Geoffrey Trease is a well-known twentieth century poet and children's novelist. He has a prolific career which is dominated by his historical fiction. Revered for his candid approach to history for children, he presents historical settings in his novels more accurately than most other children's authors of his day. He disagrees with the conventions of his time which place children's literature in a rather inconsequential category. After reading Trease's novels, critics changed their flippant opinions about the genre. Consequently Trease released Tales Out of School in which he details his reasoning for treating the juvenile audience with respect and intelligence.
Trease writes about many different historical settings, engaging his readers with detailed descriptions and active participation in the conventions of the setting. His preoccupation with history doubtless is a result of his grandfather's influence, a modest historian. His books are also fairly inclusive, appealing to a wide audience including boys and girls.
Cue for Treason is no exception to Trease's traditional values. Set in Elizabethan England, the novel follows the adventures of two teenage boys as they meet William Shakespeare and attempt to save the Queen of England. Published in 1940, the book is Trease's best known contribution to the genre.
