The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory (2004, Paperback)

I read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and looked forward to Ms. Gregory's book "The Queen's Fool." If you love history, but also want a little fiction thrown in for suspense you won't be disappointed. The year is 1553 and Hannah Green who is a fourteen year old Jewish girl, forced to leave Spain, finds herself at the Tudor Court. Hannah has the ability to foresee the future. She finds herself adopted by Robert Dudley, the son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and then eventually, Queen Elizabeth. Hannah is working as a spy but is to be known publicly as a "fool" because there are laws against witchcraft and heresy. The hardest part for Hannah is choosing what life she will lead. She is in love with Dudley but is promised to a commoner. Ms. Gregory is a vivid storyteller and brings the past alive with all the picturesque scenes from court life and plenty of period detail. Always an excellent read!