The Survival of the Crown

May Queen of Scots – Volume II:
The Return to Authority of the Scottish Crown following Mary Queen of Scots’ Deposition from the Throne 1567-1603

In this follow-up to “The Challenge to the Crown“, the second, and concluding, part of his masterly account of Mary Queen of Scots, and her son James VI of Scotland, Robert Stedall takes us from the aftermath of the Earl of Bothwell’s murder, through Mary’s imprisonment and execution, to James eventual coronation as James I of England. En route, he skillfully leads us through the murky labyrinth of Renaissance politics, revealing a world in which few, if any, could afford to remain innocent.

In this volume, James moves to centre-stage and his complex, neurotic personality is explored. What exactly was his relationship with his mother, removed from his side at such an early age, and how can we explain his seeming lack of feeling for her fate?

Meticulously researched, beautifully written and handsomely illustrated, The Survival of the Crown is a magnificent conclusion to Robert Stedall’s illuminating account of a crucial turning point in British history.