Mar 05, 2009 22:08
history,
book review,
hugo winner,
nebula winner,
humor,
native american,
award winner,
pulitzer winner,
nyt bestseller,
movie-book,
rome,
magical realism,
oprah's book club,
fantasy,
historical fiction,
diary,
sci-fi,
alternate history,
fiction,
adventure,
nobel winner,
suspense,
unimpressed,
biography
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Comments 1
I found the Durrant 'Venus' the same and want to read 'Company' as well.
I don't know enough about Mary Queen of Scots to know where Gregory took liberties with history, so I cannot judge the book on those points.
I know a fair bit about MQS and this really did fit the description of fictionalised biography. Not quite sure why she focused only on those particular years except that it would have made a long book even longer and the complexities of the conspiracies MQS was involved in became so much more tangled and controversial (questions as to whether evidence manufactured to convict her). Plus, she was removed from George & Bess' custody, which would shatter the 3-way narration. I think Gregory also wanted to focus on the Northern revolt as it isn't a part of history much written about and it underpins Elizabeth's fears about Mary's popularity with her subjects aside from the nobles who supported her.
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