The Stolen Crown

'A superb book, illuminating a fascinating and turbulent era. It is the figure of Matilda who rightly commanded the stage in all her power and complexity' Nicola Cornick

'Packed with romance, real history, a cast of superbly imagined characters . . . The Stolen Crown is an entertaining tour-de-force' Lancashire Post

'A well-researched adventure about a strong medieval woman fighting the odds against her' Historical Novels Review

When Empress Matilda is eighteen years old, tragedy strikes the royal family, and she becomes the only child of the king of England - the de facto heir to the throne. As her dying father persuades the barons to pledge allegiance to her, Matilda returns to England - but the lords and clergy do not like an independent woman. And Matilda is nothing if not headstrong . . .

When the old king dies, the country is plunged into instant chaos. So begins a fierce battle between cousins that will go down in history as a time called 'The Anarchy'. And Matilda must race across England, evading capture until she can demand the crown . . .

PRE-ORDER Carol McGrath's new unputdownable historical novel, THE LOST QUEEN! Coming July 2024.

Readers love The Stolen Crown:

'The story of Matilda is strikingly brought to life with this beautiful written novel. A must for any fan of medieval history' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'An engaging story . . . Matilda is strong, fascinating and keeps you hooked to the very last page' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Another Carol McGrath triumph' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'An illuminating read . . . it's a hard job to balance historical fact with fiction but Carol McGrath does this with superb skill' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'This is the way to teach history! I was swept up in this rollicking tale of a wronged woman' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

As two women's lives entwine, the daughter of the King and the illegitimate daughter of a baron, they both battle for their place in the world, one as queen and one as mistress of her own fate. Carol McGrath weaves a tale of two unlikely friends, taking you deep into their worlds as they strive to protect each other and those they love Alexandra Walsh, author of The House in Crete
A triumph. A superb use of authentic historical detail lifts the life of Matilda off the page and involves the reader in a struggle for power that is both engrossing and exciting Liz Harris
The Stolen Crown features Carol McGrath's best heroine yet. Anyone who loves accurate portrayals of medieval life will delight in this skilful re-telling of history Deborah Swift
A superb book, illuminating a fascinating and turbulent era. It is the figure of Matilda who rightly commanded the stage in all her power and complexity Nicola Cornick
McGrath has given this remarkable star of the Anarchy period the perfect stage on which to prove her impressive credentials. Packed with romance, real history, a cast of superbly imagined characters . . . The Stolen Crown is an entertaining tour-de-force -- Pam Norfolk Lancashire Post
A well-researched adventure about a strong medieval woman fighting the odds against her -- Kate Pettigrew Historical Novels Review

Carol McGrath is the author of the acclaimed Rose Trilogy - The Silken Rose, The Damask Rose and The Stone Rose. Born in Northern Ireland, she fell in love with historical fiction at a young age, when exploring local castles, such as Carrickfergus, and nearby archaeological digs - and discovering some ancient bones herself. While completing a degree in history, she became fascinated by the strong women who were silenced in record, and was inspired to start exploring their lives. Her first novel, The Handfasted Wife, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, and Mistress Cromwell was widely praised as a timely feminist retelling of Tudor court life. Her novels are known for their intricacy, depth of research and powerful stories.

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