The New York Times bestseller from Margaret George—a captivating novel about history’s most enthralling queen, the legendary Elizabeth I.England’s greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. But what was the Virgin Queen really like? Lettice Knollys—Elizabeth’s flame-haired, look-alike coussin—thinks she knows all too well. Elizabeth’s rival for the love of Robert Dudley, … the love of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and mother to the Earl of Essex, Lettice has been intertwined with Elizabeth since childhood.
This is a story of two women of fierce intellect and desire, one trying to protect her country and throne, the other trying to regain power and position for her family. Their rivalry, and its ensuing drama, soon involves everyone close to Elizabeth, from the famed courtiers who enriched the crown to the legendary poets and playwrights who paid homage to it with their works.
Filled with intimate portraits of the personalities who made the Elizabethan age great—Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dudley, Raleigh, Drake—Elizabeth I provides an unforgettable glimpse of a woman who considered herself married to her people. A queen who ruled as much from the heart as from the head.
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Nothing makes me happier than reading a Margaret George novel. Give me a big fat historical novel and I am in bliss. She is the master of creating the life of iconic figures of history. From The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, The Memoirs of Cleopatra (a favorite of mine), Helen of Troy, etc. she delivers the goods. Filled with atmosphere, food, love, desire, and insight. I can never get enough of her books.
It’s interesting that Margaret George chose to write about the less spectacular part of Queen Elizabeth’s life—or rather, her denouement, so to speak. It starts briefly during the Armada but quickly moves on to her relationship with Essex. And there it stays. Written alternately in first person both by the queen and by Essex’s mother Lettice Knollys, we get a thorough examination of this charming, self-centered, ambitious young man. Lettice, as we are quick to be reminded, had married Robert Dudley (the queen’s favorite) in secret and was thenceforth exiled from court. So we have this low-level tug of war between these two women over Essex, who does his best to reconcile them and only serves to exasperate Elizabeth even further. Outsiders see Elizabeth’s fascination for the young man as an old lady’s last fling, but she never quite admits such a thing. After all, many at court are taken in by his charisma as well. The queen does admit to temptation on occasion, but she is much too sensible:
The Virgin Queen. The curious Virgin Queen. Do I truly want to go to my grave never even knowing what it is I have turned my back on? Do I not feel cheated in the deepest sense?
Especially if no one would ever know.
But Essex talks. He is a gossip.
I can deny it. Whom will they believe?
If only something could be done and then immediately erased, made not to exist. As we can taste a piece of pastry and then spit it out without swallowing it. But this is not like that. Once done it is done forever.
I don’t think she really believes Essex’s protestations of love and adoration. But what older woman wouldn’t enjoy such attention from a beautiful young man? Nonetheless, Essex is a fool and abuses Elizabeth’s trust again and again, until he goes too far. Anyone who has read about Queen Elizabeth knows the story. There’s nothing new here. I admit I read the book with little enthusiasm; it even helped put me to sleep a few times. But the author’s prose is so effortless I continued to the end. It was kind of like communing with an old friend—both of them. I knew what was going to happen; my interest was in seeing how these two narrators dealt with the situation. By now, the queen is worn out and it’s sad to see her limp along from day to day. There’s little joy left in her life. All her familiar friends and advisors fade away. It’s a sad book, really. Now that I’m a “senior citizen” myself, I can relate to it!
Another excellent historical fiction written by Margaret George. Informative and well researched, brought Elizabeth I to life.
So much information, but in an easy to read style. Provided a window into a fascinating time.
i love anything Tudor
I learned a lot about the period, which has always fascinated me
Margaret George’s books are historically accurate and well written. She’s my favorite author!
Wonderful historical fiction that follows the end of an incredible reign
Margaret George’s book are a must read. I wish she wrote them more often. They are always interesting, informative and entertaining!