Welcome to Litsy!

So I salute you, John Guy, for treating your subject not as a Prize Dumbass or the Proverbial Whore (Elizabeth was the Virgin, so...), but as an actual human who adapted, in accordance with her nature, to the circumstances into which she was born.

I see you, Mary. (3/3)

And this is the first book I've read about her that helped me to really understand her as a whole person, who changed and played the game and lost and won and was not the same person at 40 that she was at 20. I never understood the Bothwell business (why, Mary? Why?). But I get it. He was loyal. He was all these other terrible things, but he was pretty much the only Scottish lord left who hadn't betrayed her. (2/3)

Studied Tudor/Stuart England in undergrad, wrote a paper on whether or not Mary really murdered Darnley (I said no). And here's the thing: most secondary material makes her an innocent victim of stronger (subtext: smarter and more decisive) men, or a cunning femme fatale who was hoist on her own petard (so to speak). I remember being so frustrated, and thinking 'There's got to be an actual *person* in here somewhere.' (1/3)

Was ok I thought there would be more about Mary but not a bad read

Her grandeur had to be respected

Her charm and conversational skills would be among her greatest assets.

Protocol was of the highest importance

Mary could be allowed to grow up, to pursue her studies and her pleasures almost as she chose, but within the limits of his advice.

-She was sexually safe and correspondingly dull

She gows in charm and good manners and becomes more suited to the place to which she was called and which she was never allowed to forget

She was said to be "everything that could be desired"

She is the most perfect child that I have ever seen

Our little Scottish Queen has but to smile to turn all the French heads

She is the prettiest and best for her age that you ever saw... She is graceful and self-assured

Mary Fleming, Mary Beaton, Mary Seton and Mary Livingston - the so-called 4 Marys

Diplomatic alliances were sealed by marriage pacts in the 16th century

As a child, Mary played no role herself in this intrigues, but all of them were about her

He went to pieces when told that his heir was not a boy

Mary Stuart was queen at the age of six days

Mary always aroused the strongest feelings

The belief that power lies in the people and not in the ruler

You ought to rejoice rather than weep for that the end of Mary Stuart's troubles is now come

Born and brought up to be a Queen, she walked confidently through the doorway as if she were once more processing to a court festival

Many, many thanks for the birthday wishes & presents!

Thanks @RachelO @squirrelbrain @Lel2403 @Cathythoughts @kathedron @TrishB - I'm looking forward to all of them! I did it as a collage so that I didn't bombard you with posts!

Also using tagged book for #maymoviemagic #youngandbeautiful @Cinfhen @rohit-sawant

Intense and gripping narrative of a woman whose life was beyond tumultuous. The author skilful chronicles her life whilst analysing arguments and evidence against here. A skilful book that is sympathetic, bordering on biased to the subject of the biography.

Nope not the movie but the book (Originally titled: My Heart is my Own) by John Guy.

So far 23 pages in it has been fascinating and definitely foreshadowed her grandson' s demise. I'm thoroughly both feet in