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Summary: A wonderful way to dip one's toe into the waters of History!
Review: As a computer techie/science person, history has held little interest for me. Particularly because the emphasis in school was always placed on dates, places, treaty names, battle statistics, etc. I find it ironic (or is it just the snobbery of amateur historians) that it is for the very lack of that dry chronicling of military/political history that some of this site's reviewers deride Ms. Weir's biography of Elizabeth I.I believe that there is room in the annals of history for every type of examination of the culture, politics and religious climate of an era. This biography provides some surprising insight into the culture of Elizabeth's England (specifically of its nobility) and of the intrigues of court. I was surprised by the astonishing importance of marital ties and religious conviction to British and European political stability, and as a woman, was particularly tickled by Elizabeth's approach to try and balance her own personal interest in her independance with the political pressure and "imperative" to provide and/or name a successor. All the while, keeping the "hounds at bay" in Europe by flirting with the notion of making ties between England and other European powers by alternately encouraging, rejecting and resurrecting marriage negotations. How tiresome that all must have been but how clever! Overall a great read! While it has been my first significant foray into the literature of history, it won't be my last. I couldn't put the book down.
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Summary: Informative, Revealing & Incredibly Detailed
Review: An informative insight into the life of one of England's most charismatic rulers. Once more Alison Weir succeeds in painting a vivid portrait of the human face of a monarch and her subjects. Mrs. Weir's descriptions of the people, places and events are factual. The depth of her research and the conclusions reached are proven out by the vast bibliography sited at the end of each book. The sheer enormity of detail can at times be confusing (especially as peers are promoted, change title etc.) but it all adds to our understanding of an energetic and vital period in English history.
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Summary: The History of Elizabeth's Court
Review: Perhaps one should first realize what this book is not. It is not a comprehensive look at the major political events of the reign of Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen". It is the story of the life of Queen Elizabeth and her Court. It seeks to provide the reader with a portrait of Elizabeth's character by chronicling the intrigues and jockeying for favor that went on among her courtiers throughout her life and her response to it. Given this purpose, the book is well written and researched. If the reader is seeking more general and comprehensive coverage of the Elizabethan Period of English History and the momentous battles and triumphs, both political and military, of the time, then the reader should seek elsewhere. If one is interested in Elizabeth herself and her relationship to her court, buy this book.
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Summary: Tedious and impersonal.
Review: After seeing the movie about Elizabeth I was left thirsty for more information about this facinating historical figure, so I went looking for a Book. I wanted something that read like an interesting novel, not tedious lists of family trees and impersonal second hand accounts of what was speculated about this woman and her reign. I'm sure it is well researched and accurate in it's content but I was left falling asleep each night while I trudged through it.
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Summary: Excellent
Review: I have read many books on Tudor England and the Tudor family. This author has really brought them to life with her writing. Well researched with page after page of information and photographs. A wonderful read.
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Summary: Please remove the one negative review of this book.
Review: Once again Alison Weir provides proof of why she is considered one of Great Britain's finest historians. "The Life of Elizabeth I" is an excellent book, completely accurate and immensly readable. Ms Weir has a gift for making history come alive. There is one reviewer who gave this book low marks and recommends a different author for a biography of Elizabeth I. Do not make the mistake of purchasing that much inferior volume. Alison Weir is well known for her meticulous research from original sources. Some of these sources are hundreds of years old and can only be obtained in England, Ms Weirs country of residence. If you were to thumb through Carolly Erickson's book, you would find that she freely admits she gets her facts from other contemporary biographies. In other words, she does NO primary research from her home in Hawaii! I'd advise Amazon to remove that negative review. The author is probably friends with Ms Erickson.
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Summary: Excellent & Intriguing
Review: Being an Elizabeth afficianado in my own right, I couldn't believe the reviews below that liken this to a Princess Di bio. Of course any book on the life of Elizabeth would mention her relationship with Dudley and other "scandals" of her time. Any that didn't would be missing to true colour of the Elizabethan age! These people want a history of England, not a bio of Elizabeth. These people obviously have very little interest in Elizabeth herself or the world surrounding her, but would rather read dry histories of wars and successions. Oh--and just a footnote, for those "scholars" who declaim the book because it didn't include Elizabeth's childhood, please tried to read prefaces from now on as Weir quite plainly tells us that she didn't cover it in this book as she covered it quite thoroughly in "The Children of Henry VIII."
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Summary: Interesting
Review: I too am somewhat amazed at the really severe reviews written below. I enjoyed this book. With such a ambitious subject matter, Ms. Weir can be forgiven for not including everything. After all, not many people would read a book 5000 pages long! The writing is fluid, and the details are interesting and well researched. I recommend it as a starting point for anyone wanting to know more about Elizabeth Tudor.
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Summary: "Contrarily...chidings"
Review: I confess to being dumbfounded by these harsh reviews of Weir's ELIZABETH. As a devout Elizabeth student, I've read dozens and dozens of biographies. The range is as one might expect: from dry and pedantic to worshipful and silly. But by no means did I perceive Miss Weir's book to be even remotely a 'tabloid style' biography. That Weir only outlines England's long involvement with the French Protestants is no cavalier treatment of great history; 45 years of epic history were encompassed in Elizabeth's reign, and it is significant that every biographer I've read makes his presence felt by selecting the very limited history he may, even then, just briefly explore. Weir tries to focus on character, and, I might add, helps to put the Earl of Essex in his place. Furthermore: I fail to see how it can be maintained that her scholarship is shoddy. From Holinshed to Camden to Neal, her bibliography reads right. More tellingly, she excerpts unexpected moments from these oft-quoted sources. No, this is not a great historical biography. But in terms of a popular treatment of Elizabeth, reaching many unfamiliar with the lady, we could have done far worse. Good Lord, people - save some venom for Edith Sitwell or Christopher Hibbert.
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Summary: If you want dry details about every historical fact...
Review: then don't buy this book. This is not about the logistics of battles or family trees, this book is about Elizabeth and her court. I have always been interested in learning more about the great "Elizabeth," yet fearful of reading some dreary and dull account of soldiers and armaments. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a rich book full of lively descriptions of Elizabeth I and her courtiers. I sailed through the 490 pages, and feel like I am a little bit closer to who Elizbeth the person and the monarch was. I did wish there was a little more background on her childhood and perhaps the surrounding politics, but other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book.
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