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The Other Queen

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The Other Queen

By: Philippa Gregory
Narrated by: Madeleine Leslay, Richard Armitage, Alex Kingston
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About this listen

Pre-order BOLEYN TRAITOR now – Philippa Gregory’s landmark return to the Tudor court, coming Autumn 2025 …

A dramatic novel of passion, politics and betrayal from the author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

1568. Mary Queen of Scots, fleeing rebellion in her kingdom, is offered a safe haven by Elizabeth I with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The arrival of an extravagant queen turns the household upside down, as it becomes clear that the visit is a house arrest.

Queen Mary makes Bess’ hard-won house a centre for unrest and treason, and – perhaps worst of all – Mary Queen of Scots’ fabled beauty starts to work on the Tudor loyalist, Bess’ own husband, George.

The two women fight for their own rights: Mary to regain the crown and the kingdom of Scotland; Bess to win back her husband and houses. A third woman can decide: Elizabeth the First, and nobody knows how far she will go to protect her own safety.

With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Other Queen.

©2011 Philippa Gregory (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Romance Royalty Thriller & Suspense Marriage Fiction Scotland Tudor Exciting

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Critic reviews

‘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

‘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

‘The contemporary mistress of historical crime fiction is Philippa Gregory. Her novels are filled with strong, determined women who take their fate into their own hands…Gregory brings to life the sights, smells and textures of 16th-century England.’ Kate Mosse, Financial Times
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All three characters were very human and having them read individually made me feel like I was getting to know each person's deep secrets. Love a good story like this when it has been based on events.

voices of the past

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Fascinating tale. Having 3 readers works really well. Definitely recommended.
. . . . .

Excellent

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I have read many stories about Mary Queen of Scots. But this is the first which treats the people involved as real people, with real feelings. Real fears, real hopes and disappointments, real regrets. Reading this book opened up my mind to these historical figures as people just like us, but living in a different time and circumstances. Well done, Philippa Gregory!

A story about real people

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Hardwick Hall is the first historical building I visited on a school trip when I was about 10 years old and it made an indelible impression on me. I had no idea of Bess of Hardwick's involvement with the saga of Mary Queen of Scots detention so it was fascinating to hear this story. The voicing of the three protagonists by different actors worked extremely well for me and I was gripped from start to finish.

History approached from a different angle

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So far this has been my favourite Philippa Gregory novel. It is no rehashing of the well known tragedies, romances and betrayals of Mary, Queen of Scots, but a very original work which focuses on a specific time of that Queens' life.

Told through the perspectives of Mary, Bess of Hardwick and the Earl of Shrewsbury, an overlooked period of tumultuous history in the North of England is relayed. I found myself being sympathetic to the three narrators, which was surprising in the case of Bess, and am tempted to listen to this book from its beginning immediately.

I now look forward to future Gregory novels dealing with the Stuarts in particular.

The Other Queen

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