Dimensions
129 x 198 x 28mm
Set against the background of the Spanish Armada's invasion of England in 1588, two parallel tales unfold. One is Queen Elizabeth's story: her lifelong and passionate affair with Leicester; her politically dangerous pregnancy and elaborate scheme to conceal it from the world; and finally the tragic birth of her stillborn son - a loss which only deepens her love for Leicester.
The other is the story of Arthur, their illegitimate son, born alive but secretly swapped at birth. Young Arthur grows up a country gentleman, totally unaware of his true identity. A dreamer, a romantic and a magnificent horseman, he sets off to fight Philip II of Spain. Now, many years later, his story collides with that of his mother when, from his adoptive father's deathbed, he hears the amazing truth of his parentage.
Religion, sex and the sixteenth century's most fascinating personalities are artfully woven here into a rich tapestry of love, betrayal and the quest for power.
