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Bittersweet within my Heart: The Love Poems of Mary, Queen of Scots
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.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1992
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276 people want to read
About the author
Mary Stuart
144 books6 followersMary Stuart reigned from 1542 as Queen of Scots during the Reformation until forced in 1567 to abdicate in favor of James, her son; afterwards she fled to England in 1568, Elizabeth I imprisoned her, supporters plotted to place her on the English throne and resulted in her trial and execution for sedition.
James VI, her son, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, the heir of Elizabeth I of England.
Her execution in 1587 marked reign of Elizabeth I as queen of England and Ireland.
Of legitimate children of James V, only she survived. Six days after her birth, her father died on 14 December 1542, and nine months later, people crowned her.
In 1558, she married Francis, dauphin, who ascended the French in 1559. Mary lived not long of France; he husband died on 5 December 1560. After death, Mary as a widow returned and arrived in Leith on 19 August 1561. Four years later, she married Henry Stuart, lord Darnley and her first cousin. After a huge explosion in the house, their unhappy union ended in February 1567, when people found dead body of lord Darnley in the garden at Kirk O'Field.
People generally thought that James Hepburn, fourth earl of Bothwell, murdered lord Darnley, but she quickly married him. Following an uprising against the couple, castle of Loch Leven imprisoned Mary on 15 June 1567, and year-old son reigned from 24 July 1567. Mary expected to inherit kingdom of her first cousin, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to regain, sought her protection. Because Mary previously claimed her own and presented the threat, and many persons, including participants in the rising of the north, considered her as the legitimate sovereign, authorities ordered her arrest. After 19 years in a number of castles and manor houses, they tried her for treason for her involvement in three assassination attempts.
James VI, her son, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, the heir of Elizabeth I of England.
Her execution in 1587 marked reign of Elizabeth I as queen of England and Ireland.
Of legitimate children of James V, only she survived. Six days after her birth, her father died on 14 December 1542, and nine months later, people crowned her.
In 1558, she married Francis, dauphin, who ascended the French in 1559. Mary lived not long of France; he husband died on 5 December 1560. After death, Mary as a widow returned and arrived in Leith on 19 August 1561. Four years later, she married Henry Stuart, lord Darnley and her first cousin. After a huge explosion in the house, their unhappy union ended in February 1567, when people found dead body of lord Darnley in the garden at Kirk O'Field.
People generally thought that James Hepburn, fourth earl of Bothwell, murdered lord Darnley, but she quickly married him. Following an uprising against the couple, castle of Loch Leven imprisoned Mary on 15 June 1567, and year-old son reigned from 24 July 1567. Mary expected to inherit kingdom of her first cousin, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to regain, sought her protection. Because Mary previously claimed her own and presented the threat, and many persons, including participants in the rising of the north, considered her as the legitimate sovereign, authorities ordered her arrest. After 19 years in a number of castles and manor houses, they tried her for treason for her involvement in three assassination attempts.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 1, 2023
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.
September 15, 2017
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.
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.
March 9, 2023
"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).
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).
February 21, 2021
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.
Note: categorized as a book by a female author because the poems are by Mary, Queen of Scots.
July 17, 2025
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.
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.
March 9, 2023
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.
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.
November 1, 2017
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.
July 15, 2024
Maybe not the best poetry of all time, but pretty darn good and Robin Bell's commentary is helpful and fascinating.
December 6, 2024
'En ma fin est mon commencement'.
September 8, 2012
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.
July 16, 2014
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.
April 3, 2015
Touching poems from a lonely heart in a beautifully illustrated volume. The verses on one side correspond with the biography on the opposite side
April 3, 2015
Touching poems from a lonely heart in a beautifully illustrated volume. The verses on one side correspond with the biography on the opposite side
January 4, 2023
One of my favorite books.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews