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Summary: The poor doomed queen
Review: I chanced upon this book in a used bookstore in a little Ohio town and thought of my best friend who expressed she wanted to read it. Only, I read it first and couldn't put it down. Then it passed onto two more friends ~~ only they couldn't put it down. It is probably one of the best impulse buys I have ever made.Margaret George wrote an intensive book on the queen of Scotland, who was also related to Elizabeth I somewhat distantly. George did a great job of telling Mary's story ~~ a story of a rash, flighty woman who didn't stop to think before acting. Who thought with her emotions (such a different queen than her English cousin!) ~~ defied the normal conventions and rules set upon her by her advisors and did whatever she thought she wanted to do. Naturally, we all know how the story turns out in the end ~~ but George does a wonderful job of epicting "what might have happened" throughout this novel. And she does a wonderful job combining facts within the novel ~~ so you might pick up a few things here and there about Scottish history. For those of you who want to read about the royalty but are too intimidated to read the historical tomes, I suggest you read this one. It's long ~~ but the writing itself will keep you interested and propells you onto the way to learning more about history. When you finish the last page, you rest in confidence that you tackled such a hefty book ~~ and you walk away just a little smarter about history. If a book can get you to do that, then the praises should rest on George's head.
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Summary: This book started my love of reading....
Review: I loved this book. I could not put it down, or out of my mind. I read it about 5 years ago and still think about the story almost daily. It was not anything I would have normaly gotten to read for myself (a historical novel). I cant say enough about it, you get so involved in the lives and times its fantastic. I had great anxiety, knowing that I was getting to the end of the book and it would soon be over...You just dont want the book to end.......
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Summary: Mary - I know here better now!
Review: I really enjoyed this book, wish it were a little deeper, but I felt it was a light read (despite its size). Mary came to life for me. The story of her and Bothwell made me happy and sad. I felt they were real people, people who acted like we do today when it comes to love and dreams. I felt the same with her and Darnley. It is so sad that her end was what it was. This book has touched me and opened up Scots history to me, just at a time I was really becoming interested in it. A very good book!
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Summary: the tragic queen
Review: The sixteenth century saw many powerful women; Elizabeth I, Marie de Guise, Catharina de Medicis and Bloody Mary. One of the most interesting women as a subject of a novel is, however, Mary of Scotland. Although her power was limited and she lived in exile for nearly twenty years, lots of scandals surrounded this unlucky ruler - which is all more than enough for an interesting novel. From her birth in Scotland, her youth in France, her short reign in Scotland and her lengthy exile in England we get a complete and vivid picture of the 44 years that Mary she lived. We see how this unfortunate woman is always overshadowed by other people's lust of power. Her impulsive, naive decisions show her terrible judgment, which is the main reason why it all ends so horribly for Mary. Margaret George is a very talented novelist, and truly makes Mary comes alive. The book is long, but never boring, which is an achievement itself. In my opinion 'Mary, Queen Of Scotland & The Isles' is Margaret George's strongest work to date.
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Summary: a wonderful book
Review: I picked up this book after reading "cleopatra" and "Henry 8" (both of which i HIGHLY recommend). Once again, i was transported back in time and space to see a character who was infinitely flawed. mary was perhaps a little too naive, too trusting, and too impulsive. There were many moments i that i wished i could just reach out and throttle her; but then again, there were moments that my heart just broke for the realizations that she made. One can almost imagine how history would have been changed if she hadn't gone to Elizabeth thinking that Elizabeth remembered the promise she made to Mary, or if Mary had only THOUGHT before some of her actions. Great Britain would be a totally different place. There were many touching scenes in the book, and of course, one of those was the execution scene...it had me in tears. And then to follow that with the spirit's journey was a very powerful decision on Ms. George's part. To understand how someone can be so mislead, betrayed, loved, misunderstood and naive, just pick up this book. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Thoroughly Worth Reading
Review: George is one of the best historical writers of the last decade. This novel, like her other two, put the reader in the time period. Rather than a person looking back at the past it seems as though you are talking to Queen Mary. The novel's length just proves that this is a thorough book that examines one of history's most controversial women. Margaret George's writing style and technique are beautiful and well thought out. As a history freak this novel is excellent in its writing and George is an excellent storyteller. It is easy to make history seem dull but I don't think George could if she tried.
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Summary: A fresh perspective for those Mary enthusiasts
Review: I have a confession to make. Sometimes I wish I lived in the 16th century. Why? Because it was the Age of Mary. Forget about that Elizabeth chick, Mary Stuart was far more fascinating and infinately more tragic. I first became interested in her life when I visited Scotland for the first time, and her name rang throughout the halls of museums and castles. I bought several book about her, and the interest grew into an obsession. For someone who can cite exactly what was eaten in the Stuart household on a daily basis, I picked up Margaret George's novel with a rather skeptical air. What in the world could she possibly tell me about my Mary that I did not already know? As it turned out, Ms. George told me plenty. While not always strict to the facts of history, she spins a delicate tale that reminded me what drew me to Mary's story in the first place. I realized that I had become too obsessed with the facts, and had not considered the what ifs of the legend. George explores these areas in detail throughout her novel. Did Mary truly love Boswell, or was she forced to marry him? I'd always thought that she could not possibly have loved him, but George presented the other side of the coin and I found myself falling in love with him as I read, wholly believing that it was possible for my beloved Queen to have loved him as well. For the seasoned Mary scholar the book provides a fresh look at the mysteries that the facts cannot solve for us. George's speculations allowed me to fall in love with the myth all over again. For the newcomer to the Mary legend, the book is a good jumping off point. It peaks the curiousity and sparks a passion to learn more...
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Summary: One of the best books I've ever read.....
Review: I got so emotionally involved in Queen Mary's life and death that I actually cried at the end of the book. I just can't get Queen Mary's life and death out of my mind! This was a fantastic book that really made me feel as if I knew Mary and was a personal friend of hers. I think her biggest mistake was that she was soft-hearted to a fault. Pity for her that her "inner circle" was loyal one day and trying to steal her throne the next. Thank you Margaret George for this very inspiring novel! I"m planning to read all of the books that you've written as soon as I can get my hands on them.
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Summary: Good book-great author
Review: In this wonderful read, George does her best to use historical fact to explain some of the childish behaviour of Queen Mary of Scots. She begins when Mary is born. The book follows her to France and through the death of her first husband. It follows her from Queen of France to Queen of Scotland. George explains the strife between Queen Elizabeth and Mary, explains Mary's suspicion in her second husband's death, explains the rumour that her child (later to be King James) was from the wrong side of the sheets. A very catholic woman she managed to cause revolutions, mismanage a country, be kidnapped multiple times, have a world famous affair and adventually lose her head for loving the wrong man. This is a must read!! Only slightly better than George's Henry VIII and equally as good as Cleopoatra. This is a thick book...something to last the most avid reader at least a week.
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Summary: It may have been long, but it was worth it!
Review: I thought that this book was a very good way to brush up on my Scottish history. It explored and portrayed the characters well, and showed Mary as I had thought of her: well-meaning, with very poor judgement. It was rather lengthy, but I still did not find myself skipping pages. It kept the interest, and had excellent character development. The historical aspect was accurate, and was a good point of view to have learned. So often we just learn of Queen Elizabeth's killing of a conspirator ex-queen, rather than a real queen in a desparate situation
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