Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens

When I first ordered this book for a history class I teach in the spring, I was uneasy. Having not yet read the book, I thought it would probably be a back and forth of Elizabeth did this, Mary did that, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth and I am in awe of Jane Dunn's writing skills, which make for an exciting read. Although this book is over 400 pages long and in fairly small print, I read it in less than four days. Even though she is not a historian, Dunn has outdone many in this extraordinary account of two queens and the times in which they lived. It is biography, history, the story of a time and several countries, all written in a vivid and highly readable fashion. And unlike many so-called historians, Dunn has provided endnotes. As an author and historian myself, I deplore the recent trends toward very general "histories" or biographies that have no notes and sometimes no bibliography. Although those books usually do not make original claims, it is impossible to check any of their facts or look into a particular subject further without consulting additional sources.As a history professor and author myself, I found no historical errors, though there were a couple of omissions and one question of interpretation. Although Elizabeth did not "want to make windows into men's souls" as long as they worshipped 'appropriately' and Mary's Catholicism was central to her identity, it would have helped to at least mention the Elizabethan Settlement of 1571. This came only a year after the pope finally excommunicated Elizabeth, allowing her Catholic subjects and other powers to rise up against her. It is important to note that it was Philip II of Spain who had forestalled the excommunication until 1570 (albeit entirely for his own purposes), allowing Elizabeth to consolidate power after her succession to the throne in 1558. The same reasons accounts for why the Armada did not attack England until after Mary's execution by Elizabeth in 1587 -- he wanted the throne for Spain, not Mary. My question of interpretation has to do with the courtship of Elizabeth and Alençon. Dunn seems to accept it at face value, an aging woman desiring the attentions of a younger man. Certainly her much later infatuation with Essex does not make this impossible, but most scholars believe it was yet another piece of her unmatched marital diplomacy. Alençon was so much younger and Elizabeth beyond childbearing, so there was never any question that Parliament would not allow the marriage. That of course enraged Elizabeth but, not in my view, because she was in love with him. She simply did not get her way.Some have written that Dunn repeats her main themes about the two queens throughout, but I disagree. In any such book, the main ideas will recur at times, but I did not find an agenda in this book -- neither exalting Elizabeth nor condemning Mary out of hand. Although I have never believed Mary had any political acumen or much personal wisdom, I ended up with greater sympathy (and some admiration) for her than I had earlier had. The relationship between the two queens was complicated, and got more so over time so a 'one size fits all' argument would not have worked.I do hope Dunn will consider writing a sequel. She ends with the Armada, though only briefly. Elizabeth still had fifteen years to live, and in Dunn's hands, that would be make another superb book.

This book was excellent. I read one review where a reader complained that Dunn repeats herself too often, reiterating points as if you aren't going retain them otherwise. That's one reason I loved this book! The reinforcement kept the important stuff fresh in my memory and left me feeling, by the end, I could probably given an impromptu lecture on characters of Mary and Elizabeth.As for the impressions I personally came away with: Mary was an unfortunate product of the French court that taught her that rule was hers by right. She honed the art of charm but never wisdom. Between her chronic self-indulgence and her (likely) manic depressive cycles, she made a life-long series of decisions that sealed her fate. I have a difficult time with the enduring myth of her Catholic martyrdom; her behavior throughout her life was characterized far more by self-indulgence than faith. I felt as though her role as martyr was a last-ditch effort to improve her legacy. (Dunn seems to present it this way.)Elizabeth, by contrast, became queen by a chain of uncanny events and never took rule for granted. She was discerning and so careful in her decision-making that indecision (contrasted with Mary's trademark rashness) was a weakness. Her eventual decision to behead Mary can hardly be called a decision at all, as you will see if you read, and even though Mary was skilled at flattery and deference to Elizabeth in their early acquaintance, I got the impression that Elizabeth had more genuine feelings for and loyalty to Mary -- something she couldn't afford to entertain.I don't want to take the time to chronicle the numerous and critical mistakes that marked Mary's reign, but I will list three decisions I believe hurt Elizabeth's chances of solidifying a trustworthy relationship with Mary: her refusal to ever meet Mary face-to-face, her stall tactics over selecting a possible husband for Mary, and her refusal to grant Mary the asylum she sought when she fled Scotland. Her decision on these matters were complicated by the volatile political and religious situation at the time, and my opinion is an amateur one, but there it is.Overall, these historical females were brought to life for me in a very personal way, and I am anxious to read more historical books, especially written by Jane Dunn.

The tale of two very different Queens. The first, Mary Stuart, is ruled by her emotions. The second, Elizabeth Tudor, by her logic. This is the story of how, through her own recklessness and poor judgement, Mary Stuart became the prisoner of Elizabeth and remained so until her death. Lured by Walsingham into signing letters authorising the assassination of Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots effectively signed her own death warrant. Her execution was an horrendous sight to behold if we are to believe the accounts of the day and Elizabeth never fully came to terms with having to order it. Interestingly, the two women never met face to face. Elizabeth shied away from such a meeting, fearing that she would pale by comparison next to the younger and widely reported beauty that was Mary. The book is well written and historically correct. It is an in-depth account of the relationship between two powerful women, one of whom would ultimately decide the fate of the other. A must for anyone who has an interest in Tudor history.

Jane Dunne’s account of these remarkable women brings an entirely new perspective to the times and relationships. She writes more as a biographer rather than a historian, so the characters and colour are really brought to life.The research is clearly meticulous and the historical context is set in the opening chapter. The year 1558 represents a time when the seal was set for enormous change to Britain and the way the historical stage was played out by the royals and courtiers is vividly portrayed.What really struck me was the way Elizabeth comes to life as a person. I’ve read Antonia Fraser’s authoritative account and other books, but Elizabeth has always come across as rather stern and straight laced. This book details the way she interacted with the people, often to the horror of her courtiers. She was friendly, outgoing and full of life. The colour and physicality really leaps out. One of the most enjoyable biographies I've read in some time.

Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots are two of the most fascinating characters in history. Both ruled as Queen Regnants in their own right, in an age in which men were seen as the more powerful sex, and women were seen as week. What is also interesting is that they ruled over neighbouring Kingdoms- Mary was Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth Queen of England. They never met, and yet their lives were interwoven with each other, ones actions affected the other, and they were constantly compared, both during their lifetime and the centuries that followed. Both have had countless books both fiction and non-fiction written about them, painting one in a more favourable light usually, yet this book by Jane Dunn, looks at both Queens, their lives, their actions, and their eventual fates.The book is packed with detail, sources, notes, and covers the lives in such rich detail. From their births in which their sex was a disappointment to their fathers. Mary was sent away from Scotland by her mother to escape the 'rough wooing' of Elizabeth's father Henry VIII, and brought up in France, where she made her first marriage to the Dauphin Francis. Mary's childhood was largely pampered and secure, brought up in the bubble of the French Monarchy, whilst Elizabeth's childhood and path to the throne was fraught with danger and insecurity, her own mother was executed, a succession of stepmothers followed, imprissioned during the reign of her half-sister Mary I, it is these experiences which Dunn goes to great lengths to empathise how it would later show during their reigns, Mary being the more romantic, whilst Elizabeth was shrewd and alert.Dunn also explains how the actions of one would affect the other, for examples Mary having married and having a child was widely praised, whilst Elizabeth refusing to marry, was widely scorned at the time. Both wanted to get one up on the other, in a constant game of rivalry as to who was the more desirable. Yet when Mary initially lost her throne it was Elizabeth who stood alone- among her fellow European Monarchs and her own councillors- in offering support for Mary.Dunn does romanticise either Queen, instead showing that neither was perfect. As she points out, both won and lost at the same time. Mary's son succeeded Elizabeth to the throne of England, yet he ruled over a Protestant country which remains to this day.In many ways, Mary and Elizabeth were locked in a life-long battle of the Game of Thrones, which only one could emerge victorious.

Lots of information, maybe just a little too much. I really enjoyed the narrative which definitely enhanced my understanding of the two queens and the times but latterly found myself skipping over some paragraphs.

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