In seventeenth-century France, young D'Artagnan initially quarrels with, then befriends, three musketeers and joins them in trying to outwit the enemies of the king and queen.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

"The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory
Before Henry VIII ever considered making Anne Boleyn his wife, her older sister, Mary, was his mistress. Historical novelist Gregory (Virgin Earth) uses the perspective of this "other Boleyn girl" to reveal the rivalries and intrigues swirling through England. The sisters and their brother George were raised with one goal: to advance the Howard family's interests, especially against the Seymours. So when Mary catches the king's fancy, her family orders her to abandon the husband they had chosen. She bears Henry two children, including a son, but Anne's desire to be queen drives her with ruthless intensity, alienating family and foes. As Henry grows more desperate for a legitimate son and Anne strives to replace Catherine as queen, the social fabric weakens. Mary abandons court life to live with a new husband and her children in the countryside, but love and duty bring her back to Anne time and again. We share Mary's helplessness as Anne loses favor, and everyone abandons her amid accusations of adultery, incest, and witchcraft. Even the Boleyn parents won't intervene for their children. Gregory captures not only the dalliances of court but the panorama of political and religious clashes throughout Europe. She controls a complicated narrative and dozens of characters without faltering, in a novel sure to please public library fans of historical fiction.

Mary Queen of Scots and Her Hopeless Husbands
Read By: Geoffrey Palmer

You've probably heard of Mary Queen of Scots...
She is horribly famous for:
- having terrible taste in husbands
- totally losing her head - on the chopping block
But have you heard that Mary:
- got kidnapped by a murderous lord - and married him?
- managed to give her executioner a fright or two?
Yes, even though she's dead, Mary's still full of surprises! Now you can get the inside story with Mary's secret diary and discover some fascinating facts about the Scottish Queen and her hopeless husbands.

Queen Victoria and Her Amusements
Read By: Geoffrey Palmer

You've probably heard of Queen Victoria...
She's horribly famous for:
- wearing black clothes - all the time
- saying "We are not amused"
But have you heard that Queen Vic:
- went on her holidays in disguise?
- was best pals with her rude Scottish servant?
Yes, even though she's dead, Queen Vic's still full of surprises. Now you can get the inside story in Victoria's secret diary and dare to laugh politely with Queen Vic as you find out what really amused her most...

Sex with the Queen
900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate Politics
Impeccably researched, filled with page-turning romance, passion, and scandal, Sex with the Queen explores the scintillating sexual lives of some of our most beloved and infamous female rulers.

When a queen became sick to death of her husband and took a lover, anything could happen, from disgrace and death to political victory. Some kings imprisoned erring wives for life; other monarchs obligingly named the queen's lover prime minister.

The crucial factor deciding the fate of an unfaithful queen was the love affair's implications in terms of power, money, and factional rivalry. At European courts, it was the politics, not the sex, that caused a royal woman's tragedy, or her ultimate triumph.

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