Even at age two, Elizabeth is keenly aware that people in the court of her father, King Henry VIII, have stopped referring to her as “Lady Princess” and now call her “the Lady Elizabeth.” Before she is three, she learns of the tragic fate that has befallen her mother, the enigmatic and seductive Anne Boleyn, and that she herself has been declared illegitimate, an injustice that will haunt her.

What comes next is a succession of stepmothers, bringing with them glimpses of love, fleeting security, tempestuous conflict, and tragedy. The death of her father puts the teenage Elizabeth in greater peril, leaving her at the mercy of ambitious and unscrupulous men. Like her mother two decades earlier she is imprisoned in the Tower of London–and fears she will also meet her mother’s grisly end. Power-driven politics, private scandal and public gossip, a disputed succession, and the grievous example of her sister, “Bloody” Queen Mary, all cement Elizabeth’s resolve in matters of statecraft and love, and set the stage for her transformation into the iconic Virgin Queen.

Alison Weir uses her deft talents as historian and novelist to exquisitely and suspensefully play out the conflicts between family, politics, religion, and conscience that came to define an age. Sweeping in scope, The Lady Elizabeth is a fascinating portrayal of a woman far ahead of her time–an orphaned girl haunted by the shadow of the axe, an independent spirit who must use her cunning and wits for her very survival, and a future queen whose dangerous and dramatic path to the throne shapes her future greatness.

People who love historical fiction, tales of monarchy, and kick ass woman doing kick ass things. And the best part, it all is the real story of Queen Elizabeth the first.

The story was compelling to read. Once I started reading its hooks dug in me deep. This is hard to find in historical fiction very heavily based on nonfiction. I liked how the story had many perspectives, but primarily Elizabeth's. Her story was extraordinarily written.

Though I liked the perspective change, I would have liked more warning. There were moments where I thought I was reading Elizabeth, and then was like "Oh wait. This is Mary"

Empowered. Of course, I am not royalty, or extremely rich... but, it reminded me never to underestimate the power of wit.

Alison Weir

It tells a very well known story in many different ways while remaining absolutely enchanting.

Alison Weir has written many other lovely books, which I have read and highly recommend. Seh also writes nonfiction about the Tudor line and is a great resource for research.

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Created Aug 29, 2016 at 9:17pm • Submit your own review...