- Paperback: 648 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (27 Jan 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1857998855
- ISBN-13: 978-1857998856
- Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 4.7 x 21.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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- #71 in Books > Biography > British Royalty > Elizabeth I
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Product Description
Book Description
An acclaimed biography of Elizabeth I and an examination of the politics and intrigues of her Tudor court.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Elizabeth 1 ruled England in defiance of convention, exercising supreme authority in a man's world. With courage, brilliance and style, she reigned for nearly forty-five years. Anne Somerset's penetrating biography of this complex and uniquely gifted woman is unrivalled in its analysis of both Elizabeth's personal life and her career as leader. "By applying herself industriously to the evidence, Anne Somerset presents a convincing as well as complex character at the centre of her long, but ever lucid narrative" Antonia Fraser "I strongly recommend this book...the writing is a delight" Daily Telegraph "The fullest and best biography of the queen since Sir John Neale's in 1934" Times Literary Supplement
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Anne Somerset's biography of Elizabeth 1st, is quite frankly the best.
I have read several other biographies on Elizabeth 1st and none have been able to capture the exciting nature of this time in history, whilst staying true and faithful to historical accuracy.
Anne Someret's biography shows Elizabeth in the kindest light, without coming across as overly bias.
She tells us the facts, and does so in an amazingly fluent and beautiful story-telling way.
I flew through the book. Not once. Nor twice. But three times!
The book sticks on Elizabeth throughout - which may sound obvious, but I've read one particular biography of Elizabeth where half the book is devoted to the people linked to her, rather than Elizabeth herself. Anne Someret manages to still mention all the same facts and the same events, whilst staying on track.
My all-time favourite biography! Love it!
I have read several other biographies on Elizabeth 1st and none have been able to capture the exciting nature of this time in history, whilst staying true and faithful to historical accuracy.
Anne Someret's biography shows Elizabeth in the kindest light, without coming across as overly bias.
She tells us the facts, and does so in an amazingly fluent and beautiful story-telling way.
I flew through the book. Not once. Nor twice. But three times!
The book sticks on Elizabeth throughout - which may sound obvious, but I've read one particular biography of Elizabeth where half the book is devoted to the people linked to her, rather than Elizabeth herself. Anne Someret manages to still mention all the same facts and the same events, whilst staying on track.
My all-time favourite biography! Love it!
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
She was the virgin queen, the woman who would give her name to a glorious era in England's history. The truth, however, was somewhat different as Anne Somerset points out in absorbing detail in this new biography. For the Queen's long reign would be judged years later after many years of unsuccessful and occasionally disastrous Stuart rule. Elizabeth had a disturbing childhood. Her mother was put to death by Henry VIII and she was constantly at risk during the brief reign of her Catholic sister Mary. Perhaps because of this, Elizabeth grew into a powerful and independently-minded monarch who knew precisely how to deal with her male courtiers and to use her sex to her best advantage. In an age when women were considered weak and hopelessly inferior, Elizabeth proved the opposite. Somerset charts the milestones of her reign in detail - the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and the Spanish Armada to name but two. There is much discussion on the religious issue, the succession and her relationship with foreign courts but it is the woman herself who time and again proves so fascinating.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book and a lively and interesting read. Anne Somerset gives an insight into all sides of the character of Elizabeth. Her moods and feelings, (she was renowned at the time for her short temper), both as a woman and a Queen.
The glamour of the Tudor court and what it was like to be in or out of favour in a clique where a careless word could in some cases cost you your life.
Elizabeth did not suffer fools gladly and the book examines her religious feelings, her sexuality and the way she dealt with conflicts both at home and abroad in what was essentially a man's world. Elizabeth was nobody's fool and although she would listen to her advisers, she had a mind of her own, shrewd and extremely intelligent, and was quite capable of using her authority as monarch to make important decisions for herself.
The book is a delight for anyone with the slightest interest in history.
The glamour of the Tudor court and what it was like to be in or out of favour in a clique where a careless word could in some cases cost you your life.
Elizabeth did not suffer fools gladly and the book examines her religious feelings, her sexuality and the way she dealt with conflicts both at home and abroad in what was essentially a man's world. Elizabeth was nobody's fool and although she would listen to her advisers, she had a mind of her own, shrewd and extremely intelligent, and was quite capable of using her authority as monarch to make important decisions for herself.
The book is a delight for anyone with the slightest interest in history.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
an insomnia cure
Oh god, is this book long! I have to read it for my book club and can find nothing good to say about it except that it makes me go to sleep. It is a huge book and so unwieldy. Read more
Published 5 months ago by traveller
a clear-eyed personal and political bio
This is an insightful and fascinating look into the age of Elizabeth I: not only does the author explore her complex private life, but her techniques of holding and exercising... Read more
Published 9 months ago by rob crawford
The First Iron Lady
This is an excellent book and a lively and interesting read. Anne Somerset gives an insight into all sides of the character of Elizabeth. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2008 by J. Chippindale
Outstanding and comprehensive in its coverage
A splendidly detailed and magisterial, yet also very readable biography that can also serve as a reference guide to all aspects of Elizabeth's personal life as well as her reign. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2007 by John Hopper
The First Iron Lady
This is an excellent book and a lively and interesting read. Anne Somerset gives an insight into all sides of the character of Elizabeth. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2007 by J. Chippindale
The First Iron Lady
This is an excellent book and a lively and interesting read. Anne Somerset gives an insight into all sides of the character of Elizabeth. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2007 by J. Chippindale
Great
I read many books about Queen Elizabeth I, but this one is the best!
My "favourite period" in Elizabeth's life is her dangerous youth - you can see very clearly how a... Read more
My "favourite period" in Elizabeth's life is her dangerous youth - you can see very clearly how a... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2007 by Nadine1978
Exhausively detailed minutiae of a significant reign.
This book is a heavyweight tome (both literally and metaphorically), which provides detailed account of the life and reign of Elizabeth I. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2006 by J. B. Chapman
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