Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one — not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating new book, acclaimed biographer Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on … this enigmatic figure.
Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married — was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic that is also an amazingly intimate portrait, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning reading experience.
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I have become a huge fan of Alison Weir as a biographer. This particular biography made me much more familiar with Elizabeth I than I previously had been. I had a greater understanding of how she impacted trade, commerce and economic development in England and Western Europe.
Weir’s writing kept me intrigued, not always easy to do in a biography. …
I love history!
Weir is a thorough and interesting historian. Always well worth the read.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. Even though I had read many books concerning Elizabeth I, I still was engrossed in the story.
Exceptionally well-written account of Elizabeth’s life and reign. I learned a lot from this one and recommend it.
Allison Weir is a master. Her research is exhaustive but never pedantic. She has a sure touch in writing about the women who have molded and been molded by history.
It revealed so much of Queen Elizabeth I’s actual letters and speeches, and also was very informative about the actual people around here at the time and also about her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, because I got a completely different interpretation of her personality too.
This is more like a documentary and history lesson and not a story. Fascinating look into the life of Elizabeth I.
A follow on book to the Tudors. Well written.
The book was terrific. I recommend it highly.
very repetetive, too many details
Alison Weir is always worth reading. Her non-fiction biographies of historical figures read as well as her historical fiction.
I was disappointed. While informative, it was more like a time line of daily happenings. I found it dry and without anything exciting. I’m very familiar with Elizabeth l, and her life was anything but boring, unexciting, or dry. If one were reading this for a book report, it’s perfect. I found myself looking to see how much I had left to read, …
Interesting how she ruled while the men were trying to figure out how to deal with her. Her methods were female while the men could not understand that she didn’t want to get married and how they could try to make her do so, so that man could run things.
Very well written with information i have no read elsewhere.
Love everything this author writes.
This is the premiere biography of Queen Elizabeth I. It’s incomparable.
i enjoy reading historical stories, especially when they are a relatives, even tho way long ago
I found it to be very interesting. It provided a clear understanding of all the history of Queen Elizabeth 1. She was a very interesting person who experience many twists in her life. She was a very remarkable lady!
I am not a professional historian, but I found this book an excellent read about the period of time. It is sometimes difficult to follow all the names and name changes along with the various titles. But it is interesting reading and very informative.