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Summary: Making history enjoyable to learn
Review: Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I feel like I am learning about history with the fiction thrown in to make it fun. This book truly does that for me. George made me feel like I was there witnessing it all. The size of the book made me nervous, but I swept right through and was done long before some of those much shorter novels out there!
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Summary: Dull, Dull, Dull
Review: I think it was the most DULL book I have ever tried to read for fun.
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Summary: The Tragic Queen
Review: I am becoming a great fan of Margaret George. After I finished reading "The Memoirs of Cleopatra" and was left wanting more, I decided to read this book.The book follows the entire life of Mary, Queen of Scots in such a compelling and personal way that it makes you truly feel for Mary and her companions. It is extremely well written, based on fact (the amount of research that must have gone into writing this can only be staggering), and a great read from beginning to end. I could not put this book down, and was sorry when I finished it. I highly recommend this book, as well as "The Memoirs of Cleopatra" and "The Autobiography of Henry VIII, with notes by his fool Wil Somers", which were both equally riveting.
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Summary: I couldn't take it anymore...
Review: I love to read, and have sometimes read a novel in one sitting, staying up all night to do so. I only made it to page 78 of this 870 page novel, and I consider that quite a feat. I just couldn't take it anymore. The author obviously did a lot of research, and the historical setting and customs were very interesting. However, the characters just weren't very beleivably presented - especially Mary. The author had Mary thinking and saying things as a child that a child just wouldn't think or say. For example, when Mary is 3, she gets lost in the castle. An older boy offers to lead her out, but wants a medallion she is wearing in exchange for his help. Mary says, "I cannot give it to you. I treasure it." When he turns to leave, she realizes that her only logical alternative is to give in and let him have it. As he is unpinning it from her, she thinks, "...he must have eyed it for a long time, since he knew how to unfasten it in the dark..." What 3-year-old, royalty or not, would say or think those things? What 3-year-old would give in to his demand based on logic rather than launch into a screaming tantrum of some sort? It goes on like that throughout her childhood. I kept re-reading passages to see if the story had skipped ahead to adulthood and I had missed it, but it had not. The introduction of historical information is not always well woven into the story, either. In the short amount that I read, the author mentioned numerous times that Mary liked Scottish music to the point where I was thinking, "Okay, I get it - she likes Scottish music. Get on with the story." I was highly disappointed with this book. I gave it two stars instead of 1 because of the research that went into it.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: This is an exceptional historical novel. It has attached an emotional context around the period of the Reformation and the alliances between France, England, Scotland and the relationships between the royal families. I have a clearer understanding of the history now and feel this novel has made the nonfiction more accessible, i.e. a less daunting task since I have a basic foundation for family names and chronology, etc.
Except for a hundred or so pages in the middle which stepped too near a bodice-ripper description of the romance with Hepburn, casting a shadow over the intellectual draw of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The story is truly intriguing.
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Summary: Wonderful author and wonderful book!
Review: Margaret George is one of the very best in her field of historical biography...especially when handling such fascinating women as Mary, Queen of Scots. A juicy and thoroughly satisfying read...add it to your library!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book!
Review: I've read all of M. George's books (this one plus Henry VII and Cleopatra) twice. This book was wonderful. Though it's long, the way it's written will make it a page-turner and you won't realize you've read 150 pages. I learned so much about Queen Mary, Scottish history and the Reformation that I now continue to read books on the subject. No other book seems to compare to M. George's books, though. A. Wier definately comes close. M. George's style is captivating and makes the reader want to know more. I, too, cried at the end of this book, even though I knew the ending-- a nother reason why this book is a "must read" for anyone wanting to learn about Mary Queen of Scots.
Rating: 
Summary: Very well-researched, but disappointing as a novel
Review: I was very excited about reading this book, and I commend the author on her excellent research and insight into her main character. I learned a lot. However, as a novel, I think it lacks something. I don't think this lack is because the ultimate outcome is known from the onset--that's a staple of historical fiction. I think it is that Mary is a somewhat flat and unappealing character here. One other reviewer said that she is a potentially stong woman who makes collossally bad decisions, and I think that is a very wise comment. She is hard to become emotionally connected with, and the Lords, her political adversaries, and sometimes cartoonish in their villany. I stopped reading about two-thirds of the way through and skimmed the rest before returning the book to the Library.
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Summary: One of the better novels on Mary's life
Review: Margaret George has a gift for describing historical circumstance. She paints a very vivid picture of Mary, Queen of scots in this novel. You get a great feeling for her life while she was at the court of France and Scotland. She is convincing in her descriptions of the state of mind Mary was in when she made her life changing decisions. What really lets what would otherwise be an outstanding book down was her portrail of Mary's life during her in prison in England. This period of her life is delt with rather sketchily and the people she had to interact with are kept to a minimum despite the fact that she delt with some of the most powerful people in England (even though she was in Prison). This is a well written novel for Mary's court life, but not a really balanced view. But despite this, I still think it is one of the better novels on her that I have read.
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Summary: A woman's courage and strength
Review: I checked this book out from the library some years ago. I wasn't able to finish it because of time constraints and my leaving for college. Yet, it remained at the back of my mind. I felt the need to finish it so when I saw it in the store, I bought it. This is the kind of book where if you can get past the first 50-100 pages without being bored (and there are some 750-800 plus pages after that!), you will not put it down. This is a compelling story of a woman who was a colossally poor decision maker. You will find the struggles she encounters heart wrenching. You will also feel yourself buoyed up by her sheer sense of will. The novel, and Mary herself, exudes passion and intellect. The story is well-crafted and weaves a tale of the unfortunate queen caught helplessly in the battle of religion and politics. Mary, the Queen of Scotland and the Isles, is a sympathetic character, but one you will not pity. From the portrayal in this novel, she wouldn't want to be pitied either. She shows strength, character, and courage. Any reader will enjoy digging into this tome. It is stimulating and captivating good read.
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