The Beggar Queen
First edition | |
| Author | Lloyd Alexander |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Westmark trilogy |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Published | 1984 (E. P. Dutton) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 235 (first, hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-440-90548-6 (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | The Kestrel |
The Beggar Queen (1984) is a speculative fiction novel by American author Lloyd Alexander. It is the third and last book in the Westmark trilogy. The authoritarian Cabbarus has returned to Westmark and Theo and Queen Mickle, along with their allies, plot a revolution. Upon their victory, Mickle declares a republic and goes into exile with her new husband Theo and their old friends Count Las Bombas and Musket the dwarf.
Lloyd Alexander noted that the book was inspired by several different sources, including the paintings of Francisco Goya and key figures in the French Revolution. As The Beggar Queen was released, publications from Boys' Life to New Directions for Women praised it. It has come under some critique for its heavy subject matter and complex plot, but has also received recognition as a "serious look at revolution and its difficulties and consequences."