The life of Elizabeth I

Weir, Alison 1951- (author.).

Summary:

This volume is a biography of the queen of England from 1558 until 1603, Elizabeth I. She was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty. After a lonely and often perilous childhood during which Elizabeth was once imprisoned and was nearly executed by her half-sister, Mary. A 25-year-old Elizabeth ascended to the throne when Mary died. Elizabeth's reign is known as the Elizabethan era, famous above all for the flourishing of English drama, led by playwrights such as Shakespeare and Marlowe, and for the seafaring prowess of English adventurers such as Francis Drake. The author emphasizes Elizabeth's precarious position as a ruling woman in a man's world, suggesting that the single life was personally appealing as well as politically expedient for someone who had seen many ambitious ladies, including her own mother, ruined and even executed for just the appearance of sexual indiscretions. Elizabeth is portrayed as autocratic, devious, even deceptive, but these traits were required to perform a 45-year tightrope walk between the two great powers of Europe at the time, France and Spain. Both countries were eager to bring small, weak England under their sway and to safely marry off its inconveniently independent queen.

"Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I reigned prosperously for more than forty years, from 1558 until her death in 1603. During her rule, however, she remained an extremely private person, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one - not even her closest, most trusted advisors. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating new book, acclaimed biographer Alison Weir brings the enigmatic figure of Elizabeth I to life as never before."--BOOK JACKET. "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, exploring complex questions. 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, but was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn?"--Jacket.

Record details

ISBN: 0345405331
ISBN: 9780345405333
ISBN: 0965064227
ISBN: 9780965064224
ISBN: 0965064220
ISBN: 9780345425508
ISBN: 0345425502
ISBN: 9781439500132
ISBN: 1439500134
Physical Description: 532 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Edition: 1st American ed.
Publisher: New York : Ballantine, 1998.

Content descriptions

General Note:	Originally published: London : J. Cape, 1998.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references (pages 491-508) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	Prologue: 17 Nov 1558 -- Elizabeth's England -- 'The most English woman in England' -- 'God send our mistress a husband' -- 'Disputes over trifles' -- 'Bonny sweet Robin' -- 'Presumptions of evil' -- 'Dishonourable and naughty reports' -- 'The daughter of debate' -- 'Without a certain heir' -- 'A matter dangerous to the common amity' -- 'Things grievouser and worse' -- 'A dangerous person' -- 'A vain crack of words' -- 'Gloriana' -- 'A court at once gay, decent and superb' -- 'The axe must be the next warning' -- 'Less agreeable things to think about' -- 'Princely pleasures' -- 'Frenzied wooing' -- 'Between Scylla and Charybdis' -- 'Practices at home and abroad' -- 'The tragical execution' -- 'Eliza triumphant' -- 'Great England's glory' -- 'We are evil served' -- 'The minion of fortune' -- TABLES: The Tudors -- The Boleyn and Howard connections -- The Dudleys.