Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens

by Susan Doran (Editor)

Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of two powerful women whose relationship dominated English and Scottish politics for thirty years from 1558. But their stormy relationship reflected a much broader story. Protestant Elizabeth and Catholic Mary’s struggle for dynastic pre-eminence became inseparable from national religious struggle and England’s turbulent relationship with Scotland, France and Spain. Behind the popular perception of Elizabeth I’s reign as ‘Gloriana’ was a world of religious turmoil, espionage, treason and fear of foreign invasion. Accompanying a landmark British Library exhibition, this book examines, in 12 new essays from leading Tudor historians, the original evidence relating to the queens and their politics, including correspondence between the rival cousins who never actually met. Alongside their astonishing letters are maps, portraits, embroideries and jewellery, as well as documents including a seating plan for Mary’s trial and Elizabeth’s speech to her army at the time of the Spanish Armada.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

About the author

Dr Susan Doran is a British historian whose primary studies surround the reign of Elizabeth I, in particular the theme of marriage and succession. She has published and edited sixteen books, most notably Elizabeth I and Religion, 1558-1603, Monarchy and Matrimony and Queen Elizabeth I, part of the British Library's Historic Lives series.

She is currently a tutor and member of the history faculty at Christ Church, Oxford University where her specific area of interest is stated as being Early Modern British and European history. Previously, Doran was a reader in history, Senior Lecturer in History and Teaching Studies and Director of the History Programme at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, part of the University of Surrey.

She is also a Director of Studies for history at Regent's Park College and Senior Research Fellow for History at Jesus College

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this an interesting and pretty book? Yes.
Is it the type of book you read for fun? No.

[Siri Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sumptuously presented and highly informative book to accompany an exhibition at the British Library that I sadly missed. Although my personal interest centres primarily on the reign of James VI/I, which is only briefly discussed in this book, there is no denying that the story of Mary, Queen of Scots and her interactions with Elizabeth I of England is one of the great tragedies of history. The book is divided into multiple parts, each part consisting of three main components: a chapter detailing the historical events in chronological order, a chapter focusing on a particular component of the historical context (such as the importance of the English and Scottish Reformations or the development of an English Intelligence system), and a large catalogue of museum objects of relevance to the period (mostly letters, but portraits and other items are also shown). I found the book to be very nicely written, clearly presented, and highly engaging. The focus on the presentation of museum objects can make the book feel a little disjointed (you either have to constantly stop reading the main chapters to look at the objects or you finish the chapters and then look at the objects, which wrecks the chronology), but seeing the actual letters and documents pertaining to the period, printed in high quality with the most important passages highlighted in an explanatory text, really adds another dimension to the reading experience. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the Elizabethan period and/or in Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sumptuous exhibition catalogue - expert essays accompanying pictures of the key items in the exhibition, including many in Elizabeth’s and Mary’s own handwriting.

[CM · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read and cleared up much confusion on my part regarding Queen Marys.