Elizabeth and Mary

Cousins, Rivals, Queens

By: Jane Dunn

Narrated by: Donada Peters

The first dual biography of two of the world’s most remarkable women - Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots - by one of Britain’s “best biographers” (The Sunday Times)

In a rich and riveting narrative, Jane Dunn reveals the extraordinary rivalry between the regal cousins. It is the story of two queens ruling on one island, each with a claim to the throne of England, each embodying dramatically opposing qualities of character, ideals of womanliness (and views of sexuality) and divinely ordained kingship.

As regnant queens in an overwhelmingly masculine world, they were deplored for their femaleness, compared unfavorably with each other and courted by the same men. By placing their dynamic and ever-changing relationship at the center of the book, Dunn illuminates their differences.

Elizabeth, inheriting a weak, divided country coveted by all the Catholic monarchs of Europe, is revolutionary in her insistence on ruling alone and inspired in her use of celibacy as a political tool - yet also possessed of a deeply feeling nature. Mary is not the romantic victim of history but a courageous adventurer with a reckless heart and a magnetic influence over men and women alike. Vengeful against her enemies and the more ruthless of the two queens, she is untroubled by plotting Elizabeth’s murder.

Elizabeth, however, is driven to anguish at finally having to sanction Mary’s death for treason. Working almost exclusively from contemporary letters and writings, Dunn explores their symbiotic, though never face-to-face, relationship and the power struggle that raged between them.

A story of sex, power and politics, of a rivalry unparalleled in the pages of English history, of two charismatic women - told in a masterful double biography.

©2004 Jane Dunn (P)2004 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A perceptive, suspenseful account of complex English history .... By the end of this satisfying book, one feels sympathy for both women, brave queens in an age when ‘no one considered that a woman could effectively rule alone.'" (The New York Times Book Review)

“Elegant.... Dunn demythologizes Elizabeth and Mary. In humanizing their dynamic and shifting relationship, Dunn describes it as fueled by both rivalry and their natural solidarity as women in an overwhlemingly masculine world.” (Boston Herald)

“A wholly engrossing and sumptuous retelling of a tale that entered legend even before its protagonists were dead.” (Newsday)

Excellent book and excellent audio

The narrator did a great job with the different accents and gave the story alot of color. It was wonderful story with 2 great compelling women. I loved the detail that I was unaware of. If you are remotelyh aware of these two women, then this book will be great to listen to.

elizabeth and mary

The two tales are brilliantly interwoven for a comprehensive view of the two womens lives, countrys, and reigns.

Excellent Excellent Excellent

This was a great listen with lots of insight not only into the two queens but gave an idea also of the relationships/family connections/support staff of the queens in England, France and Scotland. Excellent idea to cover both queens in a single book. A must listen! If you are not familiar with the players in the book a second listen is well worth the time and effort.

Almost put my head on the block!

Well researched and well read, but SO drawn-out by a lot of repeated analogies and trivial detail. I was ready to put my head on the block after the first 10 hrs. Face it - Mary was doomed from the start; a pampered French catholic who was raised in a state of ignorance for most of her life meets a country full of rogue protestant Scots and a cunning, experienced, self-directed English queen, who is no less the daughter of one of the most infamous schemers in the English monarchy (A. Boleyn). Although I found some of the detail fascinating, how many times did the author have to repeat the mantra: Mary was impulsive and reckless and Elizabeth was the crafty one? In my opinion, an overly detailed account of the two queens that will appeal more to an Elizabeth/Tudor history buff than the average reader who wants to know more about Elizabeth and Mary.

Wonderfully researched and read!

This is one of my favorite audiobooks. I like how the author went back and forth between the queens but events didn't become confusing.

Fantastic book

A book comparing Elizabeth&Mary instead of only one queen in the spotlight! Amazing history, WELL written and perfectly read! Two thumbs up!

Great book!

Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. Never a dull moment.

More Mary than Elizabeth

What a life Mary had! It was an insane whirl and makes you glad you aren't a queen. This well-balanced treatment puts her life into the context of Elizabeth's life and makes inevitable the battle between them. It's good, but not as good as Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles.

Great Book, Lots of History

What did you love best about Elizabeth and Mary?

I really enjoyed the way the writer took the time to explain all the ways one life affected the other. How she could make you both feel frustrated with both women and sympathic at the same time. How the way the life and times they lived in affected the end result.

I loved how she compare the two women and how each one had their strengths and obvious weakness'.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Definately has to be Elizabeth I. For all her attempts to side step and save Mary Queen of Scots, there was no way out.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No Way Out!

Fascinating

I became interested in the life and times of Elizabeth I as a result of interest in the 1588 English defeat of the Spanish Armada and watching the two recent, excellent movies on the life of this amazing queen. This audio book on the lives of the rival cousins, Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, was truly an outstanding listen. I feel that I came to know these two women well. My appetite to know more about their story, especially Elizabeth's later years, is doubled. One can only conclude that Elizabeth I was an amazing woman, in spite of her superstitions and belief in supernatural foolishness.

As an atheist, I found it especially remarkable to note how much adversity and disaster, personal and societal, was generated over religion during Elizabeth's reign. It seems humanity hasn't learned much since the 16th Century.