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| Plot Summary of A Woman of Passion |
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"In 16th century England, Bess Hardwick becomes friends with the future queen. Throughout the book, the friendship is questioned by both parties. Virginia Henley is superb at creating stories that both tantalize and shock. This is not your typical romance or your typical heroine. Bess proves that she is made of stronger stuff and does what it takes to remain on top."
Yvette, Resident Scholar
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"At the age of 6 Elizabeth(Bess) Hardwick and her family are evicted from their home, Hardwick Manor and forced to live with her mother's sister. A few years later Bess is sent to live with a wealthy family as an unpaid companion to the young girls in the family. Bess learns her lessons about living in the upper classes of England during the final years of Henry VIII reign well. She makes friends easily and is a favorite of all the young people and the adults. She is easily one of the most beautiful young women in England. One of the friends she develops in Princess Elizabeth. She has also caught the eye of William Cavandish and 40 something married man on the political rise and young George Talbot, future Earl of Shrewsbury.
She falls in love with Cavandish but at 16 she is forced to marry Robert Barlow to save Hardwick Manor from being lost forever to the family. Barlow is very ill with lung disease and dies several months later. She returns to London to resume her position and is given to a wealthier family and paid wages. She resumes her friendship with Cavandish and when his wife dies they marry. He is the love of her life and during their marriage have 6 children. He teaches her everything he knows about land management and real estate. The political situation in England becomes less and less stable and under the stress Cavandish dies from a heart attack leaving Bess heavily in Debt.Bess vows never to love again. When Elizabeth takes the throne she brings Bess to the palace. Bess learns that Elizabeth I is more queen than friend when she forces Bess to marry Sir William St Loe.
Bess knows more about the queen than anyone and as a result of this she is sent to the Tower and left there for 8 months. She is rescued by George Talbot. George has been married since he was 12 years olds but that does not stop him from wanting Bess. She is released from the Tower to find her husband very ill. He eventually dies having left her most of his fortune. George tries to make her his mistress. He is easily the wealthiest man in England next to the monarchy. She is about to give in to her desire for him when his wife dies from a stroke. They are caught making love by one of his older children and marry to save Bess's reputation.
This book is about a woman driven by ambition, first for herself and later for her children.She overcomes impossible odds during some of the most politically insecure times in English history and survives it all. "
plnorth, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Woman of Passion |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- Distant past/middle ages
Seduction/coercion/force
Yes
How seduced/forced?
- threat of economic ruinment
If one lover chases another...
- he chases after her
Children/Pregnancy
Yes
Who seduces whom?
- man seducing woman
Main Male Character
Profession/status:
- diplomat
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age/status:
- 40's-50's
How sexual is this person?
- several sexual encounters
- somewhat promiscuious
How romantic is this person?
- somewhat romantic
- sly seducer
Sex makes him
- more demanding
Sex has good effect on him
Yes
Sex makes him
- confident
- blissful
- sensitive
- a better lover
Sex has bad effect on him
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Female Character
Age/status:
- a teen
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- homemaker
- servant
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
- naive virgin
How romantic is this person?
- very romantic
- somewhat romantic
effect of sexing
- wild
- demanding
- unhappy for sexing the guy
Sex has bad effect on her
Yes
Sex has good effect on her
Yes
Effect of sexing
- confident
- a better lover
- less bitchy/arrogant
- blissful
- mature
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Misc setting
- Fancy Mansion
- prison
- castle
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related?
- 50%
- 60%
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- licking
- impregnation/reproduction
- actual description of sex
- descript. of female anatomy (the big B's)
- descript. of female anatomy (the big V)
- descript. of male nudity (the big P)
Focus of story
- Her
- many multiple characters
Consequences of sex
- pregnancy
How much dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much sexing?
- 5-9 sex acts
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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