writes and is one of my favourites so far. i definately can recommend it

the queens fool by philippa gregory

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

As an admirer of Phillipa Gregory for the stylish way she presents historical facts and turns them into stories that are hard to put down, this is yet another example of the excellence of her vision of the way England was. Not page after page of dates and events, but a story line that includes all those events and turns them into a gripping tale that not only gives you an insight into the workings of the English Court, but a story line that is both original and with a high degree of historical accuracy. Any author does not please every reader - Phillipa is no different - but she cannot be criticised for her attempt to look into the strange and difficult worlds of both Mary and Elizabeth. I recommend this book highly

What other book might you compare The Queen's Fool to, and why?

The range of stories Phillipa has written about the players in the War of the Roses are must reads - and read them in sequence

Have you listened to any of Emilia Fox’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Emilia Fox has surprised me with the high quality of her performance on a variety of books - an excellent reader.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

In this book the collapse of Calais (an event that is most often ignored in English History) is described in such a way that you feel you are almost there !

History the easy way

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another well told detailed view of the Tudor Court from a different perspective, great book

Great story & well read as usual

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