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Embroidering Her Truth

Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power

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Embroidering Her Truth

By: Clare Hunter
Narrated by: Siobhan Redmond
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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 best seller 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 16th-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.

©2022 Clare Hunter (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Europe Great Britain Politics & Activism Royalty Women Tudor England Scotland
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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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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.