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Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
 
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Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles (Paperback)

by Margaret George (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles + The Autobiography of Henry VIII + The Memoirs of Cleopatra
Price For All Three: £19.44

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Product details

  • Paperback: 880 pages
  • Publisher: Pan Books; New Ed edition (26 Nov 1993)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0330327909
  • ISBN-13: 978-0330327909
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 4.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 61,881 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Synopsis

Mary became Queen of Scotland only six days after her birth and by her 18th birthday she had been married, widowed, had lost one throne and been named by the Pope for another. Months later she set sail to take her place as queen of Scotland. This novel is a recreation of her life and times.

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Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
54% buy the item featured on this page:
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles 3.9 out of 5 stars (13)
£6.48
The Autobiography of Henry VIII
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Promising beginning but flags later, 18 April 2003
By A Customer
I found the beginning of the novel absolutely engrossing, and it remained consistently superb until Mary's romance with Bothwell began after which it seriously flagged and became laborious and heavy-going. The last part of the book was good but nowhere near the literary brilliance that had characterised the first-half.

The characterisation of Elizabeth I was particularly engaging - and rather than seeing her as 'King Henry's daughter' George deliberately, yet subtlely, plays upon the similarities between Elizabeth and her mother, Anne Boleyn - who is as shrewd, flirtatious and determined as Elizabeth herself. The characters of John Knox and Henry Darnley are also believable if not entirely accurate.

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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If only history classes had been like this!, 9 Aug 2000
By A Customer
Mary...is one of the best historical novels I have read. Margaret George has a real gift for communicating the past in such a way that you can smell and taste it. I particulary admired the way in which she portrays the story between Mary and Bothwell, the latter usually stereotyped as a rapist and self-seeking git! Perhaps he was like that, we will never know for certain of course, but she has created a really touching love story, She really shows Mary to be a sensual woman ruled by her emotions, which seems to fit with her actions, but she is also shown as a noble and brave woman, who had to deal with the patriarchy around her at a very young age, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Mary's story.
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14 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Sad...or Stupid.... depends on your point of view., 10 Sep 2004
By laineyf "widnes" (warwickshire) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
Having read the Autobiography of King Henry VIII by Margaret George, I had high hopes for this, being fascinated by the story of Mary Queen of Scots, as most people are. I enjoyed the story very much, though it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. I thought the whole Bothwell thing was sort of glossed over to be honest, and was hoping for a more in-depth look at their relationship, and was surprised that the casket letters were mentioned in passing really. However, I thought the relationship (or lack of) betweeen Mary and Elizabeth was rivetting! I find it incredible that Elizabeth did nothing for so long, refusing to meet Mary, and letting her live even though she knew about the plots that she was involved in. Having said that, I appreciate that she could not condone the killing of a monarch, in case it gave any of her subjects an idea! Imprisoning Mary for all that time was in fact, more cruel than executing her, I feel. I know that the general feeling was that Mary sacrificed all for love, but did she really? She had no qualms about the killing of Darnley, she would not listen to advice, she was more than happy to take a married man as her lover, though she knew it could cost her the throne of Scotland, and her son, James. At times, I thought she made some horrendous mistakes, particularly when she decided to turn to Elizabeth for help instead of to France, where she had dower lands, and relations. Did she really expect help from Elizabeth after quartering the arms of England, and declaring herself Queen? She was either very naive, or very stupid. She did seem to blame everything but herself for her misfortunes, and at times I felt that I could have slapped her!! However, there is no doubt that hers was a very sad story, and she did have more than her fair share of grief. I think that no matter what, Mary Queen of Scots would not have reigned long anyway, she had too many enemies, and seemed to have a knack of making more without even trying.

Elizabeth comes out of this book as a bit of a ditherer, being unable to sign Marys' death warrant, and then, when she did, and sentence was carried out, blaming everyone but herself. I think the rivalry between the two women was far too great for them to ever meet, as neither one of them would have wanted to accede to the other, both being enigmas in their own right. Mary was a woman in a mans world, as was Elizabeth, but I think that Elizabeth was far more able to deal and double deal than Mary, and that is one of the reasons that one was a success and one a failure. That and the fact that Elizabeth used her head,....... and Mary lost hers.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
This book is everything that Sharon Penman's Sunne in Splendour isn't. There's breathing space for the reader to use their own imagination.
Published 23 months ago by HBMAN

1.0 out of 5 stars Warped.
Anyone who knows amout Mary, Queen of Scots knows that this book is total garbage.
The review below is a poor copy of what is already in the Amazon description and should... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by Scottie

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction at its Best
Margaret George was born in Nashville Tennessee. When not continuing research for her novels in such places as Egypt, Rome, Israel and England she lives with her husband in... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by J. Chippindale

3.0 out of 5 stars A confusing woman - an unhelpful book.
Mary Queen of Scots made so many ill-informed choices in her life that it is difficult to feel sympathy for her. Read more
Published on 6 May 2007 by Alexandra Coke

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
I read this book after I had read 'The Autobiography of Henry VIII' and 'The Memoirs of Cleopatra' I must admit I prefer these two however at that this was still a gripping read... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by J. Howell

2.0 out of 5 stars Depressingly bland
Not recommended. No style, no character, historically dubious. Nothing going for it at all.
Published on 11 Oct 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant mix of history and fiction
If only my history lessons had been like this! I was hooked from the first page and it was great to read a bit more about Mary's early life in France than you normally get in... Read more
Published on 12 April 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, moving book!
The best book so far I have read among biographies of Mary Queen of Scots. Well researched, a perfect blend of fiction and historical prose, of which history prevails. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 1999 by oamazonka

5.0 out of 5 stars just superb!!
This book just left me wanting more from Margaret George. If you enjoy 'faction' you will love this. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars a highly recommended historical novel
I found this historical novel both fascinating and engrossing. George truly brings Mary to life; her character becomes human instead of a name in a history book. Read more
Published on 6 May 1998

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