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Mary Queen of Scots
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Who was the real Mary Queen of Scots? The most enigmatic ruler of England lived a life of incredible drama and turmoil: crowned Queen of Scotland at nine months old, and Queen of France at 16 years, she grew up in the crosshairs of Europe's political battles to become Queen Elizabeth's archrival.
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What a student needs for studying Mary Queen of Scots!!
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Jane Rochford was the sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn and Lady of the Bedchamber to Catherine Howard, whom she followed to the scaffold in 1542. Hers is a life of extraordinary drama as a witness to and participant in the greatest events of Henry's reign. Her supposed part in both Anne Boleyn's and Catherine Howard's downfall has led to her being reviled through the centuries.
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This felt more like a text book than fun to read.
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Thomas Cromwell
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Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Thomas Cromwell by Diarmid MacCulloch, read by David Rintoul. Thomas Cromwell is one of the most famous - or notorious - figures in English history. Born in obscurity in Putney, he became a fixer for Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s. After Wolsey's fall, Henry VIII promoted him to a series of ever greater offices, and by the end of the 1530s he was effectively running the country for the King.
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The story of Catholic Emancipation begins with the Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in 1780, fuelled by a reduction in Penal Laws against Catholics harking back to the 16th century. Fifty years later, the passing of the Emancipation Bill was hailed as a 'bloodless revolution'. Yet, had the Irish Catholics been a 'millstone', or were they the prime movers?
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The Battle of Culloden in 1746 has gone down in history as the last major battle fought on British soil: a vicious confrontation between the English Royal Army and the Scottish forces supporting the Stuart claim to the throne. But this wasn't just a conflict between the Scots and the English: The battle was also part of a much larger campaign to protect the British Isles from the growing threat of a French invasion.
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A good insight into the personalities of the Day.
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Elizabeth's Rival
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- By: Nicola Tallis
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- Unabridged
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Cousin to Elizabeth I - and possibly Henry VIII's illegitimate granddaughter - Lettice Knollys had a life of dizzying highs and pitiful lows. Entangled in a love triangle with Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, banished from court, plagued by scandals, embroiled in treason, Lettice would lose a husband and son to the executioner's ax. In the first ever biography of this remarkable woman, Nicola Tallis takes us through her dramatic life and the grand sweep of the Tudor Age and the events that define it.
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Too many maybe and perhaps
- By janice h. on 25-08-18
Summary
Mary passed her childhood in France and married the Dauphin to become Queen of France at the age of 16. Widowed less than two years later, she returned to Scotland as Queen after an absence of 13 years. Her life then entered its best known phase: the early struggles with John Knox and the unruly Scottish nobility; the fatal marriage to Darnley and his mysterious death; her marriage to Bothwell, the chief suspect, that led directly to her long English captivity at the hands of Queen Elizabeth; the poignant and extraordinary story of her long imprisonment that ended with the labyrinthine Babington plot to free her, and her execution at the age of 44.
Antonia Fraser's biography, four years in the writing, enters fully into the life of an historical figure who continues to capture the popular imagination. It provides a moving answer to the question, "What was Mary Queen of Scots really like?"
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Overall
- Duncan
- 10-12-09
Really really recommended
Up until now I've very much been a 20th Century history boy, so this was my first foray into the Tudors. On the basis of this book I really wish I'd done it sooner.
This is an excellent audiobook in terms of writing,narration & production, and although it is primarily a factual book I found myself being hooked in a 'I wonder what happens next' way as one is with any of the good thrillers.
I thoroughly recommend this book, and it's Lady Antonia's '6 Wives...' for me next month.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- dianne
- 03-08-14
gobsmacking
Where does Mary Queen of Scots rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
excellent
What did you like best about this story?
brought Mary to life & showed her strengths & failings
Which character – as performed by Patricia Hodge – was your favourite?
mary herself
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Amazed at how much mary experienced
Any additional comments?
would have preferred the unabridged version
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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- romanes.jez
- UK
- 17-02-19
Perfect in every way.
Well written and researched , excellently read. Altogether a most enjoyable and instructive few hours.
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- Mr. Charles Coyle
- Glasgow, UK
- 15-02-19
excellent
thus book is a real classic, and it was a joy to listen to this accomplished performance
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- anita mahon
- 10-01-19
excellent
read this as a teenager a long time ago. wonderful narration . perfect pitch and cadence.
loved every minute of it
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- Mary Carnegie
- UK
- 01-09-18
Decapitated history
Abridged to the point of banality (little more than the general knowledge of an educated Scot) and narrated without concern for the eccentricity of Scottish pronunciation of proper nouns; the English have their own caprices, listening to this is rather like watching a tv miniseries rather than a respectable history.
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- CMDavis
- 13-03-18
wonderful facts and intriguing story
Narrator was very easy to listen to and most enjoyable.
Well written. learned a lot and at same time was thoroughly entertained.
highly recommend.
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- D. D. Pianta
- 01-02-18
What a fantastic book!
Such a pleasure to listen to it! Absolutely loved every minute! A piece of history that I knew just a little of. It gave me the impetus to know even more.
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- Zoe
- 09-03-17
Enjoyable
Thoroughly enjoyed this book , from her younger years to her older years she went through a lot, would recommend to anybody who has a interest in Queen history, I finished reading about Elizabeth 1 a was nice to read what went on in Marys version
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- Jim Hopkins
- 29-04-16
Fantastic
must read for anyone with interest in Scottish history. Brilliant from start to finish thanks