Margaret George (born 1943) is an American historical novelist specializing in epic fictional biographies. She is known for her meticulous research and the large scale of her books. She is the author of the bestselling novels The Autobiography of Henry VIII (1986), Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles (1992), The Memoirs of Cleopatra (1997), Mary, Called Magdalene (2002), Helen of Troy (2006), Elizabeth I (2011), The Confessions of Young Nero (2017), and The Splendor Before the Dark (2018). Several of these novels were New York Times bestsellers and the Cleopatra novel was made into an Emmy-nominated ABC-TV miniseries in 1999. Helen of Troy (2006) incorporates the whole myth cycle of the Trojan War and its aftermath, weaving together all the different strands of the story. Elizabeth I (2011) focuses on the later years of her life, a period neglected by most popular novels, although it showcases the enigmatic queen's personality very strongly. It begins with the Armada in 1588 and ends with her death in 1603. She has also co-authored an illustrated children's book about tortoises with Christopher Murphy, DVM, titled Lucille Lost (2006). The Confessions of Young Nero (2017) and its continuation, The Splendor Before the Dark (2018) tell the story of the artist-emperor' brief but legendary life, from A.D. 37-68. Margaret's knowledge of ancient medicine, acquired through her background in biology and her research on Cleopatra, Mary Magdalene, Helen of Troy, and Nero, has led to her speaking on the subject at various venues. Her favorite is discussing the chemistry of the fatal snakebite and Cleopatra, illustrating the erroneous depictions in film and paintings. Works The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers (1986) Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles (1992) The Memoirs of Cleopatra (1997) Mary, Called Magdalene (2002) Helen of Troy (2006) Lucille Lost (2006) Elizabeth I (2011) The Confessions of Young Nero (2017) The Splendor Before the Dark (2018) References External links Biography at Fantastic Fiction Profile in January Magazine Interview in Author magazine Top 10 Historical Fiction Authors at Washington Independent Review of Books 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American historical novelists American women novelists 1943 births Living people Writers of historical fiction set in antiquity Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period Stanford University alumni Tufts University alumni People from Nashville, Tennessee Writers from