"A book that will leave few readers unmoved."- San Francisco Chronicle She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a third glorious crown on her noble head. Instead, Mary Stuart became the victim of her own impulsive heart, scandalizing her world with a foolish passion that would lead to abduction, rape and even murder. Betrayed by those she most trusted, she would be ...
Read More
"A book that will leave few readers unmoved."- San Francisco Chronicle She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a third glorious crown on her noble head. Instead, Mary Stuart became the victim of her own impulsive heart, scandalizing her world with a foolish passion that would lead to abduction, rape and even murder. Betrayed by those she most trusted, she would be lured into a deadly game of power, only to lose to her envious and unforgiving cousin, Elizabeth I. Here is her story, a queen who lost a throne for love, a monarch pampered and adored even as she was led to her beheading, the unforgettable woman who became a legend for all time. Praise for Mary Queen of Scots "She was sometimes reviled as a scheming whore, sometimes revered as a misunderstood martyr. But she was invariably regarded as fascinating. Antonia Fraser's richly readable biography demonstrates that Mary's great fascination continues unabated." -- Time "Compassionate, illuminating, rich in human interest." -- The New York Times "One of the most fascinating figures in history." -- The Columbus Dispatch "With grace, sensitivity, and a sharp eye for detail, lady Antonia Fraser has succeeded not only in recapturing the real Mary from the symbol but also in illuminating the chaotic age in which she lived." -- Newsweek
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. May have some shelf-wear due to normal use. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book is in good condition and may contain underlining or highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include library labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys dvds etc. We offer 100% money back guarantee and fast customer support.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Shows minimal wear such as frayed or folded edges, minor rips and tears, and/or slightly worn binding. May have stickers and/or contain inscription on title page. No observed missing pages.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. DELL 1971, fifth printing, (5476), Good reading copy, unmarked, heavy tanned pages, light water staining on lower section of first pages, spine creasing. We take great pride in accurately describing the condition of our books and media, ship within 48 hours, and offer a 100% money back guarantee. Customers purchasing more than one item from us may be entitled to a shipping discount.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Antonia Fraser is famous for writing historical biographies including the book about Marie Antoinette that Sofia Coppola?s 2006 movie was based on. This was her first biography published in 1969.
Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most polarizing figures in history. People either think she was a slattern, black widow or a Catholic martyr. Fraser definitely skews toward the latter, but she still manages to provide a great deal of interesting details. Mary was much maligned in her time mainly because she had the temerity to try to run the country she had been the anointed sovereign of since she was 6 days old and to insist on choosing her own husbands (only her second and third husbands, her first marriage was settled before she was even a year old). On the second point Fraser provides ample evidence that Mary actually thought she was following the advice of her advisors (Elizabeth of England and her half-brother Moray with her second husband and the lords of Scotland with her third).
Mary?s true flaws where in her stubbornness and her habit of blindly trusting people based on family connections even when they showed themselves to be primarily self interested. While it?s true that she did eventually plot against her cousin Elizabeth, Fraser makes clear that this was after she had been held in England for nearly twenty years against her will.
Overall it?s a well researched biography, but my one gripe is the number of untranslated French and Latin lines Fraser includes. It was annoying to have to stop an look up so many lines just to keep up with the story.