Queen of Scots

The True Life of Mary Stuart

By: John Guy

Narrated by: John Guy

An intimate, myth-shattering new biography of Mary Queen of Scots by a premier historian that draws on a trove of newly discovered sources. Queen of Scots, the first full-scale biography of Mary in more than 30 years, offers a singularly novel, nuanced, and dramatic portrait of one of history's greatest women.

John Guy draws on sources, many previously unstudied, as varied as the secret communiques of English spies and Mary's own letters.

Dispelled is the ingrained popular image of Mary as a romantic leading lady, achieving her ends through feminine wiles, driven by love to murder, undone by passion and bad judgment. We come to see her as an emotionally intricate woman and an adroit diplomat, maneuvering ingeniously among a dizzying array of factions who sought to control or dethrone her. Guy's investigation of Mary's storied downfall throws sharp new light on questions that have baffled historians for centuries, and offers convincing new evidence that she was framed for the murder for which she was beheaded.

©2004 John Guy (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Reads as thrillingly as a detective story, and is rich in detail and authoritative in its analysis." (The Sunday Times)
"Mary's is a complicated story, as were Scottish politics at the time, but Guy explicates the complications...with both authority and clear illumination." (Booklist)

the accent is hard to understand

loved the story, but very thick accent. Queen Mary has a heart wrenching story. good read.

Beguiled

Please note that I've only listened to the abridged, 6-hour version, not the 22-hour complete book but I've read a great deal of history of the British Isles. I think the book is excellent and well worth reading but there seems to be flaws. 1. As happens to many dedicated researchers and historians, the author has been beguiled by the personality of his subject. He explains away her faults and mistakes using any convenient cover unless she herself convicts herself in her own words, which she was very, very careful not to do. 2. I think the author badly underestimates the strength and power of the protestant reformation - often ascribing it as a religion of convenience for Mary's detractors while portraying her as a truly dedicated Catholic. The depth of feeling on both sides in those years is almost incomprehensible to our atheistic world of today.
Mary: "Innocent of all the charges against me." John Guy:"Martyr for the Catholic faith". Both assertions are highly questionable in my opinion.

Excellent Listening

This book has been the best account and most true account of Mary Stuart's life and death.

So entertaining and full of detail

What did you love best about Queen of Scots?

I had wanted a good bio on Mary since I returned from Scotland. This was exactly what I was looking for. It had a great speed while still giving detail and insight. The narrator was very professional and didn't try to give her a silly voice as I find men often do to women on these audio books. The book also seems to do well without bias for or against her which I enjoy. Being such a controversial figure, I think it's important for each reader to make their own conclusion. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves history of royal figures or Scotland.

history

1585 history of England was interesting, and gave background to many of my natural relatives.

a sublime listening experience

The author reads this gripping condensation of his award-winning book with the energy and diction of a trained Shakespearean actor. The story moves along as though written by a Hollywood screen writer but in fact contains details only a dedicated scholar could uncover and an expert writer know how to knit into the plot, which unfolds like a Shakespearean tragedy. The author makes it clear that although he loves his subject he is not blind to her faults and weaknesses. All the secondary characters, including Elizabeth I and Lord Cecil, emerge in high relief. The language is enhanced by his excerpts from original documents. Highly recommended for anyone who loves English and Scottish history and the English language.

Please ask John Guy captivating historical prose.

Please ask John Guy to share more of his historical prose. I could not stop listening to this tragic account of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Concise history.

For a story that is often told with a perceived slant in one direction or another, even after nearly half a millennium, this brief biography rings true.

interesting

I enjoyed it but it was a bit hard to keep track of all the Lord's and dukes and their roles.

Love this story

great story told well love the story. Will read more stories about Mary Queen of Scots