• The Queen's Bastard

  • A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley
  • By: Robin Maxwell
  • Narrated by: Angele Masters
  • Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (59 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Queen's Bastard  By  cover art

The Queen's Bastard

By: Robin Maxwell
Narrated by: Angele Masters
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.95

Buy for $29.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

Robin Maxwell’s well-researched sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn returns listeners back to 16th-century England and the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I.

Maxwell’s novel, performed with a regal imperiousness by Angele Masters, presents a fascinating what-if scenario. In her time, the so-called "virgin queen", Elizabeth was rumored to have a close relationship with her Master of the Horse, Robin Dudley. In The Queen's Bastard, Elizabeth has given birth to an illegitimate son, Arthur, who is raised in the countryside by a kindly gentleman. When Arthur learns his true heritage as an adult, he seeks a reunion.

Stuffed with authentic period details and memorable dialogue, this book will be irresistible to fans of historical fiction.

Publisher's summary

Historians have long whispered that Elizabeth "the Virgin Queen's" passionate, lifelong affair with Robin Dudley, Earl of Leicester, may have led to the birth of a son, Arthur Dudley. In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of the child switched at birth by a lady-in-waiting who foresaw the deleterious political consequences of a royal bastard.

Set against the sweeping, meticulously rendered backdrop of court intrigues, international scandals, and England's battle against the Spanish Armada, The Queen's Bastard deftly juxtaposes Elizabeth and Leicester's tumultuous relationship with the memoirs of the adventurous son lost to them -- yet ultimately discovered.

©1999, 2011 Robin Maxwell (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Queen's Bastard

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Story? what Story?

What would have made The Queen's Bastard better?

hard to follow and even harder to listen to. Very mono toned

What was most disappointing about Robin Maxwell’s story?

No real plot to try to follow

What didn’t you like about Angele Masters’s performance?

No excitement

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment in the whole thing. sounded like a good book in the write up and desciption
i am a lover of this time period of fiction and non-fiction, there aren't enough books about the live and times of the people

Any additional comments?

money back please

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Its just Ok

Story line was a good idea, but the character of Arthur Dudley was so unbelievable. At times I was struggling to finish the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really good

I don’t think I have ever written an audible review before, but I was compelled to for this novel. I almost didn’t download it because of the other bad review. I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed it and all the other titles by this author. I have read and listened to almost 100 historical novels and in my opinion this one was fantastic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!