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The Queen's Caprice
by
There have been few more controversial figures in British history than Mary Queen of Scots.
In this thrilling novel she is bought vividly back to life.
She is a woman shrouded in secrecy and surrounded by violence who has learnt to use her desirability to intoxicate her subjects into carrying out her will.
Yet despite this natural authority she cannot escape the domineerin ...more
In this thrilling novel she is bought vividly back to life.
She is a woman shrouded in secrecy and surrounded by violence who has learnt to use her desirability to intoxicate her subjects into carrying out her will.
Yet despite this natural authority she cannot escape the domineerin ...more
Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Published
May 31st 2015
by Endeavour Press
(first published 1933)
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Disclaimer: Review copy courtesy of Endeavour Press (via Netgalley)
Marjorie Bowen was Philippa Gregory before Philippa Gregory was.
If you know what I mean.
According to the opening pages of this book, the Queen’s Caprice was first published in 1933. The only that this really shows is the characterization of a sexual woman as being an evil woman.
Now, before you get the wrong message, the book is actually good. I didn’t think it was great, but I am sure some people I am friends with will enjo ...more
Marjorie Bowen was Philippa Gregory before Philippa Gregory was.
If you know what I mean.
According to the opening pages of this book, the Queen’s Caprice was first published in 1933. The only that this really shows is the characterization of a sexual woman as being an evil woman.
Now, before you get the wrong message, the book is actually good. I didn’t think it was great, but I am sure some people I am friends with will enjo ...more
I had requested this book without realizing that it was by the same author as Dickon and before I had started Bowen's Richard III novel.. Both books inspired me to skim sections, but this one was an improvement over Dickon because it does not include the same false medieval language that was so annoying in that novel.
Mary as a protagonist was impossible for me to like or feel any sympathy for. She was selfish, vapid, and more concerned with sex than ruling her country. At no point did she invok ...more
Mary as a protagonist was impossible for me to like or feel any sympathy for. She was selfish, vapid, and more concerned with sex than ruling her country. At no point did she invok ...more
The Queen’s Caprice tells of Mary, Queen of Scots, rule in Scotland. She is beautiful and loved by the men around her. However, with her marriage to Henry Stuart and favoring an Italian dwarf named David, she loses the nobles’ favor and treachery and danger abounds. Mary must fight to keep control of Scotland as the nobles try to take away her power.
Mary is a tragic figure. She is a weak ruler. She chooses the wrong men, who want nothing but to have Scotland for themselves. She is easily influe ...more
Mary is a tragic figure. She is a weak ruler. She chooses the wrong men, who want nothing but to have Scotland for themselves. She is easily influe ...more
I have gotten hooked on books about the English monarchy lately and thought a book about Mary Queen of Scots would be really interesting. However the characters were not very well developed. I never got a good feel for anyone's personality or motivations. I never became invested in the characters or story and considered not finishing the book, but I persevered, hoping that it would improve. It didn't.
...more
The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, is a fascinating, eventful one and always a good subject for historical fiction. Bowen’s novel is a straightforward fictional biography of Mary, covering the period from her return to Scotland in 1561 following the death of her husband, the King of France, and her imprisonment at Lochleven in 1567. In between, there’s always something happening: a murder, a plot, a rebellion or a disastrous marriage or two!
This is an interesting look at Mary’s life, although as ...more
This is an interesting look at Mary’s life, although as ...more
Mary, Queen of Scots, is a tragic character. Her life was one intrigue after another but she may have kept her throne and her head had she been a different sort of person.
Beautiful and charming, she could wrap men around her little finger. She was capricious, as the title of the book implies, but not a particularly forward thinking type. Had she thought through her actions instead of acting precipitously, she might have realized there were people who worked long and hard to keep her on the thron ...more
Beautiful and charming, she could wrap men around her little finger. She was capricious, as the title of the book implies, but not a particularly forward thinking type. Had she thought through her actions instead of acting precipitously, she might have realized there were people who worked long and hard to keep her on the thron ...more
A fairly interesting tale, following the highs and lows of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots at the most turbulent time of her life. The language does feel a little dated and it is clear that here is a story that was written several years ago, mostly through the diction and plotting, which is a little slow and stilted in parts.
There are some nice touches and it is clearly intended to present Mary in a similar vein to what we might expect from writers such as Phillipa Gregory today, presenting an ...more
There are some nice touches and it is clearly intended to present Mary in a similar vein to what we might expect from writers such as Phillipa Gregory today, presenting an ...more
The Queen's Caprice by Marjorie Bowen is a story about Mary, Queen of Scots. It was a interesting interpretation about Mary's life, when she was the Queen of Scots, about her husbands, lovers and children.
The beginning of the story is really confusing, since the story starts with persons who's name were not familiar to me (probably no to anybody, unless you have studied history about Mary) and I really did not understand what, who and when was happening. But the more the story goes on, the more ...more
The beginning of the story is really confusing, since the story starts with persons who's name were not familiar to me (probably no to anybody, unless you have studied history about Mary) and I really did not understand what, who and when was happening. But the more the story goes on, the more ...more
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Tragic is the word always applied to Mary, Queen of Scotts. With this in mind, Ms. Bowen presents a true picture of Mary's life, subject to political intrigue and subterfuge. As a woman, she was searching for love and acceptance, but as a queen she needed more than this. With all the scheming going on around her, it is not hard to imagine her turning to her Italian dwarf for some semblance of lov ...more
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Tragic is the word always applied to Mary, Queen of Scotts. With this in mind, Ms. Bowen presents a true picture of Mary's life, subject to political intrigue and subterfuge. As a woman, she was searching for love and acceptance, but as a queen she needed more than this. With all the scheming going on around her, it is not hard to imagine her turning to her Italian dwarf for some semblance of lov ...more
Mary queen of scots
Historical fact and fiction brought together in a very enjoyable book,I look forward to the next book by this author
Historical fact and fiction brought together in a very enjoyable book,I look forward to the next book by this author
Being royalty isnt as great as you'd think. Marjorie Bowen gives an open and direct view of what life must have been life for this tragic woman. Well written and quite enjoyable.
...more
Wow its not always good being born royalty! Still entertaining and great writing.
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Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell), was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography. Her total output numbers over 150 volumes with the bulk of her work under the 'Bowen' pseudonym. She also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye, and Margaret Campbell
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