Out of my favourite authors, Philippa Gregory definitely tops the list. Possibly the best historical novelist since, oh, the beginning of time, Gregory never disappoints, and my most recent read, The Other Queen, follows suit.
An insightful depiction of the life of Mary Queen of Scots as a prisoner of her cousin Queen Elizabeth, The Other Queen is a lushly detailed and splendidly engaging novel. Loaded with love, betrayal, rebellion and power, it highlights one extraordinary woman’s repetitive rise and fall as she brazenly attempts to obtain what was hers all along: the throne of England. While mid-16th century England falls in love with the beautiful and betrayed Queen of Scots, Elizabeth’s wrath is not to be underestimated and everyone is torn by conflicting loyalties. While by history the story of Mary is tragic, The Other Queen finds a way to declare the triumph and courage of a young woman’s fight with fate.
While The Other Queen is a long and winding tale (events constantly bring the book closer to victory, only to have it impossibly ripped away), the book’s spellbinding impression leaves the reader wanting more, and it just so happens that Gregory has plenty more to offer.
The magic of Gregory’s writing is greatly developed by how she tells history throughout many books. Each story in her series of Tudor Court novels focuses on certain characters, but they all overlap to form an epic tale of British royal history, from King Henry VIII and his six wives to his daughter Elizabeth and her ruthless elimination of competition.
While I highly recommend The Other Queen, I might as well recommend every novel Philippa Gregory has ever written; the first I read was The Other Boleyn Girl, which is still my favourite to this day. Gregory also writes plenty of other novels, ranging from the settings of the Civil War to modern-day.
You can check out a list of Philippa Gregory’s books, including The Other Queen, at her website. What are you waiting for? Go and get one today! I can guarantee you’ll become an addict (not to mention a British history buff) in no time.
I love Philippa Gregory! she’s one of my favorite hist-fic authors! although I’d have to say The Other Queen wasn’t one of her best IMO. The Constant Princess, and The Other Boleyn Girl were better 🙂
You would have to be kidding about calling Philippa Gregory a good let alone great historical fiction writer. She makes up so rubbish in her books and has to be one of the most despised writers around by people who have any knowledge of the events she destroys.