THE MEMOIRS OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS

Carolly Erickson's highly fictionalized work, which she calls "historical entertainment," posits some far-fetched events to expand the story of the beleaguered Mary, Queen of Scots. Unlike classic historical fiction, there is little reality to be found in this tale. Rebekah Germain reads the “memoirs” with the regal voice you would expect from a queen who is expecting others to rescue her from imprisonment and make her royal claims a reality. Germain's delivery is detached, as a royal’s should be, but never inspires the listener to care about her—or any other character in this novel. The author's note at the end makes clear that this story has barely the slightest connection to history. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]