Mary Stuart: Queen of Scots
Last updated: 30/01/2007 - 11:47
New biography of one of the most enigmatic figures in British history: Mary Stuart.
Mary Queen of Scots: An Illustrated life by Susan Doran 
A compelling new biography from historian Susan Doran provides a unique illustrated account of the life of Mary Stuart, one of the most enigmatic characters in British history, published by the British Library.
This biography brings together for the first time over 80 reproductions of paintings, drawings and manuscripts, some of which have never been printed before and all of which beautifully illustrate the turbulent life of Mary Queen of Scots.
The book recounts the triumphs and trials in the story of the Scottish queen, aided by clear reproductions of the documents upon which our knowledge is based, and portraits of significant characters in Mary?s life. Susan Doran?s lively and illuminating narrative sets forth the historical background to each image, ultimately bringing the biography vividly to life.
Elizabeth I
In her riveting new publication, Susan Doran relates the tumultuous events in the life of the Scottish queen who challenged Elizabeth I for the English throne, resulting in a fascinating biography which is enlivened by numerous illustrations.
Unlike many other biographies of Mary Queen of Scots, Susan Doran?s book does not treat the nineteen years that Mary spent as a political prisoner in England as a post-script to her life. Instead, two chapters are devoted to this period, in which Doran examines the nature of Mary?s imprisonment, analyses Elizabeth?s political predicament regarding her unwelcome ?guest?, and assesses Mary?s participation in plots against the English queen. This book is an informative and enlightening read for anyone who is interested in royal history, the politics of the Elizabethan period and the remarkable life of Mary Stuart.
Mary Queen of Scots has been the subject of innumerable plays, poems, songs, operas, films, novels and biographies. The first twenty-one years of her life were full of dramatic incident, including her flight to France as a child, becoming a widow at the age of 18, the murders of her secretary and second husband, abduction and rape by a third, and captivity and escape from a remote castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Her last years as a prisoner in England, were marked by conspiracy and intrigue; and her execution in February 1587 provided a fitting final scene to a drama which had seen her fall tragically from power and splendour into confinement and despair.
Vilified
Susan Doran adds, ?By drawing on many documents, images and illustrations that inform our knowledge of Mary?s life, I have attempted to offer a full and clear explanation of the Queen?s character and motivations. Historians have long puzzled over her story, questioning the depth of her religious piety, her involvement in the murder of her second husband, Lord Henry Darnley, and whether she really did instigate a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and seize her throne.
These questions have never been resolved, partly because many historical accounts of Mary?s life were composed by polemical writers. Contemporary Scottish Protestants vilified her in their histories of the period, whereas Catholic writers predictably sprang to her defence and protested her innocence. Mary Stuart remains one of the great enigmas of British history.?
For further reading the following links may be useful:
An expert on Early Modern British history author Susan Doran is a lecturer at Christ Church College Oxford and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Her other published works include: Monarchy and Matrimony: the courtships of Elizabeth I (Routledge, 1996), England and Europe in the Sixteenth Century (Palgrave, 1999) and Historic Lives: Elizabeth I (British Library, 2003).
The publisher of this book, the British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, widely recognised as one of the modern world's greatest libraries. The British Library currently includes 150 million items, in most known languages, with 3 million new items: including a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland, as well as CD, DVD and mini-disc material - being incorporated into the collection every year. Outside of the English capital readers can also experience the British Library online at www.bl.uk and help the conservation of the world's knowledge by taking part in the Adopt a Book scheme.
Mary Queen of Scots: An Illustrated Life by Susan Doran, is published in hardback by the British Library, 1st February 2007, price ?20.00 (192 pages, 244 x 172mm, 40 colour and 40 black and white illustrations, ISBN 0 7123 4916 2). The book is available from the British Library Bookshop (tel: 020 7412 7735, fax: 020 7412 7624, email: bl-bookshop@bl.uk).
PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external websites.
More information available in Books