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hrynkiw's review against another edition
4.0
Non-fiction. Eminently readable. A view of Henry VIII's court from a very different angle.
booksss's review against another edition
3.0
Overall it was a good account, but I wish the author had been a little bit more structured when it came to chapters and things like that; and also that she'd took more conclusions about Elizabeth's personal relationships. 3.5.
madeleine_grace's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was an okay book. I loved, loved, loved, loved the idea of it...I thought it was really interesting, however many of the perspectives that she offered (most specifically on Anne Boleyn and Mary, Queen of Scots) were very regular and most you could find in any basic introductory biography to Elizabeth I or the Tudor time period...which is fine, only this wasn't supposed to be an introductory biography to Elizabeth I or the Tudor time period. The writing was lazy and confusing at times...making references to ladies who had married or remarried and changed their names without any explanation of who they were...I have read much about about Elizabeth I but have yet to memorize the marital history of single one of her ladies. However, I believe in points for effort so I'd give this something like 2.5 which I rounded up to a good solid 3.
25 out of 50 yr.
25 out of 50 yr.
evewithanapple's review against another edition
4.0
A really interesting survey of the women in Elizabeth's life who have often been overshadowed by male historians. Could have used a tad less slut-shaming, though.
ombressoleil's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me forever to finish, but I believe that is because Elizabeth I didn't interest me that much. My only two complaints about the book, which are more nitpicks, are that Borman uses the word "precocious" too often, especially in the beginning of the book, and I'd rather all the quotes be written in modern English rather than medieval English as it slowed me down trying to decipher them.
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Emma Fielding reads from Tracy Borman's biography of Elizabeth I, which explores the relationships she had with the women in her life. These women brought out the best and the worst of Elizabeth, who could be loyal and kind but also cruel and vindictive. They all influenced Elizabeth's carefully-cultivated image as Gloriana, The Virgin Queen.
Anne Boleyn takes centre stage, and the influence of her life and death on Elizabeth's future.
Emma Fielding reads from Tracy Borman's biography of Elizabeth I, which explores the relationships she had with the women in her life. These women brought out the best and the worst of Elizabeth, who could be loyal and kind but also cruel and vindictive. They all influenced Elizabeth's carefully-cultivated image as Gloriana, The Virgin Queen.
Anne Boleyn takes centre stage, and the influence of her life and death on Elizabeth's future.
irishcontessa's review
2.0
2.5 stars
I didn't love the style of this book and it was a little bit too shallow - which makes sense given the scope of who and what was covered.
I didn't love the style of this book and it was a little bit too shallow - which makes sense given the scope of who and what was covered.
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