Queen’s Own Fool: A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots by Jane Yolen & Robert Harris

To follow on the theme of fools (see Queen’s Fool above), I found this other book about a Queen’s fool, but this time it is in Italian girl Nicola, who is rescued from her uncle’s traveling troupe by Queen Mary of France. This time we get the story of Mary Queen of Scots. The book is meant for young adult readers, so the chapters are very short, and the intrigues a bit less complex, though there is still murder and hangings, etc., but it is toned down a bit. This time I was fascinated by the differences between France and Scotland, the French being so ”refined”, while the Scots are portrayed as being more crude. I’m amazed at all the languages people spoke in those times, but then again, people in Europe today speak various languages. Again, the fool is a plain folk person, who with her wit ingratiated herself into the heart and presence of the queen, thus being witness to many important events. All noble women do embroidery, even the queen. What a queer pastime. Plus they play cards and chess. In France chess is used as a method for teaching strategy. All in all a good book, but the Gregory book left me more satisfied. (Finished reading Jan. 14, 2005)