Introduction
Embroidering her Truth:
Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power
In this alternative biography of Mary, Queen of Scots, I explore the emotions and experiences of the Scottish queen through the textiles she purchased, displayed gifted and created. In an age when textiles proclaimed power, Mary exploited them to advance her personal and political agenda, affirm her royal lineage and tell her own story.
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.
' A charmed feat of imagination and learning’
Hilary Mantel on Embroidering her Truth'.