About the book
'Richly detailed' THE NEW YORKER
'Carr has taken an often overly romanticised historical figure and given her new life and originality.' THE TIMES
'A vivid, visceral read' TRACY CHEVALIER
'Bold and intimate' TLS
***
They are imprisoned, but not contained.
Three women cross a loch. It is 1567: one of them is pregnant, two of them fretful. The boat takes them to Lochleven castle in the middle of the water. Awaiting them are courtiers braying for blood, hellbent on keeping one of them under lock and key: Mary Queen of Scots.
In the tower, Mary's maids Frenchwoman, Cuckoo and watchful Scot, Jane are her only allies, and the chamber their entire world. A new reality sets in where they are at the mercy of not only their keepers, but of raging Scotland itself.
In the outside world, Mary's kin, Queen Elizabeth claims she can do little but write. Downstairs, the shrewd jailor-courtier Margaret Erskine places her daughter-in-law Agnes in the chamber as her pair of eyes. Hope seems futile until the bewitching Lady Seton arrives. Seton's power shifts everything in the tower and soon a plan is hatched.
But which of them will risk it all to save their mistress? Which woman loves her queen best? THE TOWER is a triumphant story of desire, grit, God-given power and wiles from a striking new voice in historical fiction.
Editions of Tower
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781529153729
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781529153736
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781804945605
- EBook
- ISBN 9781804945612
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9781804949825
Read an Excerpt
'Richly detailed' THE NEW YORKER
'Carr has taken an often overly romanticised historical figure and given her new life and originality.' THE TIMES
'A vivid, visceral read' TRACY CHEVALIER
'Bold and intimate' TLS
***
They are imprisoned, but not contained.
Three women cross a loch. It is 1567: one of them is pregnant, two of them fretful. The boat takes them to Lochleven castle in the middle of the water. Awaiting them are courtiers braying for blood, hellbent on keeping one of them under lock and key: Mary Queen of Scots.
In the tower, Mary's maids Frenchwoman, Cuckoo and watchful Scot, Jane are her only allies, and the chamber their entire world. A new reality sets in where they are at the mercy of not only their keepers, but of raging Scotland itself.
In the outside world, Mary's kin, Queen Elizabeth claims she can do little but write. Downstairs, the shrewd jailor-courtier Margaret Erskine places her daughter-in-law Agnes in the chamber as her pair of eyes. Hope seems futile until the bewitching Lady Seton arrives. Seton's power shifts everything in the tower and soon a plan is hatched.
But which of them will risk it all to save their mistress? Which woman loves her queen best? THE TOWER is a triumphant story of desire, grit, God-given power and wiles from a striking new voice in historical fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tower about?
'Richly detailed' THE NEW YORKER
'Carr has taken an often overly romanticised historical figure and given her new life and originality.' THE TIMES
'A vivid, visceral read' TRACY CHEVALIER
'Bold and intimate' TLS
***
They are imprisoned, but not contained.
Three women cross a loch. It is 1567: one of them is pregnant, two of them fretful. The boat takes them to Lochleven castle in the middle of the water. Awaiting them are courtiers braying for blood, hellbent on keeping one of them under lock and key: Mary Queen of Scots.
In the tower, Mary's maids Frenchwoman, Cuckoo and watchful Scot, Jane are her only allies, and the chamber their entire world. A new reality sets in where they are at the mercy of not only their keepers, but of raging Scotland itself.
In the outside world, Mary's kin, Queen Elizabeth claims she can do little but write. Downstairs, the shrewd jailor-courtier Margaret Erskine places her daughter-in-law Agnes in the chamber as her pair of eyes. Hope seems futile until the bewitching Lady Seton arrives. Seton's power shifts everything in the tower and soon a plan is hatched.
But which of them will risk it all to save their mistress? Which woman loves her queen best? THE TOWER is a triumphant story of desire, grit, God-given power and wiles from a striking new voice in historical fiction.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Tower?
Fiction > Historical fiction
Where can I read a sample of Tower?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781529153729
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Tower?
Flora Carr
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Tower is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781529153729) and paperback(ISBN 9781529153736) and paperback(ISBN 9781804945605) and ebook(ISBN 9781804945612) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781804949825)
Where can I buy Tower online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Tower from below