Scotland - 1025 to 1058

William Shakespeare's version of Lady Macbeth may be good theater, but it hardly depicts the Scottish queen in a realistic light. Ms. King has done extensive research, albeit of a woman who was a shadowy figure in history, and has written an incredibly detailed, beautifully told story of a key person in Scotland's violent past.

Born into the royal family of Scotland, Gruadh grew up in her father's household in Fife learning warrior's skills and absorbing the politics that surrounded her. Early on, she learned not to trust someone just because he is the king, and that nothing is permanent in the life of a daughter meant for the throne. As a young girl, Gruadh is wed to the ruler of Moray in the north of Scotland. Gilcomgan is older, a warrior, and not much of a romantic, but their marriage is a good one. Unrest between the Scots persists, and one day her husband rides out and does not return. Instead, the man responsible for his death, Macbeth, claims her as his wife.

Gruadh, pregnant with her first husband's child, has little choice but to learn to live with her new lord. He is distant and business-like, but not unkind. When her son is born, Gruadh fiercely protects him, although it's obvious that Macbeth, who is a cousin to the boy, will do nothing to jeopardize his life. Slowly, and sometimes painfully, Gruadh comes to like and respect her powerful husband, and her dreams portend an even more important future for the two of them.

Told in Gruadh's voice, this remarkable story shows another Macbeth, one who is nothing like Shakespeare's, but, as Scottish history reveals, a man of strength and honor. In a time when children of the powerful were slain to keep them from growing into warriors, Macbeth's sheltering of Gruadh's son, in fact making him his heir, shows what an astute leader he was. Little is known of Gruadh, but this depiction of her quiet, behind-the-scenes support of her second husband perhaps tells of what might have been. She was inordinately brave, as most women of her status had to be in those wild, turbulent days. Fiercely proud of her Celtic heritage, Gruadh kept her feet in both the Christian and pagan worlds, as did many in that transitional time.

Beautifully researched, LADY MACBETH is easily compared to the Dorothy Dunnett heroine, Groa, who stood by her Macbeth in Dunnett's own story of that era. While poetic license had to be taken in some areas, it is realistic and completely believable, again due to extensive exploration of this historical period. The rich characterizations, seamless merging of fact and fiction, and terrific writing make LADY MACBETH a must read for history buffs. I very highly recommend this excellent novel.

Jani Brooks