Reading historical fiction can be challenging when you have zero knowledge of the subject at hand.....as was the case with this book. We were deeply inside the English Royal Court during the early 1700's during a very lengthy vicious war with France......specifically with Queen Anne on the throne.......UUHHH........OK. These people all had both names and titles....often confusing.......and they were all seemingly related to each other.......also very confusing......since a Duke of Marlborough, John, Mr. Churchill, Abigail's Cousin, and the Captain-General are all the same person.....if you are clever enough to follow it as you go! As always, Auchincloss hits the road running with the story and intrigue that captured me immediately, and I plodded through and eventually got the swing of things - with a 4-generation chart of English Royal succession inside the covers of my edition offering me constant guidance. Our narrator is relatively normal Abigail Hill, who though not of direct noble blood, is related to those who gain titles and extraordinary political power, and she is humbly brought on board as a laundress....and as the political tides change, finds herself suddenly chamber-woman for the Queen of England! Thus, we do see the intimate inside story of the daily life in the palace(s), and the constant political turmoil and intrigue. I enjoyed the story of how she became more and more intimately involved and eventually has the chance to dramatically impact international turns of events via her humble relationship with her sovereign. Might have earned i 4 if I had not spent so much time slightly befuddled......but Auchincloss has never let me down completely yet. I may even read up a little on that period to see how this fiction connects with established history......always learning......that's what i love about reading! ( )

This is the true first edition of the book and precedes the trade edition. There is a special introduction by the author that appears in no other edition. The book is boldly hand signed by Louis Auchincloss.

Book Features: The book is hand signed by the author and features premium hand-cut full leather boards with a distinct cover design in ornate 22-karat gold gild. The spine is hubbed with raised horizontal ridges formed in the leather. There are marbled endpapers with a sewn in matching satin bookmark. The pages are gold gilded to protect against dust and moisture and the paper used is acid neutral to last generations without discoloring.