Tudor History Lovers discussion

Ok, I know we're talking Tudor history, related to to Tudor History(right after)is Queen Elizabeth and her cousin Queen Mary of Scotland. Her son inherited the English throne when Queen Elizabeth died.
Mostly, people saw Queen Mary in the movie The Golden Years, when she was beheaded by Elizabeth.
Thing is, her life started off much more positive, where she lived in France from age 5 to 17. She was Queen of France for a year. Unfortunately, the King died, and she returned to Scotland a widow.
With her were four ladies in Waiting called the Four Maries. They were all roughly the same age, 17 as well as Queen Mary.
So, I've been playing around with the idea of writing a YA(Teen novel) about Queen Mary as a teen and what it must have been like before and after returning to Scotland. I already do living history about the period, and have written a Middle Reader for 9-13 years old. But I'm considering this as my next project.
Has anyone heard of books about Queen Mary either fiction or nonfiction for research. It is always good to research what is out there before you try to write it.
Thank you.
-Tiffany

Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553
I read that a couple years ago. It was fairly good.Royal Road to Fotheringhay: The Story of Mary, Queen of Scots
This is another good one. Hope these help.

Actually, I have a book titled "Mary Queen on Scots and Murderer of Lord Darnley" by Allison Weir. I've had it for years and never have been able to work my way through it because it's written so factually instead of fluidly. It may be a good reference for you

I have heard good things about Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George, though I haven't actually read it.

I have also heard good things about Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart, by John Guy, which is non-fiction.

The Royal Road was written by Jean Plaidy (aka Eleanor Hibbert aka Victoria Holt). She also wrote The Captive Queen of Scots.

Plaidy wrote a whole series about the Plantagenets, another about the Tudors (including books on Henry VII's wives), 3 books about Catherine de Medici, 3 books about Isabella of Spain.....many are now out of print. They are very easy reads.

Philippa Gregory has a (relatively) new book, THE OTHER QUEEN, which is about Mary's imprisonment in England. It centers on her relationships with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife.

A great non-fiction reference is Antonia Frasier's book (MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS).

I LOVED the Mary Queen of Scots book by Margaret George. Susanna has a link in her reply.

I DO NOT suggest The Other Queen by Gregory - it was terrible and you won't learn a thing!

I love the idea. I'll be looking forward to it. Best to you in your journey...

Queen of Scots - The True Life of Mary Stuart is a comprehensive biography chock-full of research by author John Guy. I would definitely recommend reading this over (or in conjunction with) related historical fiction.

Thank you for the suggested reads. I do have the Antonia Fraser book, and I'm trying to find positive portrayals of Mary. Sometimes she is turned into a villian like the new Golden Age:Elizabeth I movie.
I hadn't heard of the John Guy book.
I just got back from Scotland last week, and got some books in Edinburgh. I saw eye to eye the portrait of Mary in the room she gave birth to James VI in Edinburgh Castle. I love doing the first hand research when I can.
I even started Chapter 1 of the YA, just to get going on it. It's amazing how her life is full of the twists and turns most authors make up. The challenge will be to bring her to a teen audience that may not understand that at 17, you were an adult. Her problems were so different from a teenager now. Hmmm. But that is the joy of writing.

Tiffany wrote: "I just got back from Scotland last week, and got some books in Edinburgh. I saw eye to eye the portrait of Mary in the room she gave birth to James VI in Edinburgh Castle..."

I saw that room as well! It's been about 8 years since I was there, but I remember that it was a hell of a lot smaller than I would have expected. So cool, though, to see the place. :)

I have a book for you! Its called Mary Queen of Scot and the Isles by Margeret George! Its a huge obsorbing novel which I have read 4 times and learn more and more each time I read it. She is an amazing writter and Im sure you will enjoy it if you havent aready

I agree Carrie that is such a wonderful book...I learned so much!

I enjoyed the Margaret George book also. You might also want to try Reay Tannahill's novel Fatal Majesty.

Susan wrote: "I enjoyed the Margaret George book also. You might also want to try Reay Tannahill's novel Fatal Majesty."

It seems to be interesting, I have already added to my TBR list, thanks Susan.

Laura wrote: "Susan wrote: "I enjoyed the Margaret George book also. You might also want to try Reay Tannahill's novel Fatal Majesty."

It seems to be interesting, I have already added to my TBR list, thanks S..."

Hello dear Laura - I have just finished
Elizabeth and Mary Cousins, Rivals, Queens and it was a good solid account.

Bettie wrote: "Laura wrote: "Susan wrote: "I enjoyed the Margaret George book also. You might also want to try Reay Tannahill's novel Fatal Majesty."

It seems to be interesting, I have already added to my TBR ..."

Tack Bettie!!!

hehehehe - Are you learning swenglish and svengelska?

Bettie wrote: "

hehehehe - Are you learning swenglish and svengelska?"

I studied Swedish ~20 years ago, when I lived in Stockholm, but I am forgetting quite a lot...

Laura wrote: "Bettie wrote: "

hehehehe - Are you learning swenglish and svengelska?"

I studied Swedish ~20 years ago, when I lived in Stockholm, but I am forgetting quite a lot..."


You, my girl, are entirely intriguing.

Bettie wrote: "Laura wrote: "Bettie wrote: "

hehehehe - Are you learning swenglish and svengelska?"

I studied Swedish ~20 years ago, when I lived in Stockholm, but I am forgetting quite a lot..."


You, ..."

Bettie wrote: "Laura wrote: "Bettie wrote: "

hehehehe - Are you learning swenglish and svengelska?"

I studied Swedish ~20 years ago, when I lived in Stockholm, but I am forgetting quite a lot..."


You, ..."

LOL!!!

Girls, I just found a nice link, the Internet Medieval Sourcebook:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook2...

Susan, could you please post it at HFonline for me? I don´t know how to do it....

An interesting book to pick up is A Treasury of Royal Scandals The Shocking True Stories History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors It is written like a gossip rag but that makes it all the more interesting to read historical facts. There are all sorts of Tudor wickedness and there is a chapter detailing Mary Queen of Scots execution. It was in no way a typical "off with her head!" and that's that. Highly recomended.

I agree with Susan as I have read both the Margaret George novel as well as Fatal Majesty by Reay Tannahill and would highly recommend both.

As with Amy, I do not recommend The Other Queen. You will learn much more by reading either the Margaret George or Reay Tannahill book.

Hi Tiffany - if you really want to base what you're writing on what really happened, then I would discard all works of fiction, as well as John Guy's biography. It is an interesting read but he is just too biased in Mary's favour. Nothing is her fault, according to him. I've just finished An Accidental Tragedy by Roderick Graham and that's where I recommend you start your research. Roderick Graham is fairly balanced in his treatment of most of the "characters" and I could see no evidence that he was biased for or against anyone. An Accidental Tragedy gives a really good account of Mary's life and actions, explaining how she came to make such hideous mistakes. I still feel sorry for her because I think a. they should have let her have a Catholic priest and b. they should have executed her with a sword in the French manner. In spite of all she'd done, I have to feel sorry that it took TWO strokes of the axe AND some knife-work to take her head off. But I don't at all blame Elizabeth for having her executed. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have had Elizabeth killed without a second thought if she could have managed it. The difference was that Elizabeth didn't want to do it and spent years trying to avoid it.

I just picked up a Mary Stuart book yesterday. I was wondering if anyone had heard of or read it. Looks pretty good.
A Question of Guilt A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Death of Henry Darnley
It is written from just after her death and the lead character is trying to uncover the truth to prove Mary did not kill Henry Darnley and was not plotting against Elizabeth.
I hope it will be a good read.

I haven't heard of that one, Wen. You'll have to tell us what you think of it.

I hadn't heard of it either, but I put it on my TBR list since it sounds interesting. I tend to like Mary Stuart in general.

Lyn wrote: "I hadn't heard of it either, but I put it on my TBR list since it sounds interesting. I tend to like Mary Stuart in general."

Me too! Thanks Wen :)

I would also recommend Jean Plaidy's Mary Queen of Scots series. The Captive Queen Of Scots covers the same sort of period as Philippa Gregory's The Other Queen, but in a much more detailed yet engaging way.

Emma wrote: "I would also recommend Jean Plaidy's Mary Queen of Scots series. The Captive Queen Of Scots covers the same sort of period as Philippa Gregory's The Other Queen, but in a much more detailed yet eng..."

Emma, I saw this post and the one on recommending books on the War of the Roses. Both suggesting Jean Plaidy. While I have not read either series as of yet am sure you are right that they will be very well done. Everything I have read of Plaidys has been very good.

IMMORTAL QUEEN by Elizabeth Byrd. Older book but the first one I ever read that got me on the path to reading everything I could find on Mary. It is on Amazon.

Wen wrote: "I just picked up a Mary Stuart book yesterday. I was wondering if anyone had heard of or read it. Looks pretty good.
[book:A Question of Guilt A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Death of H..."

Well I am now just over half way into this book and am liking it. I did not know much about Mary Stuart. It starts after her execution and is centered around a lady that wants to know the truth behind why she was executed. She finds people that worked for and knew the queen and gets them to tell what they know. It is interesting to see the story unfold from different perspectives.
There is a section on the Gordons trying to do away with Mary. I knew even less about them and I am a descendant of the Gordons. I do not know how accurate all the info is since I knew little before starting the book. They apparently Really did not like Mary being queen.
Overall I am enjoying the book. Will have to read more about Mary now to see what is real and what is fictionalized.

That book sounds really good Wen, I'll have to check into it.

I just got, but haven't yet read - merely scanned through, Mary Queen of Scots An Illustrated Life by Susan Doran. It's a non-fiction, detailed account that's very readable, and illustrated with loades of pictures.

I found Fatal Majesty A Novel of Mary, Queen of Scots yesterday and thought it looks pretty good. It's a fictional novel about her.

Good to hear that Margaret George's MQoS book is good, I just got it at a used book store and I am looking forward to it, maybe a buddy read?

Colleen wrote: "Good to hear that Margaret George's MQoS book is good, I just got it at a used book store and I am looking forward to it, maybe a buddy read?"


Yes I am happy to hear someone else enjoyed it too. I have gotten it and Margaret Georges one on Henry VIII and Cleopatra. I read her book on Mary Magdalene in another group for the Group read and really liked it (think I was one of the only ones but I Like biblical fictions and christian fictions too )

Really Wen, Margaret George wrote a book on Mary Magdalene? Sounds interesting! If you like biblical fictions The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is supposed to be very good, I've already picked up a copy!

Colleen wrote: "Really Wen, Margaret George wrote a book on Mary Magdalene? Sounds interesting! If you like biblical fictions The Red Tent by Anita Diamant is supposed to ..."


Yup she wrote Mary Called Magdalene. It starts from Marys early life to her death.
I have read the Red Tent. Loved it. If you get into the biblical fictions drop me a note or thread or what ever is relevant (I know is not the topic here), and I will point you to many more to try

Thanks Wen!

Wen has pointed me to some really good biblical fictions books, she certainly can give you some great choices.

Lyn wrote: "Wen has pointed me to some really good biblical fictions books, she certainly can give you some great choices. "

Thanks Lyn. It is another time period I love so have read many. Have also read many Christian historicals. Some set in the Tudor time so was loving it...is Tudor without the graphic wild court life done to death...like i read in a couple books. Giggle I know they were naughty, I just dont need details there.

LOVE the Red Tent - It's in my top 5 for sure :)

Sorry everyone! My fault for steering the thread away from MQoS to The Red Tent, I am just so excited to read it!

You are right Lyn, I always look forward to book recomendations from Wen!

Hey Colleen , I have The Red Tent to read soon too. Cant wait. I wish i could just read all day *sigh*

Amy wrote: "I LOVED the Mary Queen of Scots book by Margaret George. Susanna has a link in her reply.

I DO NOT suggest The Other Queen by Gregory - it was terrible and you won't learn a thing!"

I was sooo disappointed in The Other Queen. It was boring.

Colleen wrote: "Sorry everyone! My fault for steering the thread away from MQoS to The Red Tent, I am just so excited to read it!

You are right Lyn, I always look forward to book recomendations from Wen!"


Giggle sorry dont want to cause trouble here.... I like it here. can always just drop me an email for other than Tudor book suggestions to keep from getting off topic of the threads. I might have to start a group for bibical fiction if I get enough wanting to do something diff in addition to all the fun here. I love this group and am also in some christian historical type groups but they dont fit with many of the books I read either...lol As usual am a square peg trying to fit in a round hole....lol

Wen is a trouble maker! ;p LOL I am suprised there isn't already a Biblical fiction group.

I think a lot of group members here can describe themselves as square pegs. IRL people look at us like we are babbling idiots when we want to talk Tudor's but here it's daily routine!

Colleen wrote: "Wen is a trouble maker! ;p LOL I am suprised there isn't already a Biblical fiction group.

I think a lot of group members here can describe themselves as square pegs. IRL people look at us like..."

Giggle oh yes. Now if I happen to pass books to my mom and at least half are Not tudor related she is shocked..lol And books get passed to her good friend as well and LOL after a few months of getting books from me she asked mom if I had a thing for Henry VIII...lol