In this work–a History Book Club and BOMC selection in cloth–a skillful storyteller and historian refreshes long-familiar facts about the monarch who lent her name to England’s glittering Elizabethan era. Illustrated.

Queen of England from 1558 until her death in 1603, Elizabeth I is an endlessly fascinating figure. This engaging biography is essentially personal rather than political history. Hibbert is the author of many histories for the general reader, most recently The English: A Social History, 1066-1945 ( LJ 5/15/87). There are many biographies of Elizabeth, and more than a few good ones, but Hibbert’s is solid and sure to charm. Perhaps not essential, given the many treatments of Elizabeth that most libraries hold already, but nevertheless a reliable and highly readable choice for general collections.

The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I, Genius Of The Golden Age

As The Virgin Queen begins, a young Elizabeth is imprisoned in the Tower of London by Queen Mary, charged with conspiracy and treason. Both women are daughters of the ruthless and oft-married Henry VIII, who plunged England into turmoil by breaking with the Roman Catholic Church. Mary wants to reunite with Rome, while Elizabeth is determined to stand by her Protestant faith–a potentially fatal choice. But Elizabeth’s life takes an unexpected turn when Mary dies, leaving no heir to the throne. As the new queen, Elizabeth discovers the harsh realities of ruling a religiously divided nation and must learn to outwit her enemies and charm those who conspire to their own ends.

Soon under pressure to secure a politically advantageous marriage, the coquettish Elizabeth rejects a string of eligible royal bachelors from abroad, openly preferring the burning affections of her childhood playmate, the athletic, handsome–and married–Robert Dudley. But is she toying with him as she is with her other suitors?

Starring Anne-Marie Duff (The Aristocrats, The Magdalene Sisters) as the shrewd and captivating queen who defended her throne amidst an atmosphere of plotting and intrigue, torture and murder, The Virgin Queen is a riveting drama that explores the fascinating 44-year reign of Elizabeth I.

This collection shines a light onto the character and experience of one of the most interesting of monarchs. English professors Marcus (Vanderbilt), Mueller (University of Chicago), and Rose (University of Illinois-Chicago) have collected the speeches, letters, poems and prayers written by Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603), arranged into four chronological groupings. The writings of the first period, from 1533 to 1558, contain no speeches because Elizabeth was then only a princess, daughter of the executed Anne Boleyn, and her principal job was, literally, to keep her head on her shoulders; the less she said, the safer she was. But even after she assumed the crown, she was still faced with the formidable task of staying alive as she forced her advisers to accept a woman as a sovereign and to obey her wishes. Her writings provide an excellent record of how well she was able to accomplish these goals. The speeches of this archetypal Renaissance figure (she wrote in several languages, including ancient Greek) sometimes read more like memos and her prayers occasionally seem like propagandaAbut overall she was proficient enough to write in an elegant, clear voice. Because of the volume of writings contained herein and the extensive, helpful annotations the editors have added, we are likely never to get a closer or clearer look at her. An intriguing and intense portrait of a woman who figures so importantly in the birth of our modern world, this book, though aimed primarily at scholars, could be profitably read and enjoyed by any interested reader. Illus. not seen by PW. (Sept.)

From Library Journal

In a single extraordinary volume, Elizabeth I: Collected Works, Marcus (English, Vanderbilt) and her coeditors have collected the Virgin Queen’s letters, speeches, poems, and prayersDtranslated from French, Latin, Italian, Spanish, and ancient Greek, when necessary. From an early (1544) letter of the Princess Elizabeth to Queen Katherine to a long letter about Ireland addressed to Lord Mountjoy (February 1603) shortly before the queen’s death, the editors have put together an impressive, heavily footnoted volume. While browsers will certainly find items of interest (e.g., a touching condolence letter from the queen to her ambassador to France upon the death of his son), this scholarly work will be of interest primarily to scholars. Highly recommended for academic libraries and for public libraries with strong collections of Elizabethan history.

Thomas (The Princess in the Pigpen) recounts events in the life of England’s legendary queen with the page-turning urgency of a thriller. With copious source notes, the author chronicles the dramatic childhood of the daughter of Henry VIII: her unorthodox youth demanded finely tuned instincts that served her well when she became Queen Elizabeth I at the age of 25.

Thomas carefully portrays the climate of political and religious infighting Elizabeth inherited with the throne in 1558 (due to her sister’s disastrous marriage to Philip (later King Philip II) of Spain, and Mary’s allegiance to the Catholic church calling for Protestants to burn at the stake), as well as her uncanny leadership at a time when women were considered unfit to rule.

Duplicitous plots to marry off Elizabeth (who remained a Protestant, like her father) for political, religious and self-serving reasons dot the volume, yet the regal young woman evades her pursuers admirably throughout her life. The author assuredly sets the stage for the eponymous Elizabethan Age by explaining the unusual circumstances of the queen’s early education (coinciding with the English Reformation and Renaissance movements), her lifelong appetite for reading and her insatiable curiosity. Thomas makes a complex period in England’s history (and in Europe at large) digestible and fascinating for readers by allowing them to view it through Elizabeth’s eyes. An opening cast of characters makes an easy reference for readers as they go along; glorious color state portraits and black-and-white photographs and engravings underscore the public images of Queen Elizabeth I. Ages 10-up.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-A well-crafted examination of the second daughter of Henry VIII. Before inheriting the crown, Elizabeth led an often traumatic life including imprisonment by her half-sister, Mary. However, she bore everything with a patience and wisdom that served her well when she took the reins of an England in the throes of war and religious upheaval. She surrounded herself with trusted male advisors, but chose not to marry. The author argues convincingly that the queen did not want to give up her control to anyone, especially through marriage. Thomas re-creates the historical and social context in which Elizabeth ruled by examining the relationships between other countries in Europe and the role of the Catholic Church. Finally, the personal side of the queen is explored and her relationships are examined. Black-and-white photographs and reproductions and seven full-color portraits add to the presentation. An obvious choice for a biography assignment, this book should also be recommended to anyone looking for an interesting read.

The long life and powerful personality of England’s beloved Virgin Queen have eternal appeal, and popular historian Alison Weir depicts both with panache. She’s especially good at evoking the physical texture of Tudor England: the elaborate royal gowns (actually an intricate assembly of separate fabric panels buttoned together over linen shifts), the luxurious but unhygienic palaces (Elizabeth got the only “close stool”; most members of her retinue relieved themselves in the courtyards), the huge meals heavily seasoned to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. Against this earthy backdrop, Elizabeth’s intelligence and formidable political skills stand in vivid relief. She may have been autocratic, devious, even deceptive, but these traits were required to perform a 45-year tightrope walk between the two great powers of Europe, France and Spain. Both countries were eager to bring small, weak England under their sway and to safely marry off its inconveniently independent queen. Weir emphasizes Elizabeth’s precarious position as a ruling woman in a man’s world, suggesting plausibly 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. The author’s evaluations of such key figures in Elizabeth’s reign as the Earl of Leicester (arguably the only man she ever loved) and William Cecil (her most trusted adviser) are equally cogent and respectful of psychological complexity. Weir does a fine job of retelling this always-popular story for a new generation. –Wendy Smith

From Publishers Weekly

Weir describes herself as a social historian but admits that when chronicling the lives of the flamboyant Tudors, it’s impossible to keep domestic politics and world affairs apart. One could hardly ignore the threatened depredations of the “invincible” Spanish Armada or pass over the intrigues of Mary Queen of Scots as she struggled to seize the throne and return England to Roman Catholicism. Weir has already negotiated the complex matrimonial life of Elizabeth’s father in The Six Wives of Henry VIII and the early lives of the resulting progeny in The Children of Henry VIII. After a lonely and often perilous childhood during which Elizabeth was once imprisoned in the Tower and was nearly executed at the behest of her half sister, Queen Mary, 25-year-old Elizabeth ascended to the throne when Mary died. The prevailing expectation was that she would speedily marry a strong man who would then take over as king: as Elizabeth herself admitted, it was commonly thought that “a woman cannot live unless she is married.” Elizabeth did nothing of the kind and, as Weir details, she did quite well for herself manipulating the royal marriage mart of Europe. Weir uses myriad details of dress, correspondence and contemporary accounts to create an almost affectionate portrait of a strong, well-educated ruler loved by her courtiers and people alike. Hot-tempered, imperious Elizabeth has been the subject of innumerable biographies, many very good. But Weir brings a fine sense of selection and considerable zest to her portrait of the self-styled Virgin Queen.