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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN num: 9781416549123
ISBN number: 1416549129
Label: Touchstone
Manufacturer: Touchstone
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 448
Printing Date: September 16, 2008
Publishing house: Touchstone
Sale Popularity Level: 86
Studio: Touchstone
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Product Description:
Two women competing for a man's heart
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 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.
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Rated by buyers 
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I'm a huge fan of Philippa Gregory's historical fiction novels on the Tudors. Every time one comes out, I eagerly read it, usually in one sitting, and revel in her writing talent. I really do adore her books; they make the history come alive and she has a penchant for detail, making everything so interesting. So, then, I asked myself, how in the world was The Other Queen so boring, so tedious?
I think the main problem is the characters. The voice of the book is divided between three people, and it jumps so often that the reader doesn't really have a chance to sympathize with any of the characters. By the end of the book, I didn't really care what happened to any of them; I just wanted the book to be over.
And the characters are so whiny! Mary, Queen of Scots, complains the entire book about being a Queen and what that means and how she's so special. Seriously, there are pages of the book where she just rants about herself. It's unreal. Bess of Hardwick (probably the most sympathetic character in the book) complains about how much money Mary is costing her. And George, Earl of Shrewsbury, complains about how he loves Mary. It really was just unbelievable.
On top of that, the story is somewhat boring. Gregory chooses to focus on Mary's time of imprisonment in England and all the plots she's involved in. Generally, the most interesting periods of her life were before that, when she was married to the Dauphin of France and then Queen of Scotland, and the Babington plot, after which she was sentenced to death.
Of course, I do have to say some good things as well. As other Gregory novels, the book seems meticulously researched and her attention to detail is commendable. She really does paint a portrait of the Elizabethan world; however, the book is not set at court, and I think it suffers for that. Country houses are much less interesting than the intrigue at Queen Elizabeth's court. So, in some senses, the blandness of the story isn't Gregory's fault; she was trying to tell the story from a certain point of view that, by its nature, just wasn't that interesting.
I also have to ask: has anyone else noticed Gregory's apparent prejudice against Queen Elizabeth? In every book, she is portrayed as a weak, sissy queen or as a whorish girl. I'm not saying she was perfect, I'm just saying that Gregory's bias is more than apparent, and it's starting to get old.
In sum, skip this book. Gregory hasn't lost me as a fan yet, and I'll still be in line for her subsequent book, but I'm just going to pretend like I don't know that this book actually exists.
Rated by buyers -
This book was a disappointment. I'm glad that I checked it out of the library instead of buying it. It lacked the quality of "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Boleyn Inheritance". It's surprising because Mary Stuart was every bit as interesting as Anne Boleyn and of more historical importance than Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard.
What I liked about the book: Mary Stuart is presented in a more realistic light than the romantic portrayals of her in movies. Think "Mary Queen of Scots" with Vanessa Redgrave. This Mary Stuart was more calculating and charismatic. With the Reformation/Counter Reformation in full swing, the novel conveyed how she was able to win converts to her personal cause in England.
What I didn't like: having the novel set in the years after Mary's abdication. Having the novel's present set in the time of Bothwell and Darnley would've been preferable. If there was to have been a narrative, why not have one of Mary's Ladies in Waiting be the teller? The Shrewsburys were boring. It may have even been accurate. Gregory like other historical novelists played fast and loose with the facts in other novels, she didn't here. This may have hurt this story.
If you are looking for good historical novel of Mary Stuart; I would recommend Margaret George's "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles"
Rated by buyers 
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I have been reading Philippa Gregory over the past year as fast as I could, but this book did not meet my expectations. I read about 35 pages in and was just bored with it. I skipped around and read bits of pages to see if it would improve, which it did not seem to, so I just quit reading it. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was. Ms Gregory is an excellent storyteller. It just seems like her heart was not in writing this book.
Rated by buyers -
I am a Philippa Gregory fan through and through, having read nearly all of her works. I must say that I am so far a little disappointed with this one. I typically dive right in and can't get enough, and it has taken some work to get me "hooked." Haven't finished yet, but I have faith that she will come through!
Rated by buyers -
The Other Queen is definitely not 'The Other Boleyn Girl" or The Queen's Fool, or The Virgin's lover. It not even The Constant Princess. It is however on the same level as The Boleyn Inheritance.
Also the Queen Mary comes off as vain, self centered, poor judge of people and manipulative. Worse, she manipulates using her beauty and charm. After some time you get put off by her constant attempts at making men do her bidding by the shear force of her pretty face and mannerisms. She made bad marriages, bad bad marriages. Except for the very first one, which was arranged for her by her mother. Thanks to her association with Darnley - England had to suffer the reign of James IV and his equally ineffectual successors.
For some reason, the book and its various character keep repeating how awful Cecil and Elizabeth are, and yet you get the sense that together they provided England with a long run of peace and prosperity. Instead of looking at this man or that to marry her and support her and rule for her, Elizabeth was her own woman and she chose her adviser wisely, and she stuck to him, also very wisely. Rulers and administrators are there to provide efficient and successful management of a state, not to be pretty, witty and charming....
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