The fascinating but ultimately tragic tale of Mary, Queen of Scots, holds eternal appeal. In this beautifully illustrated book, Susan Watkins re-creates the world in which Mary lived the landscapes, the palaces and the courtly culture, and the fine details of the domestic scene in vivid word pictures, which give life to the wealth of historical illustrations and specially taken photographs by Mark Fiennes, who accompanied Susan Watkins on her journey in search of the true story behind the Queen across three countries.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alison Weir's Mary Boleyn. Handsome, accomplished, and charming, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, staked his claim to the English throne by marrying Mary Stuart, who herself claimed to be the Queen of England. It was not long before Mary discovered that her new husband was interested only in securing sovereign power for himself. Then, on February 10, 1567, an explosion at his lodgings left Darnley dead; the intrigue thickened after it was discovered that he had apparently been suffocated before the blast. After an exhaustive reevaluation of the source material, Alison Weir has come up with a solution to this enduring mystery. Employing her gift for vivid characterization and gripping storytelling, Weir has written one of her most engaging excursions yet into Britain’s bloodstained, power-obsessed past.

This volume of Tudor Roses presents new and reimagined garments based on the original Tudor Roses published in 1998. Alice Starmore looks to historical female figures of the Tudor Dynasty as inspiration for her stunning knitwear, and her modernization of traditional Fair Isle and Aran patterns has created a sensation in the knitting world. Through garment design, Starmore and her daughter Jade tell the stories of fourteen women connected with the Tudor dynasty. They weave a narrative around the known facts of their subjects' lives using photography, art, and the only medium through which the Tudor women could leave a lasting physical record in their world — needlework. Tudor Roses includes fourteen patterns for sweaters and other wearables that follow the chronological order of the Tudor dynasty. A different model portrays each of the Tudor women, from Elizabeth Woodville, grandmother of Henry VIII, through Mary, Queen of Scots. The stunning design and photography appeals to knitters seeking designs that offer an attractive balance of historic and modern elements.

Presents a tale inspired by the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, in a work that follows the doomed monarch's long imprisonment in the household of the Earl of Shrewsbury and his spying wife, Bess.

___________________________________ 'Scintillating, provocative... An elegant synthesis of royal biography and political thriller.' Daily Telegraph A Times History Book of the Year: a story which inspired the Hollywood film MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS Mary, Queen of Scots & Elizabeth I of England. Two powerful monarchs on a single island. Threatened by voices who believed no woman could govern. Surrounded by sycophants, spies and detractors. Accosted for their dominion, their favour and their bodies. Besieged by secret plots, devastating betrayals and a terrible final act. Only one queen could survive to rule all. ___________________________________ 'Brings us a fresh Mary, set in a gloriously rich context, a tragic heroine - irresistibly real and relevant... There isn't a line wasted in this taut, dramatic and utterly beguiling biography.' Charles Spencer author of Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I 'The perfect combination of scholarship and storytelling, meticulous research and emotional insight, Kate Williams brings Mary vividly to life in all her complexities and contradictions.' Kate Mosse, author of The Burning Chambers 'It takes a special kind of historian to turn an old story on its head. Eye-opening, provocative, this is the great rivalry re-imagined for the #MeToo generation.' Lucy Worsley

Publisher description

Mary Stuart has intrigued people since her birth. The significance of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, though, does not rest simply in the dramatic events of her life: rather, Mary's significance lies in her contemporaries' reaction to her. As a Catholic, a woman and a monarch in sixteenth century Europe, the debates surrounding Mary's life, reign, and imprisonment reveal a world in flux whose members attempted to solve the crises of religion, nationhood, authority, and gender that confronted them.

Hugely informative and stunningly produced, the Mary, Queen of Scots Book of Days pairs a practical perpetual diary with a wealth of material on the life and times of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587). The first woman to be crowned as a queen regnant in the British Isles, the tumultuous life and tragic end of Mary, Queen of Scots has fascinated people for centuries. Each of the 365 days of the calendar year has the date, but not the day, of the month, allowing the owner to record events and reminders over many years. The linen-effect cover reproduces a detail from François Clouet's Portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots (circa 1558), courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust, with the interior printed on Munken Pure paper, perfect for writing, and completed with a ribbon bookmark. - How to use the perpetual diary - Six days at a glance with space for notes - At-a-glance year planner - List special occasions each month - Ideal for recurring annual events - Can be returned to for years to come Stuart history and Mary, Queen of Scots' life and reign - Inspired by Renaissance-period Books of Hours - Biographic overview of Mary, Queen of Scots - An elegy by Mary - A list of key facts about Mary, Queen of Scots - Mary, Queen of Scots quotes - Descriptions of a significant event and place at the start of each month - Stuart-period saints and feast days - Index of people and events

Only now has a true portrait of this poet, scholar, mother, stateswoman, and leader in religious tolerance re-emerged. Schaeffer's intimate biography takes readers inside the mind of the young leader, from her court intrigues, intense passions, and loveless marriages to her martyr's death at the executioner's hand.