The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots shortlisted for the Saltire Society Research Book of the Year Award

We are delighted to share that The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots ­has been shortlisted for the Saltire Society Research Book of the Year Award 2024. Edited by Steven J. Reid, the collection presents a new way of examining the historical significance and endurance of Mary, Queen of Scots.

From the Judges:

‘An unusually coherent edited volume. Highly scholarly, with a strong rationale ensuring it stands out in a crowded field and much of what it has to say is new. We especially liked the multi-disciplinary approaches.’

From Steven J. Reid:

‘I’m thrilled that The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots has been shortlisted. It’s a testament to the hard work of the fantastic range of contributors who worked on the project over the past eight years, and who made developing and editing the collection a joy.’

From Ersev Ersoy, Commissioning Editor for Scottish Studies:

'We are proud to have published this illuminating and impeccably researched novel perspective on Mary, Queen of Scots and her role in popular culture and imagination. We are delighted that this fascinating book has been shortlisted for the Saltire Society Research Book of the Year Award.'

  More on the Award

The Saltire Society Literary Awards are one of the longest-running literary awards in the UK. They have been recognising and honouring Scotland’s literary stars since 1937, with previous winners including Ali Smith, Michel Faber and Jackie Kay. Find out more and explore the 2024 shortlists.

  More on the Book

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587) was active as monarch of Scotland for just six years between 1561 and 1567, but her impact as a ruler in Scotland is much less important than her subsequent role in popular culture and imagination. Her story has enjoyed perpetual retelling and reached a global audience over the past four and a half centuries.

This collection surveys the exceptionally varied range of objects, literature, art and media that have been produced to commemorate Mary between her own time and the present day. Why is her story so enduring, pervasive, and of such interest to so many different audiences? How have the narratives associated with these objects evolved in response to shifting cultural attitudes? The collection offers a much-needed novel perspective on the Queen of Scots, using an approach at the intersection of early modern, gender and cultural history, museum and heritage studies, and memory studies.

Explore the book and order your copy.