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Phyllis T. Smith

The Life of Mary Queen of Scots: An Accidental Tragedy

By Roderick Graham - Published 2008 Published 2009

Genres:

Mary Queen of Scots was put to death by her cousin, Elizabeth I, in 1587. Why does Roderick Graham call her death “an accidental ...Read Review

Captive Queen

By Alison Weir - Published 2010

Genres:

Biographical Fiction

This epic novel tells the story of the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, beginning when she first meets the future King Henry II. ...Read Review

Great Maria

By Cecelia Holland - Published 1974 Published 2010

Genres:

Maria, the fourteen-year-old daughter of a robber baron in 11th century Italy, is given in marriage to Richard, an ambitious young knight. “I ...Read Review

The Secret History of the Mongol Queens

By Jack Weatherford - Published 2010

Genres:

Nonfiction

Genghis Khan, feminist? Not exactly. For one thing, he had four wives at a time. However, he is quoted as saying “Let us ...Read Review

The Glass Room

By Simon Mawer - Published 2009 Published 2010

Genres:

Saga

This novel’s setting is an ultra-modern house, built in the late 1920s in what is now the Czech Republic. The characters are ...Read Review

Her Highness’ First Murder

By Peg Herring - Published 2010

Genres:

Biographical Fiction Mystery/Crime

This mystery, set in 1546, features thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII, as a detective out to find a killer who is stalking ...Read Review

The Queen’s Governess

By Karen Harper - Published 2010

Genres:

Biographical Fiction

Kat Ashley, who looked after Elizabeth I through much of her childhood and adolescence, and kept her love and loyalty ever after, seems ...Read Review

Call Me Ahab

By Anne Finger - Published 2009

Genres:

Literary Short Stories

These nine short stories mix fact and fiction, and most of them concern historical characters with physical disabilities. One of the best invites ...Read Review

Unfinished Desires

By Gail Godwin - Published 2009

Genres:

Literary

As this novel opens, Mother Suzanne Ravenel, in her eighties in the year 2001 and the former headmistress of a Catholic girls’ school, is ...Read Review

The Lute Player

By Norah Lofts - Published 2007 Published 2009

Genres:

Biographical Fiction

I first read this recently reissued novel over twenty years ago. A sweeping saga about Richard the Lionhearted and the Third Crusade, it ...Read Review