Mary, Queen of Scots: The History and Legacy of Mary Stuart of Scotland

By: Charles River Editors

Narrated by: Maria Chester

"Did I not tell you this would happen? I knew they would never allow me to live, I was too great an obstacle to their religion." - Mary, Queen of Scots

The position in history of Mary Queen of Scots is a paradoxical one. Her fame as a monarch lies less in her personality or achievements than in her position within the dynastic maneuvers and political-religious upheavals taking place in northwest Europe in the 16th century. Most monarchs spend their early years learning in preparation to rule and then spend the latter part of their lives wielding power and status. Mary was thrust upon the throne when she was only a week old, and she ceased to be queen nearly 20 years before her death.

Mary's was an unusual reign in a tumultuous period, and her tragedy was intertwined with her country's transformation. In Mary's case, she was a second cousin once removed of England's Queen Elizabeth I, which made her a rival for the throne. Mary was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, and her Catholicism made Mary the true and rightful Queen of England in the eyes of many Catholics and the Vatican.

These facts, coupled with the realization that several English supported Mary, made Elizabeth I uneasy. Mary also did not help herself when she married James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who was widely accused of raping her. The Scottish people rebelled, and Mary abdicated and fled southwards towards England.

Elizabeth I was unsure at first what to do with Mary, so she kept Mary imprisoned in several castles and manor houses inside England (making escape difficult and thus unlikely). After 18 years in Elizabeth's custody, it became clear that the situation was becoming untenable.

©2012 Charles River Editors (P)2015 Charles River Editors

An English Narrator

Unfortunately, many of the words, places and names were misspoken and this was very offputting.

Short, but concise.

Though short, there is enough info to understand this tragic figure. If you only want a brief history of Queen Mary, this will do nicely.

Poor reader ruins it

The book is fine, the story is fabulous, but the reader's whiney voice made it nearly unbearable to listen to.

Love it

I love the details and the emotions in this book. I got to know The queen of Scots . I recommend it for everyone, history buff or not.

Mary Stewart Queen of Scots

I am very interested in the reign of Mary Stewart so this was a good read for me. However, I disliked the narration. Instead of being immersed in this history I felt detached due to the robotic-like narration.