Two Queens in One Isle: The Deadly Relationship of Elizabeth I & Mary Queen of Scots

by Alison Plowden

A brilliantly written study of the relationship of Elizabeth I, England's Protestant queen, and her cousin Mary, Catholic queen of France and Scotland.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Tudor Period, Royalty, 16th Century, Renaissance

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1984

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a number of books about Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor because I find them fascinating foils of each other and different representations of women in power in a male dominated sphere. I think the thing that struck me the most about their story this time was something that was not even really called out in the book, namely that Mary spent almost 19 years as a prisoner in England. Interestingly, this woman who was considered a legitimate threat to Elizabeth's crown spent more of her life being kept in England than anywhere else. This book was a fairly condensed, mostly factual look at Mary and Elizabeth, but not as interesting as some others I have read like Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens by Jane Dunn. My biggest complaint was that sometimes what was actually being said was hard to understand because I felt the actual sentences were sometimes poorly written. If you are familiar with the story of these two women I don't think the book really covers any new ground, otherwise it's a fairly concise look at the history and relationship.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two queens...two cousins. One the queen of England and a Protestant. The other the queen of Scotland and a Catholic. A detailed, well-researched book showing the emotional and mental character of each and how one queen's quest for power came up against the other queen's need to keep that power. Excellent read!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book on the complex relationship between Elizabeth 1, and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Written back in 1999 it may be difficult to get hold off, but well worth the effort.

I like Alison Plowden as she doesn't take sides, but merely reports all the facts, as known then, without bias.

Highly recommended.

[Ken Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

[2017] Alison Plowden wrote this account of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (of England) and Queen Mary (of Scotland) in the early 1980s and although it is well written, it is very much of the time. It is written in a scholarly prose and describes in great detail the feud between two very different people struggling for supremacy. In hindsight it is essentially the story of the birth of the United Kingdom. There has been a tremendous amount of research and every sentence is packed with details about politics, motivation, events and the course of history. For a clear account of the unfolding tragedy and an outline of their individual motivations based on their personalities this book cannot be faulted. However the style is scholarly and slightly academic and although rooted in a 1980s style. I think that history in the 21st century is now presented differently. This book might put off some general readers as it is for the more serious history lover. There was limited social description and their day-to-days lives remain hidden. Elizabethan politics is the prime focus. It was not a particularly easy book to read and required concentration and some determination to get through. It was interesting, informative and does reward you for your effort with a sense that you probably have a good grounding in the situation that ultimately led to the execution of one Queen, the childless death of another Queen and the eventual joining of two Kingdoms to form the United Kingdom.

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this book. I think the author did a good job of being fair and balanced with both the Queen of Scots and Elizabeth - that's usually not possible for most historians who have to very clearly pick a side. I also thought that the way that their lives are shown side by side as time progressed kept everything in perspective, and I could really see how events progressed on both sides.

There were a few parts where the language was cliched or just odd and a few kind of nonsensical sentences that are concentrated toward the end. But those weren't huge issues, and I would consider this to be one of the better books on the subject.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely on the drier side, like others have said, it reads a little bit like a textbook. I learned a few new things but overall not the best. If you're looking for a book on Mary and Elizabeth, Jane Dunn's book is far easier to read.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but had to look up a lot of words because it was in the old english without explanation - was a bit frustrating. There were a few new things I learned but the majority I already knew from other books I have read.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore reading about the relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I. This was brilliant.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book detailing the relationship between Queen Elizabeth l and Mary Queen of Scots.

[C.S. Burrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alison Plowden's history of these cousin queens, Protestant Elizabeth I of England and Catholic Mary of Scots, is enthralling.

It is near impossible, after reading material such as this, to side with one queen or the other. Each was arguably at fault and justified in her treatment of the other. Mary came off the worst to lioness Bess.

The backstory is that the teenaged Mary, when queen consort of France, had once claimed the so called 'illegitimate' Elizabeth's throne as her own and was considered the legitimate sovereign of England by many English Catholics.

Mary became widowed young in France, returning to Scotland where she had not lived since her infancy. She was not embraced for long by her Protestant Scottish subjects or Lords who had other plans for Scotland's rulership than allowing a woman and Catholic reign.

After the suspicious murder of Mary's despised second husband, Elizabeth's cousin Darnley, abruptly followed by her remarriage to Darnley's suspected assassin, Bothwell, Mary was overthrown and imprisoned. After several failed attempts she escaped, fleeing south to England, seeking Elizabeth's support and protection. Dishevelled, Mary was taken aback when, rather than being led to the anticipated hospitality of Elizabeth's court, she was taken into 'protective custody' by English officials.

Mary expected Elizabeth to help her regain her throne, but wily Elizabeth characteristically prevaricated, instead holding Mary 'temporarily' captive. This was officially for Mary's protection while Elizabeth ordered inquiries into the conduct of Mary's rebels. She also, however, ordered inquiries into Mary's alleged complicity in Darnley's murder plot, ostensibly so as to clear Mary's name in making way for her proposed reinstatement to Scottish rulership.

Without direct royal heirs and seeing the younger, more beautiful and fecund Mary as a threat if released, the perpetually unmarried Elizabeth kept Mary confined in English castles and manor houses for almost nineteen years.

After understandably conspiring towards her liberty, at whatever cost, desperate and isolated Mary was made a figurehead for numerous Catholic conspiracies to dethrone Elizabeth. Deemed by Elizabeth's councillors too dangerous to live, Mary was entrapped. On somewhat trumped-up charges, she was convicted for plotting Elizabeth's assassination. Executed, Mary became martyrised throughout Catholic Christendom.

Mary's unprecedented royal execution was one official rationale behind Catholic Phillip II of Spain's failed invasion of England with his Armada. Elizabeth was branded a heretic by the pope, who sanctioned Phillip's Armanda, calling for Elizabeth's dethronement. With the English Channel's stormy weather on Elizabeth's side, the English fleet, under vice admiral Francis Drake, famously saw them off.

The two queens are adjacently entombed in Westminster Abbey, Mary's being the grander piece commissioned by her son, King James VI & I of Scotland and England, who had Mary reinterred from her original, less salubrious resting place of Elizabeth's approval.

Ultimately, everyone makes up their own mind over which was the heroine and which the villainess - there's a little of each in both queens.

A fascinating and informative read.

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It's an older book (originally published in 1984, I think?) but it doesn't show its age at all.

Plowden does a very good job of looking at Mary, and Elizabeth, (focusing more on Mary), and how their interactions, and Mary's eventual execution (spoilers!) were practically pre-ordained from the time that Mary started quartering her arms as Queen of France with the arms of England.

This is a relatively easy read - it's presented chronologically, and is pretty straightforward history - just telling an interesting story.

The sources are not listed specifically by mention (there are a lot of uncited quotes), but the sources at the back are pretty thorough - not by quote, but overall by chapter.

[Sarah Gwinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will feel sorry for both the queens

At times is hard to read with the Latin and French words. The author's translation of old world English made me lose my place a few times. it was filed with intrigue and murderous plots. Mary queen of Scots with down right miserable and you want to admire Elizabeth. Even to the end Mary was as stubborn as they come. It is true her only real duty was to produce an heir.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good easy read for non fiction.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well considered and researched, informative read.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very factual book, that did tell me things I did not know. It could have been written in a slightly more engaging way - not too dissimilar to some school text books.

[J S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, written in a significantly less dry style than most history books. Only flaw is that occasionally the author gives a statement of opinion without pointing to actual facts.