The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots

September 24, 2018
In this sharp new history of two adversarial monarchs, Williams (Becoming Queen Victoria) tells the story of a monarch who “tried to be as autocratic as a king,” but was thwarted by conspiracy and female disempowerment. She begins with a basic but skillful recounting of how Mary came to Scotland’s throne in 1542 while her cousin Elizabeth I established her rule in England. Mary contended with significant threats to her reign and her authority; from within, aristocrats jostled for power, and, across the border, Elizabeth maneuvered to prevent Mary from claiming the English crown. According to Williams, Mary’s downfall stemmed from her attempt to claim her rightful power and rule on her own terms. The Scots nobility regarded Mary as a woman first, queen second, and they conspired to control her by exploiting her body: as Williams renders in chilling detail, Mary was raped by and consequently forced to marry the Earl of Bothwell. Williams’s analysis of this episode, unlike historians who have “judged her complicit” because she did not escape, is informed by contemporary insights into sexual assault. Forced to abdicate, Mary fled to England hoping for assistance from Elizabeth, who instead detained her and subsequently ordered her execution. Though parts of the story may be well-known to readers of royal history, Williams injects enough fresh viewpoints to make it a satisfying whole. Illus.

November 1, 2018
Poor Mary Stuart. At a young age, she seemed to be on top of the world. She was queen regnant of Scotland, queen consort of France, and in Catholic eyes, the rightful queen regnant of England rather than her Protestant cousin, Elizabeth Tudor. But, as the title of Williams' refreshing, engaging biography indicates, Mary Stuart's life trajectory trended downward as her husband, the king of France, died early, and her return to Scotland set her against the Scottish lords who had gained in power during Mary's absence in France. Her greatest setback, which marked a precipitous fall from illustrious heights, came at the hands of the English queen, who, once Mary fled her Scottish enemies and fell into Elizabeth's clutches, had her executed. Tudor-Stuart enthusiasts will, of course, recognize the major characters and events that Williams writes about, but they will appreciate the greatly vibrant tone in this account by the best-selling author of Young Elizabeth (2015) and CNN royal historian.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)