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The Mouse's Tale
It is a cold February night and the unfortunate Queen of Scots has been condemned to die. Join her and her servants on her last night in this world as she retells her story in her own words, her own legacy left to the world that betrayed her, imprisoned her and ultimately killed her.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2010
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69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 7, 2012
I once, actually more than, got into a friendly debate over whether Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots would've been as successful if they had "switched". In other words, if Elizabeth had been Queen of Scotland and Mary Queen of England. My conclusion is that Elizabeth would not have made the mistakes Mary did, but she wouldn't be the Gloriana we see her as today. Mary, on the other hand, would've kept her head but not been Gloriana either. Elizabeth had several things that Mary didn't, the one of, if not the most, important being the fact that while Elizabeth's nobles competed and backstabbed each other, they could work together if the good of the Kingdom. Mary's nobles didn't think kingdom, they thought clan.
Additionally, Elizabeth grew up among death in a way that Mary didn't (Jane Dunn's Elizabeth and Mary is an excellent look at this). Yet Mary, Queen of Scots is interesting because of her mistakes.
Whittaker has Mary tell her own story in this book, and it is Mary's story told Mary's way. The writing style isn't extactly my favorite, and I can hear you wondering why give it four stars then?
Because this is a wonderful example of a speaker revealing more about herself than she realizes. As she tells her story, Mary reveals more than she, perhaps intends, yet she never truly loses our sympahty. Yes, she comes off looking bad when Dudley and his murder come up. Bothwell, really? But, she has a point. It is hard to argue a charge of treason.
Excellent use of voice and prepresctive.
Additionally, Elizabeth grew up among death in a way that Mary didn't (Jane Dunn's Elizabeth and Mary is an excellent look at this). Yet Mary, Queen of Scots is interesting because of her mistakes.
Whittaker has Mary tell her own story in this book, and it is Mary's story told Mary's way. The writing style isn't extactly my favorite, and I can hear you wondering why give it four stars then?
Because this is a wonderful example of a speaker revealing more about herself than she realizes. As she tells her story, Mary reveals more than she, perhaps intends, yet she never truly loses our sympahty. Yes, she comes off looking bad when Dudley and his murder come up. Bothwell, really? But, she has a point. It is hard to argue a charge of treason.
Excellent use of voice and prepresctive.
June 22, 2011
As a Psychologist, I'm interested in how people think and feel. I may also be related to families of British royalty. The recent royal wedding has increased interest in all things British royalty involved. How, then could I not be interested in this book? It is a good read, first of all. The execution scene is written in a way that is gripping, yet readable by someone who is not fond of reading grisly text. The book alternates between a phenomenological account of what Mary Queen of Scots is thinking and feeling, and descriptions of the scenes. It is written with the perspective that she knows that she is about to be executed.
I looked for ways of thinking and understanding that would not be possible for the time and found only one possible one. The phrase when hell freezes over may be of more recent vintage, but I'm not sure. At any rate, I think that there are some good insights in the stream of consciousness attributed to the book's main character. Her reflection on her relationships with men was interesting. I learned a lot about the people and events described in the book. I think that you will enjoy reading the book.
I looked for ways of thinking and understanding that would not be possible for the time and found only one possible one. The phrase when hell freezes over may be of more recent vintage, but I'm not sure. At any rate, I think that there are some good insights in the stream of consciousness attributed to the book's main character. Her reflection on her relationships with men was interesting. I learned a lot about the people and events described in the book. I think that you will enjoy reading the book.
June 27, 2017
Mary, Queen of Scots has been condemned to die. In this historical novel, we hear her side of the story as she describes the events leading up to her execution to her servants.
Reading this novel, I couldn't help but think that Mary's life was doomed from the start. Starting with her widowhood at age 18, it seems as though she had to fight for her very existence from an early age. She also did not seem to have the benefit of competent advisors; so though raised and trained to be a queen, she seems to have trusted the wrong people and made a number of poor decisions that led to her early demise.
Throughout the book, Mary's tone is defiant, but sometimes petulant and entitled. This is what interests me the most about this story. In this first person account, we feel like we're hearing Mary's voice.
Mary's viewpoint is deeply influenced by her Roman Catholic faith. This is largely what made her a threat to the protestant Scotland, and it's unlikely she would have had a future there without a conversion.
There are challenges to telling a story in first person -- one of them is the risk of "telling" vs. "showing," and there were times I would have liked more showing. For example, Mary mentions a poisoned pear incident, but I was unclear what that was about beyond one of many attempts on Mary's life. I also didn't get a sense for what a day in the life of a queen was like, and I would have liked to have seen more of that.
However, the further into the book, the more absorbing it becomes. I ached for every misstep and wished the story could have turned out differently. When it was over I felt deep sadness for this queen who was, for the most part, not allowed to rule.
Reading this novel, I couldn't help but think that Mary's life was doomed from the start. Starting with her widowhood at age 18, it seems as though she had to fight for her very existence from an early age. She also did not seem to have the benefit of competent advisors; so though raised and trained to be a queen, she seems to have trusted the wrong people and made a number of poor decisions that led to her early demise.
Throughout the book, Mary's tone is defiant, but sometimes petulant and entitled. This is what interests me the most about this story. In this first person account, we feel like we're hearing Mary's voice.
Mary's viewpoint is deeply influenced by her Roman Catholic faith. This is largely what made her a threat to the protestant Scotland, and it's unlikely she would have had a future there without a conversion.
There are challenges to telling a story in first person -- one of them is the risk of "telling" vs. "showing," and there were times I would have liked more showing. For example, Mary mentions a poisoned pear incident, but I was unclear what that was about beyond one of many attempts on Mary's life. I also didn't get a sense for what a day in the life of a queen was like, and I would have liked to have seen more of that.
However, the further into the book, the more absorbing it becomes. I ached for every misstep and wished the story could have turned out differently. When it was over I felt deep sadness for this queen who was, for the most part, not allowed to rule.
December 2, 2012
Wonderful historical fiction. Started this book and was sucked in immediately. At the time I put this book on my to read list it was not available for kindle or at my local library so I ended up buying it from Amazon and I am going to donate my copy to my local library so that others may enjoy this wonderful story also.
January 17, 2013
I like it when I can read a story and be able to image everything in my head just like I am there. This story helps me do that. The author has given good cues and descriptive words to help me see in my mind that I am right there in the story. Kudos for a well written story. [Bruce Goldwell, author of the Dragon Keepers series]
Want to read
December 31, 2010It does sound interesting. Summertime would be good time to read it; perhaps sitting against the trunk of a maple tree while the sunlight struggles through a buttermilk sky.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews