England, 1100s.
Meet Matilda of England.
Betrothed at eight.Married at twelve.And crowned Empress in her late teens.
Matilda is the only legitimate daughter of Henry I of England. Sheโs also the granddaughter of William the Conqueror and is a descendentโthrough her motherโfrom the ancient line of Anglo-Saxon kings.
She is made a widow in her early twenties and is the only surviving heir to the throne of England. Now she must marry Geoffrey of Anjou, a boy ten years younger, and share the task of leading an often rebellious state. Before long she gives birth to three sons and provides her father with the male heirs heโs longed for.
But when Henry I suddenly dies, the throne is usurped by Matildaโs cousin, Stephen.
Now Matilda is forced to choose between her husband and her rights as her fatherโs heir. Intelligent, determined and courageous, she follows her heart. But at what cost?
Hilary Green is a trained actress and spent many years teaching drama and running a youth theater company. She is the author of Now is the Hour, Operation Kingfisher, and Weโll Meet Again, and is the winner of the Kythira short story prize for The Conquerors.