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More copies of this ISBN:This title in other formats:Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuartby John Guy
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:The eminent British historian John Guy has unearthed a wealth of evidence that upends the popular notion of Mary Queen of Scots as a femme fatale and establishes her as the intellectual and political equal of Elizabeth I. Guy draws on sources as varied as the secret communiques of English spies and Mary's own letters (many hitherto unstudied) to depict her world and her actions with stunning immediacy. Here is a myth-shattering reappraisal of her multifaceted character and prodigious political skill. Guy dispels the persistent popular image of Mary as a romantic leading lady, achieving her ends through feminine wiles, driven by love to murder, undone by passion and poor judgment. Through his pioneering research, we come to see her as an emotionally intricate woman and an adroit diplomat, maneuvering ingeniously among a dizzying array of powerful factions — the French, the English, duplicitous Scottish nobles, and religious zealots — who sought to control or dethrone her. Guy's investigation of Mary's storied demise throws sharp new light on questions that have baffled historians for centuries, including whether or not Mary was framed for the murder she lost her throne over. 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. Book News Annotation:Guy (history, U. of Cambridge) turns to the original documents,
rather than relying on the familiar printed collections or edited
abstracts that are often compiled to perpetuate a particular legend
of Stuart (1842-87). He portrays her as a whole women whose choices
added up and whose decisions made sense, a shrewd and charismatic
young ruler who relished power and managed to hold an unstable
country together for a time.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Review:"Guy's scholarly biography, as enthralling as a detective
story, provides a wider vision of Tudor history and shows
with stunning clarity how the historical narrative was
shaped." Gerard Kilroy, The New York Times Book Review Review:"[A] detailed account of the familial, political and religious machinations of the forces swirling around the queen." Publishers Weekly Review:"A spirited and satisfying life of Mary....Guy's account has all the twists and turns of a good thriller — and plenty of horror, too." Kirkus Reviews Synopsis:Eminent British historian Guy has unearthed a wealth of evidence that upends the popular notion of Mary Queen of Scots as a femme fatale and establishes her as the intellectual and political equal of Elizabeth I. Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments xi Genealogies xiv Maps xvii Prologue 1 1. The First Year 12 2. The Rough Wooings 27 3. Arrival in France 41 4. Adolescence 54 5. Education 67 6. A Dynastic Marriage 82 7. Betrayed Queen 97 8. Return to Scotland 113 9. Into the Labyrinth 128 10. A Meeting Between Sisters 143 11. A Search for a Husband 163 12. “My Heart Is My Own” 178 13. A Marriage of Convenience 194 14. Enter Bothwell 210 15. A Marriage in Trouble 224 16. Assassination One 238 17. Reconciliation 252 18. Plot and Counterplot 269 19. Assassination Two 285 20. A Love Match? 302 21. Dénouement in Scotland 323 22. Mary’s Story 341 23. Bothwell’s Story 359 24. The Lords’ Story 373 25. Casket Letters I 384 26. Casket Letters II 405 27. Captive Queen 424 28. An Ax or an Act? 446 29. Nemesis 464 30. The Final Hours 483 Epilogue 488 Chronology 501 Notes 506 Bibliography 530 Index 542 Illustration Credits 582 What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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