The Other Queen

Written by Philippa Gregory

Narrated by Bianca Amato, Dagmara Dominczyk and Graeme Malcolm

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory—a dazzling new novel about the intriguing, romantic, and maddening Mary, Queen of Scots.

Fleeing violent rebellions in Scotland, Mary looks to Queen Elizabeth of England for sanctuary. Though promised protection, Mary, perceived as a serious threat to the English crown, is soon imprisoned by her former friend as a “guest” in the house of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The newly married couple welcomes the condemned queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court.

To their horror, they grow to realize that the task will bankrupt their estate and lose them what little favor they’ve managed to gain as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Queen Elizabeth. And Mary is not as hopeless as she appears, manipulating the earl and spinning her own web of treachery and deceit, as she sharpens her weapons to reclaim her Scottish throne—and to take over Queen Elizabeth’s of England.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 16, 2008
• ISBN: 9780743571074

Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned author of historical novels. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh. Works that have been adapted for television include A Respectable Trade, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. The Other Boleyn Girl is now a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Philippa Gregory lives in the North of England with her family.

Reviews for The Other Queen

[auntieclio · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's always interesting to read other points of view about a topic. As a Tudor fan, I'm already familiar with what history says about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots, who also believed herself to be true heir to the thrones of England and France. This was a tough situation for Elizabeth since Mary was also her cousin and a queen's body was sacrosanct and could not be touched or killed.Yet Mary's presence in England fomented much rebellion among the Catholics who resented Elizabeth both for her father's dismantling of the Church and for the sketchy lineage that brought Elizabeth to the throne. Many believed Mary had the truer lineage. In the end, Mary's uncanny ability to be obtuse and arrogant made her a prisoner in England for 18.5 years, until she was executed in 1587 for plotting to assassinate the Queen of England.The Other Queen is told through the eyes of George, Earl of Shrewsberry, his wife Bess, Countess of Shrewsberry, and Queen Mary. The earl and countess were Mary's guards for 15 years.While this story is fascinating, the real hero of the story, at least to my mind, is Bess Hardwick who literally rose from nothing to be one of the richest women in England at a time when women were not allowed to own anything. It was a time when women married, all property and assets in their name became their husband's property. Not jointly owned, not overseen, but taken away and given to the husband.Bess was a business woman who believed true power and security came from owning property and making it work for her. She knew to the penny what things cost, what was coming in and what was going out. A rarity of the time, she knew how to read and kept her books strictly.The Earl, on the other hand, had come from nobility for generations and had no idea how to work with money. He seemed to believe it came from the air, and that his stewards took care of things which kept him in rich living.Keeping Mary as a prisoner nearly bankrupted the Hardwicks. But Bess got the best of the Earl with her common sense and reached an agreement which allowed his debts to her be paid with his land and property put in her name, becoming a landed woman again Though they remained married, the upkeep of Mary broke their marriage, and the agreement between Bess and George was just short of a divorce agreement. They lived in their separate houses for the rest of the marriage.Bess turned her finances around and made favorable matches for her children; adding to her, and theirs, wealth. Her Earl was no match for her. His prejudice against her background and upbringing blinded him to her cunning and practicality. While they loved each other deeply at the beginning of their marriage, their different approaches to life were put to the test by Mary's presence.I very much enjoyed reading Bess Hardwick's part in this drama, and now have another strong woman to read up on.

[jewels1864 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book I have read by Phillipa Gregory and find that I am likely to read another. I was intrigued by the first sentence: "Every woman should marry for her own advantage since her husband will represent her, as visible as her front door, for the rest of his life." I found the topic of the life of women in another time period other than the present to be interesting, and indeed the book contained many revelations about the value and status of women in Elizabethan England. Although I did enjoy the book, towards the end I found it to be a bit repetitive- how every time one of Mary's plots was foiled, another one would just pop up, and Bess reiterating that she regrets marrying Talbot and how she mourns for her lost land and possessions. The ending just seemed to be missing something too...The same goes for George, he seemed single minded always focusing on his 'honor' and falling for Mary's tricks, espcially when he stated that she was too beautiful that she 'had' to be free. In the end he did seem like a food. Finally, I feel like I could have used more detail about what happened afterwards but perhaps that is in another book. Overall, it was alright, but good enough to make me want to try another of Gregory's books. I did learn a lot while reading this book because I have never read anything about Elizabethan England, and I don't remember learning anything at all about it during school. I found the controversies between the Catholics and Protestants to be interesting-how so much was decided about the monarchs, ruling class, laws, and wars based on the support of one side or the other, as well as the fact that the queens and everyone in their line were 'chosen by God' to rule and be untouchable. I was surprised at how manipulative the women could be-especially Mary, who knew how to look, act, and charm to get her way, use everyone around her to try and gain her ends. But on the other hand, it seems as if the women had no choice because they weren't allowed to be educated, and could only make something of themselves if they married rich. I was also surprised at the sheer amount of lying and betraying that occurred and how there were spies everywhere in England. There were countless lies between Bess and George, Mary and Bess, Mary and George. It seems to have been a very difficult time to live in, always having to be paranoid about how you discuss the queen or any of her confidantes.

[janiereader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gregory this time presents Mary, Queen of Scots, in a work that follows the monarch's long imprisonment in the household of the Earl of Shrewsbury and his spying wife, Bess. I didn't know a lot about Mary so I found this fictionalized tale more interesting than some of the author's other title. I have to admit getting mixed up as to who is who in the British monarchy, and who lived when and fought with who but really enjoyed this tale.

[ltfl_jmls · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not her best, but still good. It did give me some interesting stuff to think about regarding Mary Queen of Scots, though.

[barpurple · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An interesting read. I enjoyed the differing viewpoints and the juxtuposition of new, self made men and old, inherited titles and money.

[gregory_gwen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not her best, but still good. It did give me some interesting stuff to think about regarding Mary Queen of Scots, though.

[dalzan_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel covers the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The newly married couple welcomes the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman.The novel concludes with Bess effectively ?divorcing? the Earl and regaining all her land that she brought to the marriage as settlement. The Earl spends the next 16 (?) years living withQueen Mary as a prisoner. Always a gentleman, he never acts on his love for her, and is distraught when Queen Elizabeth eventually orders her beheading for treason and she is killed.Interestingly written. Each short chapter is written in the first person of different characters. The reader gets an insight into the thoughts of Bess, the Earl and Queen Mary.

[yabut-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Philippa Gregory has a way of getting me more interested in history than I've ever been before. This book takes place at the time of the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. This is the story of how she and her adviser kept Mary, Queen of Scots from her rightful reign.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Other Queen focuses on Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I's rival. You read the story through the eyes of Queen Mary, and her two hosts/jailors: George and Bess Talbot (who are also newlyweds). As the plot progress, you notice George falling in love with the Queen, and Bess becoming the green eyed monster. In the meantime Queen Mary is busy plotting to get her seated on a throne to rule France, England, and Scotland.The plot starts very slow at first. It didn't really capture my attention as Gregory's other books. I did not really warm up to any of these characters. When you're reading from Mary's point of view she's always referring to her past, and other characters (Bothwell, for example). It's a little hard to follow as I'm not very well versed in this era of history. Here I am sitting wondering who are these people Mary keeps on talking about. You get the hang of it after a while but it's a little frustrating and you feel a little lost. Also, you get the feeling you're on a yo-yo as you read this book. First the rebels are coming. Nope they're not. Oh Mary's going to this house. Nope she's going to this one. Oh yes Mary will have her throne. Nope she's just going to this other house for now. It was sort of tiring reading like this throughout the book.Once you get the know the three characters and as the plot slowly progresses, this is where it gets messy. I started to like Mary a lot first, and I started sympathizing with her. Considering I didn't like Elizabeth to start with (when reading The Virgin's Lover), Mary was a very romantic version of a Queen and reminded me of a little bit of Catalina (from The Constant Princess). I was neutral towards Bess, and George, he's a sweetheart! you can't help it but wonder if he's THE perfect guy for those times. Towards the middle of the book, when Mary starts plotting more, and George falls in love with her, my opinion changes. Bess just can't shut up about money, and gets mildly irritating. On top of that she's a jealous harpy but you can't really blame her. She's up against a Queen. George still reminds loveable, but a little on the dumb side. Queen Mary, she started becoming a lying twit. Towards the end, everything shifts again. I didn't like Mary anymore. The spoiled brat. I admired Bess for her strength but just wished she would shut up about her lands and money. George, well, I'd have to say he brought it all on himself even though he's still a sweetheart. The plot works well with these characters, as all three of them develop and you see them change drastically.Aside from the slow plot, I think it's the characters that managed to saved this book from being set aside. They grabbed my attention, albeit not as quick as I hoped. Perhaps I had too many expectations. However it could be because I don't know much about this era of history and perhaps a bit of background research would have helped me. Overall, not one of Gregory's best work but it's an all right read.

[sdunford_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When you can retell such a well-known story in a way that grabs the reader from start to finish, you are an amazing storyteller. Well done, Philippa Gregory.

[sarahliz2182 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Of all "The Tudor Court" books, my favorites are the 2nd-4th. The 5th one, "The Virgin Queen," was the worst for the fact that it is so contradictory to the previous books in its portrayal of Queen Elizabeth & her relationship with Robert Dudley. At the end of, "The Queen's Fool (#4)," Dudley is shown as Elizabeth's favorite, with the possibility of already being her lover, & as she's been plotting with him for the throne for a while. Then the beginning of the next book (#5), he's trying to get her attention for the first time, she doesn't know about his plots to put her on the throne, & her character in general is weak compared to the previous books, as well as the last.

[bookappeal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story covers the period during which Queen Elizabeth imprisons Mary Queen of Scots. The story is told from Mary's perspective as well as that of George Talbot (her "keeper") who is captivated by her, and his wife Bess, a calculating, self-preserving woman. The voice of Mary captures her royal nature and her anger at being so wronged by QE as well as her subtle insecurities. Mary expects everyone to adhere to traditional rules regarding treatment of a sanctified queen but does not hold herself to any rules of conduct precisely because she is a sanctified queen. Bess is also a formidable but sneaky woman whose machinations end up saving her husband's life at the expense of his love. The abridgement sacrifices historical fact and period detail but still conveys a good sense of the tense, treacherous atmosphere of life at court created by Queen Elizabeth's advisor as well as the emotions motivating each character.

[beckylynn_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was horrible. It was the same sad storyline over and over again. I cannot believe how boring this book was! The writing was good, but that didn't make up for the story. Very dissappointed.

[kasthu_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The Other Queen is the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, during a specific period in her life?the time that she spent in the home of George Talbot and his wife, Bess, at Tutbury Castle. It was a period fraught with political turmoil and the threat of another civil war, as Mary attempted to regain her throne. The story is told from the point of view of all three characters.I have to say straight away that this was not one of Philippa Gregory?s best?a shame, since I was looking forward to reading it. Part of the problem is that I more or less have a preconceived idea of what Mary was like. Therefore, I was a little dismayed by the way that Mary is portrayed in the book; she?s arrogant. And that?s another problem I had with the book; I feel as though it might have been better had Mary not narrated part of the story herself. Even George and Bess are pretty wooden characters with no distinctive voices of their own; I flipped from one section to the next and thought that the same person was speaking!Another part of this novel?s problem is that it fictionalizes one of the most boring periods in Mary?s life. Really, couldn?t she have fictionalized the Gunpowder Plot or the murder of David Rizzio? Instead, we get pages and pages about how queenly Mary is, how hard Bess worked to get where she is, Cecil is evil, ad nauseum. Essentially, if you read the first 100 pages or so, you?ve read the entire book. I feel as though Philippa Gregory is just following a formula here, one that doesn?t entirely work for this novel. It?s especially disappointing considering I?ve enjoyed so much of Gregory?s work in the past. A much better novel about Mary?s life is Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles, by Margaret George, and a wonderful work of nonfiction about Mary is Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley, by Alison Weir.

[pensivecat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Other Queen covers the early years of Mary, Queen of Scots' time in England. The story is told from the points of view of Bess (known as Bess of Hardwick in history books), her husband George, Earl of Shrewsbury, and Mary. At times this varied first person reminded me of those reality shows, when the participants tell the camera how they really feel about their situation. I had fun with this book. These particular years of Tudor history are not the ones most familiar to me, so I didn't see much in historical inaccuracy. Sometimes I felt too many pages were put into the difficulties of keeping Mary in the care of the Shrewsburys, which ending up translating into Bess grumbling over finances in every chapter, Mary whining about her rights as a queen, and George being daft and insisting on honor. Perhaps this was the point of the book, though. The tension of the married couple when Mary proves to be too charming to resist was covered, though not in any lurid details.It was interesting to see how tense things got between the North of England and the Elizabethan government run by Cecil and his spy network. If anything, The Other Queen made me want to delve in the 1570's a little more. It also makes me wonder just how beautiful Mary was, because the artwork of the time didn't quite show this to me. Occasionally I rolled my eyes over the little insights into the future (not counting the massive one via George in the end). Bess seems to see a future for women that would have been quite blurry in the 16th century. Having a very young Anthony Babington promise Mary that he'd help her to the point of calling his own future efforts "The Babington Plot" was the one moment where I groaned out loud.In terms of Philippa Gregory books, I didn't feel like as many liberties were taken as in "The Other Boleyn Girl", though I think I liked The Boleyn Inheritence marginally more than The Other Queen.

[womblingstar · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't think this is one of her best but still an enjoyable read into history. I was hoping to get to the end of Mary's life in the book and found the ending a bit disappointing. It left me wanting to know what happened next, like I had only read half a story. She does make Tudor England very real and easy to imagine which is good.

[crazy4reading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Other Queen is a fictional account of the Bloody Queen Mary and her imprisonment. I am not that familiar with England history but have grown a fascination over the past few years. My son tells me to watch the show the Tudors.Queen Elizabeth is Queen Mary's cousin and has imprisoned Mary. Talbot and his wife Bess are in charge of keeping the Queen Mary safe so that she can be placed back as the Queen of Scotland. The story goes on from different points of view. One minute you are reading from the view of Queen Mary, then George Talbot and onto Bess. At first this was confusing but let you see what the other characters were thinking and doing at the same time.

[puckrobin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I enjoyed Gregory's other books on the Tudors, and I was eager to read another installment of her novelizations based on her extensive knowledge of European monarchies. I can honestly say that I'm not sure what put me off - the writing seemed more abrupt somehow, and it may have been part of trying to write the character, but I found it choppy and difficult to immerse myself in the story. Further, I admit, I really had no use for Mary as she was depicted here (I say that because obviously I have no idea what I'd have thought of her in person). I tend to be drawn to characters far more than plot - if I don't care about a character, then I don't much care what happens to them - and frankly, I didn't care what happened to her because she was such a whiney, self important little chit. To some degree, this may well have been Gregory's intention - to develop an image of an immature, selfish woman, and if so, she succeeded, at least for me. Unfortunately, disliking the character made hanging in for the plot (with its obvious ending) not worth my time.

[jepeters333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Blessed with exceptional beauty, a brilliant mind, and magnificent red hair, the six-foot Mary is striking and unforgettable. She is also Catholic - and a legitimate heir to the thrones of France, Ireland, Scotland, and England. When Mary seeks refuge in her cousin Elizabeth's realm, the English queen arrests her and holds her captive under the watchful eye of Elizabeth's shrewd accomplice Bess Hardwick, recently married to the powerful Earl of Shrewsbury. But what marriage can withstand Mary's bewitching charm or treason's haunting allure?

[letter4no1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I guess you could call me a loyal Gregory reader. I've read the majority of her Tudor series and have read the first book in Plantagenet trilogy. Usually I can find more than a few faults with her novels, but the story is usually enough to overlook large historical inaccuracies and underdeveloped characters. Unfortunately every character in this novel is grating. Mary is pompous, vain, and irritating as she repeats the same choirs of "you must free me, you can't kill me, aren't i pretty". Bess is the stereotypic nagging wife, who can not go a section without worrying about her land, and talking about the money that is being lost, and all the while George is gripping with his love for Mary, while serving Elizabeth and making stupid choices the entire time. Between the three of them there is not one redeemable quality, and that is really the tragedy of this story, not the massive number of executions, the religious persecutions or the historical inaccuracy's. Not one of Gregory's best works.Story:**1/2Structure:***

[mikitchenlady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hardly bothering to tag this one. My first Philippa Gregory, although based on other reviews, perhaps it should not be my last. This book was repetitive and plodding, with one dimensional characters and an unexciting plot. I won't take up any space to describe it or review it in more detail, as others have done such a great job describing it. I'll just say I grew tired of the three narrators who just kept repeating themselves (Mary, Queen of Scots -- I'm a queen, I'm perfect, I'm awesome, I deserve to be free; Bess of Hardwick -- she's using up all of our money, my husband is a fool, I support Queen Elizabeth who won't pay me anything; George Talbot -- I'm an honorable man, I serve the Queen of England, and I love Mary). And so on...

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Three narrators tell this story in the first person: Mary queen of scots, George Talbot or duke of Shrewsbury and Bess Talbot or Countess of Shrewsbury. After another uprising against Queen Mary by the Scottish lords, she escapes to England and becomes the prisoner of Elizabeth. However, she is not imprisoned in the Tower of London but in the various homes of the Shrewsbury's over a period of several years. The characters are tedious and predictable leaving the reader with little interest in the outcome, even though we know the ending.

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I quit reading this fanciful farce after page 11.... To be honest, I am so totally put off by the so called innocence of Mary Stuart, whom according to most all historical accounts was selfish, self-serving, man chasing, murderous, plotting and a poor ruler.... Not to mention the fact, that she continued to try and over throw Elizabeth I even when held captive in England!

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This work of Greogry's is fairly decent. Certainly not anywhere near the heights of The Other Boleyn Girl, but certainly worth a read if you are a fan of her works and of historical fiction. You won't learn anything new about Mary Queen of Scots, though. If you are interested in her, I suggest Margaret George's "The Autobiography of Mary, Queen of Scots."

[heidialice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Other Queen chronicles Mary Queen of Scots' time in captivity with the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife, Bess. Most of the book occurs over a four year period, as Mary and couple get mixed and contradictory orders and reports from Queen Elizabeth and their various spies and co-conspirators.Ultimately, this is a novel of psychology and intrigue. Not a lot actually *happens*, but the insight into the emotions (love, loyalty, betrayal) and the motivations (greed, fear, loyalty and faith) is fascinating. The relationship development is particularly compelling. None of the characters is especially likeable, but all are sympathetic. That in itself is a feat -- the reader is left wondering who to "root" for, and that is one of the books great strengths, to my mind. There are no clear good guys or bad guys in the greater historical context. This is an easy read, due to short (2-3 page) chapters, and the switching viewpoints (Mary, George and Bess). Maybe not the most exciting novel, but a fascinating look into a fascinating period of history, which affected the practice of religion and the role of the parliament and advisors in England, and determined to a great degree the fate of Scotland.

[mbmackay · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction about the captivity of Mary Queen of Scots, held by the Earl of Shrewsberry and his wife, who later became known as Bess of Hardwick. Told in the voice of the three main characters in alternating chapters, the result is unsatisfying. The characters of the Earl and Bess are one-dimensional and don't develop at all in the course of the book. Mary is more interesting, but in the end, I don't think I have a better idea of the 'real' Mary Queen of Scots than I had at the start. Read November 2009.

[jenreidreads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I loved The Other Boleyn Girl, but I just couldn't finish this one. I thought the subject was boring (exactly why should I care about this queen's short life?) and the writing just wasn't as good. I'll give Gregory another try some other time, but I won't pick this one up again.

[lecari_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is centered around The Other Queen, Mary Queen of Scots, and the newly weds who have to guard and take care of her - George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife, Elizabeth (known better as Bess of Hardwick). The book switches between these three perspectives.I'm not sure I agree with her characterisations. Bess got irritating, constantly she was talking/thinking about her land, with hardly any mention of anything else - I agree that she was obviously a very determined and focused woman, but I don't think she was so obsessed with her fortune and houses to the extent that she thought of nothing else!It is quite repetitive, and not a lot seems to happen - it would have been more interesting if there had been more information on what was happening in London at the time, or on the uprisings against Elizabeth. Unfortunately, by restricting herself to only the 3 perspectives, Gregory restricts herself and this isn't possible. Even when George Talbot *does* go to England, he has a brief meeting with the Queen, then goes back, with no real information on what had been happening. A shame as this could have been such a thrilling, exciting read.

[thetometraveller · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mary, Queen of Scots was in her mid-twenties and had only been on the throne of Scotland for a few years when the rebel lords banded together to force her to their will. She feared a forced marriage, rape or imprisonment and so she fled the country. If she had only gotten on a boat and headed for France, where she had been raised, or Spain, a sympathetic Catholic country, history would have turned out very differently. But she didn't. She fled south, across the border into England. She was under the misguided notion that her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, would take care of her and restore her to the throne of Scotland.Of course, Queen Elizabeth could never have given true assistance to a rival for her own throne. Plus Mary was a magnet for every Catholic lord who would rather see someone of their own faith in power. The result was a very long sixteen year prison sentence for Mary that ended in her execution. George Talbot, The Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife Bess of Hardwick were the unhappy jailers for Queen Mary. They had no choice in the matter and never received any money for her keep. The result was that they spent their entire fortune, over the years, providing the level of luxurious furnishings, food, and lifestyle that a Queen is supposed to have. Only it is supposed to be provided to her by the taxation of a nation of subjects and the burden was too much for George and Bess to bear. Their marriage suffered from the strain. George's infatuation with the Queen didn't help, either. This novel covers the first three years of Queen Mary's imprisonment in England. Several plots were hatched and one went so far as to raise an army. But they came to nothing thanks to the lukewarm support of Spain and the extensive spy network set up by Elizabeth's chief advisor, William Cecil.I love Philippa Gregory's novels and always eagerly await a new one. To me, this one was a bit of a disappointment. It has well developed and interesting characters and excellent historical accuracy. I think the problem lies in the chosen subject. There had not been a historical novel written about Mary's imprisonment before, probably because it couldn't have been very exciting. In this story there were several plots hatched, a platonic love affair and some excitement in changing locations. The narrative switches between the points-of-view of Mary, Bess and George and that adds some interest, but the unfortunate fact is that the novel is just a little boring. I found myself really disliking poor Queen Mary, whose constant refrain of "I must be free" made me want to smack her. It is well worth a read for lovers of historical fiction and, of course, a must for Philippa Gregory fans, but it is my least favorite of all of her books.

[ladydymondz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having read all of Gregory's other Tudor novels, this one was just a bit of a bore. Well written as usual, however the characters were flat & redundant. The ending was abrupt, just did not expect that...