Point of View

The point of view of the novel is third person intimate style, always from outside of the character, but with special reference and following one character during a scene. The shifting subjects of these perspectives are Amy, Robert, William Cecil and Elizabeth Tudor, with the most emphasis being placed upon Amy and Robert.

The narrative is set up as a contrast between the life of Amy Dudley, her thoughts and feelings, and those of her husband Robert at court. On one hand we are presented with a rural narrative in the case of Amy, full of simple feelings and natural things such as milking, herding and estate management while the other main narrative, delivered by her husband, is more urban, social, and concerned with the court. These different points of view best show how the social whirl of the court is a world all to itself...