Exile

The Captive Years of Mary, Queen of Scots

Rosemary Goring

$49.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Birlinn Ltd
01 November 2025

Biography: historical, political & military; History; Social & cultural history; Archaeology; Gender studies: women

From the moment Mary, Queen of Scots set foot on English soil in 1568 until her execution at Fotheringhay Castle on 8 February 1587, she was the prisoner of her cousin, Elizabeth I. Unlike Mary's time on the Scottish throne, the dramatic events of these years

almost half her life

took place while she was a captive. But while trouble was perpetually simmering beyond her prison walls, within them Mary was constantly plotting. Only towards the end did she lose faith in returning to her homeland as rightful ruler.

This is the story of Mary's tumultuous later years, told through the many atmospheric locations where she was confined. Drawing on the latest research, including a treasure trove of recently decoded letters, Exile sheds fascinating new light on her captivity and the charged political climate of the period. Reading like a 16th-century thriller, this account of treachery, deceit, hope and despair is a penetrating and enthralling psychological portrait of one of history's endlessly fascinating queens.

By: Rosemary Goring
Imprint: Birlinn Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 33mm
Weight: 746g
ISBN: 9781780278384
ISBN 10: 1780278381
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Rosemary Goringwas born in Dunbar and studied at the University of St Andrews. She worked at W&R Chambers as a reference editor before becoming literary editor ofScotland on Sunday. She was also the literary editor forThe HeraldandSunday Herald, and is the author of two historical novels,After FloddenandDacre's War.