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Summary: A reader in Pasadena, Maryland
Review: M. George has really put a presence in her novel of this intriguing character. Mary, Queen of Scotland is truly an enigmatic woman as well as ruler. Her life is truly shaded in plot after plot, intrigue after intrigue which M. George carefully tells in her story. However, in doing so, she has whitewashed this particular monarch and cleared her of suspicion. But this book is a must read for anyone who loves a great story of intrigue. M. George tells her story, as best as can be understood, through all of the "high roads" and "low roads" of this Scottish and French Queen. It is worth a careful inspection.
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Summary: An unbiased look at Mary
Review: I gave this book only 4 stars, because it does drag a bit at times, but I have to say I found Mary's story as told here so tragic it was difficult to keep reading sometimes. This is a beautifully written novel.
It's interesting to note the opinions people have of Mary even now. There's a "Victim or villain?" question still attatched to her, which is one reason why I think I enjoyed this book so, because I think the answer readers are given is probably as close to the truth as you can get: really, she was neither. She was actually kind of a silly woman. She seems to have no idea what consequences her actions might have. Ms. George states in her Afterword that she believes this to be the case, and I do agree with her. She wasn't really a victim, because she brought much of her troubles on herself, but not really a villain, either, because she didn't really mean any harm to anyone. It's this dichotomy, along with George's wonderfully detailed portrayal of the age in which Mary lived, that makes this book one that stays with you long after you have finished it.
A great book about a woman who probably should have been a nun, rather than a Queen, who you root for even as you are amazed by her blindness to fact.
Rating: 
Summary: A worthwhile read, but too drawn-out
Review: Margaret George has obviously done a lot of research, and this book is a worthwhile introduction to the life and times of Mary, Queen of Scots. I was thoroughly engrossed for a good 500 pages. At a certain point, however, the events become quite predictable, and the descriptions are all the same. We lose all the interesting characters (except Mary), but alas, still 300 pages to go! These last pages are incredibly tedious. All they contain could have been condensed a bit more, which would have made the book far more tolerable. My advice: read the first half, then skim the rest.
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Summary: Magnificent!
Review: If you love history-based novel, this is a must read book. I was so into the book that I cried while I was reading. Once you start reading it, you will find that it's so hard to put this book down. Thanks Margaret George for bringing back Mary, Queen of Scots to life at least in the heart of the readers.
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Summary: Did not live up to expectations
Review: Mary Queen of Scotland was not the novel I had hoped it would be. I previously enjoyed Marget George's "Autobiography of Henry the VIII" tremendously and had great expectations of this work. But, whereas "Henry VIII" was inventive in concept and brilliant in execution, "Mary" is told in a straight forward narrative style that soon became predictable rather than engrossing. The cast of characters, particularly the Scottish nobles, became a blur for me, in which it was difficult to keep track of the shifting loyalties and enmities - after a few hundred pages, I found that any one clan name could have been substituted in a paragraph for another, without changing the context, meaning or flow of the narrative. As well, I found that the desriptive passages had a repetitive tone that seemed to lull the senses into complacency, in spite of Ms. George's well researched attention to detail. Notwithstanding these criticisms, Mary's story is one that is fascinating and ultimately tragic. This book does help put into context a very muddled historical period in a serviceable manner. I would not suggest the book be avoided, but I would recommend it as a moderate read at best.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book was lengthy but well worth it. I am not familiar with the complete historical context, but the book told a grat story and allowed you to really get to know the characters. I couldnt put it down and kept me interested every second. Its definitely worth the read!!!
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Summary: Too much information....but good overall
Review: First off, this book is EXTREMELY well researched! The work put into this is mind boggling! I thought it flowed very well, and hated having to put it down. Then they began... the very graphic intimate scenes. If detailed scenes are not you cup of tea, it's best to skip over them. Be warned, there is a rape scene between Darnley and Riccio... filled with plenty of detail, maybe more than necessary. It portrays Mary as neither weak or strong, but as human. She has her strengths and weaknesses, and I thought they were well portrayed If you don't like sex scenes, skip over, the rest of the book is a great read. The book could really do without all the intimate information.
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Summary: Wasted potential...
Review: What a disappointment! The book starts out very good, and it's thoroughly engaging, but then George spoils herself (and the book, and the reader, and your appetite) with a series of sex scenes that are neither necessary nor remotely appropriate. Worst of all was the gay rape scene (yes, you read that right). The worst part was the utterly charming ending---why did she have to ruin it with such lewd descriptions? It felt as though you were suddenly reading some kind of sleazy novel. Very upsetting.
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Summary: Candle in the Wind
Review: My whole family has read this one. James Hamilton, Earl of Arran was regent of Scotland when Queen Mary was a babe, and was next in succession to the crown by virtue to his marriage to a Stuart, sister to Queen Mary's father. So this tale has special meaning to us, although we have few clues as to who our ancestors were prior to 1780. I have to add, too, that there are bad apples in every family; there were probably as many bad Hamiltons as Stuarts, etc.! And I probably have as much Stuart blood flowing through my veins as Hamilton; these two families intermarried quite a lot. Poor Queen Mary and what a nasty cousin too, (Elizabeth I)!! (So that reveals my bias). I'm not too fond of the Tudors; however, upon reading George's Henry VIII, I must admit that he did have some outstanding abilities. Personally, historical novels, are my favorite books, and Margaret George does such a fine job researching her stories and is a wonderful story-teller too. Surely, this is one of the more famous, tragic stories of the Scots. I rarely cry reading books, but the ending of this book really got to me. This Scottish tragedy is truly remarkable, almost forcing one to contemplate on the political finaglings going on and how the role of the church, Catholic vs. Calvinist (Scottish Presbyterianism) really complicated matters. And, surely, tales like these, engendered dreams of separation of church and state much earlier than the times of James Madison and others.
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Summary: A Queen Without a Country
Review: This book tells of a fair,young Queen. Going to France to excape Henry IIV and her protestant country.Her Mother rules Scotland while Mary goes offto France for a different life.She soon Marrys the French Dauphin Francois. Only a year after they were married the became King and Queen of France.But sodenly He dies of a ear infection.She goes to scotland and soon Marrys Lord Henry Darnley. They have a Child named James. (he is going to rule Scotland And England). But than his Father dies in a horribal death. Her Lover Bothwell Is accusied of the murder. And runs away while she while she is put in prison .When she gets out she finds out that her brother was the cause of this. Her Husband Bothwell or James Hepburn is in jail in denmark. He is killed as he was trying to flee back to scotland. So she goes to London into the Mercy of Queen Elizabeth. But that is for you to find out. Well I loved this book as I love every book about Mary. Ms.George has made some of the greatest books and I Think this is the greatest.I have been to Scotland and to Striling And Edinburgh Castels.Ihave seen the very room she slept in and the very room Darnley slept in.I Have seen the Royal Chaple. But im not going to tell you any more you'll have to go there and find out your self.But this book if Highly Recommened for those who are in to Romance,sex,Adventure,or even for a different type of book
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