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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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This is a fascinating insight into the period and what it was to be a supposedly powerful woman. I found the detail of the material history surrounding Mary so interesting and the relationship between her and Elizabeth very moving. It is incredibly well written, with hunour and empathy, and I enjoyed the narration as well.

A surprisingly moving biography

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This book caught my eye - and then every page I read gripped me . I’ve long been fascinated by the story of Mary Queen of Scots, but this is a refreshing new look at her from an entirely different angle, it really did give me insight into her life, the information was carefully stitched into a story which revealed the power of textile art…… I am not somebody who would have previously thought about reading a book concerning the interpretation and value of textiles– it has probably been one of my best decisions with regards to reading this year .
You will find the story and the narration fascinating. A great read for a historian who would like something a little different – or for anyone who is interested in Mary Queen of Scots . This reveals aspects of Mary which are not covered in your standard biographies or textbooks.

Fabulous

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Beautifully read. The presentation of an enormous body of research into the status endowed by colour and quality of cloth, clothing and fabric furnishings in the 16th century gives a new perspective on the emphases placed on descriptions of fabrics and dress and other adornments in literary works set in this period.

Eye-opening historical view of the importance of fabrics in the Renaissance.

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Wasn’t sure that looking at Mary, Queen of Scots through ‘fabric’ could hold much interest, but I am more than happy to be proven wrong.

The book is thoroughly researched, in both the social, and historic events, but through the eyes of fabric, embroidery, and fashion. A time where clothes made real statements, and an embroidered pattern was there for more than decoration. Something I never really fully realised before reading this book.

To top it off, Siobhan Redmond is a delight to listen too.

A surprisingly interesting view

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Very much enjoyed. Worth listening to even if you know nothing about stitching. I'm adding it to my physical book list then I can look up words that I'm unfamiliar with.
Shows how male dominance hasn't changed and how what women do holds so little value still, by so many.

much more than the title

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What a huge amount of research. Bought the period to life. Bought a lot more insight

Brilliant

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Loved this and the details about life and what all the symbolism meant. I learnt a great deal about M of S.

Fascinating insight

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