The Winter Queen - by Jane Stevenson (Paperback)

About the Book

An immensely moving account of a strange and magical interracial love affair, The Winter Queen illuminates the Netherlands of the seventeenth century. Amid the dark ambiance of the time, the exiled Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia and Pelagius, a West African prince and former slave, fall in love and secretly marry. With great erudition and compassion, Jane Stevenson vividly renders both a portrait of an extraordinary relationship and a tumultuous political history. Set against a historical backdrop enriched with the art, philosophy, and religion of the Dutch Golden Age, scene succeeds scene in Vermeer-like richness of color (Memphis Commercial Appeal).

Book Synopsis

An immensely moving account of a strange and magical interracial love affair, The Winter Queen illuminates the Netherlands of the seventeenth century. Amid the dark ambiance of the time, the exiled Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia and Pelagius, a West African prince and former slave, fall in love and secretly marry. With great erudition and compassion, Jane Stevenson vividly renders both a portrait of an extraordinary relationship and a tumultuous political history. Set against a historical backdrop enriched with the art, philosophy, and religion of the Dutch Golden Age, "scene succeeds scene in Vermeer-like richness of color" (Memphis Commercial Appeal).

Review Quotes

"Finely nuanced . . . a bright and engaging portrait of private lives rendered against a broad and vivid canvas of human history." Kirkus Reviews

"Well-crafted, moody portrait of royal striving and human need . . . highly recommended." Library Journal Starred

"A testament to her astonishing skills. Like the late Penelope Fitzgerald, Stevenson is a meticulous fabulist."

The New Yorker

"Deploying a remarkable depth of knowledge with offhand grace, [Stevenson] writes with a casual versatility . . . a very modern love story." The New York Times Book Review

"Stevenson's knowledge of the period's physical detail [is] impressive, and her way of mixing religion, science, and politics is fascinating." Book Magazine