Elizabeth I

If you want to know the reign of Elizabeth in depth and not simply as an overview, this is definitely the book to read. In 575 pages of relatively small font, Anne Somerset spells out who this remarkable woman was. Somerset never lost my attention. It definitely takes time to read this book but few monarchs deserve this kind of in-depth study as much as Elizabeth. Somerset never lets the reader get bogged down in any information that is not carefully explained. The author weaves the names, dates and events into an ongoing narrative that is easy to follow and never leaves the reader hanging. As other reviews have noted, Somerset is unbiased about the strengths and weaknesses of Elizabeth. She presents the negatives about her character, such as the Queen's indecisiveness and her attachment to a couple less than ideal males, in a way that gives insight into Elizabeth. The story never turns into a tabloid version of the Queen. And Somerset clearly points out the positives about this monarch who could dominate the men around her in an England that never before saw a woman like this one. This is a great biography, well worth the time put into reading it. Unless you are a professional historian, you will come to know Elizabeth as well as any 21st century person can. I highly recommend the book.

For most of this book, I was wondering what it was about Elizabeth I that made her so famous through the centuries. The legend of Gloriana and her Golden Age were nowhere to be seen in the detailed descriptions of marriage negotiations, her hesitant and lukewarm foreign assistance, or her being duped by the French king. Where were the sweeping reforms and brilliant handling of foreign and domestic affairs that would surely characterize the reign of such a remarkable woman? It wasn’t until the last six pages of the book, when Somerset assesses Elizabeth’s reign, that her true achievements finally emerge. Her success was not in grand events, but in the stability and prosperity she brought to her kingdom. Elizabeth kept England out of costly foreign entanglements. She maintained the overall peace at a time when other monarchs faced rebellion and civil war. She restored national confidence and international prestige. She established a national church that would have broad appeal. She upheld the interests of the crown without encroaching on the interests of her subjects. Somerset offers a detailed and informative portrait of Elizabeth that at times defends decisions and rationales while at others describes her in unflattering terms. When Elizabeth expressed anger, she “shrieked” and “screamed,” words which undermine any reasonable basis for her opinion. Fortunately, these instances are rare and readers are more often treated to descriptions of the various conundrums Elizabeth faced: her personal feelings toward marriage and the pressure to marry; the problems arising no matter who the lucky man was, English or foreign; the pressure to name a successor; how to deal with Mary Stuart; powerful continental enemies who could overwhelm England if provoked, the rise of Puritanism. And these were after her accession. Prior to that, Elizabeth walked a tightrope for survival under both her siblings, her wits and courage all that kept her alive. Elizabeth was blessed with extraordinary luck throughout her reign, but Somerset points out that she took advantage of that luck. Her councilors were instrumental to the running of the kingdom, but she was the one who appointed them. Elizabeth’s military strategies were often sound; the problem was that her generals failed to follow them. Elizabeth I comes across as a woman who ruled on her own terms, and quite competently, at a time when women were not seen as capable of effective leadership. If the achievements of her reign were more quiet than dramatic, they are no less remarkable.

If all that you know of Elizabeth I is what you know from Cate Blanchett's two movies, then you know nothing. Even if you learned that Sir Francis Walsingham was her advisor and Sir Walter Raleigh was her friend. In high school I got an "A" in world history, and in college I earned a minor degree in history. So, literally, I can convey SOMETHING about the Virgin Queen. Like me, she had red hair, and Sir Francis Drake was her champion. And before reading ELIZABETH I, I could have told you that Elizabeth was human and that she was imperfect and she made many mistakes. Still I did not know HER. So, like movie watchers, I knew nothing. For me, Anne Somerset's supreme achievement was to teach me the SPECIFICS of the first Queen Elizabeth's humanness. She brought this lofty person down to earth. As I read Elizabeth's story, her image as a great person of history disintegrated and she became just a person. But she remains close to heart. Please do not misunderstand. This lengthy, though easy-to-read biography is not a psychological treatise. Actually it reads pretty much like fiction. Bloody Mary serves as a villainess. Mary Queen of Scots provides intrigue. Sir Francis Drake leads us to adventure. The Spanish Armada injects suspense. The impulsive arrogance of Lord Exeter makes us shake our heads with admonition. And Elizabeth herself emulates Shakespeare by exiting the material plane with pathos. God save the Queen! Extras: Family tree showing descendants of Henry VII (Elizabeth's grandfather), sixteen photographic plates of period drawings and portraits, hundreds of footnotes, hundreds of bibliographic entries, index with detailed subtopics. Maps would have been helpful, but there were none.

One of the best biographers I have come across. The author tells the blow by blow of Elizabeth's life with a minimum of analysis and judgement. Most biographers put too much of themselves into the book. I often feel herded this way and that as the author overlays the life with their idea of their subject. In the case of this book, Somerset does a splendid job in telling what was and leaving the judgment to me. I even wish she had said more in assessing Elizabeth's legacy. There was very little in that way. But I can't fault her for writing the book she wanted to write. Overall it's really a good biography, although it was so dense it took me quite a while to finish it - almost a week! A really fine book.

Loved this. The only biography that I've found so far of Elizabeth R that isn't novelized. The only quibble I have with it is that, like every other book about E R, it rushes through the second half of her life. Still, a great, interesting and informative read, even for those who know about the life of the Queen. If you are interested in this book I'll recommend the miniseries Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson (on netflix streaming as of this writing.) Jackson's performance as the Queen will never be matched or surpassed, and the series doesn't take any significant liberties with ER's life story (i.e. it's the most factual representation we're likely to ever see.) The whole series is great, though I think for those unfamiliar with Queen's relationship with Essex the last episode might be confusing. After finishing this I picked up "Elizabeth I: Collected Works" for my kindle and I'm currently enjoying it very much. ER's way with words is incomparable.

This is a very well written and apparently well researched book, giving excellent information and analysis about Elizabeth I and her world. But it is maddening in one respect. Somerset very often gives only the month and day, but not the year of the event she is talking about. Apparently, she assumes if she's told you the year 5 pages ago, you remember it. But that is not so, at least for me, especially as I may set down the book for a day or half day, and then resume reading without going back to find her last year. For me, it would be far more useful to tell me the year, and skip the month and day. The full exact date may be useful and important for scholars, but at least for reasonably well informed readers it is not necessary to know.

I have been obsessed with Queen Elizabeth since the movie featuring Cate Blanchett was released. Over the years I have bought so many books that they honestly tend to blend together in my mind. This one though stands out from the others, to me, because of the thoroughness and the thought provoking way Ms. Somerset writes. She gave me a few fresh insights on the Queen's thought process and ideas. Personally it has easily become a favorite that I go back to fact check and re-read often. I would recommend it for the talented writing within alone, much less all the information it offers. Definitely worth the money.

This is by far the most thorough, the most interesting, and the most captivating biography of Elizabeth I I have ever read. I have read four bios of this Queen, and it is the most detailed of the ones I have read. Spend your money on it; you can't go wrong! Michael W illiams, BS.Ed.,M.Ed., Ed.S. (Univ. of Alabama, Georgia State Univ.). Retired college professor--38 years: former professor and academic dean (1971-1974; 1974-2000; 2000-2008). Alison Weir is also an excellent w riter when it (the writing) concerns Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots . Read these authors' books; you'll find them hard to put down! 1-7-14

Received filthy and old book with folded cover pages. This book is literally stinking. Waiting for my replacement until then this review remains. Edit: Finally received the replacement in much better condition. Happy with the product 👍

Ann Sommerset displays an easy prose to unwrap the controversies of a fascinating chapter of history in England intertwined with power struggles all across Europe. Fun, interesting narrative of a fascinating character full of contradictions.

After having read this book, one can understand why Elizabeth became so famous. Question: I still do not understand why Elizabeth did not organize a decent grave for her mother Anne, at least by the end of her reign. I understand (but I might be wrong) that Elizabeth was very popular. Some historians state that Elizabeth would have made a political mistake in doing so since she would have denied the judgment of Henry and the court against Anne but I do not buy this. After a while, Mary Stuart remains were transferred to Westmister without any problem; this was accepted and everybody knew that Mary was guilty. Regards

If you read only read one book about Elizabeth 1 make it this one. Its full of anecdotes and easily readable. Highly recommended.

Up until now I had a very negative opinion of Elizabeth I. But now after reading this amazing and highly addictive book I can safely say that I've changed my opinion. This book although is real history (non fiction) is written so well and so easy to read you would think it was actually historical fiction. Elizabeth was a very strong and powerful Queen who is now one of my favourite Queens and I now can't wait to find some more books about her and read them. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about a highly amazing woman who was and still is a very popular and powerful Queen