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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 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
Extensively researched. Author writes with a warm heart. These details about Mary deserve to be more widely known.

Mary, Queen of Needlewomen.

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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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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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I really enjoyed this different view of Mary's life. I have heard the facts for many years, and knew she was a prolific needlewoman. To discover the meaning behind what she sewed and the value placed on the fabric and the expertise of the people who embroidered it was amazing. It was a privilege to join Clare on her journey through the places Mary had been and to "see" what still remains of her work. It's good to know these things are still valued in our world of disposable, fast fashion.

Very detailed history of Mary, Queen of Scots

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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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