Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

However, what it comes down to -- as it so often does with Mary -- is the question of the Casket Letters. Weir discounts their authenticity vehemently and exonorates Mary of any complicity in her husband's death. This begs the big issue of Mary's character as a ruthless schemer, brought up in Machiavellian France, losing her head over plots against Elizabeth. Weir makes a case here, but does not convince nor provide new interpretations of old evidence.

If you are a Marian, this book will add ample fuel to your fire. If you are not, the last sentence will make you gasp in righteous indignation.

The general impression of Scottish politics at this time is of dozens of ruthless, power-seeking noblemen all changing sides, lying, scheming, and double-crossing each other at a rapid rate. The numerous documents relating to Darnley's murder (of which the Casket Letters are only a small, though vital, part) are almost all filled with contradictions, inconsistencies, blatant omissions, deliberate distortions, and attempts to blame or clear specific individuals; and are closely tied to political, religious or financial interests. To try to find the truth in this whole mess is like cleaning the Augean stables. Weir has done about as good a job as anyone could, in analyzing everything logically and looking at it in the light of common sense. I think that this book makes a real contribution to the topic.

Weir says about her conclusion, "Even after extensive research, I believed, as I began to write this book, that Mary was guilty. But when I came to analyse the source material in depth, it became increasingly obvious that such a conclusion was not possible." She makes a good, clear, well-reasoned, consistent case, always referring back to the original sources and weighing them carefully.

Mary comes across as politically naive and prone to major errors of judgment. On many occasions she was also physically very ill and mentally close to a nervous breakdown. She was often at the mercy of the 'wolf-like earls' surrounding her, but it must also be said that she tried (unsuccessfully) to play a double game on various occasions, saying one thing to one person and the opposite to someone else.

I have to say that, even though the book is well written, I didn't find it all that enjoyable. There wasn't a single person in it that I could really identify with or sympathize with - not even Mary. I think that this is not so much a reflection on the author, as on the unappealing people and circumstances she has chosen to write about. I've thoroughly enjoyed several of Alison Weir's other books and the writing and scholarship here is up to the same high standard. It's just that the subject matter is a bit dull.

I found myself not really caring whether Morton was lying to Maitland, or whether Moray was manipulating Mar and Morton, or whether Maitland was trying to betray Mary and Moray, or whether it was all the other way round this particular month. After chapters of this kind of thing, it became a bit much. Like the Earl of Sussex, I was disgusted by "the inconstancy and subtleness of the people with whom we deal."

Darnley himself was an extremely unpleasant character - arrogant, spoiled, stupid, self-centered, superficial, devious, and untrustworthy - and his death left most people cold. Elizabeth I, Darnley's relative, wrote to Mary after his murder, "I cannot conceal that I grieve more for you than for him."

Unless you have some special interest in the issue of Darnley's murder, I would recommend that you rather try 'The Life of Elizabeth I' or 'Henry VIII, the King and his Court', or one of the other excellent books by Weir.