Chasing the Gilded Shadow: A Tale of the Time of James IV of Scotland

A romantic scandal that occurred in the Scottish border country when James IV reigned in the 16th century, and for which historical evidence exists, is the fulcrum on which this lavishly constructed and archly worded novel turns. At age 15, Elizabeth, beautiful, naive ward of James and his Queen Margaret, is married off to Polmood, much older, rather gross, but the king's number-one man in the hunt. Persuaded to delay consummation until Elizabeth matures, Polmood feeds his jealousy by rough treatment of his young wife and her putative suitors. Although Steele conveys the intrigue and playfulness of James's court, and the brutality of 16th century class society, it is priapic excitement that is the central activity of this empurpled tale. (May 19)