Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots
Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots | Kate Williams
7 posts | 3 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
___________________________________ Mary and Elizabeth: cousins, rivals, queens. They allied and fought and plotted - but could never escape their bond. The thrilling new history from bestselling historian and broadcaster, Kate Williams. At the end of the Tudor era, two queens ruled one island. But sixteenth-century Europe was a man's world and powerful voices believed that no woman could govern. All around Mary and Elizabeth were sycophants, spies and detractors who wanted their dominion, their favour and their bodies. Elizabeth and Mary shared the struggle to be both woman and queen. But the forces rising against the two regnants, and the conflicts of love and dynasty, drove them apart. For Mary, Elizabeth was a fellow queen with whom she dreamed of a lasting friendship. For Elizabeth, Mary was a threat. It was a schism that would end in secret assassination plots, devastating betrayal and, eventually, a terrible final act. Mary is often seen as a defeated or tragic sovereign, but Rival Queens reveals instead how she attempted to reinvent queenship and the monarchy - in one of the hardest fights in royal history. Going back to the original letters and archives, Kate Williams has created an electrifying new perspective on both Mary and on Elizabeth and, ultimately, on the great sacrifices a woman must make to be a queen.
LibraryThing
blurb
Curiouser_and_curiouser
post image

Starting this book again as I only got a few chapters in before having to return it last time I borrowed it.
Excited to learn more about the history of Queen Mary, Queen of Scots.

39 likes1 stack add
review
TCLinrow
post image
Pickpick

An indepth history of two truly incredible queens; well written, well researched and well narrated. It had quotes and references to source materials giving it extra dimension. However...
There seemed to be times where she would go over the same point 3 or 4 times. Sometimes to add a quote from historical sources, which made sense, but there were times when it felt unnecessary.
All the same I enjoyed this book and I'm glad to have read it.

TCLinrow #TBRChallenge #AudioBook #LeastRated *Trigger warnings - accounts of sexual assault and rape. 5y
48 likes1 comment
blurb
TCLinrow
post image

So far it is an interesting story, but it's very repetitive. It often goes over the same point 3 or 4 times before moving on. As much as I like the attention to detail I'm getting tired of hearing the same thing in 3 different ways.
#TBRChallenge #AudioBook #LeastRated

review
Curiouser_and_curiouser
post image
Pickpick

On the go as usual so another audiobook has begun. I'm fascinated by English history and the lives of Kings & Queens.
I have watched many movies of this genre & as I never studied history I can easily get confused by which order Queens or Kings came into rule & each one's story.
Very easy to listen to so far & I love that the author explains how she spent time researching royalty, Queens especially. I'm excited to learn more about them!

27 likes1 stack add
blurb
jenniferw88
post image

Back from the talk - engaging but didn't really learn anything new.

But I did learn that:
✔ The murder of RIZZIO is a red herring to disguise the fact that they wanted to abduct Mary
✔ Kate is of the 'Mary wasn't involved in the murder of Lord Darnley' camp

@Birdsong28 @TrishB

Birdsong28 Thanks for the tag. Hope you had a good time. 😘📖📚 5y
TrishB I love the way historians can manipulate facts to fit what they think happened. Well, not just historians- all of us! Sounds like a great talk 👍🏻 5y
79 likes2 comments
blurb
Birdsong28
post image
Cathythoughts Thankyou 👍🏻😘 5y
Ms_T Thanks, I‘ll have a look 😘 5y
jenniferw88 Oh wow! I'm going to a talk by this author about this book tonight! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Birdsong28 @jenniferw88 Have fun! I love her books and her history programmes 📚📖 5y
Andrew65 Thanks for the tag. Looks very promising. 5y
MrBook Ooh, right up my alley too! 5y
44 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
Eyejaybee
post image
13 likes2 stack adds