Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley

Rating:
Summary: Get it from the Library...
Review: Alison Weir has often written books that sell rather widely. She is a decent writer, and upholds a strong narrative voice which - let's face it - many scholarly writers of history lack. Perhaps this is her greatest strength. It is a pity, however, that her facts are muddled and manipulated beyond recognition. Even pop history should make some attempt at accuracy beyond the well known details.
In the case of this book, Weir's research and knowledge of France is horribly lacking. Mary's childhood in France is very important to Weir's vision of Mary's adult characteristics - but at several points she makes embarrasingly incorrect statements or assumptions on both French royalty and French culture. To be frank, I felt like putting down the book after about 30 pages.
As for her analysis of the murder itself: It is clear that Weir is more comfortable with telling a story than with historical analysis. As I've mentioned above, she's a great writer, but I found nothing original or telling about her version of a rather well-known historical episode. Instead of giving the affair any historical importance, it is played out rather like a murder mystery.
In short, I have no problem with history as written by those not necissarily in the academic profession. Often these books bring more interest to the field than, let's say, Dr. Soandso from University X. On the other hand, it would perhaps bring more credability to non-academic historians if those like Weir were to truly research the context into which her historical snippit is placed.

Rating:
Summary: Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Review: Alison Weir's "Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley" is not the best of her popular histories, but it is still a well-written, copiously researched piece that despite its length goes along at a brisk pace. Weir defends her decision to write a detailed set-up to the murder of Darnley from the outset, and does so in great detail, most of it truly pertinent to the case.

However, what it comes down to -- as it so often does with Mary -- is the question of the Casket Letters. Weir discounts their authenticity vehemently and exonorates Mary of any complicity in her husband's death. This begs the big issue of Mary's character as a ruthless schemer, brought up in Machiavellian France, losing her head over plots against Elizabeth. Weir makes a case here, but does not convince nor provide new interpretations of old evidence.

If you are a Marian, this book will add ample fuel to your fire. If you are not, the last sentence will make you gasp in righteous indignation.

Rating:
Summary: Another Fine Weir History
Review: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir is exactly what the title promises. That should not be a surprise but, as the book is almost six hundred pages long, it is a bit suprising. I was expecting much more tangential information to fill out the story but the author has kept the focus sharp and drives the narrative forward in a clean straight line. This is everything one will ever need to know about the murder of Lord Darnley and in that respect the book is entertaining, informative and will be a wonderful addition for all Alison Weir fans. The only caveat is that the book could have used a little more editing in spots, particularly where the author drives home her points repeatedly. This is not the best Tudor-period history book that Alison Weir has written , of which there are many and all are recommended highly, but is still much better than most out there.

Rating:
Summary: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley
Review: This book is very well written and has a strong voice behind it, but definitly puts the authenticity of the Casket Letters in a bad light. Overall the author did very thorough research for this book and it is packed with hundreds of details of everything from the murder to the Casket Letters. An interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: Good, Entertaining Story
Review: This is a hard one to write about. On one hand, I don't have any particular emotional attachment to whether or not Mary, Queen of Scots, was involved in her abusive husband's death-- I'd probably think more of her if she had been. On the other hand, there is a lot of criticism of Alison Weir's historical research.

I honestly suggest that if you like an interesting bit of popular history speculation about an odd (if ultimately significant) event in Scottish history that this book can provide a few diverting hours. There's also extensive footnotes and a bibliography if you want to check her sources and draw your own conclusions.

Personally, I always liked the theory that Elizabeth I dangled Darnley in front of Mary knowing she would snap at such attractive bait and end up with a weak and dissolute husband, who would keep the political situation in Scotland in turmoil and the power effectively in the hands of Mary's Protestant advisers. Weir discusses the various aspects of the negotiations between Elizabeth and Mary about Mary's marriage but doesn't plump down on one side or the other of this theory--of course that's only a sidelight of a very complex political and religious situation.

So if you aren't emotionally attached already to a theory about Darnley's death or Mary's personality and you have a few hours to spend reading, this would be a pleasant book to pass the time with.