"Accurate historical details and richly drawn characters make this an excellent read."

Hannah Green is a young Jewish girl doing her best to survive and define herself amid the terror and religious oppression of 16th century Europe. Having fled the Inquisitors of Spain, she and her father operate a small printing press in the heart of London. She possesses the awe-inspiring gift of true second sight and has been raised to think for herself and trust her unique ability to survive. Her father has betrothed her to a good Jewish boy named Daniel, but when Robert Dudley, son of the protector of the king, discovers her gift, Hannah leaps at the chance to avoid marriage and immerse herself in the wealth and privilege of the English court. She becomes a holy fool, living at the palace and using her sight for the dying King Edward and his successor, Queen Mary, in bold and reckless ways, daring to believe that she might shape her own life and impact an entire kingdom.

But Hannah discovers that court life is far from the life of ease and privilege she imagined it to be. She's reluctantly drawn into the lies and conspiracy that mushroom in a court where religion is pivotal and royal successors are vying for supremacy. It's a world of treason, torture and murder. Reluctantly, she spies for both Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth as they struggle for religious rule and the power of the throne of England. Hannah overcomes the childish need for rebellion when the glamour of the court fades. As her love for her betrothed begins to blossom, she discovers in order to be true to herself, she must be true to her heritage and her people.

Full of richly drawn characters and a backdrop of accurate historical detail, this story spans the reigns of three of England's most infamous monarchs: Edward, Bloody Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. Ms. Gregory has made history come alive for years, and this book builds on that tradition of distinction and attention to detail. An excellent read. HEATHER HEATH

Reviewed by Heather Heath
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted February 1, 2004

Summary

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love. It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight," the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires. Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen's Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.