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Embroidering Her Truth

Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power
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( 397 ratings, 53 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Embroidering Her Truth by Clare Hunter is a compelling exploration of Mary, Queen of Scots, through the lens of her captivating needlework. This biography delves into the political, cultural, and personal dimensions of Mary's life, portraying her as more than just a historical figure. Through intricate embroidery, the book reveals insights into her identity, resilience, and influence during turbulent times.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by the intersection of art, history, and personal stories. It offers an insightful exploration of how embroidery has been a medium of expression and empowerment for women throughout history, weaving together tales of resilience and creativity. If you appreciate beautifully told stories that uncover hidden lives and perspectives, you'll likely find this an engaging read.

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An alternative biography of Mary, Queen of Scots through the textiles of her life from the author of Sunday Times bestseller Threads of Life

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

Embroidering Her Truth is a charmed feat of imagination and learning. - HILARY MANTEL

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Embroidering Her Truth, by Clare Hunter, is praised for its imaginative and scholarly exploration of Mary Stuart's life, reflecting on both her triumphs and challenges. Its personal style offers a memoir-like flavour while being rich with intriguing historical insights. The work elegantly weaves history with the art of textiles, revealing Mary's world with a blend of passion and expertise, making it a compelling read across several reviews.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529346282

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 January 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sceptre

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Clare Hunter has been a banner-maker, community textile artist and textile curator for over twenty years and established the community enterprise NeedleWorks in Glasgow. Her first book, Threads of Life, won the Saltire First Book Award, was a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month and a Radio 4 Book of the Week.

Also by Clare Hunter

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  • Making Matters
    Making Matters celebrates the joy of the handmade in all of its wonderful variety. In a fast-paced world, it is a timely and beautiful exploration of making traditions. I loved it! Kate Strasdin, author of The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes As children, we made things: snowmen, paper boats, eccentrically costumed plays. That making fired our minds and imaginations...
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  • Threads of Life
    SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK For the mothers of the disappeared in 1970s Argentina, protest was difficult. Every Thursday they marched in front of government buildings wearing headscarves embroidered with the names of their lost children. Through sewing, they found a way to campaign. In Tudor England, Mary, Queen of Scots was under house arrest and...
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    'A hymn to the sensory wonder and connectivity of the homemade' OBSERVER 'Packed with fascinating detail . . . a celebration of the overlooked artistry in crafts practised across the world' THE TIMES As children, we made things: snowmen, paper boats, elaborate costumes. But as adults, it is hard to find the space for such creativity, and to remember its...
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