Queen Margaret of Scotland Author:Eileen Dunlop, Eileen Dunlop High on the list of the world's most popular women of history is Queen Margaret of Scotland (who died in 1093). How did this medieval queen, canonized in 1249, create such a lasting impression? Over the nine centuries since her death, truth, faith and fantasy have combined to create a myth held dear by succeeding generations. For Scots,... more » she has inspired art, literature and the dedication of countless churches, institutions and schools. (She has also inspired churches in Hungary, where she spent her childhood). Eileen Dunlop has produced a balanced, psychologically probing account without the hero-worship found in many Queen Margaret biographies. She has utilized ancient sources as well as modern scholarship and her retelling makes fascinating reading about medieval life, the activities of royals, marriage customs, soldiering, even the land itself. Historical records show Queen Margaret to have had the personal traits of compassion, energy and commitment in her desire to heal suffering in a period of political and social upheaval. This resonates with us in our troubled world. The stained glass on the book's cover from St. Margaret Chapel in Edinburgh Castle depicts her as a saintly young woman who yearned to be a nun but whose destiny was to become a queen.« less