"In this book, Rosalind K. Marshall examines Mary's life from an entirely new perspective, discovering the extent to which she was influenced by women such as Mary of Guise, the mother from whom she was separated at a young age, Catherine de Medici, the mother-in-law rumoured to be her deadly enemy, and Lady Lennox, the aunt who played such a significant part in her marriage to Lord Darnley." "Her attendants, The Four Maries, were with her from early childhood, but there is confusion about their identities, and the other female servants have never been studied. By extracting their names from the household lists and researching their identities, Dr. Marshall has shown that they were strong personalities with interesting and dramatic lives of their own. This book adds a new dimension to our knowledge of Mary, Queen of Scots and her world."--BOOK JACKET.