Her personal life riven by passion, illness and intrigue, Queen Anne presided over some of the most momentous events in British history. Like Antonia Fraser-s life of Marie Antoinette or Amanda Foreman-s -The Duchess-, -Queen Anne- is historical biography at its best.In 1702, fourteen years after she helped oust her father from his throne and deprived her newborn half-brother of his birthright, Queen Anne inherited the crowns of England and Scotland.Childless, despite seventeen pregnancies that had all either ended in failure or produced heartrendingly short-lived children, in some respects she was a pitiable figure. But against all expectation she proved Britain-s most successful Stuart ruler.Her reign was marked by many triumphs, including union with Scotland and glorious victories in war against France. It was also marked by controversy: Anne-s close relationship with Sarah, the outspoken wife of the Duke of Marlborough, turned to rancor with Sarah-s startling claim of the Queen-s l
