Mary Queen of Scots

It probably is unfair to compare the writing styles of Fraser and her counterpart, Alison Weir, but having just read what seems like a mountain of books by both of them, I can't help but do so and find Fraser ahead on some points, behind on others.Fraser has a methodical style wherein each sentence is so cram-packed with detail that her books probably improve on their second or third readings. She takes a comprehensive, relatively non-biased look at her subject here and provides an interesting biography of a woman who has been characterized as everything from a near saint to a scheming, treasonous viper who deserved her eventual beheading. While Weir seems to take the position that Elizabeth I was some beloved angel who eventually had to sully her hands and cut off the head of her cousin for national security, I think the truth is somewhere else, as does Fraser.In terms of historical accuracy, I think Fraser probably has the edge over Weir, notwithstanding both authors' impeccable research. Weir allows story to take precedence over fact, something that doesn't seem to happen as much with Fraser.Which brings me to my list of quibbles with this book. Fraser may write factually, but in doing so, she comes thisclose to having written a book every bit as dry as the ones I steered clear of in school. It was torture to get through some of the passages and I put the book down more than once, not to pick it up again for days. I wasn't compelled to finish the book and find out the rest of the story the way I was with Weir's.My second issue was with all of the passages in untranslated languages, French primarily. A few years ago, I'd say I spoke French fluently, but even I had to look up some of the phrases here. It wouldn't have hurt the narrative to provide a parenthetical translation for those of us not fluent in multiple languages who don't feel like getting up to run the thing through Babelfish. Intended or not, it gave the author an air of arrogance and was my main stumbling block to enjoying this book as fully as I wanted to.Overall, it was a detailed biography, probably as accurate as anything else that's out there, without the apparent author bias that's seen in Weir's book. This is not easy reading though; the story is unevenly written, overly laden with minutiae where it's not necessary and filled with passages and important comments that a lot of people won't even be able to decipher without help. I'd give it 4 stars for credibility, 2 for accessibility, for a final 3 stars overall.

The page and print quality is great. And the paperback is a perfectly floppy paperback. No worrying about cracking the spine of the book (if you’re like me). Love the book - first half is a bit slow, but it was a very interesting read and I learned a lot about MQS.

This is the second time I have read this book, the first being some years ago. It is even better the second time around. Every aspect of Mary's life is covered, from her childhood marriage to the French king, to her long imprisonment as her cousin, Queen Elizabeth's captive. The only thing I would quarrel with is the depiction of Bess of Hardwick, the Countess of Shrewsbury. She and her husband were in an impossible situation. Commanded to keep Mary captive by the English queen, they were aware that at any moment, the tables would turn, and Mary would become Queen of England. It was a difficult balancing act they had to do.Although the two queens never met, they were constantly in each other's thoughts. Elizabeth hesitated to kill Mary, yet each moment she lived, she posed a threat. She was a rallying point for conspiracy, and she knew it. She didn't have Elizabeth's guile or wariness at putting herself in danger. Ultimately, Elizabeth bowed to the inevitable and signed her death warrent.Now nearly 500 years later, she continues to weave a web of enchantment. Her final words, 'In me end is my beginning,' prove to be prophetic.

i am reviewing the physical book, Mary, Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser. as another commenter pointed out, some of these reviews do not appear to be for Fraser's book. some complained the book was too long. my copy is 555 pages long, not including the casket letters. i don't know how that constitutes a long book. another commenter stated the book was biased against Mary and held up Elizabeth as the glorious queen. that has to be a different book because Antonia Fraser is incredibly sympathetic to Mary and details at great length how she could NOT have been an adulterer with Bothwell, how she could NOT have known about the plot against Darnley, how the Casket letters were forged, and how she faced her death with great courage and dignity. i don't know what everyone else is reading, but if you're interested in the subject, start with Fraser's book. it's a fascinating tale of the very traumatic and sad life of this woman. i found it very moving and want to learn more about this period in history. thank you Ms. Fraser.

I initially purchased this book because I have been a fan of the series 'Reign', a fictionalized portrayal of Mary, and really wanted to see how the show matched up to history (despite the naysayers, a lot of it is true, but that's a different story). What I had intended as a comparison piece on historical fact actually turned into a page-turning, complex tale about a woman caught in the confines of duty and circumstance. There were times reading this book that I felt so emotionally attached to the titular figure that I was left, as the front of the book predicts, very moved. Fraser is a master historian, researcher and storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. As she often does, Fraser includes so much more than the average person would ever need to know about the Scottish queen, but that helped me personally understand her motives and intentions all the more. Though I did find a woman much different that 'Reign's lead heroine, I met an historical figure that will forever entrance, and enchant, me.

This book goes into Mary Queen of Scots life very in-depth she is very naïve and ruthless it’s a big book so I have only gotten so far but I am enjoying it

I've read a few biographies of Mary, Queen of Scots, but I would say that this one was the most balanced and credible so far. Antonia Fraser sees both the romantic, courageous and relatable side of Mary as well as acknowledges her many errors and missteps. She does it without passing patronising judgment on her and gets to the bottom of various forces conspiring for and against Mary.The author has the great ability of a natural-born historian to take the reader back in time rather than to try to bring the past into the twenty-first century.Mary comes across as a sympathetic human being, often alone in the world of men hellbent on manipulating and controlling her.

An excellent and obviously painstakingly researched book, which really hammers home the tragedy of Mary's life. The author is clearly very sympathetic to her cause but the objectivity of the account doesn't suffer for it in my opinion, although I admit I am also on Mary's side. She had nothing to lose by the time of the Babington Plot and was basically honeytrapped.It is long but (unlike the recent film), is very evenly weighted in terms of her early life, marriage to Darnley and his murder and her subsequent wrong turns and captivity. Even so you feel you could have read 20 more years such was the magnetism of Mary. I highly doubt this will ever stop being the only book you'll ever need to read about her.

I bought a second hand copy of the original hardback, with dust jacket for less than a fiver and it’s a real brick of a book.There are two saving graces; Antonia Fraser’s writing and the fact that Mary was such an interesting and remarkable lady. The research appears to be meticulous and at times, the level of detail can feel a little overwhelming. But stick with it because the story really deserves to be to,d and the insight into social life, court and politics is vibrant. Occasionally, there’s a little too much by way of personal detail about how she looked or what she was wearing, but I can forgive that overall as it adds to the realism of this truly sad story.It’s difficult to believe it’s 50 years since this was published and I regret not having read it many years ago. It’s timeless and captivating.

My mum’s favourite book of her early 20s, one that affected her so powerfully she can still quote scenes from it today – so of course when it showed up on a Kindle 99p deal of the day to tie in with the recent film release I was all over it. A challenging read at times, since everybody in 16th century Scotland had one of about four names or else was referred to by an honorific which was just, like, the name of a place down the road – plus, the author kept getting distracted from the history and losing herself in seemingly endless passages about the Queen’s milky-white features and glorious red hair. But: drama! intrigue! scandal! explosions! Catholicism! There was plenty in here to entertain.

I read this when it first came out.I re-read it before going to the Mary Queen of Scots exhibition in Edinburgh last year.It moved me to find out more about the Battle of Flodden (an event rarely spoken of) and I was able to see how this affected the Court Mary had to deal with.Would it have been better for her not to have gone to France as a child and stayed in Scotland?A tragic story, showing the mistakes and misconceptions on all sides.The chapter on her final hours was truly brutal.