Short description
A dual portrait of England's Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin--and rival--Mary Queen of Scots documents the complex relationship and dramatically different qualities of character, ideals, attitude toward womanliness, and reigns and discusses the power struggle between them and their diverse influence on British history. Reader's Guide available.
Review
A perceptive, suspenseful account of complex English history. . . . By the end of this satisfying book, one feels sympathy for both women, brave queens in an age when 'no one considered that a woman could effectively rule alone.' -- The New York Times Book Review
Elegant. . . . Dunn demythologizes Elizabeth and Mary. In humanizing their dynamic and shifting relationship, Dunn describes it as fueled by both rivalry and their natural solidarity as women in an overwhlemingly masculine world. -- Boston Herald
A balanced, nuanced, and eminently clear account. . . . Brilliantly conceived, elegantly executed, and compellingly readable. -- Richmond Times-Dispatch
A wholly engrossing and sumptuous retelling of a tale that entered legend even before its protagonists were dead. -- Newsday