Lady In Waiting is one of five novels for adults written by the renowned children’s historical author Rosemary Sutcliff. It tells the life story of Sir Walter Raleigh through the eyes of his wife, Bess Throckmorton, a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth I.
The novel, first published in 1957, spans the reigns of both Elizabeth I and King James VI and I. The latter is portrayed as a period of decline from the Elizabethan golden age. The title has a double meaning, referring both to Throckmorton’s official title and to her condition of constantly waiting for her husband to return, due to his long periods at sea.
The book is currently out of print, though second-hand copies are readily and cheaply available from the usual outlets.
