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An Accidental Tragedy

An Accidental Tragedy

£5.99

An Accidental Tragedy—The Life of Mary, Queen of Scots

A fresh and unsentimental reassessment of the queen whose life became legend


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About the Ebook

Based on contemporary documents and histories, Roderick Graham paints a unique picture of Mary that sees her neither as a Catholic martyr, nor as a husband-murdering adulteress, but as a young girl adrift in the dangerous seas of sixteenth-century politics. Mary Stuart had none of the ruthlessness of her contemporary sisters, and the female empowerment of Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers or Elizabeth Tudor passed her by.

In an age of intellectually brilliant and powerful women, Mary relied on her beauty and charm in place of reason and determination. Passively and gracefully, she allowed events to overtake her as accidents and when she did attempt to control her future she unwittingly set in train the events that would lead her to the executioner's block.


Why You'll Love This Ebook

  • Discover the real Mary behind the myths of romance and martyrdom
  • Explore the political pressures that made her reign an accidental tragedy
  • Engage with a rigorous, readable biography of Scotland's most famous queen
  • Read another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher

About the Author

Roderick Graham was educated at the Royal High School of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University before serving with the Royal Army Education Corps as Staff Officer (Education) East Africa Command. He subsequently enjoyed a long and varied career in television and radio as a writer, freelance director and producer, and worked for a period as Head of Drama for BBC TV Scotland. He has also taught writing and directing at Napier and Leeds Metropolitan Universities, Edinburgh College of Art and Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is the author of the critically acclaimed John Knox: Democrat and The Great Infidel: A Life of David Hume. He lives in Edinburgh.

Publication Details

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd

Publication Date: 10 August 2012

Print Length: 512 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9780857904973

Format: Ebook


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