The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson

Author: Carolly Erickson
Publish Date: 9/14/2010
Website: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6597.Carolly_Erickson
ISBN: 9780312652739
List Price: $11.90
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jacket Synopsis:

Queen of Scotland at six days of age, married as a young girl to the invalid young king of France, Mary took the reins of the unruly kingdom of Scotland as a young widow and fought to keep her throne. A second marriage to her handsome but dissolute cousin Lord Darnley ended in murder and scandal, while a third to the dashing Lord Bothwell, the love of her life, gave her joy but widened the scandal and surrounded her with enduring ill repute.

Unable to rise above the violence and disorder that swirled around her, Mary escaped to England—only to find herself a prisoner of her ruthless, merciless cousin Queen Elizabeth.

Here, in a riveting first-person account, is the enchanting woman whose name still evokes excitement and compassion—and whose death under the headsman’s axe still draws forth our sorrow.

My Comments:
I thought this was a great historical read from the perspective that Mary, Queen of Scots, is always portrayed as a conniving and plotting evil Queen of the North and that her only ambition is to take over the English throne. This book paints a completely different picture of a girl to a woman who is always fighting for her right to survive and to take her noble right of royal blood the throne of Scotland. She only wants the throne of England to solidify her childrens's future. The secret birth of her daughter and continued secrecy to protect her life is quite a different take on the picture that is always painted about Mary. I really like Carolly Erickson's writing style. The rhythm and meeter make the reading easily absorbed and an exciting read!