queens

"Orphaned from infancy, Catherine de' Medici endured a tumultuous childhood. Married to the French king, she was widowed by forty, only to become the power behind the French throne during a period of intense civil strife. In 1546, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Elisabeth de Valois, who would become Queen of Spain. Two years later, Catherine welcomed to her nursery the beguiling young Mary, Queen of Scots, who would later become her daughter-in-law. Together, Catherine, Elisabeth, and Mary lived through the sea changes that transformed sixteenth-century Europe, a time of expanding empires, religious discord, and populist revolt, as concepts of nationhood began to emerge and ideas of sovereignty inched closer to absolutism. They would learn that to rule as a queen was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time. Following the intertwined stories of the three women from girlhood through young adulthood, [this book] paints a picture of a world in which a woman could wield power at the highest level yet remain at the mercy of the state, her body serving as the currency of empire and dynasty, sacrificed to the will of husband, family, kingdom"--Provided by publisher.

Profiles the life and career of the Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II.

Empress Navier and Emperor Sovieshu were the perfect couple to rule the Eastern Empire until Sovieshu falls in love with a mere commoner named Rashta and brings her back to the palace to become his mistress. Navier is forced to accept Rashta into the court, but she struggles to maintan her composure when other royals arrive at the paalce, including Heinrey, the Prince of the Western Kingdom. Sovieshu asks Navier for a divorce, and she agrees on one condition: she be allowed to remarry the man of her choosing.

Rashta's secret is discovered, Navier tries to save her brother from exile, and Sovieshu finalizes plans to divorce Navier and offer Rashta the crown. However, Heinrey puts his own plan into motion and asks Navier to be his queen.

Heinrey has been revealed as Empress Navier's pen-pal, and she couldn't be happier to grow closer to the charming prince--even when not everyone seems to be happy for her, and the prince himself seems to have something to hide. At the same time, Rashta is fanning the flame of the Grand Duke Kaufman and Sovieshu's misconceived love life.

When Sovieshu learns that Navier overheard his scheme to divorce her, he grows furious, believing this is why everything went pear shaped in the first place--and Navier got the wrong idea from the limited discussion she overheard. Determined to set things right, Sovieshu asks Navier to come to his wedding ceremony, little knowing that feelings have arisen between Heinrey and Navier, and that Rashta is nearing the breaking point. Their reunion will not be at all what Sovieshu hopes or expects.

Navier and Heinrey have agreed to get married, but Navier knows it will be next to impossible because she knows Sovieshu will do everything in his power to prevent their union. The divorce trial begins, and Navier requests an approval for remarriage. The priest accepts the approval, but Sovieshu is enraged when he realizes that Navier is actually leaving him.

Rashta schemes to keep herself and her baby safe amidst plots against her. She believes Empress Navier to be her main obstacle so on advice from Duke Ergi, she takes matters into her own hands to protect her future. However, there are others who are working against Rashta. Meanwhile, Sovieshu tries to get closer to the empress.

Navier and Heinrey are now living in the Western Kingdom, but Navier has a lot of work to do to win over the commoners, who are still loyal to Heinrey's first wife. In the meantime, Sovieshu learns of Navier's betrothal and becomes jealous that she is remarrying so quickly.

A dramatization of Marie Antoinette's journey to the top of the French monarchy, following her childhood in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to her final days in a French prison.