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189th out of 1,046 books
—
5,564 voters
The Other Queen (The Tudor Court #6)
by
Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)
Two women competing for a man's heart
Two queens fighting to the death for dominance
The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots
Two queens fighting to the death for dominance
The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots
This dazzling 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 S
...moreHardcover, 438 pages
Published
September 16th 2008
by Touchstone
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Oct 20, 2008
Annie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Die-Hard Philippa Gregory Fans
Shelves:
read-in-2008
It wouldn't be hard to accuse me of building up so much anticipation for the release of 'The Other Queen' that it was doomed to fail from the start. Much in the way 'The Other Boleyn Girl' movie was always going to tick me off - even if I do love Eric Bana. So, I am willing to cop a little of the flack when I say that I've found Gregory's latest and last Tudor novel effort a little disappointing. This was still a great book about the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots, I just felt it wasn't up...more
Gregory seems to have changed her style some since 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. This is certainly not a frothy bit of 16th century soap opera but quite a serious and well researched bit of historical fiction on life of Mary, Queen of Scots during the first few years of her imprisonment in England.
It also places a great focus on one of my personal heroines of the period, Bess of Hardwick. She is one of the three narrators. The others are Mary and Bess' husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who s...more
It also places a great focus on one of my personal heroines of the period, Bess of Hardwick. She is one of the three narrators. The others are Mary and Bess' husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who s...more
The latest in Gregory's Tudor Court novels is about Mary, Queen of Scots. It sent me back to my Anne Somerset biography of Elizabeth I to look at certain details, and like most historical fiction, has prompted an interest in reading more actual history about the characters involved.
The book surprised me by being *very* focused on the Queen of Scots, with little of Elizabeth at all. It makes sense, but still surprised me. What also surprised me was the assumption that the average reader would be...more
The book surprised me by being *very* focused on the Queen of Scots, with little of Elizabeth at all. It makes sense, but still surprised me. What also surprised me was the assumption that the average reader would be...more
This book took me quite some time to get through. I have read Philippa Gregory's other books, and though they are not always factually correct, and most often read like gossip mags, I have come to enjoy them and expect that of her books. This was so long and drawn out, and not at all enjoyable. It is written from the viewpoint of Mary Queen of Scots and her two jailers, but you are never engaged with any of the three main characters. Gregory simply twists and repeats the same sentiments for each...more
Not Philippa Grefory's best book by far, but it was okay. The story of Mary Queen of Scotts, this one was told from the view point of three different people, and while the comparison between Mary and Bess was interesting, the book did seem very repetitive on many issues, and did drag a bit.
I'd heard great things about Philippa Gregory and loved the film The Other Bolyne Girl, but was sadly disappointed. This book focuses on the time of Mary Queen of Scots and her incarseration (which was really just staying somewhere else) by Queen Elizabeth. The book took the points of view of Mary, Lord Shewsberry and his wife, Bess. Given that Mary stayed with the other two during her capture, I don't really feel that a very wide remit was given to the subject at hand. With the uprising in the...more
Feb 18, 2009
Roxy
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who's sick of being happy?
Recommended to Roxy by:
Costco
On those days when I'm feeling sorry for myself I can now say, 'Hey, it could be worse, you could have been Mary, Queen of Scots. Wow, was this depressing! I know, I know... It was obvious from the beginning that Mary's story would not end well, but still, I felt the urge to lecture the people in the book: 'Don't do it, Mary!' or 'Be nice, Elizabeth!' I usually like the author's historical details, but there wasn't so much of that in this book. I also think that it was repetitive and drawn out t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Actually, what really got on my nerves was that Bess of Hardwick had to be such a jealous bi***. What can she expect Mary to do? Seduce old men or sell herself? She is born to be a queen, and a born sofisticated young women, and bold, and truely brave. Not to mention a beautiful lady. Bess, to me seems like an old ugly b****. I see that she's jealous about George, her husband the Earl of Shrewsbury, falling in love with Queen Mary, but what can the poor guy do? She's so intimidating and has such...more
Phillippa Gregory novels are sort of my secret shame - I love her books and pretty much devour them as soon as they come out. This one was...well, it was just okay. The historical focus(Mary Queen of Scots) is intriguing, but...I felt like it was sort of just..meh, as Gregory basically gave Mary no personality other than her bizarre obsession with freedom (honestly, the character must have said (or had commented about her) that she "had to be free" about 95 times. I GET IT, okay?) and did a lot...more
As an avid reader of Philippa Gregory's historical fiction, I was very excited for this book to hit the shelves but I ended up being somewhat disappointed with it. The book takes place during the time of the house arrest of Mary, Queen of Scots. The story is narrated from three viewpoints-Mary, her guardian George, Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Bess. At first, newlyweds George and Bess are honored with Queen Elizabeth asks them to house Queen Mary and her court after her trial in London until...more
This is a review based on an Advanced Copy obtained at Book Expo 2008
Like a good wine, Gregory's work only improves with time. I found The Other Boleyn Girl to be tawdry and lurid, but have been pleasantly surprised with her works since then.
The Other Queen tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, through her voice and the voices of her jailers, Bess and George, Countess and Count of Shrewsbury. Mary's character, however, is not a sympathetic one--she's manipulative, conniving, and ruthless in...more
Like a good wine, Gregory's work only improves with time. I found The Other Boleyn Girl to be tawdry and lurid, but have been pleasantly surprised with her works since then.
The Other Queen tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, through her voice and the voices of her jailers, Bess and George, Countess and Count of Shrewsbury. Mary's character, however, is not a sympathetic one--she's manipulative, conniving, and ruthless in...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is the latest book in the Tudor series and it is painful to get through. I can pick up The Other Boleyn Girl and read through it in one sitting, but each book in the Tudor series grows more and more tired until we are left with the mess that is The Other Queen. Using three different perspectives worked fine in The Boleyn Inheritance, but in this book they change so often, sometimes lasting only a page and a half, it is hard to grow attached, or even understand the point of view of one singl...more
Aug 05, 2011
Connie
added it
I enjoy this genre a lot. If you're like me, and the Tudor court seems like a fascinating combination of history and fairy tale, then you'd probably like this book. I agree with another reviewer who said it isn't Philippa Gregory's best work, but it's still engaging and includes all the intrigue we expect from this historical time and place. Gregory's presentation focuses a lot on the relationships between Mary and her wardens, the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury. Although it's a fictionalized a...more
Philippa Gregory writes brilliantly, and really draws her reader into the sights, sounds, feeling of the 16th century. She really brings history to life.
What I love about Philippa Gregory's novels is that you fall in love with the main character, even if you hated them as a periphery character in a previous book; and you also find yourself hating periphery characters that were main characters in another novel and you feel like your world is all upside-down and you love it all the more for that. In this book I find myself hating Queen Elizabeth once again because of my complete sympathy with the main character of Mary, Queen of Scots. At the same...more
Dec 04, 2012
Encruzilhadas Literárias
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
catarina,
civilização-editora
Pessoalmente sei que um livro está bem escrito quando consigo odiar as personagens. Quando elas me dão raiva ou quando sinto compaixão por elas e posso-vos garantir que a Maria Stuart me deu uns nervos imensos!!!
Personagens destes apesar de serem fascinantes acabam por se tornar um problema na narrativa. Ninguém quer ler um livro em que odeie a personagem principal. Acaba por se tornar cansativo e faz com que demoremos mais a ler a história porque sempre que vemos que o capítulo será contado por...more
Personagens destes apesar de serem fascinantes acabam por se tornar um problema na narrativa. Ninguém quer ler um livro em que odeie a personagem principal. Acaba por se tornar cansativo e faz com que demoremos mais a ler a história porque sempre que vemos que o capítulo será contado por...more
This is Philippa Gregory's worst book. If this had been her debut novel, it would never have been published. I've read most of Gregory's books, Ive come to realize that the bad outweigh the good.
And here is her book of shame:
When the book opens, Mary, cousin to Elizabeth, seeks protection and refuge in England. She has been chased from France, following the death of her husband. The Scots hate and rebel ag/ her. She has no one but Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth promises her safety, but keeps her g...more
Gregory has a real talent at making history come alive. It is fun to think about how these people really were, even though none of us really knows definitively. The format she uses in this novel is quite effective. It is first-person accounts of three key people in the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, written as the events are unfolding, as if they are being told to an outside observer. It is an unusual telling of an old event that does not use some of the main characters in the real story, Lord C...more
Review: http://tempodler.blogspot.pt/search/l...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tempo-d...
É certo que a minha classificação deste livro não seria tão elevada se Maria, A Rainha dos Escoceses não fosse, de longe (!), a minha rainha preferida.
Entrei no livro já a adorar a personagem principal, portanto admito que isso toldou toda a minha visão relativamente ao resto do livro - não estava interessada em que Philippa Gregory me contasse uma história bonita, queria que ela relatasse a história de Maria...more
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tempo-d...
É certo que a minha classificação deste livro não seria tão elevada se Maria, A Rainha dos Escoceses não fosse, de longe (!), a minha rainha preferida.
Entrei no livro já a adorar a personagem principal, portanto admito que isso toldou toda a minha visão relativamente ao resto do livro - não estava interessada em que Philippa Gregory me contasse uma história bonita, queria que ela relatasse a história de Maria...more
Gregory seems to have changed her style some since 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. This is certainly not a frothy bit of 16th century soap opera but quite a serious and well researched bit of historical fiction on life of Mary, Queen of Scots during the first few years of her imprisonment in England. It also places a great focus on one of my personal heroines of the period, Bess of Hardwick. She is one of the three narrators. The others are Mary and Bess' husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who...more
Found myself slogging through the book-- seemed like a lot of repetition. I knew I didn't care much for Phillipa Gregory's books, but hoped this was different. Wasn't. About Mary Queen of Scots, held captive by Elizabeth I in England at the houses of her High Steward-- Talbot who was financially ruined by the expense of keeping a Queen as she demanded to be kept. Elizabeth did not ever pay for Mary's keep and Talbot (Lord Shrewsbury) fell in love with mary although she was young enough to be his...more
Feb 28, 2012
Linda Lipko
added it
What was I thinking when I took this book from the library shelf and checked it out? What was I thinking when I took precious Sunday time to read it? What was I thinking when I forgot that I vowed not to read any more boring, uninspiring, historically incorrect books by Philippa Gregory
What was Gregory thinking when she tackled the very complex character of Mary Queen of Scots?
Suffice it to say I was lured by a new book regarding Mary Queen of Scots, one of my favorite historical figures.
Told vi...more
What was Gregory thinking when she tackled the very complex character of Mary Queen of Scots?
Suffice it to say I was lured by a new book regarding Mary Queen of Scots, one of my favorite historical figures.
Told vi...more
This was a good read, although not my favorite of Philippa Gregory's books.
I think overall, this gives somewhat of a thumbnail sketch of Mary, Queen of Scots confinement in England. It does not give an idea as to the depth and complexity of her personality. If anything it paints her as somewhat naive.
By far, the heroine of the novel seems to be Bess of Hardwick, who has a far greater grasp on the politics of the time. Her lack of gullibility and frustration of her situation was portrayed far m...more
I think overall, this gives somewhat of a thumbnail sketch of Mary, Queen of Scots confinement in England. It does not give an idea as to the depth and complexity of her personality. If anything it paints her as somewhat naive.
By far, the heroine of the novel seems to be Bess of Hardwick, who has a far greater grasp on the politics of the time. Her lack of gullibility and frustration of her situation was portrayed far m...more
This is the last of the books in Gregory's Tudor series, and it shifts focus to the cousin of Queen Elizabeth I. Mary, Queen of the Scots, has claims on three separate thrones: France, Scotland, and England. As the novel starts, Mary has been forced to flee from Scotland because of rebellious lairds. She finds herself in her cousin's court, hoping for sanctuary. Elizabeth is only too willing to help out, particularly since she questions Mary's loyalty. The result is that she places Mary in the h...more
It was a fast, if a bit choppy, easy read about the imprisonment years of Mary Queen of Scots, told from three points of view (Mary, her jailer George Talbot, and his wife Bess of Hardwick). The whole story happens almost exclusively between Mary, George and Bess, with only an occasional appearance from William Cecil, queen Elizabeth, and Norfolk.
All three main characters are prone to whining: Mary about her sacred status as a queen, Bess about her wealth which is rapidly diminishing due to the...more
All three main characters are prone to whining: Mary about her sacred status as a queen, Bess about her wealth which is rapidly diminishing due to the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love books about this period of English history. The power,paranoia
and ruthlessness of King Henry VIII and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth are horrifying but intriguing.
Poor Mary, Queen of Scots, thought her relationship to Queen
Elizabeth and the fact that she was a Queen would protect her.
However, if she really had so many people trying to not only
restore her to he throne of Scotland but also to put her on
the throne of England, I can see why Elizabeth wanted to keep
her under lock and key.
And...more
and ruthlessness of King Henry VIII and his daughters Mary and Elizabeth are horrifying but intriguing.
Poor Mary, Queen of Scots, thought her relationship to Queen
Elizabeth and the fact that she was a Queen would protect her.
However, if she really had so many people trying to not only
restore her to he throne of Scotland but also to put her on
the throne of England, I can see why Elizabeth wanted to keep
her under lock and key.
And...more
I read this because it was recommended to me by my sister when I asked her for books to read before I go on my trip to England... and now I, in turn, recommend it to everyone-- but in particular people who are going to England.
I find the monarchy's history absolutely fascinating, but I also get mixed up about when certain Kings ruled, what they did, were they considered good or bad, how they became king, etc. So reading this book was wonderful because it really puts the story in context so it's...more
I find the monarchy's history absolutely fascinating, but I also get mixed up about when certain Kings ruled, what they did, were they considered good or bad, how they became king, etc. So reading this book was wonderful because it really puts the story in context so it's...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the other queen | 8 | 47 | Jul 26, 2012 01:36pm |
Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acc...more
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“When a woman thinks her husband is a fool, her marriage is over. They may part in one year or ten; they may live together until death. But if she thinks he is a fool, she will not love him again.”
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