Originally published in 1951, this work of Biblical historical fiction is a masterpiece. Faithful to Holy Scripture and grounded in high-quality research, Gladys Malvern’s story brings Queen Esther to life in a way that is not to be missed.
Esther is the real-life Hebrew queen who makes every Disney princess look small in comparison. Her story in scripture has all the best elements of a fairy tale: a poor, simple woman chosen from thousands to become queen, a secret identity, a life-and-death struggle, love, and a powerful enemy. While the historical accuracy of Esther’s story is debated, it is included in Jewish sacred texts as well as in both Catholic and Protestant Bibles. Different traditions tell the story a bit differently and place the Book of Esther in different parts of their scriptures. Regardless, the story is the foundation of the Jewish festival of Purim and continues to inspire readers across many faiths.
This exciting story has been retold in movies, cartoons, and books—especially over the past 75 years—and I’ve enjoyed many of those versions. But without question, Behold Your Queen is now my absolute favorite telling of Esther’s story.
Malvern writes beautifully. She tells the story like a classic storyteller and keeps the reader eager to know more. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, I could barely put the book down because I wanted to see how Malvern would tell each part. She draws the reader into a world that feels alive and real, making you feel like you’re part of the story.
This book is excellent for strong middle-grade readers and up. It would work well as a read-aloud, in a classroom, or just for pure enjoyment. I keep two copies in my library and love handing it to preteen and teen girls who are voracious readers and looking for something wholesome and high quality.
My first copy was a crummy edition from Amazon with typos and an ugly cover. So I was thrilled when I found out that Purple House Press was bringing this classic back into print with a careful and beautiful new edition. I love my new copy and hope to get a few more for my library. My daughter loves the story so much that she wants her own copy for her personal library too.
Parents May Wish To Know: Throughout the story, there are plots to kill the king. In one scene, two of the king’s personal attendants try to poison him. As we know, Mordecai warns the king through Esther. In this version, the king chooses to let the attendants go through with their plan. But first, he has some animals brought to him for his entertainment. He selects an old monkey and keeps it with him in his chamber. When the time comes, the king feeds his food to the monkey, pretending to be feeding his pet. When the monkey falls over dead, the king has his attendants executed. While some families may object to the violence done to an innocent animal, I think this is preferable to Ahasuerus feeding the food to an innocent human slave.