Mary Queen of Scots - Paperback

by Antonia Fraser (Author)

"A book that will leave few readers unmoved."-San Francisco Chronicle

She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a third glorious crown on her noble head.

Instead, Mary Stuart became the victim of her own impulsive heart, scandalizing her world with a foolish passion that would lead to abduction, rape and even murder. Betrayed by those she most trusted, she would be lured into a deadly game of power, only to lose to her envious and unforgiving cousin, Elizabeth I. Here is her story, a queen who lost a throne for love, a monarch pampered and adored even as she was led to her beheading, the unforgettable woman who became a legend for all time.

Praise for Mary Queen of Scots

"She was sometimes reviled as a scheming whore, sometimes revered as a misunderstood martyr. But she was invariably regarded as fascinating. Antonia Fraser's richly readable biography demonstrates that Mary's great fascination continues unabated."--Time

"Compassionate, illuminating, rich in human interest."--The New York Times

"One of the most fascinating figures in history." --The Columbus Dispatch

"With grace, sensitivity, and a sharp eye for detail, lady Antonia Fraser has succeeded not only in recapturing the real Mary from the symbol but also in illuminating the chaotic age in which she lived."--Newsweek

Front Jacket

Author of Marie Antoinette
She was the quintessential queen: statuesque, regal, dazzlingly beautiful. Her royal birth gave her claim to the thrones of two nations; her marriage to the young French dauphin promised to place a third glorious crown on her noble head.
Instead, Mary Stuart became the victim of her own impulsive heart, scandalizing her world with a foolish passion that would lead to abduction, rape and even murder. Betrayed by those she most trusted, she would be lured into a deadly game of power, only to lose to her envious and unforgiving cousin, Elizabeth I.
Here is her story, a queen who lost a throne for love, a monarch pampered and adored even as she was led to her beheading, the unforgettable woman who became a legend for all time.

Author Biography

Since 1969 Antonia Fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers and is the recipient of many literary awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. These include the biographies Cromwell: Our Chief of Men and King Charles II and the history Faith and Treason: The Story of the Gunpowder Plot. Three highly praised books focus on women in history: The Weaker Vessel: Women's Lot in Seventeenth-Century England, The Warrior Queens, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Her most recent book was Marie Antoinette. She is editor of the series Kings and Queens of England. Antonia Fraser is married to the playwright Harold Pinter and lives in London.