The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots: Elizabeth I and Her Greatest Rival

From the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Queen Victoria, a new history of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I that reveals how the most important relationship of their lifetheir friendshipchanged them forever. Elizabeth and Mary were cousins and queens, but eventually it became impossible for them to live together in the same world. This is the story of two women struggling for supremacy in a mans world, when no one thought a woman could govern. They both had to negotiate with menthose who wanted their power and those who wanted their bodieswho were determined to best them. In their worlds, female friendship and alliances were unheard of, but for many years theirs was the only friendship that endured. They were as fascinated by each other as lovers; until they became enemies. Enemies so angry and broken that one of them had to die, and so Elizabeth ordered the execution of Mary. But first they were each others lone female friends in a violent mans world. Their relationship was one of love, affection, jealousy, antipathyand finally death. This book tells the story of Mary and Elizabeth as never before, focusing on their emotions and probing deeply into their intimate lives as women and queens. They loved each other, they hated each otherand in the end they could never escape each other.