The Other Queen

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Dagmara Dominczyk, Graeme Malcolm

This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times best-selling 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 indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.

The newly-married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman.

Philippa Gregory uses new research and her passion for historical accuracy to place a well-known heroine in a completely new tale full of suspense, passion, and political intrigue. For years, readers have clamored for Gregory to tell Mary's story, and The Other Queen is the result of her determination to present a novel worthy of this extraordinary heroine.

©2008 Philippa Gregory (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

Great

Great book and great listen I highly recommend this and all of her books and stories!

A New Glimpse of Mary, Queen of Scots

The narrators were wonderful. Philippa Gregory outstanding as always. So much lost due to one woman’s determination to be above everyone else.

Not up to usual standards

I have read all of Ms Gregories books about the Tudor family and I was disappointed in this one. I had wondered for years about Mary Queen of Scots but I had trouble being very interested in this. It was easy to start and stop not coming back for weeks at a time. I felt that there was very little history involved and didn't learn anything about Mary. Will think before getting another book like this.

Two Queens is One too many.

*SPOILERS* I love Philippa Gregory books. The audiobooks are so supurbly done, as well. This is the last in the Tudor Court Series and it was a good one. It seems like every time I finish the book before and feel badly for the previously betrayed/abused/ignored heir or heiress they show up in the next book to be the tyrant putting the royal screws to the NEXT poor heir or heiress! Elizabeth is show to be paranoid and a tyrant at Cecil's bidding, but in other books she is to be given pity by the reader. THIS is why court intrigue is fun to read about. Bastard or not, everyone is in line for the throne in some way and could be hoisted up to that place and dragged back down again. Mary and Elizabeth should have joined forces and took on the male dominated world, but instead had their own agendas including Protestants versus Catholics. Good book. Good series.

The Other Queen

When this book first came out I was to busy to read it. It was worth the wait, excellent book.

Very good

Very good story but not my favorite, maybe because it was about just one Queen and not several characters. But it was still good, not a disappointment.

Fascinating character study

As always, I enjoyed the characters. I love how this author shows another perspective on history.

New story regarding Mary Queen of the Scots

I read many books based on this historical period and this was a refreshing story. I enjoyed the performances by the narrators. It was a quick and perfect for a short road trip.

Basic

I find this time period fascinating, but after reading The Other Boleyn Girl, I must admit my expectations were not very high. I was hoping for a fuller story of Mary. Her time in captivity is rather dull actually, and with the exception of a few intrigues and plots, not much happened. Mary's younger life is more interesting- trying to avoid Henry VIII by marrying a prince of France, then having him die, not to mention all the drama when she was pregnant with James and had to be rushed to the castle from Hollyrood and protected from her own husband... all that excitement and not much was mentioned in the book. It's a basic story, but if it's you're first time learning of the Scottish queen it could be enjoyable.