Daughters of the Winter Queen: Four Remarkable Sisters, the Crown of Bohemia, and the Enduring Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots

My favorite thing about Nancy Goldstone is her writing — about as far from dry historical retelling as one can get. She takes facts and makes them human, more like story telling than recitation. This is huge for a historical non fiction book. So many seem like what you’d imagine a boring history professor’s lecture to sound like, and this diminishes the human experience. Nancy really gets into these people’s heads. They aren’t simply historical figures, or historical events, they’re human and engaging the reader.Now, Nancy has a dry sort of wit, slightly sarcastic at times, that totally comes across in her writing. I can see that being off putting to some readers, but I love it. She doesn’t sugar coat her subjects’ failings or poor decisions, and everyone gets a fair treatment.This book follows important, but usually peripheral figures in this period. It covers the dynamics between Germany and England through all the religious turmoil, the English Civil War, Thirty Years War, through the medium of the Winter Queen and her daughters’ crazy lives. I was amazed at how little understanding I had of this period (for a self-proclaimed history buff, this was a little embarrassing!), but Nancy’s writing portrayed these events and nuances in a way that’s memorable and understandable.There’s a huge cast of characters in this book, with so many different sociopolitical and religious differences at play, it can get confusing at times. There’s no escaping it for any writer covering this period though, and Nancy does a great job navigating it. I love that she covers these little written about women, giving them a voice amidst all their more famous male relations and acquaintances. Their lives are at times are frustrating for the reader, you find yourself wishing a different outcome for many of them, but this isn’t fiction.I’m struggling to understand why this book (not to mention Nancy’s others, which I’ve read and will be reviewing), only have 4 stars each. She became one of my fav writers after reading Joanna I, one book and she had me. Maybe it’s that dry wit I mentioned earlier ... that can be a turn off for some. Anyways, this is a great writer, and I frequently recommend her to others. Now recommending her to you!

I thought the book was really good, very insightful. I would recommend it to anyone interested in period novels

This historical novel really kept my interest to the end. I was familiar with bits and pieces of the history of Mary Queen of Scots, James Stuart, Charles the First and Charles II. This generational novel filled in all the missing people, places and more. The story about the mother, daughters and family was written with actual historical letters and pictures interspersed within the chaptets. I felt it was written in an epic style. It's hard for me to compare authors as each one is unique but having read all the James Michener books I love a story that involves generations of history. Thank you to the author for the best historical novel of my year.

Terrifically well written book that untangled the intricacies of the Stuart-Hanovarian dynasties and the impact of politics and religion on the descendants of Mary, Queen of Scots. Each of the women portrayed in this delightful book shows how much strong women could persevere despite the constraints against them. Much like the House of Windsor, the women are far more interesting than the men. Instead of the typically heavy going portrayal of historical figures, Ms. Goldstone's book keeps the reader engaged and stimulated by the fascinating history of these families! The illustrations are beautiful additions that add so much to the enjoyment of learning more about these ancestresses of our curent queen. I highly recommend this book!

I purchased the book interested in the title and wanting to learn about these specific people in history. While I appreciate this time of history, I really didn't need to know about the detailed wars and conflicts which seemed to overshadow the main theme. The struggles of these women are important however I feel the book didn't capture their true essence. I was disappointed

Loved this book as the real history of these splendid characters was revealed. The book spoke of wars and intrigue that thrilled this reader. The line down from Mary Queen of Scots lived remarkable if not turbulent lives. Nothing was easy and no one was to be believed. Subterfuge was the game of the day. Beheadings were too familiar to the wealthy but no one expected a king to be beheaded. What a difficult time to live. This book in gory detail describes the time of the Winter Queen and her four lovely daughters. It's quite the story.

I ordered this book because the title intrigued me. Upon reading the book itself, it transpired that the subject matter was not just the lives of the four daughters of the Queen but also the Queen of Bohemia herself and her family (parents, husband, siblings) so in that sense the title is misleading. However, notwithstanding, the text is easy going and describes the various wars and intricacies that were part of German and English history at the time e.g. the Thirty Years' War and the English Civil War in a highly readable and down to earth way. I would have preferred the personalities of the 4 sisters to have been honed in more detail although as the book wore on their different characters and influences are brought out, especially with regards to the youngest daughter, Sophia, who had the most bearing on the eventual sovereignty of England. All in all a useful account through which I learnt a great deal about a period of European and particularly English history and especially these 4 daughters of the Winter Queen who turned out to be veritable personalities in their own right and turned the vicissitudes they went through into a life experience all their own.

So fun! Goldstone writes a bodice ripper and it’s all true! You won’t be able to put the book down reading the remarkable lives of the grand and great granddaughters of Mary Queen of Scots.

the book was great. Im interested in biographies of historical figures. this book was a good read. really enjoyed it. book was in great condition.

After watching Reign (a guilty pleasure, absolutely!) I've become obsessed with Mary Queen of Scots and was dying to read this book. Mary is not present i here, however. She's mentioned it two sentences throughout the book. That's all. Neverthe less, it is a really well written book, full of information and personal details, it reads like a fictional novel, really, not like a tedious biography. I learnt so much about that part of Europea history and much of the background of the historic events I've heard and learnt about in school but never heard what actually let to them. Highly reccomend!

This is a fascinating new book by renowned historical biographer Nancy Goldstone and focuses upon the four remarkable and exceptionally gifted daughters of Elizabeth the ill-fated Winter Queen of Bohemia 1596-1662 This ground-breaking and innovative book tells the rich and fascinating history of Elizabeth and her talented beautiful daughters Elizabeth, Louise Holladine, Henrietta-Maria and Sophia Electress of Hanover. She examines their fascinating and colourful lives in great analytical detail before discussing their impact upon their respective families and dynasties and the legacies each has left to posterity! The final part of the book looks back at the legacy of the sisters Great-Grandmother the extraordinary and captivating Mary, Queen of the Scots and the most famous woman that has ever lived throughout history. This exhaustively and yet accessible biography has brought to life Elizabeth and her long forgotten daughters and weaved an exciting narrative that will leave the readers breathless from beginning to end! this unusual and skillfully woven book breathes new and exciting historical research to some long neglected women who lived and breathed the times they lived in! I would urge you to order your copy from Amazon now and you will be in for a thrilling read!

Perfect for history lovers who like a bit of scandal

This is the book on which my KINDLE has totally stuck itself. So far I have read 40 - odd pages, and enjoyed them, but who knows how its saga and mine will end?