In the autumn of 1558, all the bells of England ring in honor of the accession of Elizabeth Tudor, a queen for whom duty to her people is paramount. But Elizabeth's triumph is short-lived. To maintain power in a country devastated and plagued by corruption, she must marry a strong prince who will rule with an iron fist. However, the only man Elizabeth passionately desires is her childhood friend, Robert Dudley. And the enamoured queen grants him unlimited powers. Having gained power, Sir Robert intends to realize his long-held dream—to marry Elizabeth and sit beside her on the Tudor throne. And to do this, he must take just one step: rid himself of his loving wife...
Philippa Gregory is one of the most popular modern English writers. Her brilliant historical novels about English kings and queens have been translated into many languages, and her novel The Other Boleyn Girl became an international bestseller and was successfully adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.