Hello and happy Mary Stewart Day to all. Today would have been Mary Stewart’s 106th birthday and I wonder how many of us are celebrating her life and writing by reading one of her novels or poems?
I am hoping to begin Wildfire at Midnight this evening. Current events are making this novel the obvious choice for me: since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, blanket television coverage here in the UK has included scenes from the Queen’s Coronation on 2 June 1953, plus live footage shows the huge queue of people wishing to visit as the Queen lies in state, first at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and now in Westminster Hall in London. All this prompts me to re-read Wildfire because, as I have written on my page Wildfire at Midnight:
It is set on the Isle of Skye in 1953, at the time of both the British Mount Everest expedition and Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Gianetta has come to Skye to escape the crowds gathering for the coronation in London but finds herself in a nightmare situation as there is a killer on the island and she does not know who she can trust… The ascent of Everest is echoed by the climbers on Blaven, just as the wait to find out how the Everest expedition is faring is replicated by the waiting for news of what has happened to a missing hotel guest. Perhaps too the ritualistic coronation of a queen is being mimicked by the removal of jewellery from Heather Macrae?
I consider myself an ‘escape the crowds’ person like Gianetta, especially as I would describe myself as (mildly) more republican than monarchist, yet for reasons I still don’t quite understand I made my way to Edinburgh and queued five hours to file through St Giles to say farewell to the Queen. I am very glad that I went, as it was a peace-filled journey where I was able to mourn my loved ones as well as the passing of a Queen of faith, integrity and service. It was at heart an encouraging and uplifting evening surrounded by others on similar journeys (*waves to Jane and Aggie*).
So tonight I shall read Wildfire at Midnight and I shall remember three remarkable women who died in their 90s: Mary Stewart, Queen of Plots; Queen Elizabeth II; and my dear Gran.
Mary Queen of Plots 
Thank you for sharing. I will join you in reading Wildfire at Midnight to honor both Mary Stewart and the Queen today.
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How lovely, Adrianne, thank you for joining me in this!
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Thank you for a wonderful post! I’m going to join you all in rereading wildfire at midnight.😊🔥🏔
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Great news, Susie, thank you
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Good idea. Happens to be my birthday, too. I’ve always loved sharing this birthday with her.
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How lovely, Cindi, happy birthday!
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thanks! I happened to write MS after reading one of the Merlin books and asked if her Merlin character was meant to be a Virgo (just something about the way he was described) and mentioned my birthday and she shared that yes, he was and that Sept 17 was her birthday, too. So kind of her to respond to my letter.
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Oh that is wonderful Cindi!
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Yep, I’m currently half way through Thunder on the Right and loving it. I’ll raise a glass to Mary tonight in grateful thanks.
I love all the references to cigarettes and the paraphernalia of smoking. So out of date and yet so real.
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Thanks for this comment, Philippa. I love the references to smoking too, I’m old enough to remember catching the bus to London from Edinburgh (an endurance test in itself) as a student, with a man smoking a really smelly cigar all the way there, I felt so ill! So yes, both out of date and incredibly real
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I remember noticing when I re-read some Mary Stewart in my 40’s after a gap of perhaps a decade or so the smoking references and especially the way the heroine would often use smoking and the rituals that surround it to stall for time or hide uncertainty or otherwise disguise her true feelings and/or unease from the “mystery man” who might or might not be the villain.
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Great comment, Jerri, with MS a cigarette was a cigarette but it was also a prop, a cover for discomfort, a tool of flirtation/humour depending on your perspective (thinking here about the rush of men to light Loraine Bristol’s cigarette in Madam, Will You Talk? underscoring how attractive she looked) etc
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That scene with Lorraine Bristol’s cigarette made me wish I smoked, lol. That was a classic.
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What a great observation. Yes!!! Really interesting reading it from a current perspective when no one smokes any more.
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Wonderful to see a new post, and many thanks for the reminder of Mary Stewart’s birthday, and the way you connected it to current and personal events.
I arranged for my real life/physical book club to read The Moon Spinners for our August book, to allow us a “holiday” read. A few of the group had read The Crystal Cave years ago, but no other familiarity with this author. The younger members thought that the lack of sex made for a somewhat boring book! But everyone did enjoy the feeling of place/location.
Some members seemed to be even unfamiliar with the idea of “romantic suspense”, and when I tried to compare it with something like Agatha Christie’s The Man in the Brown Suit, which Christie called a “thriller” but I find a family resemblance to some of Stewart’s early works, they were unfamiliar with it, just think of Christie as Miss Marple or Poriot.
I will have to decide which Stewart title to start to read. I did Wildfire a few months ago, in memory of a visit I made to Skye some years before the Pandemic.
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Hello Jerri, it’s lovely to hear from you! I remember you mentioning your visit to Skye, which sounded amazing. It is interesting to hear how Mary Stewart was received by what sounds like a mixed-age reading group, and I am surprised to hear that ‘romantic suspense’ is a new (sub)genre for some, thank you for sharing this info
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How interesting to hear your book clubs reactions to reading Moon Spinners. Hmm…..lack of sex made it dull? Oh gosh!! Kind of sad/funny. No sex, but the chemistry sure crackled!
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Thanks for this thoughtful post. I also queued yesterday in London and am glad I made the effort. It was very moving in Westminster Hall. Wildfire at Midnight makes a good backdrop for national events.
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Hello Tracy, thanks for your reply. Of course my first question is how long you queued for (and my second is did you see David Beckham!). I am glad that you too found the experience to be good, and moving. There is somehow a real peace at the heart of it I think.
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It was just 14 hours! The low point was after about 5 hours but spirits lifted once we made it to the river. I found lovely companions in the queue. The hall felt like a medieval tableau and the atmosphere was like nothing I have experienced. David Beckham must have been eight hours ahead of us but his presence caused much interest and hilarity
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14 hours, that is an impressive commitment. It was lovely to get to know queue-mates, wasn’t it? It all added to the atmosphere. I don’t have words for the experience in St Giles either but I won’t forget it
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What a fabulous idea! Wildfire at Midnight is not one of my favorites, although I think it is a great book. I’ve reread it many times, just not as many as my absolute favorites. It has been years since I read it, and I had forgotten about the tie in with the coronation. I think I’ll pull out my copy and join you! What could be better than Saturday night with Mary Stewart?
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How wonderful, I do like to think of a community of us reading away at our Mary Stewarts! Which are your favourite favourites?
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Allison, my absolute favorite of the romances is Madam Will You Talk?, with My Brother Michael a close second. But they are all wonderful! I have revered Mary Stewart since I discovered her as a teenager around 1967. I’ve read them all many, many times. The Merlin/Arthur books are my favorites above all the others. I own all of the books, including the children’s books – everything except her book of poetry.
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Ah, this is lovely to read, especially on her birthday. What an amazing author to write books so loved and so beautifully written that we read and reread them
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My absolute favorite is Madam, Will You Talk?, and then probably Nine Coaches Waiting, and then The Ivy Tree. But truthfully, I love them all. Do you have a favorite??
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That is a fantastic list Sylvia! My answer is all of them too. Usually Madam, Will You Talk? is my top favourite. At the moment that might be pipped by Wildfire at Midnight, simply because that is what I am reading, plus I am reminded of our trip to Skye last August.
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I have found different books will appeal to me at different times, too, depending on circumstances. I’m enjoying revisiting Wildfire at Midnight!
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I’m glad, me too Sylvia, I’m only four chapters in and trying not to gallop through
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I just stumbled across this radio drama adaptation of Wildfire at Midnight. I have only listened to a few minutes, but I’m bookmarking it for later!
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I thoroughly enjoyed this! Laura wrote about this last year, and at that point The Gabriel Hounds was available too. I just went to find it again in my post Mary Stewart Radio Plays (from 20 March 2021) but the old link now says ‘This video is private’ so it looks as though it has been taken down – I hope it will become available again. And I hope you enjoy the Wildfire at Midnight broadcast when you have the opportunity.
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I am currently reading Wildfire At Midnight but put it down for a few weeks because of “life”. I too shall pick it up and continue reading it! Mary Stewart and coffee or tea is my ultimate comfort zone. Happy Birthday to Mary Stewart who has been my inspiration, comfort, and lifeline for most of my life!
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What a lovely happy birthday toast to Mary Stewart, Sally. I hope “life” is good
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Yes, life is good. Just busy! Thank you!
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That is good to hear
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I love that you refer to her as your inspiration, comfort and lifeline. When I was younger and feeling low in confidence I would read one of her books to absorb the character’s personality and “borrow” their confidence. I liked that she had normal people for her heroines. They didn’t leap out of planes or turn into super-heroes – they just acted like caring people and did their best. That always made my world straighten out a bit.
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Yes, Cindi! Exactly! I love that you say you’d borrow the heroine’s confident. I still will often “borrow” a Mary Stewart heroine’s poise during stress. I love that about her heroines. They do not have east times, yet they remain poised and never complain. They find peace and happiness in little daily rituals. Those things have made a huge impact on my life.
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Glad to know I’m not the only one! I also love her use of language – in the Airs Above the Ground, her heroine is warning her husband that Sandor Balog has a gun. Instead of wasting a ton of words, she just writes “Lewis laughed.” which said a ton about him and his experience and confidence. I wonder if she thought to herself after she wrote that – Yes! Perfect response.
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Cindi, I didn’t see a reply option to your latest comment so I’m commenting here. Oh yes I fell in love with Lewis at that part! I love the characters in Airs Above the Ground!
How I wish there was a way to have all the people who follow and comment on this blog to have a sort of virtual “library” we could sit in and chat incessantly about our Mary Stewart thoughts.
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Sally, I think there may be a facebook page/group for Mary Stewart, perhaps that is what you are looking for? I’m not on facebook so I don’t know if it is an active group.
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Thank you so much, Allison, for your post – and to everyone for their comments. I’m lucky to be on holiday in Greece at the moment and have been reminded of Mary Stewart’s books set here, which I’ve read and re-read many times over many years.
Happy Mary Stewart Day!
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Thanks for getting in touch, Dorothy, I hope you’re having a happy Mary Stewart Day too. Enjoy your holiday!
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Hello, this is Debbie in Los Angeles. Please let me send condolences to all of you who lost your queen. We have nothing even approaching a monarch here in the states to look up to and revere the way the British do with their royal family. The news here continues to trace her coffin and we have heard of the length of the lines of people waiting to see her. In this day of such political and social polarization, it’s refreshing to hear of someone who just had the good of her people at heart without financial, power-mongering, or personal agendas taking over.
That said, I have been thinking of rereading a Stewart book for such a long time. My favorite is Madam, Will You Talk?, followed by This Rough Magic. But I like the idea of reading Wildfire at Midnight and seeing the commentary about the Queen’s coronation with new eyes.
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Hi Debbie, it is so good to hear from you and thank you for your lovely comments about the Queen. As for Wildfire at Midnight, I’m sitting down to this in the next half hour – from what I remember there is more about Everest than about the coronation but perhaps I am wrong. I’m sure we will enjoy it in any case!
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Those two are my favorites, too.
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Hi Alison, the 17th had been and gone by the time I read this. I spent part of the 17th reading a gardening book, which still feels appropriate given how much she has inspired me – the book I’m reading is about creating a Mediterranean garden, inspired by how much I love the landscapes and gardens in her Greek books (particularly at the end of a very wet winter here in southern Australia).
I’m reaching for The Loch now and am planning on re-reading Wildfire at Midnight soon, partly for the coronation and partly for the mountaineering- I have a whole new respect for this after doing a three-day climbing course for work!
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Laura! Hello, how lovely to hear from you. I was just thinking about you as I replied to a comment that suggested an ‘illustrated flora-ology of Stewart’s work’ (you can see it in the comments under the post More about The Ivy Tree: manuscript papers surprise). How are your drawing skills? 🙂 A climbing course sounds fun/tough, I think Wildfire will be a perfect read and in the meantime, enjoy The Loch.
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I love the idea of an illustrated flora-ology! Many of the plants Im selecting for my own garden are inspired by her writings – Cyclamen (My Brother Michael), Irises and Tulips and Anemones (The Moonspinners – this one had SO many flowers), Water lilies (The Gabriel Hounds), Freesias and Violets (Nine Coaches Waiting)… I think I could honestly find at least one plant for each book
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I would love to see photos of your garden, Laura, it sounds incredible! I like your plant list and I have mentally been adding flowers from other MS books: gentians, climbing roses, ‘the vicarage garden with its peonies and violas and the columbines like doves roosting’…
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Thank you for the reminder!! I’ll read her poetry in bed tonight.
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and we’re watching everything about Queen Elizabeth II that is shown on TV in the States. Our condolences and admiration for braving the queue!
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Hi Cathy, thank you for joining in, which poem (s) did you read?
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I am a bit late to wish everyone a Happy Mary Stewart day -thank you for the reminder Allison. I am going to pick up Wildfire at Midnight again this week – especially with the connection to the Queen’s Coronation and it is set in Scotland, a place loved by the Queen and Mary herself. I have never been to Scotland and have always wanted to go to Skye after reading Wildfire at Midnight and see the Cuillin mountains for myself – I wonder if they are how I picture them in my head?
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It is lovely to hear from you, Lucy, and thank you for joining in the reread. Skye is amazing, I was there for a short trip last summer, as well as once many years ago before the bridge to Skye was built. Do go if you get the opportunity.
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Alas, I missed Mary Stewart’s birthday but coincidentally I was re-reading My Brother Michael so I’m glad about that.
I watched the Queen’s funeral services and processions for seven hours straight… she was a wonderful, dutiful woman the like of which we will never see again. I feel that Mary’s heroines share many good qualities with the late Queen: kind intentions, cultivated intelligence, pluck and impeccably good manners. I suspect Mary herself had these qualities too. Elly.
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This. Exactly this. Elly, what you have written sums up my thoughts precisely, thank you for this.
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The discussions about which Mary Stewart books are favorites got me thinking. I have a much easier job listing my least enjoyed books. I have never been a fan of Thunder on the Right, I miss the first person POV and I find the ending section so very confusing. Wind off the Small Isles was my biggest disappointment, at that time it had never been published in the US and I spent what at that time was the largest amount I had ever spent for a book, and I felt let down. Now that I have read The Lost Ones I can reread Isles with more interest, but it will never become a favorite. Prince and the Pilgrim and The Wicked Day probably come next on the negative list, not always sure why. The children’s books are enjoyable but since I didn’t read them until I was an adult they don’t fill me with the joy that most of her adult novels do. On the whole the post-Crystal Cave romantic suspense novels rank a bit below the early ones, although on re-reading I have found a number of valuable and enjoyable bits in each. Some of the poems in the poetry collection I love, some I don’t connect with, but on the whole I am so glad to own a copy (and the fact that the first edition with DJ in excellent condition was in a friends of the library used book sale and a bargain doesn’t hurt.)
I like the main Merlin trilogy very much, and consider them equal but different from the romantic suspense (although they do contain both romance and suspense!)
A few of the books I have mixed feelings about. I am uncomfortable by the mystery parts of Wildfire at Midnight, but I just love the chance to travel to Skye! And the discomfort is largely because she makes it so unreal and the mental illness aspects I find disturbing.
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Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Jerri. I agree that it can be easier to pick out books that are less liked than rank our top favourites. I remain puzzled and uncomfortable at how closely Christabel and Charles are related in The Gabriel Hounds but once I can get past (ie ignore) that there is a lot to enjoy; The Prince and the Pilgrim is probably my least favourite of her books but perhaps I will appreciate it more on a reread. With Wildfire, I like to imagine Mary Stewart being inspired to write it by the Everest expedition, the competitiveness and motives of some of the climbers etc.
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I’m laughing to myself as I read your comment about Christabel and Charles in The Gabriel Hounds. It skeeves me a bit, too, so I ignore that fiercely!!! It’s fascinating to read the book now, a place I will certainly never risk venturing to. It was a different time. I’d have loved to have seen it back when the book was written. And the dog….a Tibetan Terrier! Wonderful dogs.
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In my last sentence, I had intended to say that Stewart makes it “so REAL” not “unreal”. Opps.
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Aaaaah, that makes sense!
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