The imprisoned queen
by Angie V. Garcia
Wipe away the wealth, power and extravagance of the Tudors, and you will find lives filled with death threats and conspiracies, most of which from within the family.
Philippa Gregory’s latest book, The Other Queen, gives the reader a glimpse of the shaky relationship between Mary, the Queen of Scots and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Similar to her previous books, Gregory weaves an intriguing tale of suspense, passion, and betrayal.
For those who are into reading historical fiction, The Other Queen may be an ideal choice. While it may not be as highly engaging as her previous books, such as The Other Boleyn Girl or The Queen’s Fool, it provides a new and interesting angle as it takes place outside the royal residence.
After losing her throne and fleeing from Scotland, Mary relies on Elizabeth for refuge. Elizabeth, however, is wary since Mary has a legitimate claim to the throne of England. Trusting her cousin’s promise of sanctuary, Mary finds herself imprisoned in Chatsworth as the guest of George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess Hardwick.
Becoming the focus of plots to overthrow Elizabeth, Mary makes their previously peaceful home the official headquarters of rebellion against the Elizabethan rule. Issues of loyalty come into question as the characters are faced with the possibility of treason.
At first, the novel drags on since there is not much action in the plot. It describes Mary’s imprisonment, so the most exciting events of the characters’ lives are only being retold. Despite this, Gregory’s portrayal of what could have happened in the Tudor era is a fascinating account. Jealousy runs high as Bess Hardwick watches her husband become infatuated with Mary. More drama unfolds as the living expenses of Mary and her hundreds of servers place the household on the verge of bankruptcy.
The story is narrated alternately by Mary, George, and Bess. Though repetitive, this gives the story more detail and relays how each event affects the characters. Her choice of words alternates with the three characters, and it beautifully crafts their personalities. Readers can empathize with the complexity of emotions of each character as Gregory unearths their innermost feelings during personal struggles.
This is clearly seen in the life of Bess Hardwick. Unlike Mary and George, she wasn’t born with a high status. Bess managed to escape poverty through hard work and gaining land from her previous marriages.
The compromise of her hardworking traits and business-driven approach in her marriage with George is one of the main highlights of the book. The growing possibility of having another failed marriage, the threat of poverty, and having to betray her responsibility to the crown weigh heavily on Bess.
Overall, The Other Queen manages to mix fiction and history into an intriguing account of Mary’s imprisonment. It is a captivating and thought-provoking read about one of Europe’s lesser-known queens.
Rating: 3½ out of 5 G’s
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