It is the ancient days of the Persian Empire. Hadassah was content in her quiet life in the Jewish quarter of the city of Babylon with her uncle Mordecai, who had raised her from childhood. But she was old enough to be married, and yet her uncle hadn’t arranged a marriage for her. Meanwhile in Shushan, King Ahasuerus’ marriage to the vain and selfish Vashti has ended, and a new wife must be found. Why not bring to him the most beautiful women of the kingdom, and let him choose? And so the loveliest young women of the empire are selected in local contests, and Hadassah is among those chosen to go to Shushan to meet the King.But as a Jewess in a foreign land with powerful enemies to her faith, she must conceal her true identity and take the Babylonian name of Esther. Will she find love with a man she has never met? And can she survive in a strict royal court controlled by the evil prime minister Haman, who wants to destroy her people? Out of print for 40 years, this special edition contains the original text of "Behold Your Queen!" in a large, trade size paperback, suitable for collecting. The Gladys Malvern Collection (Part One) available in large paperback editions, and on Kindle: *Behold Your Queen! A Story of Esther *The Foreigner - A Story of Ruth *According to Thomas - A Story of the Apostle Thomas *Dear Wife - A Story of the American Revolution *Patriot's Daughter - The Story of Anastasia Lafayette Gladys Malvern was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 17, 1897, the daughter of Edward Malvern and Cora Lillian Malvern, a theater company wardrobe mistress. She was raised as a stage child by her mother in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California. Her younger sister Corinne was also an actress, artist and illustrator. Gladys Malvern appeared in Broadway plays and touring stock productions during the 1900-1920 time period. Malvern began publishing novels for young adults in the 1930s, and would produce more than 40 books, many of them illustrated by her sister Corinne, until the author's death in Weston, Connecticut in November of 1962. Used Book in Good Condition