Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens

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Jane Dunn's Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens offers a blend of history and biography that traces the "dynamic interaction" between two of the most powerful women in Western history. Dunn remains ever aware of the uniqueness of her two central figures: both women ruled as divinely ordained monarchs in a male dominated power structure; and both women were from the same family (Elizabeth I was the granddaughter of Henry VII, and Mary Queen of Scots the great-granddaughter of King Henry).

By focusing not on pure biography but instead on relationships, Dunn is able to narrow her book (still mammoth in scope) to the most salient and interesting events in the two queens' lives. The book begins in 1558, the year in which Mary first wed and Elizabeth assumed the throne of England. Almost immediately the cousins were embroiled in a conflict that would endure for the remainder of Mary's life. A restless, sexually-active Catholic, and leader of the Scottish people in alliance with France, Mary was ever a conduit for rumors of rebellion. The "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth used Mary as a dark reflection to underline her own celibate constancy as a ruler of law and order.

The pair never met face to face, but as Dunn reveals, their lives were closely intertwined. After holding Mary in Fotheringhay prison for nearly two decades, Elizabeth ordered her cousin executed in 1587. Mary had chosen martyrdom in favor of a confession to complicity in the Babington assassination plot. In court, she declared: "I would never make Shipwreck of my Soul by conspiring the Destruction of my dearest Sister." Though the ostensible victor, Elizabeth (who had struggled to find a way to release her cousin while still upholding her own power as queen) confessed, "I am not free, but a captive." In Elizabeth and Mary, Dunn has built a rich world that underlines the tragic struggle between private emotions and the public faces history puts on them. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

The political and religious conflicts between Queen Elizabeth I and the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots, have for centuries captured our imagination and inspired memorable dramas played out on stage, screen, and in opera. But few books have brought to life more vividly than Jane Dunn’s Elizabeth and Mary the exquisite texture of two women’s rivalry, spurred on by the ambitions and machinations of the forceful men who surrounded them. The drama has terrific resonance even now as women continue to struggle in their bid for executive power.

Against the backdrop of sixteenth-century England, Scotland, and France, Dunn paints portraits of a pair of protagonists whose formidable strengths were placed in relentless opposition. Protestant Elizabeth, the bastard daughter of Anne Boleyn, whose legitimacy had to be vouchsafed by legal means, glowed with executive ability and a visionary energy as bright as her red hair. Mary, the Catholic successor whom England’s rivals wished to see on the throne, was charming, feminine, and deeply persuasive. That two such women, queens in their own right, should have been contemporaries and neighbours sets in motion a joint biography of rare spark and page-turning power.

Customer Reviews:

Jane Dunn should reflect on her own issues before writting another book about women..........2006-04-22

Jane Dunn, Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens - I would not advise any avid Mary Stewart admirers (or feminists) to purchase this book. Jane Dunn in my mind (and from the extensive text I have read) does Mary Stewart a great injustice with her blatant Elizabethan bias. She over looks the obvious motives of Queen Elizabeth for Mary's murder, instead painting Elizabeth as a strong woman in a man's world who had no option but conspire against, imprison and eventually have her cousin put to death.

I was looking forward to an in-depth read, a psychological & sociological perspective of these two female power brokers... but instead found the book to view Mary in a very sexist fashion (surprising, as the author is female!). Jane Dunn's `Mary bashing' stems around her intolerance of Mary expressing and ruling with her female traits intact... Mary rules from the heart and is often merciful, and led by her intelligence and her emotions.

In contrast to this, Elizabeth kills off the feminine aspects of herself, and rules with a cold, calculating and ruthless vision. She is the archetype that we 21st century women still struggle against...we do not want to have to behave like men to function at a effective level in this world, we want to be respected for our feminine qualities of caring, understanding and tolerance; something this world sadly lacks. Mary had these qualities and used them to great effect (i.e. allowing the blend of the two dominant religions in her land to co-exist). Mary had her faults as we all do but she accepted others and there faults and tried to negotiate for compromise and tolerance.

Mary could have made a real difference in her time if it were for two factors.

1. If she had the chance to grow and learn free of imprisonment.
2. If she had had the support of her so called `sister' Elizabeth!!! Something that Elizabeth would never give...in fact Elizabeth was wriggled with the most terrible of negative female expression `Jealousy'... because she had suppressed her femininity, she became a twisted version of a woman, one who could not allow a real female Queen to share the same island...so much so she murdered her!
Mary was wronged enough in her lifetime and Jane Dunn should be ashamed that she finds it necessary to slander her character and trivialize her even in death.

"This island isn't big enough for the two of us".......2006-03-31

First, I would like to review the book itself, and then address some of its critics.

Two of history's most famous queens, one for her unexpected and remarkable greatness, the other for her inexplicably poor judgment and bad luck. But was their famous rivalry inevitable? Was Elizabeth always the popular, talented, dominant one while Mary remained in her shadow? Jane Dunn asks these questions, and I was surprised - and pleased - by some of her answers.

The first part of the book is essentially a point-by-point comparison of the two queens, detailing their very different youths and explaining how they would influence the women in later years. Essentially, Mary had a huge sense of entitlement, was overconfident in her own power and security, and was a much more 'traditional' woman - and Queen - of her day. Elizabeth, whose childhood was punctuated by dramatic changes of fortune, had a much more acute sense of how tenuous her position was, and how much she depended on the good will of her people to maintain power.

Dunn does beat the Mary-as-charming-but-spoiled and Bess-as-brilliant-control-freak comparison into us a bit, but it is a good way of looking at the very different natures of these two women. Her book isn't a full biography of either queen; rather it's a look at the intersection between them - their relationship with each other, their competition, rivalry, and common causes. As such it's a fascinating look at a unique time in European history, the so-called "Age of Queens".
Posterity-wise, Mary got the short end of the stick. History will always remember her as Elizabeth's paler shadow, a major annoyance and minor queen who had no one but herself to blame for her tragic end. Although Dunn does occasionally (perhaps unavoidably) slip into Mary-bashing and Bess-worship, on the whole she does a good job pointing out that that wasn't always the case - and, had a few things gone differently, we would paint a very different portrait of the two cousins. Her Mary and Elizabeth are fully human - flaws, quirks, charms, and all. It's the best way to explain the convoluted relationship between the two, and it provides a lot of useful character insight into all other aspects of these Queens as well. (I do wish Dunn had gone further into the possibility that Mary was bipolar. It's a fascinating hypothesis, and it would explain a lot.)

Mary's end - which also serves as the book's - is too rushed; twenty years are covered in a handful of pages and the account of the execution itself offers nothing new. But until that point, I thoroughly enjoyed this provocative and inspiring portrait of two very different women whom circumstances thrust into such fierce competition.

Now: Some reviewers seem to feel that Dunn was somehow "unfair" to Mary and that her comparison of the two queens is misogynist. I admit to being completely baffled by this point of view. It appears to stem from the argument that somehow Mary was a better "feminist" queen than Elizabeth, I suppose because Elizabeth "betrayed the sisterhood" by having Mary executed.

Further, Dunn's critics seem to argue that Mary was a better "feminine" role model than Elizabeth was, apparently because she ruled through emotion rather than reason. They complain that Elizabeth is too "cold" and "calculating" to be a good example of a female ruler, while waxing rhapsodic about Mary's "mercy" and "gentleness". Let me be blunt: this is the sort of idiotic, feel-good, p.c. claptrap that has set the cause of working women back 50 years. Yes, there is something to be said for women's differing management styles; you will get no argument from me that in today's world, women should not have to emulate uber-masculinity to succeed. But - newsflash! - this was the 16th century. Not only were the roles of men and women completely different - and thus incomparable - than they are today, have you ever actually tried to get anything done with the kind of dithering, vapid leadership exemplified by Mary and her ilk?

Attempting to repaint Dunn's dual biography as some sort of feminist management manifesto does a disservice, both to the author and her subjects. We should admire both Elizabeth and Mary for who they were and what they did, while admitting their flaws and shortcomings. But this is not the 1500s, and trying to appropriate their story to make a point about women today is grossly misrepresentative, self-centered, and intellectually careless. If you want to adopt antiquated delusions about women in the workplace, try reading Forbes online - not "Elizabeth and Mary".

engrossing dual biography.......2006-02-28

Jane Dane has done an excellent job in this dual Bio of
Mary,Queen Of Scots And Elizabeth I,and how previous history
and that of the era they lived in contributed to and helped
their destinies.QWould recommend it to anyone with an interest
in the time period.

Too repetitious.......2006-02-05

The authors over determination to create parralells in the womens lives create an unending series of repetitions. Not only are the sequences of events repeated, the conclusions she makes are also said at naseum. Any possible flow to the story is replaced by poorly adjoined references.

A waste of reading time.

Same old story.......2005-12-22

I was disappointed with this book. I was looking for a book that would give me an unbiased discussion about these two women and their relationship. Instead I found it was really just another of many many books that put Elizabeth on a pedestal and Mary somewhere very much lower.

Gloriana: The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I (Pimlico)

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Excellent pictures, but limited scope

Gloriana: The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth I (Pimlico)
Roy Strong
Manufacturer: Random House UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 071260944X
Release Date: 2003-04-30

Book Description

To examine the portraits of Elizabeth I is to witness the creation of the legend of the Virgin Queen, of Gloriana and her burgeoning empire. The history of the portraiture is that of the deliberate manufacture of an image powerful enough to hold together a people divided by both rigid hierarchy and religious belief. When Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558, her subjects had an all-too-vivid memory of military defeat and religious turmoil. Restoring stability to the kingdom involved the image of the Queen herself—over the years, she was transmuted from an elegant aristocrat into a cosmic vision. In Gloriana, Roy Strong provides a richly detailed analysis of all the major portraits.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent pictures, but limited scope.......2007-01-19

I really liked this book! I enjoy reading about and researching the Tudors (by researching, I mean reading existing research). I have a book "All the Queen's Men: Elizabeth and her Courtiers" by Neville Williams. I loved the reproductions of paintings in that book, and so tracked down "Gloriana" to see and compare as many pictures of Elizabeth as I could. I must say the pictures are great, and plentiful. The text is well written too. It describes the art and explains the purpose of and evolution of the stylised portraits of Elizabeth. It's not the book's fault, but it was missing some things I hoped to find, as follows: few pictures of those close to Elizabeth (I shouldn't probably have expected this, but I like to look for family resemblances, and the looks of her suitors!); little text description of Elizabeth (based on the author's reseach, I hoped he'd tell us whether her eyes were blue or brown, how tall she was etc. Hard to tell from the art - the colors and proportions vary); and finally, some portraits that are described in the text are not illustrated. Not many, but I wanted to see more. That being said, you can't go wrong with this book if you want to study the portraits. I am very pleased to have this as part of my little Tudor library! (My copy is paperback, I have not seen the hardback.)

Monarchy and Matrimony: The Courtships of Elizabeth I

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ELIZABETH TUDOR-in depth
Well overdue, comprehensive and innovative

Monarchy and Matrimony: The Courtships of Elizabeth I
Susan Doran
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0415119693

Book Description

In this compelling account of Elizabeth I's attempts at marriage, Susan Doran argues that the cult of the "Virgin Queen" was invented by her ministers and that Elizabeth was in reality a frustrated, would-be wife forced into celibacy by political necessity.

Doran examines in detail the different suits for Elizabeth's hand, from childhood until 1581 when she was considered too old for childbearing and consequently for marriage. Contrary to conventional thinking, Elizabeth took each of her suitors seriously--including Robert Dudley, Archduke Charles of Austria, Charles IX of France, Henry of Anjou, and Francis, Duke of Alencon and Anjou--and did not choose to remain single. Her courtships foundered on political and religious difficulties which divided her council.

Customer Reviews:

ELIZABETH TUDOR-in depth.......2002-09-27

When Sue Doran writes about something you ,the reader, can be assured the result will be an indepth study of her subject matter...no just brush the surface with this writer...Here you will read about the political and social intrigue surrounding Elizabeth I and her courtships.The author focuses on a different approach to the Virgin Queen's trials in trying to govern England and handle the many "would be"and serious suitors.A most interesting and informative book for those interested in history.

Well overdue, comprehensive and innovative.......1999-03-01

This is a unique study which is of equal value to the academic or the interested amateur. For too long Christopher Haig's dated and simplified account of the Virgin Queen's persistent virginity has been allowed to dominate Elizabethan history. Susan Doran takes each of Elizabeth's courtships seriously instead of blindly assuming a grand narrative. Although female historians are relatively new to the public arena, Susan Doran has "the heart and stomach of a man".

The Tudor Monarchies, 14851603 (Cambridge Perspectives in History)

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The Tudor Monarchies, 14851603 (Cambridge Perspectives in History)
John McGurk
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521596653

Book Description

This book provides an overview of the rule of the Tudor monarchs Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I. In particular it analyzes the changing role of the English monarchy in government and its impact on society from the reign of Edward VI to the death of Elizabeth I. Topics covered include relations among England and the rest of the British Isles and Europe, domestic policy and the influence of the Church.

The Accession of James I: Historical and Cultural Consequences

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The Accession of James I: Historical and Cultural Consequences

Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Through twelve probing essays from leading scholars in the field, this book analyzes the consequences of the accession of James I in 1603 for English and British history, politics, literature and culture. Questioning the extent to which 1603 marked a radical break with the past, the book explores the Scottish and Welsh--as well as the wider European and colonial--contexts to this crucial date in history.

Early Stuart Kings 1603-1642 (Questions and Analysis in History)

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Early Stuart Kings 1603-1642 (Questions and Analysis in History)
Graham E. Seel
Manufacturer: TAYLOR & FRANCIS/ ROUTLEDGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

In 1603 King James I ascended the throne to become the first King of a united England and Scotland. There followed a period of increasing religious and political discord, culminating in the English Civil War. The Early Stuart Kings, 1603-1642 explores these complex events and the roles of the key personalities of the time - James I and VI, Charles I, Buckingham, Stratford and Laud.

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Elizabeth I and Her World
Susan Watkins
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Life of Elizabeth I

ASIN: 0500286957

Book Description

An intimate account of a remarkable national transformation: how Queen Elizabeth I set out to capture the hearts of her people.

A brilliant picture of Queen Elizabeth I's life emerges here, beginning with her birth—her father Henry VIII had desired a male heir—punctuated by conspiracies, and endangered during the period of rule by her Catholic half-sister Mary, whom she succeeded in 1558. It gave her an enduring sense that to remain on the throne she must encourage the love of her people. In plays and pageants, in cameos, medallions, and portraits, and through the furnishings and gardens of the great country houses, the royal image was specifically tailored to evoke devotion. To love Elizabeth was to love England, and the Queen personified both an era and a national style.

Watkins skillfully recreates court life in the palaces along the Thames, and in the nearly sixty royal houses that were Elizabeth's inheritance. An important part of the spectacle was the royal progress to the great country houses of her subjects. An Elizabethan house was not just an architectural achievement: it was often the literal embodiment of a relationship with the monarch. Throughout, Mark Fiennes' inspired photography, together with portraits, paintings, tapestries, and personal objects, give visual expression to the nation's evolving love affair with its queen. 157 illustrations, 154 in color.

A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603-1707: The Double Crown (History of the Modern British Isles)

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A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603-1707: The Double Crown (History of the Modern British Isles)
David L. Smith
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0631194010

Book Description

This is a survey of a seminal and intensely controversial period in British history, from the union of the Crowns of England and Scotland in 1603 to the union of the Kingdoms in 1707.The book explores the intersecting histories of the Stuart monarchies and considers how events in each nation were shaped by being part of a multiple kingdom as well as by their own internal dynamics. Throughout, special attention is given to the personalities and political style of successive rulers. Their role in precipitating two revolutions is examined against the background of longer term constitutional, religious and social themes. In particular, the parallels between James I and Charles II, and between Charles I and James II, are clearly drawn out.

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Images of Tudor Kingship
Sydney Anglo
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Mercy and Authority in the Tudor State (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

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Mercy and Authority in the Tudor State (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)
K. J. Kesselring
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521819482

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Using a wide range of legal, administrative and literary sources, this study explores the role of the royal pardon in the exercise and experience of authority in Tudor England. It examines such abstract intangibles as power, legitimacy, and the state by looking at concrete life-and-death decisions of the Tudor monarchs. Drawing upon the historiographies of law and society, political culture, and state formation, mercy is used as a lens through which to examine the nature and limits of participation in the early modern polity. Contemporaries deemed mercy as both a prerogative and duty of the ruler. Public expectations of mercy imposed restraints on the sovereign's exercise of power. Yet the discretionary uses of punishment and mercy worked in tandem to mediate social relations of power in ways that most often favoured the growth of the state.

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