In Mary's Reign

In Mary's Reign is a sweeping historical romance set in the turbulent court of Queen Mary Tudor. Baroness Orczy weaves a tale of love, power, and betrayal as England is torn between religious strife and political intrigue. At the heart of the story lies a forbidden romance between a proud noblewoman and a valiant knight, whose devotion is tested by shifting allegiances, ambition, and the deadly whims of a monarch. As plots and passions intertwine within the shadowy halls of Tudor England, Orczy delivers a rich tapestry of intrigue, romance, and danger, foreshadowing the intensity she later brought to The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Baroness Emmuska Orczy (1865–1947) was a Hungarian-born British novelist, playwright, and artist, best remembered as the creator of the legendary hero The Scarlet Pimpernel. Born in Tarnaörs, Hungary, she moved to London in her youth and established herself in literary circles with her flair for romantic adventure and historical drama. Orczy's groundbreaking novel The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905) introduced readers to Sir Percy Blakeney, the daring English aristocrat who, in disguise, rescued French nobles from the guillotine during the Revolution—an archetype that inspired countless masked and double-identity heroes in popular culture, from Zorro to Batman. Beyond the Pimpernel series, she penned detective stories such as The Old Man in the Corner, historical romances, and even works on Hungarian life and folklore. Her works combined suspense, wit, and a deep love for heroism, earning her international acclaim. Orczy continued writing until her final years, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneers of modern adventure and mystery fiction