Undiscovered Scotland

 

Mary Queen of Scots is the most intriguing, most studied, and most famous of all Scottish monarchs: probably because she showed herself to be the most human. Though styled "Queen of Scots" she was briefly also Queen of France, and could all so easily also have become what she was seen to be by many: the rightful Queen of England.

Mary has an iconic status in Scottish history and I suspect that more books have been written about her than about any other Scottish monarch: or perhaps even any selection of several put together. Against this background I approached "The Life and Death of Mary, Queen of Scots" by Jan-Marie Knights with a degree of caution, asking myself whether there really is scope for yet another biography of Mary on bookshop shelves.

The answer is an unqualified "yes". "The Life and Death of Mary, Queen of Scots" by Jan-Marie Knights is a book that can be extremely highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Scottish history and wants to know more about Mary: or anyone who has ever been intrigued by one of the - very many - "Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here..." plaques that are found in so many of our country's historic castles and houses.

What really sets this book apart from others I've read about Mary is its approachability and its accessibility. I didn't happen across any major historical revelations or surprises in reading Jan-Marie Knights' account. But that's not the point. The book is superbly written and Mary's story is told in a way that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged. The book is divided into a number of sections that are arranged chronologically and within them the text is presented in the form of generally short dated and titled sections. The effect is to present Mary's story in easily digestible chunks and allow the reader the option of progressing through the book as written or jumping around to sections that seem particularly interesting.

Yes, there have been many other books written about the life of Mary Queen of Scots, but I suspect that this one stands more chance of being actually read by those who buy it than most: and that is high praise for any book.