Set during the Inquisition, Catherine, queen of Montalcino, rescues Isabella from a brutal rape. While convalescing, the women fall in love, creating a spiritual struggle for Catherine. Eventually, Catherine gives in to her love, marrying to cover the relationship. This intensifies the danger. The Bishop is determined to expose her. His own life a web of lies and secrecy, he seduces Catherine's naïve daughter, Sofia, into friendship. Sofia plays out the Bishop's intentions, propelling everyone toward disaster.

The official companion to the Emmy-winning Netflix drama chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and starring Claire Foy and John Lithgow, The Crown by Peter Morgan, featuring additional historical background and beautifully reproduced archival photos and show stills Elizabeth Mountbatten never expected her father to die so suddenly, so young, leaving her with a throne to fill and a global institution to govern. Crowned at twenty-five, she was already a wife and mother as she began her journey towards becoming a queen. As Britain lifted itself out of the shadow of war, the new monarch faced her own challenges. Her mother doubted her marriage; her uncle-in-exile derided her abilities; her husband resented the sacrifice of his career and family name; and her rebellious sister embarked on a love affair that threatened the centuries-old links between the Church and the Crown. This is the story of how Elizabeth II drew on every ounce of resolve to ensure that the Crown always came out on top. Written by the show’s historical consultant, royal biographer Robert Lacey, and filled with beautifully reproduced archival photos and show stills, The Crown: The Official Companion: Volume 1 adds expert and in-depth detail to the events of the series, painting an intimate portrait of life inside Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. Here is Elizabeth II as we’ve never seen her before.

'It is actually a serious book, but it had me laughing out loud several times on the Tube. All mothers should receive one for Christmas.' Marcus Berkmann, Spectator Everyone who loves The Crown on Netflix will enjoy this celebration of Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved canine friends. The Queen has had corgis by her side ever since she was seven years old and persuaded her father to buy one for the family. She also has several dorgis (a cross resulting from an accidental liaison between one of the Queen's corgis and Princess Margaret's dachshund) and is a passionate breeder of gundogs. The dogs are the Queen's constant companions, travelling with her by air, road and rail, from one royal residence to another. She walks and feeds them herself, chooses names for them, and at the end of their days, buries them with personalised plaques to commemorate each individual. Penny Junor reveals the scraps and scrapes that the dogs have been involved in - the hierarchy amongst them, the corgis' feisty attitude to footmen and guests, gardeners and innocent passersby. This fascinating and affectionate look at the Queen and her most faithful companions is a book for dog lovers everywhere about what really makes our much-loved and longest reigning monarch truly light up.

The Memoirs of a Physician Series is placed in the time of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The series presents an idealized portrait of France during the reign of Queen Marie Antoinette, but it also shows the decadence of the nobility of the time, with its ending seeming to suggest the "beginning of the end" of the nobility. Novels are inspired by the actual historical characters, such as Count Cagliostro and Ange Pitou, and the major events in the history of France, storming the Bastille, French Revolution and The Reign of Terror. Alexandre Dumas, père (1802-1870) was a French writer whose works have been translated into nearly 100 languages and he is one of the most widely read French authors. His most famous works are The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Table of Contents: Joseph Balsamo: The Magician The Mesmerist's Victim: Andrea de Taverney The Queen's Necklace Taking the Bastile: Ange Pitou The Countess de Charny: The Execution of King Louis XVI