Rating: 
Summary: A book for the intellectually challenged. Very Disappointing
Review: Now I understand why the reviews printed on the cover of this book are reviews of the author's past books. Quite frankly, there is not much to be said about this work of gossip. This book is a shameful excuse for a history book. People who enjoy tabloid magazines and filth; the type that focused on Lady Diana's dates, affairs, and tennis partners will enjoy this book immensely. It seems to me the author spent a great deal of time tracking down gossip and rumors related to Elizabeth. If you are an avid biography reader or history buff, this book is guaranteed to disappoint you. I couldn't wait to finish it, and hoped that the author would finally bring in some substance into this work. That does not happen. Don't waste your time on this one. Try Carolly Erickson's Book, The Frist Elizabeth instead, or any other book for that matter!
Rating: 
Summary: By virtue of one chapter...
Review: ...this biography earns its place. From the onset, Weir admits that her original aim to write of the private Elizabeth was a goal she could not realize; it is virtually impossible to extricate the woman from the monarch, when all she touched reverberated throughout England and Europe. Which leaves us with a biography much in the mold of others. What sets this one apart? Maybe only this: Weir is the first in my experience to truly explore the death of Amy Robsart, Elizabeth's beloved Leicester's wife. Her careful examination of that most bizarre scenario makes her book a valuable read for the Tudor aficionado. Beyond this, we find much that has been said often before. But the insights are valid, if not fresh; the scholarship is strong, if not novel; and the tone is correctly balanced, if not overly compelling. It is no disparagement to the author to say that hers is a highly competent, if unexciting, addition to the many shelves devoted to that amazing princess, Elizabeth.
Rating: 
Summary: If you liked the movie....
Review: ...you'll love the book. Seeing the recent release "Elizabeth", I wanted to know more. Who were these characters? What was historically true? What represented "artistic license"? My interest was piqued with a newspaper article that debunked much of the "authenticity" of the movie. Enter Alison Weir's "Life of Elizabeth I", discovered while browsing. I admit I was daunted by the length (490 pages). But by about page 10, I was hooked. This is a great historical biography, one of the best I've read. Weir's pacing is excellent, her character sketches complete. Especially noteworthy is her use of excerpts from contemporary documents to give the protagonists their own voice. The book is a perfect blend of historical context and biographical details. The relationships are fascinating (especially Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots) and well drawn. See the movie -- then read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Shameful to call this a history book.
Review: This book should not be placed in the history section of amazon.com or any bookstore. This is a 450 year old gossip column. If you are stimulated by stories on Monica Lewinsky, Larrry Flynt, and the personal affairs of Kennedy and Clinton, then this is the type of book you should read. The entire first half of the book is dedicated to the queen flirting with various princes and Lord Robert Dudley. Let me give you an example; Queen Elizabeth sent troops to support the Huguenots in France and was hopeful to get their support for the restoration of Calais. Her troops were defeated and the restoration did not materialize. If you are satisfied with this shallow level of information regarding a major historical event, then this book is for you. This is exactly the amount of detail the book has offered on this matter. No mention of how the soldiers were equipped, how they were defeated, who led the French forces, and what decisions the Queen had to make and why. We don't even read about the Queen's reactions or emotions regarding the withdrawal. This book is a big question mark to me. Maybe the author has no military knowledge, but she has chosen a subject that truly requires such knowledge. There is so much more to Queen Elizabeth The First than her suitors and Leicester. I understand that this book is on the life of Queen Elizabeth, but the Queen's life is not separable from her leadership, command, and legacy of strong decisions and bold actions. I will not suggest this book to anyone who is serious about history. If you like historical gossip (or the Globe, Sun, or National Enquirer) then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Entertainment, not history
Review: This book reads more like a harlequin romance novel than a work of serious historical scholarship-- needless to say, I was disappointed. Weir's book contains no notes of any kind, and only a very cursory list of sources. As a history student, I found this shocking and somewhat suspicious. Certainly, it is irresponsible scholarship, blurring the line between fact, supposition, and fiction. At times I felt Weir was interested in presenting racy, bodice-ripping details, without regard to their truthfulness. The book focuses almost exclusively on Elizabeth's life after ascension- a glaring fault. Without any kind of understanding of Elizabeth's childhood and experiences before the age of 27, it is not surprising that Weir's analysis of Elizabeth the Queen is, at best, both one-dimensional and superficial. You might enjoy this book if you are interested in what Elizabeth wore, what she ate, her possible love affairs, etc. But don't expect any kind of in-depth analysis.
Rating: 
Summary: Elizabeth came alive.
Review: Alison Weir makes you feel like you were there and saw all of this happenning. Elizabeth is a complex person, not the perfect queen you get in history books. I liked Elizabeth, hated her, and finally ended up admiring her for who she is - s very real person who had to balance her personal ambitions with the limitations put on women in her society. The only downside here is that the Elizabeth book is a lot drier than the books about Henry the VIII's wives and children.
Rating:
Summary: A readable one volume history focusing on life at Court
Review: I was looking for a one volume biography that would give me a good picture of Elizabeth's reign without putting me to sleep, and this fine book did the trick. I thought Weir a neutral, but readable author, and the "story" she tells fascinating. Weir makes judgments about historical figures, including and especially Elizabeth, but she does so in a way that allows you to draw your own judgments. Be warned, however, that the book focuses on Elizabeth's reign as Queen, so you'll have to look elsewhere for a comprehensive treatment of her childhood or family history. Be further warned that the book focuses on the royal court, and the various intrigues and diplomacy that take place there. Wars, economics, the machinery of government, the Spanish Armada, and even Elizabethan society are touched on only peripherally. Finally, although I think the book will be comprehensible to a reader who has little or no familiarity with the history of English monarchs, Weir does seem take for granted that you know certain things: how parliament used to work, how Henry VIII rebeled from the Catholic Church, how nobles were referred to, etc. All in all, though, I'm very happy I purchased and read this book.
Rating:
Summary: History Without the Dryness
Review: I've read four of Alison Weir's books now, and whereas I usually dread to read dry historical novels, I truly enjoy hers. I enjoyed reading about the Elizabethan times, and the intricacies of politics, particularly when the monarch is a woman. With all the pressure to produce an heir, I find it amazing that she was able to hold out and never marry. And I also found it interesting that Weir never flinched from portraying Elizabeth's darker, pettier side. It made her seem more human than she has been portrayed before. I found it a great read for the British history enthusiast!
Rating:
Summary: Masking political achievements with the marriage debate
Review: The book provided interesting insight into the Life of the Queen famous for her positive impact on her country. I found that the author seemed to be trying to make her into an early feminist however. Endless pages were devoted to her string of marriage negotiations. This apparently left little room to discuss her major accomplishments. Multiple chapters focused on her ongoing relationships with Leceister and Essex, yet there was only one brief chapter on the Armada. Overall only about 3 of the 26 chapters dwells on her actual foreign or domestic policies, with the others largely dwelling on courtroom romp. I was very disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Biography of a Great Queen
Review: Weir's book is very comprehensive; I liked it a lot. It seemed drier than some of her other books, but still she certainly has a knack for bringing history alive.
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