The Other Queen

Two women competing for a man's heart. Two queens fighting to the death for dominance. The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots. This novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect 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 wife, Bess of Hardwick. The newlyweds welcomed the doomed queen into their home, believing that serving as her hosts and jailers would give them an advantage at the Elizabethan court. However, they found that their task would bankrupt them, and as their home became a nexus of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign was tested. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her treacherous plans or if William Cecil connects them to the conspiracy to free Mary, they all face execution. Gregory uses new research and her passion for historical accuracy to portray a heroic figure in a story filled with suspense, passion, and political intrigue.