The Testimony of Alys Twist

When Mary Tudor ascends to the throne of England, her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth, becomes the target of a rebellion. Orphan Alys Twist, working as a laundress at the royal Wardrobe, is forced to become a spy in the princess's household. Alys must make a dangerous choice when the princess is arrested for treason.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

1553: deeply-divided England rejoices as the rightful heir,Mary Tudor,sweeps to power on a tide of populist goodwill. But the people should have been careful what they wished for: Mary s mission is to turn back time to an England of old. Within weeks there is widespread rebellion in favour of her heir,her half-sister,princess Elizabeth,who is everything that Mary isn t. From now on,Elizabeth will have to use her considerable guile just to stay alive.

Orphan Alys Twist has come a long way - further than she ever dared hope - to work as a laundress at the royal Wardrobe. There she meets Bel, daughter of the Queen s tailor, and seems to have arrived at her own happy ending.

But in a world where appearance is everything, a laundress is in a unique position to see the truth of people s lives, and Alys is pressed into service as a spy in the errant princess s household. Alys herself, though, is hardly whiter than white, and when the princess is arrested, she must make a dangerous choice.

Mary Tudor s reign is marked by a series of political intrigues and power struggles, as she attempts to consolidate her power and restore the traditional values of the English monarchy. Her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth, is a constant source of contention, as she is seen as a threat to Mary s rule.

Elizabeth is a clever and ambitious woman who is determined to seize the throne for herself. She is a skilled diplomat and a skilled negotiator, and she is able to use her charm and wit to manipulate those around her. She is also a skilled fighter, and she is not afraid to take risks to achieve her goals.

Despite her many strengths, Elizabeth is also a complex and flawed character. She is driven by her desire for power and her desire to prove herself to her family and to the world. She is also deeply loyal to her family, and she will do anything to protect them.

Elizabeth s relationship with her sister, Mary, is strained and complicated. Mary sees Elizabeth as a threat to her rule, and she is determined to eliminate her. Elizabeth, on the other hand, sees Mary as a cruel and oppressive ruler who is willing to do anything to maintain her power.

As the political situation in England becomes more volatile, Elizabeth finds herself caught in the middle. She is forced to navigate a complex web of alliances and betrayals, as she attempts to protect her family and secure her place on the throne.

One of Elizabeth s most significant allies is Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Robert is a powerful and influential man who is loyal to Elizabeth and who is willing to do anything to help her achieve her goals. He is also a skilled diplomat and a skilled negotiator, and he is able to use his connections to help Elizabeth navigate the treacherous waters of the English court.

Another important ally for Elizabeth is Thomas Wyatt, Earl of Surrey. Thomas is a skilled politician and a skilled diplomat who is loyal to Elizabeth and who is willing to do anything to help her achieve her goals. He is also a skilled fighter, and he is able to use his military expertise to help Elizabeth defend her throne.

Despite these alliances, Elizabeth s path to the throne is not without its challenges. She is faced with opposition from her family and from other powerful figures in the English court. She is also faced with a series of betrayals and setbacks, as she attempts to navigate the complex web of political intrigue and power struggles.

One of the most significant betrayals for Elizabeth comes from her own sister, Mary. Mary is determined to eliminate Elizabeth and to restore the traditional values of the English monarchy. She is willing to use any means necessary to achieve her goals, including seduction and assassination.

Despite these challenges, Elizabeth is determined to secure her place on the throne. She is a skilled politician and a skilled diplomat, and she is able to use her charm and wit to manipulate those around her. She is also a skilled fighter, and she is not afraid to take risks to achieve her goals.

In the end, Elizabeth is able to secure her place on the throne and to establish her reign as Queen Elizabeth I of England. She is a powerful and influential woman who is able to use her power and her influence to shape the course of English history. She is also a skilled politician and a skilled diplomat, and she is able to use her charm and wit to manipulate those around her.

In conclusion, Elizabeth s journey to the throne is a fascinating and complex tale of political intrigue, power struggles, and betrayal. She is a skilled politician and a skilled diplomat, and she is able to use her charm and wit to manipulate those around her. Despite her many challenges, she is able to secure her place on the throne and to establish her reign as Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781408707203