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The Lady Elizabeth
tells of the early life of Queen Elizabeth I from her childhood just preceding her mother Anne Boleyn's execution until the death of her sister Mary and her ascension to the throne of England.Most of the fiction I've read about Elizabeth tends to focus on either her relationship with Robert Dudley or the strained and tragic events between her and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. While Dudley makes a few cameos in The Lady Elizabeth, he is not yet a player in her life and her cousin is a future problem. It was refreshing to see a completely different aspect of her life. Some of the events are shown from other points of view in Weir's previous fictional outing, Innocent Traitor, but retold here to give Elizabeth's side of the story. I loved the way that touch tied the two books together. The author's note at the end of the novel explaining which parts are based on fact and which result from speculation and literary license adds to the allure of the woman who would come to be known as The Virgin Queen.
11 comments:
Hi Lezlie, I haven't read 'The Lady Elizabeth' but I received 'Waterstone's 'magazine today and thought you might be interested in this http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=6135633
I notice it doesn't come to you till later in the year. But is does sound good. 'The Queen's Sorrow', by Suzannah Dunn. What do you think?
Hi! You know my taste, for certain! :-) I have my eye on that one. It won't come out in the U.S. until December, but I'm hoping to obtain a review copy. It looks wonderful! If you get a hold of it first, you have to tell me how it is! I have two others by Suzannah Dunn on the TBR shelf I'd like to get to soon also.
Lezlie
Hey Lezlie, thanks for the wonderful review. This book sounds so good and I'll definitely be putting it on the TBR shelf. I just finished The Other Boleyn Girl and this whole part of history just fascinates me.
I LOOOOVE Alison Weir!! I didn't know The Lady Elizabeth was already out!!
Yes, Alison Weir's books are just so good. Another one to add to the tbr mountain - thanks!
Dar ~ Hello! It's hard to beat Philippa Gregory. Have you read "The Boleyn Inheritance"? Another great one!
Monica ~ Have you read any of her non-fiction? I have a couple I'd like to get to before too long.
Books Please ~ I'll be reading all her fiction for sure. I have her non-fiction books "The War of the Roses" and "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" that I've been meaning to read forever. The fact that her fiction has been so good is making them even more appealing!
I do have The Boleyn Inheritance and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Glad to hear it's good. Thanks.
Definitely one to read - especially since we get to find out which bits are based on fact, I'm such a nerd when it comes to historical accuracy in these things! :-)
Joanna ~ What I thought was cool about this one is she took a rumor that she doesn't believe is true, and made it a central part of the story. Very much a "what if". I think it would be hard to do that, to write against your own strongly held personal belief. It sure made for good fiction though! :-)
Very nice review! Both this and Innocent Traitor are on my TBR. It seems that you and I have some simular tastes in books.
Teddy Rose ~ I've noticed that, too. You know what they say about great minds. . . :-)
Lezlie
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