Winter Queen

A gripping historical novel about the Queen of Bohemia, whose exile from Prague altered the course of European history.

Prague, 1620. Following the defeat of the Bohemian Estates at the Battle of White Mountain, the young Queen of Bohemia, Elizabeth Stuart, must flee the city with the imperial army hot on her heels, despite being heavily pregnant.

Only a few years earlier, as the daughter of King James I of England, she set off for a new life beside Frederick, Elector Palatine. When he was elected King of Bohemia, she journeyed to Prague. Now, she has no choice but to go into exile with her "Winter King".

In exile, she becomes a queen without a kingdom, but not without influence. Through court intrigue, diplomacy and cultural connections, she continues to intervene in international politics, shaping a turbulent Europe. She gives birth to eight more children and uses her descendants to influence the decisions of ruling families across the continent.

The Winter Queen is a novel of power, motherhood and resilience by Scottish author Jean Findlay, who also wrote the historical novel The Queen's Jeweller (2024).