Mary of Orange: At the Mercy of the Kings

If you saw a girl in tears on her wedding day and then heard that the same girl was the reluctant second in line to the throne you might think she wasn't strong enough to rule... but you'd be wrong. Mary was a young girl born to privilege, from the Royal line, heir to the throne of England, Scotland and Ireland - and destined to reign herself and change her country. She was brought up to believe in the God of the Bible rather than the fabricated teachings of priests. It was this personal faith that would be her strength as she left her homeland to marry and eventually to rule.

After a storm of tears and a rough sea crossing Mary's marriage to her first cousin became a love match. Both husband and wife trusted God and as the wind of history blew their circumstances and their future was changed dramatically. William and Mary of Orange influenced the religious and political environment of Great Britain and subsequently other democracies in ways that can still be seen today. Their Glorious Revolution resulted in one of the most important constitutional documents in English history - the Bill of Rights - where the powers of the sovereign were limited and the rights of Parliament and the rules for freedom of speech were set out; Liberties that have existed for centuries but still have to be defended.

About the Author

Linda Finlayson is a Canadian living in the Philadelphia area of the USA. She has enjoyed working with children in schools, churches and children’s clubs. Bringing together her love of books, children and history has given her the opportunity to write the adventure stories of real people. Linda is married and has one son.

"There is an odd notion among school children that history is boring, just full of dates and events. But in fact history is really about people and their stories. Their stories range from dramatic adventures to examples of quiet courage, from those who chose to pursue the good and those who did not. What a treasure chest for a writer to choose from, especially for children.

I write biographies and true adventure stories for children partly to entertain and partly to teach. There's nothing wrong with a fast-paced tale to keep a child focused on a book, and if they can be learning about their Christian heritage at the same time, all the better. There are many men and women in church history who can act as inspiring examples to our children, and it is my hope to make them accessible through my books.

I have enjoyed working with children in schools, churches and children's clubs, and these ministry opportunities have inspired me to bring together my love of books, children and history." - Linda Finlayson