Queen of Scots
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
An intimate, myth-shattering new biography of Mary Queen of Scots by a premier historian that draws on a trove of newly discovered sources.Queen of Scots, the first full-scale biography of Mary in more than thirty years, offers a singularly novel, nuanced, and dramatic portrait of one of history’s greatest women.
John Guy draws on sources -- many previously unstudied -- as varied as the secret communiques of English spies and Mary's own letters.
Dispelled is the ingrained popular image of Mary as a romantic leading lady, achieving her ends through feminine wiles, driven by love to murder, undone by passion and bad judgment. We come to see her as an emotionally intricate woman and an adroit diplomat, maneuvering ingeniously among a dizzying array of factions who sought to control or dethrone her. Guy's investigation of Mary's storied downfall throws sharp new light on questions that have baffled historians for centuries, and offers convincing new evidence that she was framed for the murder for which she was beheaded.
John Guy
John Guy is an award-winning historian; an accomplished broadcaster; a fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge; and the author of Mary Queen of Scots, which won the Whitbread Award for Biography and the Marsh Biography Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for Biography. He has contributed to numerous BBC programs and has written for the Sunday Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the Mail on Sunday, the Economist, the Literary Review, the Times Literary Supplement, and the London Review of Books.
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Reviews for Queen of Scots
28 ratings8 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a history of the world in which Mary Queen of Scot's was born into, lived her life in and eventually died in. The Renaissance of Europe. Although this is not an historical novel, by the end of the first chapter it had that feeling. Although the book is full of quotes, cites, etc., it is written in more of a narrative style than many other histories I have read. The reader does not need to have a strong background in Renaissance Europe (esp. Scotland, France, & England), the author, John Guy, is quite masterful at integrating needed historical knowledge with the story at hand. This history not only tells the story of Queen Mary, but much of Queen Elizabeth and her court, the French court (with whom Queen Mary had strong familial ties), etc. It is well worth the time... I found reading this story extremely enjoyable!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of the few books about Marry Quuen of Scots that doesn't paint her out to be a woman ruled by her passions. Very well researched and balanced story of her life and death.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A concise, easy-to-read, and very manageable biography of Mary Stuart.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a very thorough and interesting account about Mary Queen of Scots. The author, John Guy, attempts to answer the questions of the murder of her husband Lord Darnley, the marriage of Mary to Bothwell, and her plots against Elizabeth I. The author depicts Mary not as a "femme fatale" as many other historians have. He believes that she did not conspire to murder her husband. What is interesting is the extent to which the author explains the plot against Darnley and the whole marriage to Bothwell. He shows it from Mary's side, the lords' sides, and Bothwell's side.This is a long read (500 pages) but it is well worth it. John Guy is an exceptional writer and he sheds light on this very intriguing topic of Mary Queen of Scots who became queen as an infant and was beheaded after 18 years in captivity under Elizabeth I.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Another book/audio I wouldn't have picked up had it not shown up at my library page. I really enjoyed this book, I'm no expert on non-fiction but I am not always entertained when reading it in the case of Queen of Scots I was rarely distracted while listening because most of what I knew of Mary was somewhat romanticized by the film adaptations I've seen in the past. There were times while listening when I felt the author (and narrator) were somewhat painting Mary's decisions favorably, but this it's not the first time I encounter this problem when it's a historical figure. I suppose that if a person is invested enough in a historical figure to write a book it is because they are interested in them. Still, it's hard to overlook at times. It's not a long audio, and it's very to the point which I appreciate. I'd definitely keep an eye for more John Guy books in the future.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive! So little has changed despite our allusion of democracy. Our willingness, not only to tolerate, but to endow goverments and Christianity as covers for our guilt only increases our displays of our inherent evil. I don't know that ANY AUTHOR could have done very well with this tale of self inflicted woe. Royalty's youth is prominent.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Though abridged, this book and audio performance are stunning. Highly recommended!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5a complicated history easily explained in a clear manner, good