Quite historically based, this "fictional biography" focuses on the captivity years in England as Mary, Queen of Scots awaits her return to the throne of Scotland. As a "guest" of the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, Mary 'holds court' while a prisoner of Queen Elizabeth.
Mary is the next true heir for the crown in England so the pressure is on for the aging Queen E to 'wed and bed' quickly so as to produce a male heir. But Mary hopes for Elizabeth's downfall so that she, followed by her son James, may take the throne.
Plus the religious underpinnings continue since Elizabeth has accepted the Protestant religion and destains the Catholics whom her father started booting out when the Pope wouldn't dissolve his marriage to Queen Catherine so that he could take Ann Boleyn as his legal wife. Mary quietly practices her Catholic faith in hand with much of the north of England whose churchs, abbeys and convents have been converted into the private property of favored members of the peerage.
Gregory addresses several controversies historians continue to discuss and backs her version with extensive research. She provides a lengthy bibliography at the end of the book.
The book is presented as some of Gregory's others.....each chapter rotates being "spoken" by one of the 3 main characters: Queen Mary, the Earl, and Bess who is the Countess of Shrewsbury though only married a year when Mary arrives and steals the Earl's heart.
Mary is the next true heir for the crown in England so the pressure is on for the aging Queen E to 'wed and bed' quickly so as to produce a male heir. But Mary hopes for Elizabeth's downfall so that she, followed by her son James, may take the throne.
Plus the religious underpinnings continue since Elizabeth has accepted the Protestant religion and destains the Catholics whom her father started booting out when the Pope wouldn't dissolve his marriage to Queen Catherine so that he could take Ann Boleyn as his legal wife. Mary quietly practices her Catholic faith in hand with much of the north of England whose churchs, abbeys and convents have been converted into the private property of favored members of the peerage.
Gregory addresses several controversies historians continue to discuss and backs her version with extensive research. She provides a lengthy bibliography at the end of the book.
The book is presented as some of Gregory's others.....each chapter rotates being "spoken" by one of the 3 main characters: Queen Mary, the Earl, and Bess who is the Countess of Shrewsbury though only married a year when Mary arrives and steals the Earl's heart.
