Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion

Herpersonalliferivenbypassion,illnessandintrigue,QueenAnnepresidedoversomeofthemostmomentouseventsinBritishhistory.LikeAntoniaFraser'slifeofMarieAntoinetteorAmandaForeman's'TheDuchess','QueenAnne'ishistoricalbiographyatitsbest.In1702,fourteenyearsaftershehelpedoustherfatherfromhisthroneanddeprivedhernewbornhalf-brotherofhisbirthright,QueenAnneinheritedthecrownsofEnglandandScotland.Childless,despiteseventeenpregnanciesthathadalleitherendedinfailureorproducedheartrendinglyshort-livedchildren,insomerespectsshewasapitiablefigure.ButagainstallexpectationsheprovedBritain'smostsuccessfulStuartruler.Herreignwasmarkedbymanytriumphs,includingunionwithScotlandandgloriousvictoriesinwaragainstFrance.Itwasalsomarkedbycontroversy:Anne'scloserelationshipwithSarah,theoutspokenwifeoftheDukeofMarlborough,turnedtorancorwithSarah'sstartlingclaimoftheQueen'slesbianinfatuationwithanotherlady-in-waiting,AbigailMasham.Traditionallydepictedasaweakrulerdominatedbyfemalefavouritesandhauntedbyremorseathavingdeposedherfather,QueenAnneemergesasawomanwhoseunshakeablecommitmenttodutyenabledhertoovercomeprivatetragedyandpainfuldisabilities,andsetherkingdomonthepathtogreatness.