Bittersweet within my Heart: The Love Poems of Mary, Queen of Scots

by Mary Queen of Scots, Robin Bell (Editor)

This splendid volume offers the first complete collection of the impassioned poetry of Mary, Queen of Scots, one of history's most romantic figures. This important bilingual collection includes verse written by the Queen to her various lovers, to each of her three husbands, and to her rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England. 30 period paintings, 20 in color.

Genres: Poetry, History, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1992

About the author

Mary Stuart reigned as Queen of Scotland from her infancy in 1542 until being forced to abdicate in favor of her son, James VI in 1567. She fled to England where she was imprisoned by her cousin, Elizabeth I. Supporters plotted to place her on the English throne, resulting in her trial and execution in 1587.

Reviews

[Kelly Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been inexplicably drawn to Queen Mary, and I’m a little obsessed with her. Getting to read these poems and glimpse into her mind was such a treat, and I will definitely be revisiting these from time to time. It’s easy to forget how human people have always been and to put important historical figures away from us, but reading Mary’s words forces you to confront her desperation, her fear, her quiet strength, her pettiness, her cleverness, her tender love for her first husband, Francis—in short, her humanity.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 'presentation' rather than a scholarly edition of Mary Queen of Scots' poetry, quite romantic in outlook and unproblematically accepts that the 'casket sonnets' were written by MQoS to Bothwell.

That said, the book contains both the original French (modernised) and English translations of verse that is available in manuscript but which can be hard to get hold of in its entirety otherwise.

[Mattea Gernentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"O my Lord and my God, I have trusted in Thee. / O my dear Jesus, now liberate me. / In shackle and chain, in torture and pain, I long for Thee. / In weakness and sighing, in kneeling and crying, / I adore and implore Thee to liberate me" (poem from the morning of her 1587 execution, 105).

This book is a fascinating poetical and historical curiosity. In some ways, I found this glimpse into Mary's life and faith to be deeply moving. It is surreal to think of her having lost three husbands by the time she reached my age. She had been the queen of France and then tossed aside. She was despised, feared, and passed from fortress to fortress, robbed of her child. Mary knew suffering intimately yet cried out to God until the end. There was something so compelling and so sorrowful here about her persistent desire to be rightly understood—she so seldom was. Hopefully this unique collection can aid somewhat in this endeavor, even far after her death.

"A heart which suffers agony / Through scorn, rejection, and disdain / Still has the power and right to say: / 'What I was I no more remain'" (Book of Hours Marginalia, 91).

[Liberté · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of poetry and Bell's forward to each section. The poetry collection is organized in five volumes: her poems in France and just after, the poems to Bothwell (all written in the brief period between when he raped her, when she's clearly trying to talk herself into a marriage as she carries twins, and her forced abdication), her early years in prison, her later years in prison, and the few poems leading up to her execution. There are a few errors in the text that seem of the copy edit variety, but the translations of Mary's poems are moving and capture the sentiment in the originals. Bell includes the French (or other) version alongside the English translation.

Note: categorized as a book by a female author because the poems are by Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Lordbenjamincarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Queen of Scots is given the chance to shine in this collection. For all of her exploits, she was also a gifted writer; she was clever, full of wit, and was quite capable of thinking on her own. Mary was one of the most educated people in the world, and it’s on display here. Her poem for her deceased first husband is truly moving, and it’s clear that she did care for him.

I like how this book has everything in the original French, and then translated into English. Most people forget that French was commonly used at most royal courts, and they also forget that Mary was also Queen of France for a time. For those wanting to take a glance into the mind of Mary, and see her as a creative, this collection of poetry is highly commended.

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! French on one side, carefully considered English translations on the other plus informative commentary about the time of writing of each of these Mary Queen of Scots poems plus some brief notes she had also left behind. Even a fully annotated bibliography. 112 pages with beautiful paintings of the main players.
Her final poem, the first four lines:Alas what am I? What use has my life? I am but a body whose heart’s torn away, A vain shadow, an object of misery Who has nothing left but death-in-life.

[Jonathan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it really is so personal, it's like we invade her privacy.

But reading her poems and sonnets really brought me closer to her as a queen.

A tragedy in writing of a life that really wasn't nice, having started life in Scotland, then living in France, returning to Scotland, tragedy after tragedy, forcing her abdication and then nearly two decades a prisoner in England, eventually leading to her execution.

I nice little book to carry with me and read on the go.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biographical details are always interesting when discussing Mary Queen of Scots. It is nowhere near as romantic as the novels about her pretend. Her poems were written in French. Here included with English translations and interesting facts.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not the best poetry of all time, but pretty darn good and Robin Bell's commentary is helpful and fascinating.

[Lady Greensleeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

'En ma fin est mon commencement'.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1542....Imagine being Queen of Scotland at one week old, crowned queen of France at 16, and at the age of 24 a widow three times over THEN locked up to remain a prisoner for 20 years until Queen Elizabeth I had your head chopped off! Oh, and never seeing your son again after he was a year old. Would you feel like writing poems? Short read with some insightful history of Mary, Queen of Scotts life, nice color pictures of paintings of her and all the men in her life, and of course the poems I had no idea she wrote.

[Lauren Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book, but great selection of poems of Mary Queen of Scots. I feel the book gave great insight into the personality of such a tragic famous historical figure.

[Selkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching poems from a lonely heart in a beautifully illustrated volume. The verses on one side correspond with the biography on the opposite side

[Selkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching poems from a lonely heart in a beautifully illustrated volume. The verses on one side correspond with the biography on the opposite side

[Cassie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books.