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Embroidering Her Truth

Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power

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About this listen

 An alternative biography of Mary, Queen of Scots through the textiles of her life from the author of Sunday Times bestseller Threads of Life.

I felt that Mary was there, pulling at my sleeve, willing me to appreciate the artistry, wanting me to understand the dazzle of the material world that shaped her.

At her execution Mary, Queen of Scots wore red. Widely known as the colour of strength and passion, it was in fact worn by Mary as the Catholic symbol of martyrdom.

In sixteenth-century Europe women's voices were suppressed and silenced. Even for a queen like Mary, her prime duty was to bear sons. In an age when textiles expressed power, Mary exploited them to emphasise her female agency. From her lavishly embroidered gowns as the prospective wife of the French Dauphin to the fashion dolls she used to encourage a Marian style at the Scottish court and the subversive messages she embroidered in captivity for her supporters, Mary used textiles to advance her political agenda, affirm her royal lineage and tell her own story.

In this eloquent cultural biography, Clare Hunter exquisitely blends history, politics and memoir to tell the story of a queen in her own voice.

(P) Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Clare Hunter Crafts & Hobbies Europe Great Britain Politics & Activism Royalty Tudor England Scotland

Critic Reviews

With her engaging style, [Hunter] offers a tantalising glimpse into Mary's world through the prism of the textiles that surrounded her . . . Throughout the book, Hunter's passion, knowledge and experience of working with textiles shine through . . . Hunter's approach of memoir blended with history and material culture captivates the reader from the first page and enthrals to the last
A quirky but absolutely fascinating read
An intimate portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots
All stars
Most relevant
not a single thing to dislike. to understand Mary, Queen of Scots, you need to understand how important embroidery was to her, it is also one of the few tangible things she left behind that we can see today.

incredibly well researched.

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A compelling account of a figure of enduring interest. History through the eye of a needle, wrapped in silks and velvets. Brilliant!

Fascinating

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I love history, especially the Tudor period, which is why I purchased this book. I didn’t expect to learn so much about embroidery, tapestries and fabric. So intricate and so much meaning within the designs.
The book was so well written and narrated it was a joy to listen to, even when disturbing.

Wonderful

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