Published in 1821, this historical novel is set in 16th-century England and tells the story of the secret love affair between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The novel is regarded as one of Sir Walter Scott's finest works, and is noted for its vivid descriptions of historical events and characters, as well as its passionate and romantic storyline. This timeless classic is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romantic literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.