The first half of the thirteenth century is dominated by two women, as proud and ambitious as they were beautiful, yet different in all other qualities. Isabella is flamboyant and passionate, a medieval Helen of Troy - wife to King John and mother to Henry III...Blanche of Castile is the serene and virtuous Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII and mother of Louis IX...The two women hated each other on sight. Isabella would stop at nothing, not even murder, in her passion to destroy the French Queen. -- From Amazon.com Product Description