“Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary, Queen of Scots” by Jennifer Morag Henderson.
Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize
Mary, Queen of Scots’ marriage to the Earl of Bothwell is notorious. Less known is Bothwell’s first wife, Jean Gordon, who extricated herself from their marriage and survived the intrigue of the Queen’s court. “Daughters of the North” reframes this turbulent period in history by focusing on Jean, who became Countess of Sutherland. Follow her from the intrigues of Mary’s court to the blood feuds and clan battles of the Far North of Scotland, from her place as the daughter of the ‘King of the North’ to her disastrous union with the infamous Earl of Bothwell – and her lasting legacy to the Earldom of Sutherland.
A NEW SOFTBACK EDITION of “Daughters of the North” was published in April 2025: click here for details: New paperback edition of “Daughters of the North” or go direct to my publisher’s page to purchase: https://portopress.com/products/9781849956017_daughters-of-the-north
“Daughters of the North” is available from any good bookshop, including Waterstones, Blackwells and Amazon. The ISBN (the number you can use in any bookshop to order) is 9781849956017.
“Daughters of the North” is also available as an ebook, and as an audiobook. The audiobook is beautifully read by actress Joan Walker.
You can also buy the book direct from this website: please go to the homepage and follow the instructions there.
I’ve had a few requests for information on how to order the hardback from the US and Canada. You should be able to order “Daughters of the North” from any North American bookstore, including online retailers such as Amazon, or contact my publisher Whittles at Porto Press direct for details of international shipping: https://portopress.com/products/9781849956017_daughters-of-the-north
‘Captivating’ – The Herald
‘Deeply researched and detailed… Of considerable interest, much of it wholly new to me’ – Allan Massie, The Scotsman
‘utterly absorbing… impactful investigation of one of the most powerful women of the 16th century. An essential addition to any individual keen to learn more about this country’s eccentric history’ – Scottish Field
‘Involving and satisfying’ – Sarah Fraser
‘A sweeping yet intricately researched tale of 16th century Scotland’– S.G. MacLean
‘An intriguing insight into how resourceful women in 16th century Scotland had to be in order to survive’ – Sue Lawrence
‘Jennifer Morag Henderson reveals Jean’s extraordinary life in her deeply-researched new book’ – Press & Journal
‘An absolute treat and makes for riveting reading… Henderson has to be applauded for bringing this biography to life’ – Mary Queen of Scots Society Journal
‘I adored this book. Henderson has made this complex history accessible to readers, both novices and experts alike… If you want a fresh look into the wider world of the 16th century full of romance and drama, I highly recommend you read, “Daughters of the North”’ – Heidi Malagisi, ‘Adventures of a Tudor Nerd’ webpage
‘packed with the drama of 16th century power, wealth, romance and more – Daughters of the North will appeal to anyone with a passion for partisan intrigue’ – Celtic Life International
‘Particularly illuminating is the attention Henderson pays to the specific historical context of the north of Scotland, where many were still more loyal to clan leaders than they were to the crown’ – The Bottle Imp magazine, Association for Scottish Literary Studies
‘a superb book… it’s only possible to guess at the sheer depth of research that must have gone into producing an account of the interplay of the lives of two of the most significant women in Scottish history that is both assured and convincing… well written in a style that will be accessible to a wide range of readers… a book that deserves to be very widely read” – Undiscovered Scotland
‘A necessary read for all fans of women’s history’ – Ann Foster, Vulgar History podcast
‘Jennifer Morag Henderson has rescued Jean Gordon, her family and the distinctive clans and people of the Far North from obscurity and the story she tells is impressively researched and full of violence, passion and love’ – Jane Dunn, author of “Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens”
Finally, if you would like to hear a little more about the book, including some stories about my research in archives, castle visits and why salt is so important, I was interviewed by the Stories of Scotland podcast, which you can listen to by clicking here: https://www.storiesofscotland.com/podcast/2022/3/20/bonus-interview-with-jennifer-morag-henderson
Jennifer Morag Henderson 