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133 reviews for:
Elizabeth, the Queen: From the Sunday Times Bestselling Historian
Alison Weir, Alison Weir
4.02 AVERAGE
133 reviews for:
Elizabeth, the Queen: From the Sunday Times Bestselling Historian
Alison Weir, Alison Weir
4.02 AVERAGE
This biography covers the life of Elizabeth I from the beginning of her reign through her death. It's densely packed with accounts of her official activities and interactions between her and her counselors, officials, foreign diplomats, etc. These interactions are covered more thoroughly than grander events like the wars and explorations, and there are many people of note to keep track of, so it may not be everyone's cup of tea. I found it enjoyable and interesting, only really feeling a bit slow during all the Queen's dithering over marriage at the beginning.
Wonderfully done on Audio. Now I want to read about the wives!
I love Queen Elizabeth I and even did a huge project on her in college. Somehow though, I could not get through this book. I felt like I was trying to read through sludge. Granted, I have been reading mystery books and YA books recently, so that may have had something to do with it. As of right now, I am marking this as "DNF" with hopes I can come back to this book eventually and hopefully like it more.
Originally posted at: A Girl that Likes Books
There is a strong idea in the world that a woman cannot live unless she is married
Why I read this book
I read The Lady Elizabeth by the same author and I really liked her writing style. Elizabeth I has always been am interesting character to me and having the opportunity to learn a bit more about her by an author that I already like was something I wouldn't pass.
What the book is about
Obviously the book is about the life of Elizabeth I as a Queen. While the Lady Elizabeth walks us through the childhood and teenage years of Elizabeth, prior to her coronation, this book explores the year that Elizabeth was on the throne. Divided in sections that tackle her international politics, economy and her court in general, this book is a good example of a well researched biography.
First impressions
Alison Weir is amazingly thorough; I knew I liked the romanticized character of Elizabeth, but the Elizabeth portrayed in this book is just unbelievably interesting. From her dealing with the detractors of her father's formed religion to her manipulation of other courts to her advantage, Elizabeth was a woman of vision, not afraid to take the reins of her kingdom.
Final thoughts
Elizabeth was praised and criticized largely during her kingdom. In both cases her gender was always a factor to be considered by her allies and enemies. As a young woman she was congratulated on her exceptional memory and curiosity and she would have her father to thank for insisting in her being educated as a prince, for this had a considerable impact in her behavior as a ruler. She spoke more than 5 languages and managed to deal with conspiracies against her life from even before she was considered an heir to the throne and all of this shaped the diplomat that most of us know.
She was smart (most of the time) when choosing the people around her, and through this close group of people managed to bring prosperity to her land and to establish what we now refer to as the Elizabethan era, an epoch rich in culture that not in vane is considered the Golden age.
But the book doesn't show a perfect Elizabeth, and this made me like the content even more. While the Virgin Queen is praised often in the book, there is also discussion of some traits in her character that take the figure of the queen from this idealized image to a more humane person, flawed and with weaknesses; a person that overcame such weaknesses in order to fulfill what she considered her destiny.
It is the first book I hear in the voice if Davina Porter, and I have to say I did enjoy her performance. Her pace was appropriate to a non-fiction book where so much information was given, and her inflections when encountering quotes from Elizabeth or other characters made a nice flow in the book.
A person who did not wish to treat their mother well, deserves a wicked step mother
There is a strong idea in the world that a woman cannot live unless she is married
Why I read this book
I read The Lady Elizabeth by the same author and I really liked her writing style. Elizabeth I has always been am interesting character to me and having the opportunity to learn a bit more about her by an author that I already like was something I wouldn't pass.
What the book is about
Obviously the book is about the life of Elizabeth I as a Queen. While the Lady Elizabeth walks us through the childhood and teenage years of Elizabeth, prior to her coronation, this book explores the year that Elizabeth was on the throne. Divided in sections that tackle her international politics, economy and her court in general, this book is a good example of a well researched biography.
First impressions
Alison Weir is amazingly thorough; I knew I liked the romanticized character of Elizabeth, but the Elizabeth portrayed in this book is just unbelievably interesting. From her dealing with the detractors of her father's formed religion to her manipulation of other courts to her advantage, Elizabeth was a woman of vision, not afraid to take the reins of her kingdom.
Final thoughts
Elizabeth was praised and criticized largely during her kingdom. In both cases her gender was always a factor to be considered by her allies and enemies. As a young woman she was congratulated on her exceptional memory and curiosity and she would have her father to thank for insisting in her being educated as a prince, for this had a considerable impact in her behavior as a ruler. She spoke more than 5 languages and managed to deal with conspiracies against her life from even before she was considered an heir to the throne and all of this shaped the diplomat that most of us know.
She was smart (most of the time) when choosing the people around her, and through this close group of people managed to bring prosperity to her land and to establish what we now refer to as the Elizabethan era, an epoch rich in culture that not in vane is considered the Golden age.
But the book doesn't show a perfect Elizabeth, and this made me like the content even more. While the Virgin Queen is praised often in the book, there is also discussion of some traits in her character that take the figure of the queen from this idealized image to a more humane person, flawed and with weaknesses; a person that overcame such weaknesses in order to fulfill what she considered her destiny.
It is the first book I hear in the voice if Davina Porter, and I have to say I did enjoy her performance. Her pace was appropriate to a non-fiction book where so much information was given, and her inflections when encountering quotes from Elizabeth or other characters made a nice flow in the book.
A person who did not wish to treat their mother well, deserves a wicked step mother
An interesting insight into Queen Elizabeth's life. A good if lengthy ready.
Covering the reign of Elizabeth I, Weir brings the last of England’s most elaborate court to light. Elizabeth’s reign would see the end of the farce of courtly love and the medieval style. What could have been terribly dull and dry was not. I was saddened as I read to learn that many of the palaces of Elizabethan England are long victim’s of the Cromwell days. The pomp, the pagentry, the feasts – and the utter cruely and intrigue, are the stuff of legend.
After having some doubts with Weir's authorship with [b:Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings|10211697|Mary Boleyn The Mistress of Kings|Alison Weir|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298297175s/10211697.jpg|15111170], I was glad to be reassured with her biography of Elizabeth I of England.
I've always loved Elizabeth. Her story captivated me. The girl who had lost her mother at such a young age and lived in such a perilous age brought glory to her country once again. I had watched countless movies with her and the fascination grew from there.
I knew of the important facts of Elizabeth's reign, but with this book I got a better look at it. Weir made Elizabeth come alive again.
The book starts where [b:The Children of Henry VIII|10106|The Children of Henry VIII|Alison Weir|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307471635s/10106.jpg|808219] left off with Elizabeth's ascension. There are twenty seven chapters and an epilogue and even that didn't seem like enough to me. Luckily Weir a listed a great bibliography, so I'll be checking out some of those.
This a great biography. Weir doesn't shy away from Elizabeth's faults, but also praises her achievements. I was truly sad when the end came.
There is an author's note in the back about Elizabeth in film. I was a little dismayed when she took the piss out of the Cate Blanchett films since I love her portrayal of her, but with reading this book I can see the flaws of the film. Still I am planning on watching a few of her approved Elizabeth roles.
I've always loved Elizabeth. Her story captivated me. The girl who had lost her mother at such a young age and lived in such a perilous age brought glory to her country once again. I had watched countless movies with her and the fascination grew from there.
I knew of the important facts of Elizabeth's reign, but with this book I got a better look at it. Weir made Elizabeth come alive again.
The book starts where [b:The Children of Henry VIII|10106|The Children of Henry VIII|Alison Weir|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307471635s/10106.jpg|808219] left off with Elizabeth's ascension. There are twenty seven chapters and an epilogue and even that didn't seem like enough to me. Luckily Weir a listed a great bibliography, so I'll be checking out some of those.
This a great biography. Weir doesn't shy away from Elizabeth's faults, but also praises her achievements. I was truly sad when the end came.
There is an author's note in the back about Elizabeth in film. I was a little dismayed when she took the piss out of the Cate Blanchett films since I love her portrayal of her, but with reading this book I can see the flaws of the film. Still I am planning on watching a few of her approved Elizabeth roles.
I love Alison Weir books, but I had to give this 4 stars. Not because of her writing, but because of Elizabeth's personality of going back and forth. It drove me nuts quite a bit. She was an amazing queen and one hell of a lady who knew how to get her way, but this book has made me understand why she drove some of the men in her court mad! Yet being a lady of that time she used her wits, good looks, and her mothers flirtatiousness and her fathers temper to give her country the golden age it longed for.
A long and winding road, but interesting and informative. I finished it!