From the pen of international multi-million copy bestseller Jean Plaidy comes a rare insight in to the complicated and passionate emotions of Mary Queen of Scots - hers is a tale of love, romance, politics, plotting and bloody murder... Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 'This must surely rank best, or near it, of the many novels about this sadly fascinating woman' -- Birmingham Mail 'These books are page-turners; they offer a wonderful way to learn about history, their heroines are smart, strong and in control of their destinies and their stories will remain with you for ever...They are a celebration of women's spirit throughout history.' -- Daily Express 'Gripping and exciting' -- ***** Reader review 'Captivating' -- ***** Reader review 'Spellbinding' -- ***** Reader review 'Jean Plaidy at her best!!!' -- ***** Reader review 'I was gripped from the first page' -- ***** Reader review 'A riveting read' -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************* At just six days old, Mary Stuart became Queen of Scots. At just six years old she was betrothed to the Dauphin François, the future King of France. Reluctantly leaving Scotland, Mary is raised in the decadent French court in preparation to become the Queen of France. But her reign with François is short-lived. Widowed at just eighteen years old, Mary is once again forced to leave her home to return to Scotland. Now a Catholic queen of a Protestant country, Mary must rule with caution and choose her next husband prudently...

“Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama.”—The New York Times “Burn the murderess!” So begins The Captive Queen of Scots, the epic tale of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, cousin to Queen Elizabeth of England. After her husband, Lord Darnley, is murdered, suspicion falls on Mary and her lover, the Earl of Bothwell. A Catholic in a land of stern Protestants, Mary finds herself in the middle of a revolt, as her bloodthirsty subjects call for her arrest and execution. In disgrace, she flees her Scottish persecutors for England, where she appeals to Queen Elizabeth for mercy, but to no avail. Throughout Mary’s long years as the Queen’s prisoner, she conceives many bold plans for revenge and escaping to freedom—but the gallows of Fotheringhay Castle loom . . . Set against royal pageantry, religious strife, and bloody uprising—and filled with conspiracies, passion, heartbreak, and fascinating historical detail—The Captive Queen of Scots is an unforgettable tale of the intense rivalry between two powerful women of noble blood.

From Marilyn to Mussolini, people captivate people. A&E's Biography, best-selling autobiographies, and biographical novels testify to the popularity of the genre. But where does one begin? Collected here are descriptions and evaluations of over 10,000 biographical works, including books of fact and fiction, biographies for young readers, and documentaries and movies, all based on the lives of over 500 historical figures from scientists and writers, to political and military leaders, to artists and musicians. Each entry includes a brief profile, autobiographical and primary sources, and recommended works. Short reviews describe the pertinent biographical works and offer insight into the qualities and special features of each title, helping readers to find the best biographical material available on hundreds of fascinating individuals.

This essential guide, now available in a fully updated new edition, is the only available study of all bestselling books, authors and genres since the start of the last century, giving an unique insight into a hundred years of publishing and reading and taking us on a journey into the heart of the British imagination.

Sequels, the most popular and long-lasting guide to novels in series, returns with greatly expanded series listings. Mysteries continue to be a mainstay, with fantasy, science fiction, and romance listings, plus non-genre fiction selections from authors such as Edward Abbey and Lawrence Durrell. The authors have carefully sifted through a growing group of series to select those most likely to be available in a medium-sized public library, weeding out esoteric, obscure, and less popular series. This classic reference includes hundreds of annotated series, title and subject indexes, and suggestions for reading order. Library professionals will find Answers to the perennial question, "What should I read next?" Guidance on the chronology of a series Easy-to-use tools to identify novels by character, setting, and author The definitive resource for novels in series Including series started since 1989 and updated through 2007, Sequels will be the most complete resource for general readers and library patrons as well as readers' advisors; public, university, and high school reference librarians; acquisition and collection management librarians; and even bookstore staff and book reviewers. The expanded Sequels, 4th edition, will become the RA and reference librarian's resource of choice

A guide to series fiction lists popular series, identifies novels by character, and offers guidance on the order in which to read unnumbered series.