Prose Supplements - Shop now
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
$13.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, April 9 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, April 5. Order within 3 hrs 56 mins.
In Stock
$$13.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Alison Weir
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Marriage Game Paperback – April 23, 2015

by Alison Weir (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,609 ratings
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.99","priceAmount":13.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"245rl78E4Z8zxlTdyjkLQsqlAAa4fV0EhN%2FBh3MMtOSVBSJPrGbzVKK8pc16mlcqTiscTjf1ZWFT6aeiCAn2uanLffECOsXq7oc8Q0l%2BMQcMbK5I77kyFg%2BYlzlycJeiIhR4mBDB87k%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Bestselling historian Alison Weir brings Elizabeth I to vivid life in a novel of intrigue, sex, plots, mysteries and tragedies, amid all the colour and pageantry of the Tudor court.

''[Weir] gets right inside the head of the Virgin Queen. The reader has a blissful sense of seeing history as it happens.'' - Kate Saunders, The Times

It was an affair that shocked the world.

Elizabeth I is the most sought-after bride in Europe. But though she is formidably intelligent, brave and tempestuous, she is desperately insecure. The tragic events in her past mean she cannot give herself to any man, and yet she relishes the thrill of the chase, the lure of forbidden fruit.

And so, using sex and high-powered diplomacy, she plays what becomes known as the ''Marriage Game'', dangling suitors to keep them friendly to her kingdom, while holding them off indefinitely.
But playing this tantalising game with the married Robert Dudley, the son and grandson of traitors, could cost her the throne…

Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    Elizabeth I
  2. Print length
    432 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Arrow Books Ltd
  5. Publication date
    April 23, 2015
  6. Dimensions
    5.55 x 1.06 x 7.87 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0099534622
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0099534624
Next slide of product details
Books%20with%20Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

The Marriage Game
This item: The Marriage Game
$13.99
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 9
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel (Elizabeth I)
$12.49
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 9
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Space-store and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
The Passionate Tudor: A Novel of Queen Mary I
$15.31
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 9
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Select Guide Rating

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arrow Books Ltd (April 23, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099534622
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099534624
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 1.06 x 7.87 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,609 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Alison Weir

Alison Weir

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Alison Weir lives and works in Surrey. Her books include Britain's Royal Families, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Children of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry VIII: King and Court, Mary, Queen of Scots and Isabella: She-Wolf of France.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,609 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book fascinating and well-written, appreciating its historical accuracy with verifiable details. Moreover, the character development receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting how it brings out Elizabeth's true character. However, several customers find the book boring and lacking substance.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

27 customers mention "Readability"24 positive3 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and enjoyable to read, particularly appreciating Alison Weir's Tudor work.

"...that shaped her life but whilst reading this novel, I was never bored in the slightest, such is Ms Weir's unique talent of effortless storytelling...." Read more

"...It's overall an enjoyable read. If you love the Queen as I do, you will like this book." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a different perspective of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester...." Read more

"...But there's a tendency to believe what she writes as fact. Excellent read." Read more

20 customers mention "Historical accuracy"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, noting its true-to-history approach and verifiable details, with one customer highlighting its weaving of fact and fiction.

"...brings all the characters gloriously to life with a huge respect for the actual historical facts; in this case, the excitement and titillation of..." Read more

"...detail to make it perfectly believable, and a nice speculative look into her inner emotional life as well, including the lasting emotional impact of..." Read more

"...for all the veracity of this book and the fine writing, the weaving of fact and fiction, the hardest thing for the reader is the undeniable reality..." Read more

"...Again, since Weir is a fantastic historical non-fiction author, one must remember she injects intriguing plot points which are ( probably) her..." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting how it brings out Elizabeth's true character.

"...Marriage Game is an excellent story of a very intelligent and crafty Queen Elizabeth who knew how to use what she had to get what she wanted and to..." Read more

"Not one of my favorites(Elizabeth I) but Ms. Weir brings out the true character of Elizabeth." Read more

"Another delight by Alison Weir!..." Read more

"Alison Weir......" Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"8 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some praising its unique talent of effortless storytelling while others find it wordy and monotonous.

"...I was never bored in the slightest, such is Ms Weir's unique talent of effortless storytelling...." Read more

"...It was an awkward reading experience and I felt it had to have been an awkward writing experience for Weir...." Read more

"...Yet, for all the veracity of this book and the fine writing, the weaving of fact and fiction, the hardest thing for the reader is the undeniable..." Read more

"...given a Weir book less than a top rating, and this one is as well-written as all...." Read more

4 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book boring and lacking substance, describing it as redundant.

"This is one of the most boring books I have ever read...." Read more

"There was no substance to this book. It was definitely NOT a page turner. It took a long time for me to finish it because it was so redundant...." Read more

"...It was boring and lacked substance. There are too many good books out there to waste time on "literature" like this." Read more

"Horrible - so boring - I couldn't finish it." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Elizabeth Fenech
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing English Tudor History to Life
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Alison Weir is by far my favourite historical author. I have almost all her books and her standard of writing is impeccable. What I loved about "The Marriage Game" is that Elizabeth I is brought to life in all her unpredictable, charismatic and endlessly fascinating glory! As a huge admirer of this royal personality who is quite an inspiration to me, this was a definite plus. Having read about this queen extensively over a large number of years I am very familiar with the events and people that shaped her life but whilst reading this novel, I was never bored in the slightest, such is Ms Weir's unique talent of effortless storytelling. She brings all the characters gloriously to life with a huge respect for the actual historical facts; in this case, the excitement and titillation of Elizabeth's loves and flirtations coupled with the major events that shaped her reign. All in all hugely enjoyable and highly recommendable to those who are not knowledgeable about this most legendary historical figure.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Debbie O
    4.0 out of 5 stars Queen Elizabeth in Love
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this book, but not as much as the previous one in this series. The love story of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley was of long duration (at least on her side) and till this day full of speculation, did they or didn't they? Because it is a story that spans all of Elizabeth and Dudley's adult lives, it gets a bit bogged down in the central theme of the story. I mean the same two people, with the same problem of commitment. As in she could not commit to marrying him.
    I think she was right in following her instincts about him as a person, it would have been a disaster. She did love him, but had no illusions about him, and when you love an adventurer, that's a good way to think.
    It's overall an enjoyable read. If you love the Queen as I do, you will like this book.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • bhambelcanto
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any Tudor history fan
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many books about Queen Elizabeth I and her rival Mary Queen of Scots, both fiction and nonfiction. This was one of the best.
    The Marriage Game is a wonderful retelling of Elizabeth’s life story, with enough actual and verifiable historical detail to make it perfectly believable, and a nice speculative look into her inner emotional life as well, including the lasting emotional impact of losing her mother in such a traumatic way at a young age. Highly recommend for any lover of Tudor and Elizabethan history.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Karen B
    3.0 out of 5 stars The games royalty play
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Having read many of Alison Weir’s non-fiction books and thoroughly enjoying her fictive spin on the early years of Elizabeth Ist, I was looking forward to reading The Marriage Game, which covers the years Elizabeth was upon the English throne.
    Taking as its main focus Elizabeth’s Privy Council’s and, indeed, the entire Parliament and country’s obsession with her need to get married and produce an heir, and the queen’s attempts to fob them off through procrastination, broken promises, assurances and games as it’s premise, the novel also highlights the steamy and stormy relationship between Elizabeth and her favourite courtier, Robert Dudley.
    It’s clear that Weir knows her history. As her wonderful non-fiction books attest (The Life of Elizabeth I and The Princes in the Tower are my favourites), she uses her formidable understanding of Elizabethan politics and times to infuse the novel with veritas, even using direct speech from reports and letters of the times and known events to add grist to her marriage mill. The reader is drawn into Elizabeth’s world, its male-dominated court and the religious and global politics that threaten and sustain its power. A constant balancing act is required (by the author, reader and the characters) which means the queen and her council must be both vigilant and yet warm towards the various international diplomats that populate the court – offering salves to wounded pride, playing various proposals and dignitaries off against each other and trying to second guess intentions.
    Mercurial and demanding, Elizabeth is the heart and soul of this story, as indeed she was of the times (they’re not recalled as the Elizabethan period for no reason). Yet, it’s hard to like this vain queen or the men who surround her. Self-interest is paramount and weasel words are currency.
    We know from history that Elizabeth was a difficult and selfish woman who would readily strike those who displeased her, send people to the tower for marrying without permission (even those without royal blood) and who saw most other women as potential competition and so banned them from court. She struggled with ageing (in that, she was very like many modern women, which reveals struggling with growing older isn’t necessarily a contemporary preoccupation) and was concerned not be redundant. Encouraging flattery, she also doled it out and was a flirt par excellence, even as an older woman – these are all facts.
    While the queen’s relationship with Dudley, who she later made the Earl of Leicester, is also well documented, in this novel, Weir delves into the emotional and physical bonds that both connect the pair and drive them apart. From the first days of Elizabeth’s rule to Dudley’s death, she fictively explores their tempestuous and imbalanced relationship.
    Yet, for all the veracity of this book and the fine writing, the weaving of fact and fiction, the hardest thing for the reader is the undeniable reality that the lead character, good Queen Bess, is an outright bitch. She is not sympathetic or kind, but narcissistic, wilful, a bully, and manipulative. She uses people for her own ends, is masterful with words and wields them as weapons to wound and control and contrive outcomes she desires. Though this may have been politic and Elizabeth’s only means of asserting authority and influence, it works better in non-fiction than fiction where what’s being told is essentially both a love story and an anti-love story. Likewise, Dudley is a dud who obeys his monarch at the expense of dignity, self-respect and, in the end, his family. History is kinder to these pair than this book, that’s for certes!
    So, while I enjoyed Weir’s version – and for me the second half of the book was better than the first - I prefer the way history books recall Elizabeth – as a potent political force, faults and all - than this particular piece of (romantic?) fiction.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Marriage Game review
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a different perspective of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It also really impressed on me just how brilliant Elizabeth1st was in her dealings with her advisors & the ambassadors from the different countries she dealt with.
    You could "feel" how much this took out of her. There were times when I would think to myself "Are you kidding me? Again with this marriage game?"( Perfect title.) Then it hit me. If I was getting tired of all this, my God, how hard it must have been for her. If you are as fascinated with Elizabeth1st as I am, read this book.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Cat Lady
    4.0 out of 5 stars Weir Reigns!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    No one nails history like Alison Weir! I would give a 5 but found the book a bit tedious after reading the prequal to this story. Elizabeths marriage game went on ridiculously long. It certainly showed the intimate love between her and Dudley, which I hadnt realized was so deep. I felt sorry for them both, to have missed out on having a loving family.
    Helpful
     Report
  • RonK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another delight by Alison Weir!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The Marriage Game relates the story of Queen Elizabeth I from the beginning of her reign until her death. She brought peace to a kingdom that had been at war for decades. She was a strong ruler in a time that believed a queen must marry and turn the governance of her kingdom over to a man. She was a consummate diplomat using her "need to marry" as her best tool. She became adept at forestalling a decision on her marriage and playing her suitors as pawns in the game.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • EleanorB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific new novel about Gloriana's marital muddles.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Alison Weir is uniquely placed to create fiction around the life of Elizabeth the First, given her extensive research and factual work on the Tudor period. In this novel she deals with Bess's infuriating (for her advisers) and frustrating (for herself and Robert Dudley equally) method of dealing with the pressure to marry and produce heirs for England. Her answer answerless continues for decades in a dance of courtships across the royal houses of Europe, all of which come to nothing, although the Queen herself clearly enjoys the 'game' and the gifts and flattery which accompany it. Weir brilliantly describes the utter panic that ensues when Elizabeth contracts smallpox: her life hanging in the balance and no acceptable heir in the frame makes the whole marriage game considerably more serious.

    Weir's highly readable and very well written tale presents Elizabeth as part minx and part Gloriana. The vexed questions are all dealt with imaginatively: do she and Dudley have a full sexual relationship, is she so psychologically damaged by her mother's fate that marriage and motherhood are genuinely terrifying to her, or does she simply not want to share her power or be governed by a man? The other mystery of course is that surrounding the death of Dudley's wife, Amy, conveniently parked in the country and clearly unwell. If it were to look as if she has been murdered by Dudley, and not simply taken a fatal fall, one wonders who has most to gain and that is possibly actually not Dudley himself, as a man with such a tarnished reputation will not make good marriage material in the eyes of the world, and Mr Secretary Cecil no longer has the handsome Robert as a significant problem.

    These conundrums are all addressed in a cracking work of fiction, which I highly recommend as a page turner that any fan of Tudor fiction will thoroughly enjoy.
    Report
  • Bernard C
    3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat boring
    Reviewed in France on October 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I gave 3 stars but it was difficult to finish this book. Regards
    Report
  • Jo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely enjoyed this book
    Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely enjoyed this book. The books by Alison Weir are beautifully written. The amount of research she does is absolutely awe inspiring.
    I will be ordering more of her books after I have read the ones I already have.
    Report
  • Mimi
    4.0 out of 5 stars Elizabeth and Dudley
    Reviewed in Australia on July 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I didn't think that this book was her best, although I will always buy Alison Weir books because of her knowledge of her
    subject.
    Report
  • Anthony Ashworth
    4.0 out of 5 stars Review of "The Marriage Game" by Alyson Weir
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    On The Marriage Game byvalison Weir.

    This is a captivating novel , but perhaps with too much story telling to make it very readable and less precise history. But certainly a good read.

    Rosa Maria Letts (who buys the books on Anthony Letts account, her husband!)
    Report