The True Life of Mary Stuart: A Comprehensive Look at the Life of Mary Queen of Scots

Sonia Heijne: The opening chapters left me asking even more questions about the enigmatic Mary, and then many were answered with new insights from new interpretations of existing research. But it wound up too soon for me. In fact, it just wound up. Hope there might be a sequel!

United States on Jul 27, 2023

This fit the bill for my Costco Thermaflask! Fits snugly, no drips and looks sleek. The straw cut neatly to fit the flask, with kitchen scissors.: The author holds my attention from the first paragraph. It is a large book, but written well. History isn’t always written in a way that is conductive to eagerly turning pages! This was such a pleasant surprise. I would recommend this book

United States on May 11, 2023

Dreyer Jean Christophe: Conforme à mes attentes

France on Mar 03, 2023

homebound: This book is very interesting, extremely detailed to the point where you really need to keep notes on who is who. It gets confusing at times as many b people had the same names back then both commoner & royalty. You must keep tract of the time frame per chapter so you know what person they are referring to (i.e. is it the father Bothwell or the son Bothwell or is it the British King Henry or the French King Henry.
Beyond the confusing names, if you really!my want to learn what Mary Queen of Scots life was truly like this is the book to read. One loom at the notes and the bibliographies and its obvious that this author did his research on how Mary lived and died and what she experienced during her lifetime from birth to death.

This book shows that Mary's life was not like it was as it was depicted in the show "Reign".

United States on Jan 29, 2021

Valerie Whitesell: I like a book that with great references in them. John Guy certainly paid attention to detail. Great study guide as well as reading

Canada on Jul 01, 2020

Amazon Customer: This historical novel immerses you in the intrigue and sheer drama of 16th century Britain.
Jon Guy provides a compelling picture about the life of Mary Stuart, and reimagines her as a deep and complex heroine. His narrative is backed up with meticulously researched evidence, and his unbiased storytelling provides a comprehensive glimpse into the Scottish Queen's life.
His style of writing is incredible easy to read, yet never over-simplified. I enjoyed every page.
I greatly recommend this book for anyone who seeks to become more familiar with Scottish history.

Canada on Feb 18, 2019

Heather Holmes: Totally enjoyed the book and history and when went to Scotland the book was very in truth to the Castles and region

Canada on Nov 23, 2018

Amazon Kunde: John Guy hat super recherchiert und erscheint dadurch glaubwürdig in seinen Aussagen und Schlussfolgerungen. Geschrieben ist die Biographie wie ein Roman und dementsprechend ist sie spannend, auch wenn man schon weiß, wie die Geschichte ausgeht. Ich habe Interesse am Leben Mary Stuarts bekommen, weil ich Serie 'Reign' geguckt habe und schon wusste, dass einiges nicht stimmt. Ich wollte es aber genauer wissen. Daher empfehle ich dieses Buch allen, denen es genau so geht.

Germany on Aug 28, 2016

R. Gilbert: Though I have been a lifelong fan of Elizabeth I and have absorbed Tudor history like a sponge, my interest in history truly began when I read a novel about Mary Stuart as a teenager. My impression of her then is something that remained years later: an interesting but very flawed woman for whom I felt sympathy but very little respect or appreciation. My reading of Fraser's biography did little to change this perspective, though I don't mean any disrespect towards Fraser - it's still a good biography.

I recently decided to re-read Fraser's book along with several other texts about Mary. After having done so, I have to say that I recommend this book hands down. Guy clearly empathizes with and is a fan of Mary Stuart (though this doesn't mean he's unwilling to point out her flaws), and what's more is that he endeavors to show that much of the story about Mary isn't quite correct. Many who have written about her seem to wish to have it both ways: they consider her to be a shrewd, plotting, calculating woman engaged in an affair while planning the downfall of her husband, yet simultaneously a less-than-astute woman wholly unfit to rule. The truth is somewhere in between, it...

United States on Jan 20, 2014

P. B. Sharp: Author John Guy has fallen under Mary's spell but even if you don't agree that this huge book is a vindication of Mary, don't miss this splendid biography. Mary, warts and all, is one of the most fascinating women in history. She made many serious errors in judgment, going from the frying pan into fire when Darnley was assassinated and she married the totally unsuitable Bothwell. She was a woman of passions, but author Guy feels she was politically astute within a whirlwind of factions-the Scottish lords, France, Elizabeth and Spain were all trying to manipulate her.

Guy gives a great deal of evidence concerning the famous Casket letters. The letters are from a woman to her lover and if the letters were written by Mary to Bothwell, both are clearly implicated in the murder of Mary's second husband, Darnley. However, as Guy points out, the originals, written in French, are missing. And what remains today are copies which had been spliced together haphazardly and many parts could have been forged. The letters contained several sonnets, very poor poetry indeed, and the poems are highly suspect, according to Guy, because Mary was known for being an accomplished, talented poet....

United States on Feb 01, 2010