Mary Queen of Scots is perhaps one of the most controversial and divisive monarchs in regal history. Her story reads like a particularly spicy novel, with murder, kidnap, adultery, assassination and execution. To some she is one of the most wronged women in history, a pawn used and abused by her family in the great monarchical marriage game; to others, a murderous adulteress who committed regicide to marry her lover and then spent years in captivity for the crime, endlessly plotting the demise of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. This book covers the breathtaking scope of her amazing life and examines the immense cultural legacy she left behind, from the Schiller play of the 1800s to The CW teen drama Reign. Temptress, terrorist, or tragic queen, this book will give you the lowdown on one of history's most misunderstood monarchs.

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.

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.

Mary Queen of Scots is perhaps one of the most controversial and divisive monarchs in regal history. Her story reads like a particularly spicy novel, with murder, kidnap, adultery, assassination and execution. To some she is one of the most wronged women in history, a pawn used and abused by her family in the great monarchical marriage game; to others, a murderous adulteress who committed regicide to marry her lover and then spent years in captivity for the crime, endlessly plotting the demise of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. This book covers the breathtaking scope of her amazing life and examines the immense cultural legacy she left behind, from the Schiller play of the 1800s to The CW teen drama Reign. Temptress, terrorist, or tragic queen, this book will give you the lowdown on one of history’s most misunderstood monarchs.

The Little Book of Scotland is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Discover the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts. Geoff Holder’s latest book contains historic and contemporary trivia including such gems as the real story of William ‘Braveheart’ Wallace, which king was murdered in a barn, and where the Second World War Commandos were formed. From Sir Walter Scott to Sir Sean Connery and Queen Victoria to Mary Queens of Scots, this is a remarkably engaging little book, essential reading for visitors and Scots alike.

You know Mark Twain, creator of the long-beloved characters Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, but have you heard what he said about Jane Austen? The Little Book of Zingers will feature the greatest comebacks and one-liners of all time, uttered by the iconic men and women we know and love (or love to hate)! Every generation sees its fair share of geniuses: men and women who possess boundless intellect and are capable of incredible insight. Søren Kierkegaard was such a man. Widely considered the father of existential philosophy, Kierkegaard uttered such profundities as: If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe. But on one truly momentous occasion, Kierkegaard made one confident and succinct statement that shook the earth: My opponent is a glob of snot. Kierkegaard spoke of Hans Martensen, an academic with whom he'd had a fair share of disagreements. The two often went toe-to-toe in scholarly debate, but with this dynamite zinger, Kierkegaard ended all further discussion. After all, who expects to be called a glob of snot? There's no coming back from that. The Little Book of Zingers will explore the rich depths of crushingly hilarious salt-in-the-wound one-liners you've never heard that'll make you gasp at their audacity. From the Age of Enlightenment to the Roaring Twenties to the boogie-down seventies, The Little Book of Zingers will take readers on a journey through some of history's greatest burns, spoken by the men and women who shaped the world.