This“engrossing,fast-paced,extremelywell-researchedbiography“(Booklist)transportsustoTudorandStuartEnglandasAliceSpencer,thedaughterofanupstartsheepfarmer,becomesoneofthemostpowerfulwomeninthecountryandestablishesapowerfuldynastythatendurestothisday.PerfectforfansofTheDuchessCountessandGeorgiana.AliceSpencerwasbornin1560toafamilyontherise.Hergrandfatherhadamassedasizeableestateoffertilegrazinglandandmadeasmallfortuneinsheepfarming,allowinghimtopurchaseasimplebutdistinguishedmanorhousecalledAlthorp.Withhersizabledowry,Alicemarriedtheheirtooneofthemostpowerfularistocraticfamiliesinthecountry,eventuallybecomingtheCountessofDerby.Thoughsheenjoyedmodestrenown,itwasn’tuntilherhusband’ssuddendeath(afterheturnedinagroupofCatholicsforplottingagainstQueenElizabethI)thatAliceandherfamily’sfuturechangedforever.Facedwithalawsuitfromherbrother-in-lawoverherlatehusband’sfortune,AliceraisedeyebrowsbymarryingEngland’smostpowerfullawyer.Together,theywerevictorious,andAlicefocusedherattentionsonsecuringappropriatehusbandsforherdaughters,increasingherlandownings,andsecuringabrightfutureforhergrandchildrenandtheentireSpencerfamily.Buttheywouldnotcompletelyescapescandals,andasthematriarch,Alicehadtofaceaninfamoustrialthatthreatenedeverythingshehadworkedsohardfor.Now,in“thisrivetingtalereadsmorelikealegalthrillerthanhistoricalnonfiction“(BethMorrison,coauthorofTheLawlessLand),thefullstoryoftheremarkableAliceSpencerStanleyEgertonisrevealed.Awomanbothaheadofandpartofhertime,Alice’sruthlesschallengingofthestatusquohasinspiredfuturegenerationsofSpencersandwillchangethewayyouviewTudorwomen.
