Book description
A stunning novel set in the Tudor court, from the Sunday Times No. 1
bestseller Philippa Gregory.
The rivalry between Queen Mary and her half-sister Elizabeth is played
out against a background of betrayal, conflict and passion.
The savage rivalry of the daughters of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor and
Elizabeth, mirrors that of their mothers, Katherine of Aragon and Anne
Boleyn. Each will fight by any available means for the crown and future
of the kingdom.
Elizabeth's bitter struggle to claim the throne she believes is hers by
right, and the man she desires almost more than her crown, is watched by
her 'fool': a girl who has been forced to leave her homeland of Spain,
as a Jew fleeing the Inquisition. In a court where truth is wittily
denied and lies are mere games, it is the fool who can speak plainly: in
these dangerous times, a woman must choose between ambition and love.
Elizabeth will not make the same mistakes as her mother. Praise for
Philppa Gregory:
'Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction
all the more convincing' Daily Mail
'Gregory is great at conjuring a Tudor film-set of gorgeous gowns and
golden-lattered dining. She invokes some swoonsome images…while the
politics are personal enough to remain pertinent' Daily Telegraph
'Subtle and exciting' Daily Express
'Written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows'
Peter Ackroyd, The Times
'For sheer pace and percussive drama it will take a lot of beating'
Sunday Times 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 became a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson,
Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Philippa Gregory lives in the North of
England with her family.
