The Other Queen 
Product Description: Philippa Gregory has long been one of the most assured practitioners of historical fiction, but her profile was raised even higher by the film of her novel The Other Boleyn Girl. Gregory admirers, however, were heard to remark of that movie: ‘Not as good as the book!’ And if her new novel, the highly accomplished The Other Queen is ever afforded the Hollywood treatment, there will no doubt be a similar chorus. The reason for this dedication by her readers is not hard to fathom: assiduously researched historical facts are married to consummate storytelling skills – and the effortless ability to rescue historical figures from the dusty pages of the past. At the centre of this novel is Mary Queen of Scotland, forced to flee into England. Mary, a devout Catholic, is, of course, a living threat to the rule of her cousin Elisabeth, whose Protestant reign is uncertain. We’ve been here before, of course, in various books and films. But Philippa Gregory’s story this time has a different emphasis: Elizabeth’s chief advisor, Cecil, formulates a plan in which the destabilising Mary will live under guard with his faithful friend, Bess of Hardwick. Bess is a remarkable woman herself, someone who has forged her own destiny, and is now in her fourth marriage, to the distinguished Earl of Shrewsbury. But soon Bess and Mary find themselves plunged into very different personal crises – with Bess’s marriage under considerable strain. The Other Queen is wonderfully accomplished stuff, evoking a much-pored-over era with a totally fresh eye.
--Barry Forshaw
Customer Ratings: - Compelling reading but a little lacking in spark. Being a real of PG I was delighted when this book was published and could not wait to read it, there not being many books written about Mary Queen of Scots. I found it compelling reading but a little disappointing compared to the other PG novels. Mary Queen of Scots was obviously a very complex character but I did not feel that her true character shone through. Was she the strong character she seems to have been portrayed as in the book or just a self-centred, scheming woman who did have something to do with the death of Darnley and was she really in love with Bothwell? Reading the novel may help you decide?
- not as good as expected!. I have read all of Phillipa Gregorys Tudor Court novels and have become completely hooked, so I was really looking forwards to this one but I was a little dissapointed! I think becuase Mary is locked up so much its not as exciting as the court novels, I think Phillipa Gregory is an amazing writer but this book was just not for me! Im reading the Virgins Lover at the moment and I cant put it down. Its down to want peoples tastes are not the writer though as I thought the book was very well written! swings and round abouts I suppose :)
- Come on Philippa!. I did not enjoy this book very much at all. It had promise of being fascinating, but I believe Ms Gregory has got stuck somewhere between Quantity rather than Quality stop churning the books out so fast Ms Gregory, its making the reads less enjoyable.
- Good, but not great. Having just finished this book after a long hard slog, I have manged to come up with some redemming points on a book where though a lot happens, none of it is on-screen
As many have pointed out, this book centres on three people, George Talbot, Earl of Shewsberry and his wife Bess along with Mary Queen of Scots. And it is through these three characters that we see the events.
Having ready many of Philippa Gregory s books, and going to a talk she held at the Edinburgh Book Festival, I had high hopes for this book. About 100 pages in I began to feel disapointment, but not in the way that most readers have.
My main gripe is the character of George. Although in order to make this book work, you had to see him fall for Mary, to me the author fails to get into the mail psyche. she is good at getting into a womens mindset , that the failings of Geroge s perspective become so obvious.
I liked these two women and there views and whether or not it is an accuret prespective of them, it makes them no less compelling, espeically Mary. She was the most intresting of the three. It seemed that she was willing to back anyone, who may get her out of her prison and back to her birthright and her son. Even the way she manipulates Geroge into doing her bidding, is masterful and you are always wondering is she the inoccent women she claims? She can see how to use the men that flock to her, in order to to do her bidding.
Bess, though is a social climber, sees the stability that she has had slip away and all for the sake of what she percieves to be a stepping stone to greater things, by housing the Queen of Scots. This almost leads to her complete downfall.
I would have prefered if we had Bess, Mary and Elizabeth as the narrators to this tragic tale, for Geroge is just a ping pong between his wife and the Queen of Scots and that to me was the biggest downfall. There is nothing that we could not have learned about him from Bess or Mary.
I would have given this 3 and 1/2, for it was better than a three but not as good as a 4. - the other queen. What has happened to the Philippa Gregory we all love and know? I found this book extremely boring and think she has let her fans down badly.She could have said it all in two chapters!! I would rate this book compared to all her other brilliantly written books absolute rubbish!! I only gave this one star as the review has no facility for scoring Nil.
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The Other Queen (ID: 0007190344)
