Biography – 490 pages – my copy (paperback)
#40 of 2011-12 - #161 of All Time
- 3 nods out of 5 -
Alison Weir has made a reputable name for herself for writing about characters principally within the Tudor period; these take the form of both history books as well as novels. The protagonists, principally, are females throughout the history of our country, including Queen Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey, the Boleyn sisters as well as the wives of Henry VIII. Such a focus has been a welcome change to many readers, such is the dominance of males throughout history.
In reclaiming History for the female sex, Weir could have chosen no better figure than Elizabeth I. She was the Queen who repelled the Spanish Armada, the Queen of the literature of Shakespeare, the Queen who oversaw England’s stature grow from small, half-forgotten island to become a dynamic player on the European stage. Furthermore, Elizabeth ruled for forty-four years as a woman in a man’s world. England had two female monarchs in its past, and both of these were failures; for Elizabeth to rule, and to rule for so long in this environment could be seen as nothing short of miraculous.
The author takes the reader through all of Elizabeth’s reign: the coming to power, the fight against smallpox, the love and intrigue with Leicester, the factional rivalry at court, the dalliances and romantic liaisons with princes of Europe (including one affectionately known as her ‘Frog’), as well as the heightened tension between religion that led to the war with the Spanish.
Weir certainly shows her touch for drama, being always keen to show the personal life of Elizabeth, rather than the political events of the country at large. Economy and social strife are waylaid, and replaced with Elizabeth’s fears and ecstasies: her relationship with Leicester, her attitude towards Parliament, her ability to stall and to cajole those around her.
Apart from its trumpeting of a female historical figure, this book adds nothing new to the world of information that we already hold on the Tudors. However, when compared to previous Worm reads – such as Starkey’s portrayal of the younger Elizabeth – it hooks in the reader with its personal touch. As such, Weir’s biography of Elizabeth is a welcome addition to the ever expanding canon of Tudor related literature.
Buy it here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Queen-Alison-Weir/dp/0712673121
