Warden of the Queen's March

by Nigel Tranter

Book Overview

This is the story of Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst and his loyal service to the beautiful and ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots, as both are caught up in the turmoil created by John Knox, the Regent Moray,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0340545976
• ISBN13: 9780340545973
• Release Date: April 1991
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.4" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A STUNNING WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION...

This is historical fiction at its best. A marvelously written book, it captures the essence of a most intriguing part of Scottish history. The narrative is peppered with three dimensional, historical figures, brought vividly to life by a master storyteller, and the progression of historical events is well crafted, keeping the reader turning the pages. This is the story of Thomas Kerr, a young, Scottish border lord, who from the time he first met Mary, Queen of Scots, became her most devoted and loyal subject. It was to be a life long devotion. It is through his eyes that the reader sees the events and intrigues surrounding Mary's tragic and tumultuous reign unfold, a young ruler beleagured on all sides by the coldly implacable ambitions of the men surrounding her. The reader sees Scottish history in the making from the time of Mary's return to Scottish shores at the age of eighteen, after a fifteen year sojourn in France, until the time of her ignominious departure for England seven years later.The paths of Thomas and Mary were to cross many times throughout those turbulent years of her reign, as men's ambitions would seek to wreak havoc. Thomas Kerr could always be counted upon to provide whatever service would be of assistance to Mary, as well as whatever protection was at his disposal to keep her, as well as her devoted ladies-in-waiting, safe. In the end, however, even he, her most loyal subject, could not stem the tide of the inevitable tragedy that was to befall Mary, some of which was of her own making. His last sight of her was when he bid goodbye to her, as she sailed away from her native Scotland to England, hoping to find safe harbor and help from the wily Queen Elizabeth I.This novel is so steeped in Scottish history and rich detail, so as to leave the reader with a distinct feeling for the past about which the author has written. If one is a lover of historical fiction, with a penchant for Mary, Queen of Scots, then one will really enjoy this book.

with reference to the previous review

The young border lord was named Thomas Kerr of Smailholm, later of Ferniehirst.

Tranter is the Best!

As always, Nigel Tranter portrays Scotland's history in a way that entertains light readers, but is in depth enough for serious history buffs. I have read several of his books - the best being the James V Trilogy - and I am always ready for more!

Historical Fiction at Its Best

With few exceptions (Cecelia Holland, Dumas Pere, and Robert Graves, for example) historical novels tend toward the gothic or didactic. WARDEN OF THE QUEEN'S MARCH was the first Tranter I read, and it moved me to run out and buy everything of his I could find in print. Tranter's novel tells the story of Mary Queen of Scots' reign from the point of view of a young Border lord, Thomas Ferniehill of Smailholm (or "Smellum" as the Queen calls him), who is passionately devoted to the Queen and is involved in several key junctures of her tragic reign. I believe that very few of the characters have been invented for the sake of narrative, and Tranter's depictions of James Stewart, Earl of Moray, and of the preacher John Knox are articularly memorable.The book covers the entire reign up to the start of Mary's captivity in England. Darnley, Bothwell, Rizzio, the "Four Marys," Kircaldy, and all the greats (as well as the infamous) of Scotland during that troubled time make their appearance. And the character of Ferniehill makes an admirable filter for all the high melodrama of the times.