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The Captive Queen of Scots: A Novel
by Jean Plaidy

Published: 2006-11-28
Paperback : 464 pages
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“Burn the murderess!”

So begins Jean Plaidy’s The Captive Queen of Scots, the epic tale of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, cousin to Queen Elizabeth of England. After her husband, Lord Darnley, is murdered, suspicion falls on Mary and her lover, the Earl of Bothwell. A Catholic in a ...
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Introduction

“Burn the murderess!”

So begins Jean Plaidy’s The Captive Queen of Scots, the epic tale of the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart, cousin to Queen Elizabeth of England. After her husband, Lord Darnley, is murdered, suspicion falls on Mary and her lover, the Earl of Bothwell. A Catholic in a land of stern Protestants, Mary finds herself in the middle of a revolt, as her bloodthirsty subjects call for her arrest and execution. In disgrace, she flees her Scottish persecutors for England, where she appeals to Queen Elizabeth for mercy, but to no avail. Throughout Mary’s long years as the Queen’s prisoner, she conceives many bold plans for revenge and escaping to freedom—but the gallows of Fotheringhay Castle loom . . .

Set against royal pageantry, religious strife, and bloody uprising—and filled with conspiracies, passion, heartbreak, and fascinating historical detail—The Captive Queen of Scots is an unforgettable, page-turning tale of the intense rivalry between two powerful women of noble blood.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

Lochleven

In the castle of Lochleven which was built on an island in the middle of the loch an exciting expectancy prevailed.

All through the day, the serving men and maids had been aware that they must prepare for an important visitor, and rumor had seeped through to them that this was none other than the captive Queen. Ears were strained for the sounds of arrival; eyes continually turned to the strip of water which separated the island from the mainland on which could be seen the roofs of the houses of Kinross. She would embark there and the boat was ready, waiting for her. ... view entire excerpt...

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Member Reviews

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  "Overall, I did not like this book"by Sherry H. (see profile) 02/09/07

I thought the book was boring and hard to read because of all the different characters and difference in the way they speak. I realize it was an historical fiction book but that made it even harder to... (read more)

 
  "A slow-moving account of Mary, Queen of Scots's loss of her throne and life of captivity by Queen Elizabeth."by Kim C. (see profile) 02/09/07

Plaidy does a decent job of bringing history alive. The book is often times slow moving and repetitive. The depictions of Mary, Queen of Scots, were often too syrupy and unrealistic.

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