An amazing dual biography, really puts into perspective Elizabeth and Mary's relationship as cousins, reigning queens, and rivals for the throne of England. Neither biography alone adds anything new to either's history, but side-by-side Dunn's book is powerful in evoking just how difficult their situations were and how each responded and either triumphed or failed. One tends to forget the poweful pull of Roman Catholicism during Elizabeth's reign, and how tenuous her claim to the throne of England was outside her country. Mary's claim was equally strong, but Elizabeth's own wit and the cunning of her advisors was stronger.

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This is a great biography of two great women of British history, but it is not a truly fair biography. It has an Elizabethan slant. The author clearly leans in the favour of Elizabeth in her telling of the story. She can be rather derogatory of Mary sometimes and while she does present the facts, she mostly puts a negative spin on the things that Mary does that Elizabeth and England did not agree with. This again is a nice biography that compares the two queens side by side, but it does clearly lean in favour of Elizabeth.

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Another great biography about Queens Elizabeth and Mary.

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