You Never Knew Her As I Did! by Mollie Hunter
"You Never Knew Her As I Did!" by Mollie Hunter is a historical fiction novel that explores the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, through the eyes of her illegitimate son, Will Douglas. Set against the backdrop of the Protestant Reformation in sixteenth-century Scotland, the narrative begins with a middle-aged Will reflecting on the past after learning of Mary's death. The story unfolds during her internment at Lochleven Castle, where Will, enamored by the queen's charm and resilience, becomes embroiled in a plot to facilitate her escape.
The novel portrays Will's transformation from a carefree teenager into a determined young man willing to advocate for a cause he believes in. Hunter meticulously weaves accurate historical events into the narrative, providing insights into the complexities of loyalty and ambition amidst the political turmoil of the time. The interplay between Will, Sir George Douglas, and other key figures reveals diverse motives surrounding Mary's reign and captivity. Through a blend of research and storytelling, the book offers a unique perspective on a well-documented historical figure, highlighting the emotional and political stakes of her followers. Hunter's work serves to enrich the historical fiction genre by presenting an underrepresented viewpoint in the ongoing discourse surrounding Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Subject Terms
You Never Knew Her As I Did! by Mollie Hunter
First published: 1981
Type of work: Historical fiction
Themes: Coming-of-age, politics and law, and love and romance
Time of work: The mid-sixteenth century
Recommended Ages: 13-15
Locale: Lochleven Castle, Scotland
Principal Characters:
Will Douglas , the illegitimate son of the lord of Lockleven CastleMary, Queen of Scots , the deposed queenSir William Douglas , the lord of the castleSir George Douglas , Sir William’s younger brotherLady Margaret Douglas , the mother of Sir William and Sir GeorgeMinny , the laundry maid and mother of Will Douglas
The Story
A romance plot is used by Mollie Hunter to tell the story of Will Douglas, the sixteen-year-old illegitimate son of Sir William Douglas, lord of Lochleven Castle. The story begins with the musing of a middle-aged Will: “News of her has come at last from England; and it is the worst I ever dreaded to hear.” A courier has just delivered the message of Mary’s death, and at this point Will begins to remember the year at Lochleven Castle when he first fell in love with Mary, Queen of Scots.
The queen has been arrested and is brought to this island castle to be interned during the Protestant Reformation in sixteenth century Scotland. Upon meeting Will, the queen immediately recalls him from his younger years and even uses the pet name she coined for him then. Will becomes infatuated with this attractive, congenial, and articulate lady. He is not alone, as Mary has captured the hearts of many men; Sir George Douglas is one of them. It is through the guidance and leadership of Sir George that Will becomes a part of the scheme to free the queen.
Quite soon after Mary’s capture and internment at Lochleven, she is forced, in fear of her life, to sign a deed of abdication. Will is horrified to realize that men of rank could treat their queen so harshly, and he vows to be her defender. The queen refuses to accept her fate, and through her gracious ways she manages to mold the Lochleven community into her own royal court, winning most of the castle inhabitants to her side. By doing this she succeeds in helping Will and Sir George in their plans for her escape. Sir George’s love for the queen is discovered, and he is banished from the castle, leaving Will to execute the plan of escape that has been devised.
When this escape plan is foiled, Will responds with self-pity. The well-thought-out plan failed, as Will states, because of bad luck; yet he still feels guilt for taking too lightly his encounter with his half-sister, Ellen, who is spying on the queen. His ability to stifle his urge to gamble with the gold given him by the queen also alerted the guards. The discovery of his part in the escape attempt leads to Will’s being banished from the castle, the only home he has ever known.
Sir William’s love for his offspring is so strong that Will is eventually reinstated to his former place, and this event sets the stage for the second and successful escape. As was the first attempt, this plan is thought out by Will, but this time he is more cautious and more willing to accept advice and assistance from the older supporters of the queen.
Throughout the story, Will matures from a frivolous teenager to a young man willing to fight for a cause he considers worthy. The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, ends with the successful escape, but Hunter brings the middle-aged Will back briefly to explain what has taken place in the span of time between the year at Lochleven and when Mary is beheaded.
Context
In the genre of historical fiction there are certain eras, locales, and characters that get the majority of the attention from writers. Mollie Hunter has broken these barriers with her adolescent novel about the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots. The story as told by the sixteen-year-old Will gives a perspective on these mid-sixteenth century happenings that would not be gained by reading a nonfiction text by a historical researcher. Hunter, who has written numerous books about Scottish folklore and the supernatural creatures said to frequent the countryside, glens, and lakes of Scotland, uses her storytelling ability to chronicle what life may have been like at Lochleven Castle. Historically, the events in You Never Knew Her As I Did! are accurate. In the foreword to the book Hunter explains that she has thoroughly researched this one episode in the life of the controversial queen. Hunter’s use of her storytelling ability and the first-person point of view helps the reader gain a better understanding of this monarch who was both loved and hated by her subjects.
By showing the devotion of Will, Sir George, John Beaton, and others, Hunter presents an aspect of the battle for the Scottish throne that is often ignored by other writers on the subject. It is obvious to the reader that Mary’s followers had as many motives for her reinstatement to the throne as her enemies did for keeping her captive. Will’s infatuation and blind devotion are in sharp contrast to the feelings of James Douglas, Earl of Moray, Mary’s half-brother, who wants to control the throne for his own benefit.
Works of historical fiction that break new ground are needed to keep the genre viable. Backing an interesting story line with researched fact keeps the genre pure. As a Scot writing about a controversial fellow Scot, Mollie Hunter has blended both. The life of Mary, Queen of Scots, will continue to be debated. You Never Knew Her As I Did! presents a fresh point of view in this debate.