Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots

A fascinating and revealing new biography of Mary Queen of Scots in captivity.

For almost two decades before her or execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was a prisoner. From her chambers, she wrote countless letters, many encrypted using complex ciphers to prevent her communications from being intercepted. In this way, she used language to exert her will and her influence, even while incarcerated.

More than 400 years after Marys death, the discovery of further encoded letters has led to renewed interest in the breadth of her encrypted correspondence in captivity.

In Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots, historian and expert on Marys correspondence Dr Jade Scott draws on hundreds of Marys letters and those sent to her, to paint a vivid portrait of one of historys most compelling figures. She interrogates Marys complex relationships with friends and enemies throughout her imprisonment, illuminating her strategic expertise and bringing Marys captivity to life as never before.