Mary Queen of Scots passed her childhood in France and married the Dauphin to become Queen of France at the age of sixteen. Widowed less than two years later, she returned to Scotland as Queen after an absence of thirteen years. Her life then entered its best known phase: the early struggles with John Knox and the unruly Scottish nobility; the fatal marriage to Darnley and his mysterious death; her marriage to Bothwell, the chief suspect, that led directly to her long English captivity at the hands of Queen Elizabeth; the poignant and extraordinary story of her long imprisonment that ended with the labyrinthine Babington plot to free her, and her execution at the age of forty-four.
Mary Queen Of Scots
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In this classic, very readable biography, now available in a new edition, Antonia Fraser does full justice to a fascinating woman. (WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY )
More books have been written about Mary, Queen of Scots than almost any other being, yet few have matched Fraser's for elegance, sophistication and soul. (Rosemary Goring HERALD )
Mary's tragic story...is told with authority and compassion. (CHOICE )
The poignant descriptions of her long imprisonment are both moving and detailed and reveal just why the book became an international bestseller. (HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
More books have been written about Mary, Queen of Scots than almost any other being, yet few have matched Fraser's for elegance, sophistication and soul. (Rosemary Goring HERALD )
Mary's tragic story...is told with authority and compassion. (CHOICE )
The poignant descriptions of her long imprisonment are both moving and detailed and reveal just why the book became an international bestseller. (HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Book Description
Antonia Fraser¿s bestselling biography of one of the most romantic and controversial figures in British history.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By SMG
Format:Paperback
I have been fascinated by Mary, Queen of Scots, since I first heard about her in a history lesson when I was about 9 years old. I was very shocked by the fact that she was executed, partly because she was a queen and partly because she was a woman. I felt that her fate was so unfair and have never come across anything to change that vivid first impression.
I loved this book about her. Antonia Fraser really brings her subject to life, truly a 3 dimensional portrait painted in words. This book is so full of detail, none of which feels unnecessary. There is no skipping bits because they are dull and/or irrelevant. I also got the impression that Antonia Fraser liked her subject, that she too had at some time felt distressed that this woman met such a horrible end, the culmination of a life spent largely in captivity. The author does a splendid job of conveying the frustration of Mary's position as a "guest" of Queen Elizabeth I.
This book is interesting and well-written. I find that even the most interesting history books and/or biographies often have dry sections that I skim but that wasn't the case at all with this particular book. There are long discussions of the moral and political issues surrounding Mary's captivity but they are written in such a way that they engage the reader. In some ways the author had a head start, given the subject matter. Even the bare bones of Mary's story are interesting but Antonia Fraser has certainly doen her subject justice.
I think this is one of the best historical biographies I have ever read. The subject comes alive and almost jumps out of the book. By the end of this book I felt like I had known Mary all my life and overall my impression of her was favourable. The detailed description of her last moments was difficult to read such was my sympathy for the vital woman described by the author. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in Mary, Queen of Scots. I have read many good books by Antonia Fraser but this one, to my mind, stands head and shoulders above the rest.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Fantastic amount of information. How did she manage to put it all together in the 1960s, before the days of word processors? But it's not an easy read, because the politics of Mary's time were complicated and it's hard to tell one of the Protestant lords from another if you don't know something about the period before you start. She does manage to bring Mary to life, though, without doing too much of the 'Mary must have thought...' or 'It probably occurred to her', which is the downfall of lesser biographers. I like the way she gets faintly exasperated by her heroine without ever falling out of sympathy with her. It makes a change from so many biographers nowadays, who devote themselves to debunking their subjects. All in all, very impressive.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Antonia Fraser tackles the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, in this excellent biography. Written originally in the late sixties this book details every twist and turn in the fateful Queens life. Not only does it give step by step accounts of those famous episodes in Mary's life - her 3 marriages, 2 widowhoods, incarceration by Elizabeth I and execution - but it gives the reader an insight into Mary herself. After reading this book I feel that I know a lot more about Mary's personal thoughts and what exactly made her the person she was. This is mainly in part to the excellent research by the author but the way this is brought into an easily readable script makes this book compelling without being too heavy as some big historical biographies can be. I honestly cannot believe that any other biography on Mary would better this one and for that reason alone recoomend it to anyone interested in her life. However even if, as I did, you thought you knew her story I would still recommend the book as it is a cracking good story, kept at a good pace throughout that it reads like an historical novel.
There are plenty of pictures to aid the text (although a map would of been a plus - to show locations of some the events in her life) and I learnt that Crichton castle, near where my brother used to live, has a part to play in her story which surprised me.
A must read.
There are plenty of pictures to aid the text (although a map would of been a plus - to show locations of some the events in her life) and I learnt that Crichton castle, near where my brother used to live, has a part to play in her story which surprised me.
A must read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
My feedback on this book
Very informative and easy to read, the author has done her research very well. Due to my love of history, I ordered this book and am enjoying reading it.
Published 9 days ago by MRS LINDA A SWIFT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Written
Really well researched and I believe an accurate account of events at that time...Excellent...
Gives Mary Queen of Scots a voice.
Gives Mary Queen of Scots a voice.
Published 1 month ago by Ms Catherine Loban
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read
this is a great read and a must for all fans of the fascinating story of mary queen of scots.
Published 1 month ago by karen
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of her best books
Mary Queen of Scots was perhaps the unluckiest royal in history. Queen of France thanks to her marriage to Francis II, the physically weak boy-king she adored, she returned to her... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Boyd Hone
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
A great book on a fascinating subject. The only criticism is the author seems a bit in love with the Queen of Scots herself!
Published 5 months ago by bichlis
2.0 out of 5 stars
mary queen of scots
There is so much information on the background of Mary in this book, it makes your head spin and obviously can not remember who is who.
Published 6 months ago by sarah
4.0 out of 5 stars
DETAILED AND AUTHORITATIVE
Absolutely brilliant book.
Dense at places, but written to engage the reader in Mary and her life, you feel that you get to know her as you read. Read more
Dense at places, but written to engage the reader in Mary and her life, you feel that you get to know her as you read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Colin Moss
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent account of Mary's life
It is years since I have read this book and I have found it even more fascinating this time round. Not only is it thoroughly researched but it is a very good read as well. Read more
Published 14 months ago by M E Willoughby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Defintive review of the last Queen of an independent Scotland
The life story of Mary Queen of Scots, is tragic and intriguing.
Written first in 1972-This is certainly the definitive biography of Mary Queen of Scots, still an... Read more
Written first in 1972-This is certainly the definitive biography of Mary Queen of Scots, still an... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Gary Selikow
1.0 out of 5 stars
Jean plaidy's better
In this novel Mary is pure white queen and sad beautiful princess. I think this book as novel and not nonfiction.
Poor Mary has lot of enemy who is villains. Read more
Poor Mary has lot of enemy who is villains. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Hiragi00
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