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Elizabeth the Great
Elizabeth Jenkins illuminates in great detail the personal and private life of Elizabeth 1. Was she bald? What precisely was her sex-life? What were her emotional attachments? No other biography provides such a personal study of the Queen and her court - their daily lives, concerns, topics of conversation, meals, living conditions, travels, successes and failures - but it also places them firmly within the historical context of 16th Century Britain. An authoritative history of the period enlightened by a through understanding of Elizabethan society and an intimate portrait of the Queen.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Elizabeth Jenkins
47 books50 followersFrom Elizabeth Jenkins' obituary in The New York Times:
As a novelist, Ms. Jenkins was best known for “The Tortoise and the Hare” (1954), the story of a disintegrating marriage between a barrister and his desperate wife that Hilary Mantel, writing in The Sunday Times of London in 1993, called “as smooth and seductive as a bowl of cream.” Its author, Ms. Mantel wrote, “seems to know a good deal about how women think and how their lives are arranged; what women collude in, what they fear.”
To a wider public Ms. Jenkins was known as the author of psychologically acute, stylishly written, accessible biographies. Most dealt with important literary or historical figures, but in “Joseph Lister” (1960) she told the life of the English surgeon who pioneered the concept of sterilization in medicine, and in “Dr. Gully’s Story” (1972) she reconstructed a Victorian murder and love triangle.
Margaret Elizabeth Jenkins was born on Oct. 31, 1905, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where a year earlier her father had founded Caldicott, a prep school.
She studied English and history at Newnham College, Cambridge, where at the time women could take exams but not receive degrees. The principal of the college was Pernel Strachey, sister of the biographer and Bloomsbury figure Lytton Strachey, and through her Ms. Jenkins met Edith Sitwell and Leonard and Virginia Woolf.
She found the company intellectually distinguished but rude and unpleasant. Woolf’s description of Ms. Jenkins’s first novel, “Virginia Water” (1929), as “a sweet white grape of a book” did not erase the impression.
Despite good reviews for her first novel and a three-book deal with the publisher Victor Gollancz, Ms. Jenkins began teaching English at King Alfred’s School in Hampstead, where she remained until the outbreak of World War II.
In this period she wrote two of her most admired biographies, “Lady Caroline Lamb” (1932) and “Jane Austen” (1938), as well as the chilling “Harriet” (1934), a novel about the sufferings of a mentally disabled woman whose husband, a scheming clerk, marries for her money.
During the war Ms. Jenkins worked for the Assistance Board, helping Jewish refugees and victims of the German air raids on London. She later worked for the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Information.
“Elizabeth the Great” (1958) showed her biographical talents at their most effective. Although she relied on the standard historical sources, Ms. Jenkins added a psychological dimension to her portrait that other historians had scanted.
The historian Garrett Mattingly, in a review, wrote that Ms. Jenkins “is really not much interested in war and diplomacy, politics and finance.” Her specialty, he argued, was the human heart. “We believe Elizabeth Jenkins,” he added, “because, by imaginative insight and instinctive sympathy, she can make the figures of a remote historical pageant as real, as living, as three-dimensional as characters in a novel.”
Ms. Jenkins returned to the Elizabethan period in “Elizabeth and Leicester” (1961) and roamed further afield in “The Mystery of King Arthur” (1975) and “The Princes in the Tower” (1978). In “Six Criminal Women” (1949), she presented short studies of two murderers, a pickpocket, a blackmailer and a con artist living between the 14th and 19th centuries. A more wholesome gallery of characters was put on view in “Ten Fascinating Women” (1955).
In 1940 she helped found the Jane Austen Society and took part in its campaign to buy Austen’s house at Chawton, where Austen spent the last eight years of her life. It is now a museum.
Her novels included “Doubtful Joy” (1935), “The Phoenix’ Nest” (1936), “Robert and Helen” (1944), “Brightness” (1963) and “Honey” (1968).
In 2004 Ms. Jenkins published a memoir, “The View From Downshire Hill.” Its title refers to the Hampstead neighborhood whe
As a novelist, Ms. Jenkins was best known for “The Tortoise and the Hare” (1954), the story of a disintegrating marriage between a barrister and his desperate wife that Hilary Mantel, writing in The Sunday Times of London in 1993, called “as smooth and seductive as a bowl of cream.” Its author, Ms. Mantel wrote, “seems to know a good deal about how women think and how their lives are arranged; what women collude in, what they fear.”
To a wider public Ms. Jenkins was known as the author of psychologically acute, stylishly written, accessible biographies. Most dealt with important literary or historical figures, but in “Joseph Lister” (1960) she told the life of the English surgeon who pioneered the concept of sterilization in medicine, and in “Dr. Gully’s Story” (1972) she reconstructed a Victorian murder and love triangle.
Margaret Elizabeth Jenkins was born on Oct. 31, 1905, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, where a year earlier her father had founded Caldicott, a prep school.
She studied English and history at Newnham College, Cambridge, where at the time women could take exams but not receive degrees. The principal of the college was Pernel Strachey, sister of the biographer and Bloomsbury figure Lytton Strachey, and through her Ms. Jenkins met Edith Sitwell and Leonard and Virginia Woolf.
She found the company intellectually distinguished but rude and unpleasant. Woolf’s description of Ms. Jenkins’s first novel, “Virginia Water” (1929), as “a sweet white grape of a book” did not erase the impression.
Despite good reviews for her first novel and a three-book deal with the publisher Victor Gollancz, Ms. Jenkins began teaching English at King Alfred’s School in Hampstead, where she remained until the outbreak of World War II.
In this period she wrote two of her most admired biographies, “Lady Caroline Lamb” (1932) and “Jane Austen” (1938), as well as the chilling “Harriet” (1934), a novel about the sufferings of a mentally disabled woman whose husband, a scheming clerk, marries for her money.
During the war Ms. Jenkins worked for the Assistance Board, helping Jewish refugees and victims of the German air raids on London. She later worked for the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Information.
“Elizabeth the Great” (1958) showed her biographical talents at their most effective. Although she relied on the standard historical sources, Ms. Jenkins added a psychological dimension to her portrait that other historians had scanted.
The historian Garrett Mattingly, in a review, wrote that Ms. Jenkins “is really not much interested in war and diplomacy, politics and finance.” Her specialty, he argued, was the human heart. “We believe Elizabeth Jenkins,” he added, “because, by imaginative insight and instinctive sympathy, she can make the figures of a remote historical pageant as real, as living, as three-dimensional as characters in a novel.”
Ms. Jenkins returned to the Elizabethan period in “Elizabeth and Leicester” (1961) and roamed further afield in “The Mystery of King Arthur” (1975) and “The Princes in the Tower” (1978). In “Six Criminal Women” (1949), she presented short studies of two murderers, a pickpocket, a blackmailer and a con artist living between the 14th and 19th centuries. A more wholesome gallery of characters was put on view in “Ten Fascinating Women” (1955).
In 1940 she helped found the Jane Austen Society and took part in its campaign to buy Austen’s house at Chawton, where Austen spent the last eight years of her life. It is now a museum.
Her novels included “Doubtful Joy” (1935), “The Phoenix’ Nest” (1936), “Robert and Helen” (1944), “Brightness” (1963) and “Honey” (1968).
In 2004 Ms. Jenkins published a memoir, “The View From Downshire Hill.” Its title refers to the Hampstead neighborhood whe
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 7, 2011
I'm glad that of the shelves and shelves of books about England's first Queen Elizabeth I happened upon this one. It's a condensed read -- more than sixty years in just over 300 pages -- that prioritizes history as it must have been perceived by Elizabeth rather than how later historians have contextualized her within it. Events like the destruction of the Spanish Armada, for example, are outlined in just paragraphs, while the romantic intrigues of the royal court span chapters. And the author, novelist Elizabeth Jenkins, does a superb job characterizing the Queen with reference to extensive research without distancing herself from her own fascination with one of the most extraordinary figures of world history. The interplay between the members of the Tudor family, the various royal houses of Europe, and, particularly, the dramatic personae of Elizabeth's court is absolutely mesmerizing.
I do, however, find it bizarre that other reviewers have commented on (even derided) the book's "old-fashioned" style: When it was penned in the 1950s, its pseudo-psychoanalytical treatment of Elizabeth's childhood experiences and its near-feminist statements on her opinions of womanhood and marriage must have been cutting edge. Like Elizabeth, who in her later years was mistaken for senile by the overly confident blokes who peopled her court, this book has genius despite its age. Give it a chance.
I do, however, find it bizarre that other reviewers have commented on (even derided) the book's "old-fashioned" style: When it was penned in the 1950s, its pseudo-psychoanalytical treatment of Elizabeth's childhood experiences and its near-feminist statements on her opinions of womanhood and marriage must have been cutting edge. Like Elizabeth, who in her later years was mistaken for senile by the overly confident blokes who peopled her court, this book has genius despite its age. Give it a chance.
September 6, 2019
A very interesting read and intriguing and different insight into the life of Elizabeth I !
May 8, 2023
I've been immersed in the history of England during the Tudors and am now moving into the reign of James I. Having finished Jenkins' book on Elizabeth and Leicester, finding her a lot more readable than A.L. Rowse, I picked up her conventional biography of the queen. Should have read it first.
Jenkins has a very high opinion of Elizabeth I, an estimation apparently common among students of the period and, so far as I know, warranted. There are, of course, qualifications to this particularly as regards the latter years of her reign, the persecution of Catholics, and the queen's anxieties, having increased along with her personal insecurities as regards her attractiveness.
It's probably the religious reformations inaugurated by her father, Henry VIII, which are of greatest, enduring importance in the creation of the English nation as we know it. Elizabeth began moderately, declining her father's claim to be, as monarch, head of the Church of England, and allowing discreet Catholicism so long as her government's authority was respected. This policy, however, was irregularly enforced, growing more onerous and, so, more glaringly inconsistent, as the years went on. Fines for failing to attend 'orthodox' services fell most heavily on those least able to pay and these and other punishments were often imposed with political, even personal, motives. Meanwhile, Catholic favorites of the court were not prosecuted at all--unless, of course, for falling out of favor for one reason or another.
In this regard the greatest weakness of Jenkins' account is her failure to illustrate the Puritan pressures on Elizabeth and her government enough to allow the reader to appreciate how they may have influenced state policy and Elizabeth's own actions. Here the account in the 'Elizabeth and Leicester' book is better, Leicester himself having had Puritan proclivities and great influence on the queen.
Jenkins has a very high opinion of Elizabeth I, an estimation apparently common among students of the period and, so far as I know, warranted. There are, of course, qualifications to this particularly as regards the latter years of her reign, the persecution of Catholics, and the queen's anxieties, having increased along with her personal insecurities as regards her attractiveness.
It's probably the religious reformations inaugurated by her father, Henry VIII, which are of greatest, enduring importance in the creation of the English nation as we know it. Elizabeth began moderately, declining her father's claim to be, as monarch, head of the Church of England, and allowing discreet Catholicism so long as her government's authority was respected. This policy, however, was irregularly enforced, growing more onerous and, so, more glaringly inconsistent, as the years went on. Fines for failing to attend 'orthodox' services fell most heavily on those least able to pay and these and other punishments were often imposed with political, even personal, motives. Meanwhile, Catholic favorites of the court were not prosecuted at all--unless, of course, for falling out of favor for one reason or another.
In this regard the greatest weakness of Jenkins' account is her failure to illustrate the Puritan pressures on Elizabeth and her government enough to allow the reader to appreciate how they may have influenced state policy and Elizabeth's own actions. Here the account in the 'Elizabeth and Leicester' book is better, Leicester himself having had Puritan proclivities and great influence on the queen.
September 23, 2012
Jenkins does a very nice job of detailing Elizabeth's life. Very readable and an excellent introduction to her legacy.All of those who surround her are also part of the narrative, creating a fuller picture. Mary the Queen of Scots plays a major role in Elizabeth's decision-making and it is fascinating to see how she was able to tamp down constant threats and keep control of her kingdom. The Council and her advisors spend much effort trying to arrange a marriage for Elizabeth with no success. This interplay and Elizabeth's savvy at handling the situation is a model for political maneuvering; she certainly was skilled in diplomacy and strategy. Overall great book for those who love Tudor history.
August 3, 2018
A very interesting and thorough look at Queen Elizabeth I and her life. I loved the details that Jenkins included.
March 14, 2021
Another book about Tudors and English history I read as a youngster. This was fascinating and I did feel a lot of sympathy for the young Elizabeth. I also had a sense of how constrained and 'neurotic' her life had to be, since her father murdered her mother and Mary Tudor threatened her own life; the constant attempts to gain control of her, manipulate her. Her ambivalence toward marriage and men . . . That was so understandable yet sad to me. She seemed very alone, and though she managed to protect herself that came at great emotional cost. No normal loves for Elizabeth I. I do remember that she loved to dance and was good at that, which must have brought her some enjoyment -- that and the opulence of her court.
March 27, 2021
An interesting read, although I'm not sure how well it holds up today compared to when it was published in 1958. Some of the scenes teetered into deciding how historical figures thought or felt without evidence to their inner thoughts or feelings, so at times read more like a novel than a historical account.
December 6, 2019
This was a terrifically interesting book on Queen Elizabeth. The author goes below the surface of the events that occurred to get at the motives and characters of the actors in this drama. This is a must-read to understand perhaps the most eminent ruler since, well, Augustus.
But what, really, made Elizabeth worthy of the title Magnus? Her defeat of the Spanish Armada? Her stand alone against the Catholic powers of Europe? Her care for the commoners of England? In my opinion, "No!"
No, these were all the RESULT of her greatness in ruling, first, herself. While her father had squandered a fortune and fought many wars, she kept the books balanced and the peace to the last possible second. She recognized that a peaceful, and above all profitable, kingdom was the surest way to defend it, and herself, from the powerful forces that were quite capable of crushing them.
Furthermore, while I would not argue against anyone who stated that Elizabeth was a genius, a significant part of her success was due to the brilliance of the statesmen that surrounded her. She recognized her need of their abilities, and kept them loyal by every means. In fact, some of them worked so hard for her because they knew that if a Catholic ruler would again ascend the throne, their lives were forfeit.
Elizabeth was also patient to a fault. She put up with Mary Queen of Scots for nearly two decades, despite her constant scheming to take the throne. Mary was finally executed only because Elizabeth's advisors acted with extreme haste to ensure Elizabeth did not call back the order. Further, Elizabeth went for weeks knowing that unknown plotters were planning her assassination, so that their identities could be ascertained without alarming them into fleeing. Imagine putting up with that stress!
No less than Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth used her femininity to her advantage in a world run by men. She may absolutely have been a virgin, but this did not stop her from enjoying being in love. Some of her closest courtiers were clearly head over heels for her. Their love for her assured their absolute loyalty.
And as for the French? Well, Elizabeth was not above linking her name to not one but two royal sons! She went so far as to publicly kiss the second in token of her love. But, of course, negotiations always broke down. But her efforts helped ensure that the French never attempted an invasion of England like the Spanish.
The only caveat to this highly readable book is that the reader would benefit from already knowing the history and the characters of this era. The author moves between the actors and events with ease, and does not concern herself with rehearsing the history. A reader unfamiliar with this era will get lost quickly.
So read the book. We will not see a political leader like her in our lifetimes, simply because not one is capable of ruling themselves as she did.
But what, really, made Elizabeth worthy of the title Magnus? Her defeat of the Spanish Armada? Her stand alone against the Catholic powers of Europe? Her care for the commoners of England? In my opinion, "No!"
No, these were all the RESULT of her greatness in ruling, first, herself. While her father had squandered a fortune and fought many wars, she kept the books balanced and the peace to the last possible second. She recognized that a peaceful, and above all profitable, kingdom was the surest way to defend it, and herself, from the powerful forces that were quite capable of crushing them.
Furthermore, while I would not argue against anyone who stated that Elizabeth was a genius, a significant part of her success was due to the brilliance of the statesmen that surrounded her. She recognized her need of their abilities, and kept them loyal by every means. In fact, some of them worked so hard for her because they knew that if a Catholic ruler would again ascend the throne, their lives were forfeit.
Elizabeth was also patient to a fault. She put up with Mary Queen of Scots for nearly two decades, despite her constant scheming to take the throne. Mary was finally executed only because Elizabeth's advisors acted with extreme haste to ensure Elizabeth did not call back the order. Further, Elizabeth went for weeks knowing that unknown plotters were planning her assassination, so that their identities could be ascertained without alarming them into fleeing. Imagine putting up with that stress!
No less than Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth used her femininity to her advantage in a world run by men. She may absolutely have been a virgin, but this did not stop her from enjoying being in love. Some of her closest courtiers were clearly head over heels for her. Their love for her assured their absolute loyalty.
And as for the French? Well, Elizabeth was not above linking her name to not one but two royal sons! She went so far as to publicly kiss the second in token of her love. But, of course, negotiations always broke down. But her efforts helped ensure that the French never attempted an invasion of England like the Spanish.
The only caveat to this highly readable book is that the reader would benefit from already knowing the history and the characters of this era. The author moves between the actors and events with ease, and does not concern herself with rehearsing the history. A reader unfamiliar with this era will get lost quickly.
So read the book. We will not see a political leader like her in our lifetimes, simply because not one is capable of ruling themselves as she did.
August 25, 2014
This was an awesome read! Not only did it give the feel of a fictional piece of work but it was essentially like reading a soap opera of the past. I would recommend this to people who want to become educated about the history of the world but who are just bored to tears when reading a more educational biography.
Read
February 17, 2022Still one of the best bios of Elizabeth the First.
April 20, 2019
I first read this book at the age of 13. I thought it was the best book I had ever read. While I no longer think it's the best book I ever read (what is that book??), it remains pretty far up the scale.
In Miss Jenkins' hands Elizabeth's life story has the pace of a well written novel, which is near magical because she does not skimp on details. Her research was deep, and thoroughly mastered. Her feelings for the human beings that populate this time are textured and humane, even when she is dealing with someone who is not a favorite. (I believe my early reading of this book is the source of my disgust with Mary Queen of Scots--who is admired by Miss Jenkins for her personal courage, but excoriated for her lack of judgment and general deviousness.)
I would read this book for its beautiful appreciation of Elizabeth's contradictory character. (There are many quotes from the queen's own writing and speeches.) I found her analysis of Essex's rise and fall the most sensible and compelling of any I've read. The complications of the queen's relationship to Leicester and other of her "favorites" are thoughtfully and sympathetically analyzed.
I would be especially inclined to compare the work with more recent writing on the subject of of Mary's participation in Darnley's murder and her relationship with Bothwell, including the Casket Letters.
But a magnificent place to begin a journey with the Tudor queen.
In Miss Jenkins' hands Elizabeth's life story has the pace of a well written novel, which is near magical because she does not skimp on details. Her research was deep, and thoroughly mastered. Her feelings for the human beings that populate this time are textured and humane, even when she is dealing with someone who is not a favorite. (I believe my early reading of this book is the source of my disgust with Mary Queen of Scots--who is admired by Miss Jenkins for her personal courage, but excoriated for her lack of judgment and general deviousness.)
I would read this book for its beautiful appreciation of Elizabeth's contradictory character. (There are many quotes from the queen's own writing and speeches.) I found her analysis of Essex's rise and fall the most sensible and compelling of any I've read. The complications of the queen's relationship to Leicester and other of her "favorites" are thoughtfully and sympathetically analyzed.
I would be especially inclined to compare the work with more recent writing on the subject of of Mary's participation in Darnley's murder and her relationship with Bothwell, including the Casket Letters.
But a magnificent place to begin a journey with the Tudor queen.
November 5, 2016
A good overview of the life and reign of Elizabeth I of England with an emphasis on her private life. The politics of the reign (a fascinating but complex topic) take a backseat in this biography, which is an excellent starting point of someone new to Elizabeth I. I have to stop myself from comparing this short biography with others which delve into particular aspects of Elizabeth's reign with more complexity and depth, as those works also lack the conciseness of this one. This is a great book for someone who wanted to read a quick, factual, and readable biography of Elizabeth I.
July 14, 2020
It's a 360 page biography on Queen Elizabeth so that should have been a clue for me. I understand this is a classic when it comes to Elizabeth but it was not one I'd start out with. The author takes for granted the reader's knowledge on a lot of facts and I feel like the book focused so much on the men she was "courting". It was probably a fine book, but my expectations weren't met.
September 11, 2024
Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 until her death in 1603. This biography takes us through her early life, the reigns of her siblings and her reign. We are shown the trials and tribulations she faced, the people around her and are given a good sense of the Queen's character.
The book is excellently and concisely written.
The book is excellently and concisely written.
November 3, 2010
Elizabeth Rex is one of my favorite historical figures; let me put that out there so my bias is plain. Elizabeth Jenkins’ book is a wonderful tour through the fragments of primary and secondary historical artifacts that are left to us from the Elizabethan Age. Having emerged from the chaos of the Middle Ages and the torment of the fourteenth century, England and Europe in the sixteenth evolve toward a world that is recognizably similar to our world.
In her youth Elizabeth survived several nearly fatal dynastic situations to wear the crown of England, coming to the throne at a time when the finances of England had been damaged by the excesses of her father and by years of warfare. While a prisoner in the palace of Woodstock, Elizabeth wrote with a diamond on a windowpane: “much suspected, by me nothing proved can be, Quoth Elizabeth, prisoner.” Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was murdered by her father. By the age of 14 Elizabeth was tutored by Roger Ascham: “His view of her inspires a strange excitement, for it is the first one gained at close quarters by a trained observer. Her mind, he said, seemed to be free from female weakness, and her power of application was like a man’s…She had a grasp already of several languages, speaking French, Italian, and Spanish as fluently as English, Latin easily and Greek moderately well…”
Alone among the monarchs of Europe, she eschewed war and balanced her budget. She paid minute attention to her accounts, personally signing each page of the royal accounting. The English crown was supported by a subsidy provided by the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament; in 1566 Elizabeth’s message to Parliament “was accompanied by a very bold and able stroke. The subsidy under review was to be paid in three parts. She told the Houses she would relinquish the third part, saying that the money was as good as in her exchequer if it were in her subjects’ pockets. It was a gesture of the utmost value in her relations with Parliament, and she could not have made it but for the unsleeping carefulness and economy of her spending.”
Elizabeth’s reign was bedeviled by war on the continent, with Spain warring on the Low Countries and intriguing in Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, her first cousin once removed, conspired at Elizabeth’s murder for decades only ceasing when she was beheaded on Elizabeth’s warrant. Elizabeth danced through the complex intrigues of European politics, her peerless intelligence provided by William Cecil and Francis Walsingham—Walsingham, the spiritual patriarch of the fabulous Room 40 of World War I, and the equally fabulous Bletchley Park of World War II. Her ability to choose able advisors was matched by her own deep insight into politics. Late in life, “When Henri IV sent over as his ambassador the future Duc de Sully, Elizabeth said that she would give him her view of the European situation with reference to the House of Austria. She began her explanation, which built up in stroke after stroke a conspectus of the vast and complicated scene so masterly, so brilliant, that Sully gazed upon her with rapt astonishment. Meeting his tranced state the queen paused, thinking he had lost her drift. The ambassador quickly recovered himself and assured her that his silence was caused by admiration. Elizabeth resumed the thread, and proceeded to take him through the details of one of the little-known side issues which contributed to the great whole. On the evidence of this conversation alone, Sully was convinced, he said, ‘that this great queen merited the whole of that great reputation she had throughout Europe.’”
Elizabeth did not like war because of the cost but she did not fear confrontation. She is recorded as saying “Though I be a woman, yet I have as good a courage, answerable to my place, as ever my father had…I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities, that if I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat, I were able to live in any place in Christendom.”
This book is very much worth the time to read. An interesting intellectual exercise is to put Elizabeth in the place of George Bush in 2001: would Elizabeth, given the provocation of the World Trade Center attack, have launched the war in Afghanistan? Look at the way she responded to the mortal provocation of the Mary Queen of Scots in her conniving with Phillip of Spain, and the deadly threat implied by the Armada—twisting, turning, delaying, defraying expense, negotiating, and then, when the Spanish ships were at her doorstep, striking with the full force of the superb navy that she had nurtured, so technically advanced that is was akin to a secret weapon. And, laying the ships up in ordinary scant weeks after the crux of the fight, sending the seamen home and off the Crown’s payroll. I cannot believe that Elizabeth would have gone bald-headed into Afghanistan for at least two reasons, either of which would have been sufficient: first, expense—she would see it as a sinkhole that no amount of treasure could fill; second, she would have been cognizant of the experiences of the British Raj and the Soviets.
In her youth Elizabeth survived several nearly fatal dynastic situations to wear the crown of England, coming to the throne at a time when the finances of England had been damaged by the excesses of her father and by years of warfare. While a prisoner in the palace of Woodstock, Elizabeth wrote with a diamond on a windowpane: “much suspected, by me nothing proved can be, Quoth Elizabeth, prisoner.” Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was murdered by her father. By the age of 14 Elizabeth was tutored by Roger Ascham: “His view of her inspires a strange excitement, for it is the first one gained at close quarters by a trained observer. Her mind, he said, seemed to be free from female weakness, and her power of application was like a man’s…She had a grasp already of several languages, speaking French, Italian, and Spanish as fluently as English, Latin easily and Greek moderately well…”
Alone among the monarchs of Europe, she eschewed war and balanced her budget. She paid minute attention to her accounts, personally signing each page of the royal accounting. The English crown was supported by a subsidy provided by the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament; in 1566 Elizabeth’s message to Parliament “was accompanied by a very bold and able stroke. The subsidy under review was to be paid in three parts. She told the Houses she would relinquish the third part, saying that the money was as good as in her exchequer if it were in her subjects’ pockets. It was a gesture of the utmost value in her relations with Parliament, and she could not have made it but for the unsleeping carefulness and economy of her spending.”
Elizabeth’s reign was bedeviled by war on the continent, with Spain warring on the Low Countries and intriguing in Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, her first cousin once removed, conspired at Elizabeth’s murder for decades only ceasing when she was beheaded on Elizabeth’s warrant. Elizabeth danced through the complex intrigues of European politics, her peerless intelligence provided by William Cecil and Francis Walsingham—Walsingham, the spiritual patriarch of the fabulous Room 40 of World War I, and the equally fabulous Bletchley Park of World War II. Her ability to choose able advisors was matched by her own deep insight into politics. Late in life, “When Henri IV sent over as his ambassador the future Duc de Sully, Elizabeth said that she would give him her view of the European situation with reference to the House of Austria. She began her explanation, which built up in stroke after stroke a conspectus of the vast and complicated scene so masterly, so brilliant, that Sully gazed upon her with rapt astonishment. Meeting his tranced state the queen paused, thinking he had lost her drift. The ambassador quickly recovered himself and assured her that his silence was caused by admiration. Elizabeth resumed the thread, and proceeded to take him through the details of one of the little-known side issues which contributed to the great whole. On the evidence of this conversation alone, Sully was convinced, he said, ‘that this great queen merited the whole of that great reputation she had throughout Europe.’”
Elizabeth did not like war because of the cost but she did not fear confrontation. She is recorded as saying “Though I be a woman, yet I have as good a courage, answerable to my place, as ever my father had…I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God I am endued with such qualities, that if I were turned out of the realm in my petticoat, I were able to live in any place in Christendom.”
This book is very much worth the time to read. An interesting intellectual exercise is to put Elizabeth in the place of George Bush in 2001: would Elizabeth, given the provocation of the World Trade Center attack, have launched the war in Afghanistan? Look at the way she responded to the mortal provocation of the Mary Queen of Scots in her conniving with Phillip of Spain, and the deadly threat implied by the Armada—twisting, turning, delaying, defraying expense, negotiating, and then, when the Spanish ships were at her doorstep, striking with the full force of the superb navy that she had nurtured, so technically advanced that is was akin to a secret weapon. And, laying the ships up in ordinary scant weeks after the crux of the fight, sending the seamen home and off the Crown’s payroll. I cannot believe that Elizabeth would have gone bald-headed into Afghanistan for at least two reasons, either of which would have been sufficient: first, expense—she would see it as a sinkhole that no amount of treasure could fill; second, she would have been cognizant of the experiences of the British Raj and the Soviets.
August 24, 2020
One of the best biographies of Elizabeth in terms of its level of personal detail.
February 21, 2023
So detailed that it gets really boring!
November 3, 2023
If you’ve read Hang the Moon or just love English History, this biography has held up well over time.
August 3, 2022
Jenkins does a wonderful job of fitting Elizabeth’s entire life and reign into a reasonably sized book that reads more like fiction than non-fiction in terms of knowledge and pace, like a textbook in disguise that helps you learn without quite realizing. I have yet to find something that went so in depth about her as a child and was fascinated to learn about her relationship with her brother and father and how she battled internally with understanding her mother and her mother’s death. We’ve all heard the white queen/virgin queen, but this really showed the depths of her distrust with marriage, her love and passion for ruling England and what an amazing leader she was. She is certainly a mixture of the bold and glamorous Anne Boleyn and a ruler who feels this was her duty from behind like her father Henry VIII. Jenkins shares a lot about Elizabeth’s health issues from a young age, her struggle with Mary Queen of Scott’s arrest and capture, her various relationships/companions, her preferred style of dress and hair and jewels and her love of things like religion, astrology and politics. A fascinating and educational read until Elizabeth’s last breath.
August 10, 2021
Used this to write a report on Queen Elizabeth in high school.
July 29, 2015
Elizabeth Jenkins has written several both fiction and nonfiction books, among them a biography of Jane Austen. She lived to be 105. The Guardian calls Jenkins a 'biographer of exceptional quality' and a 'biographer of strong female characters.'
This biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England was interesting, insightful and instructive! I found it easy to read and even though got a little bogged down halfway through, after a while I found my impetus again, and was able to finish it knowing a lot more about this regent than ever before.
"In December 1563 Ascham wrote ... from Windsor, telling how he had gone upstairs after dinner to read Greek with the queen. He said that when she was reading Demosthenes or Aeschines, he was always struck by her grasp of the political scene... He still dwelt fondly on his pupil's talent for languages. He had one day heard her speak to three ambassadors together, in Italian, French and Latin, without stopping for a word."
So many intrigues, so many of Elizabeth's contemporaries to keep straight (even though the names change as they are awarded various properties and titles), so much upheaval during this time! Jenkins does not write sympathetically of Mary Queen of Scots. She proves beyond doubt that Mary was plotting all the time to usurp the throne even when it meant invasion of England, collusion with Catholic Spain and the assassination of Elizabeth.
"As Mary maintained...silence for the rest of her life, the body of her sympathizers, particularly those who were children at the time of the event, forgot what had been proved against her; the stain wore out as Cecil foretold it would; there remained in men's minds only the lovely, tragic figure shut up in a castle who, in Catholic eyes, was the Queen of England."
Elizabeth was incredibly gifted and she watched carefully over her sovereignty, the finances of England, and acted quickly to threats (whether real or imagined); however, she often showed mercy. Queen Elizabeth's character is so interesting (and her motives even today, continue to be examined), as her political moves promised marraige to several suitors (both royal and non), that never came about. The author speculates that Elizabeth's determination to remain 'the Virgin Queen" stemmed from her childhood memories of the losses of Henry VIII's wives and marraiges (and of course, among them, the loss of her own mother, Anne Boleyn.)
Her love of the people of England is legendary. Of course the harsh treatment of those suspected of treason is something that is not easy to read about, although the author comments that it was 'typical of the times'. The struggle Elizabeth had signing the death warrant, and the regret and grief she exhibited when her cousin Mary was executed (even though Mary had colluded with plots for Elizabeth's own death so as to replace her on the throne), is also eloquently related. However, the author does not gloss over Elizabeth's faults or weaknesses and relays several incidents that help the reader put together a complete portrait of this remarkable and exceptional sovereign.
I am now so enamored of this time period that I am determined to read next, Antonia Fraser's "Mary Queen of Scots".
This biography of Queen Elizabeth I of England was interesting, insightful and instructive! I found it easy to read and even though got a little bogged down halfway through, after a while I found my impetus again, and was able to finish it knowing a lot more about this regent than ever before.
"In December 1563 Ascham wrote ... from Windsor, telling how he had gone upstairs after dinner to read Greek with the queen. He said that when she was reading Demosthenes or Aeschines, he was always struck by her grasp of the political scene... He still dwelt fondly on his pupil's talent for languages. He had one day heard her speak to three ambassadors together, in Italian, French and Latin, without stopping for a word."
So many intrigues, so many of Elizabeth's contemporaries to keep straight (even though the names change as they are awarded various properties and titles), so much upheaval during this time! Jenkins does not write sympathetically of Mary Queen of Scots. She proves beyond doubt that Mary was plotting all the time to usurp the throne even when it meant invasion of England, collusion with Catholic Spain and the assassination of Elizabeth.
"As Mary maintained...silence for the rest of her life, the body of her sympathizers, particularly those who were children at the time of the event, forgot what had been proved against her; the stain wore out as Cecil foretold it would; there remained in men's minds only the lovely, tragic figure shut up in a castle who, in Catholic eyes, was the Queen of England."
Elizabeth was incredibly gifted and she watched carefully over her sovereignty, the finances of England, and acted quickly to threats (whether real or imagined); however, she often showed mercy. Queen Elizabeth's character is so interesting (and her motives even today, continue to be examined), as her political moves promised marraige to several suitors (both royal and non), that never came about. The author speculates that Elizabeth's determination to remain 'the Virgin Queen" stemmed from her childhood memories of the losses of Henry VIII's wives and marraiges (and of course, among them, the loss of her own mother, Anne Boleyn.)
Her love of the people of England is legendary. Of course the harsh treatment of those suspected of treason is something that is not easy to read about, although the author comments that it was 'typical of the times'. The struggle Elizabeth had signing the death warrant, and the regret and grief she exhibited when her cousin Mary was executed (even though Mary had colluded with plots for Elizabeth's own death so as to replace her on the throne), is also eloquently related. However, the author does not gloss over Elizabeth's faults or weaknesses and relays several incidents that help the reader put together a complete portrait of this remarkable and exceptional sovereign.
I am now so enamored of this time period that I am determined to read next, Antonia Fraser's "Mary Queen of Scots".
January 13, 2016
Elizabeth had a sad childhood. Her mother was beheaded by command of her father. Her father spent much of his life ignoring her existence unless prompted by his future wives. Elizabeth dotted on her younger brother Edward and was quite saddened by his death. Her relationship with Mary was a bit more complicated. Although Mary spoiled Elizabeth with gifts and clothing she also kept her away when she was ruler of England. Mary's husband also further the wedge between sisters. Elizabeth while being the king's second born child was given the last opportunity to lead England.
While being Queen there were those who questioned her authority to lead mainly Queen Mary of Scots for Mary truly believed that she was the true queen, and the loyal English catholics did not see Elizabeth as queen and were instructed by the Pope not to see her as queen. However the naysayers Queen Elizabeth led her country to a golden age. She improved economical issues and mainly kept the country out of war. Elizabeth grew the English Navy to an impressive state.
Queen Elizabeth is known as the virgin queen vowing never to marry at a young age. There was great pressure on her to marry but she never gave in. Many of her councilors were anxious for a heir despite the talk between her medical doctors if she could carry a child or not. Elizabeth did have affections for men but never acted on them. Also many of her advisors loved her and fiercely protected Elizabeth when the time called for it.
Elizabeth was beloved by her people eventually even the Catholics. She became a symbol of England.
While being Queen there were those who questioned her authority to lead mainly Queen Mary of Scots for Mary truly believed that she was the true queen, and the loyal English catholics did not see Elizabeth as queen and were instructed by the Pope not to see her as queen. However the naysayers Queen Elizabeth led her country to a golden age. She improved economical issues and mainly kept the country out of war. Elizabeth grew the English Navy to an impressive state.
Queen Elizabeth is known as the virgin queen vowing never to marry at a young age. There was great pressure on her to marry but she never gave in. Many of her councilors were anxious for a heir despite the talk between her medical doctors if she could carry a child or not. Elizabeth did have affections for men but never acted on them. Also many of her advisors loved her and fiercely protected Elizabeth when the time called for it.
Elizabeth was beloved by her people eventually even the Catholics. She became a symbol of England.
April 24, 2015
Although this is considered a classic and definitive book on Elizabeth I, I have to say it was boring as all get out. If you have trouble sleeping, this is a book to read. It's soporific effects led to several nights of really good sleep.
But even with the sleep-inducing effects, Elizabeth the Great is filled with facts and tidbits about the Tudor reign. I do have issues with the citations, or rather lack thereof. (You can chalk that up to my class on advanced genealogy where we are working with genealogical proof and proper citations.) Ms. Jenkins uses a brief author/title citation. If a researcher were to rely on her book and wish to research any specific quote she cites, they would need to read the entire cited material in order to find the one sentence - no book pages, chapters or other identifying notes.
I also need to remark that Ms. Jenkins is quite a fan girl of Elizabeth I. Although everyone is aware of the heavy makeup she used to mask her aging and scars from smallpox, there is no mention of it anywhere in the book. She does comment on the Queen "bleaching" her skin to keep it milky white and how others remarked on her beautiful white skin. She also uses excessive flowery prose to describe the Queen's jewels, clothing and her exquisite hands.
All in all, it is a worthwhile book if the reader is interested in the Tudors or England under the rule of Elizabeth I.
But even with the sleep-inducing effects, Elizabeth the Great is filled with facts and tidbits about the Tudor reign. I do have issues with the citations, or rather lack thereof. (You can chalk that up to my class on advanced genealogy where we are working with genealogical proof and proper citations.) Ms. Jenkins uses a brief author/title citation. If a researcher were to rely on her book and wish to research any specific quote she cites, they would need to read the entire cited material in order to find the one sentence - no book pages, chapters or other identifying notes.
I also need to remark that Ms. Jenkins is quite a fan girl of Elizabeth I. Although everyone is aware of the heavy makeup she used to mask her aging and scars from smallpox, there is no mention of it anywhere in the book. She does comment on the Queen "bleaching" her skin to keep it milky white and how others remarked on her beautiful white skin. She also uses excessive flowery prose to describe the Queen's jewels, clothing and her exquisite hands.
All in all, it is a worthwhile book if the reader is interested in the Tudors or England under the rule of Elizabeth I.
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December 23, 2009"http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1339747.html[return][return]I have to say this is one of the more interesting biographies of Elizabeth I that I have read. Jenkins makes a good argument that Elizabeth's determination to remain unmarried stemmed not just from the abuse she suffered in her teens from her stepmother, Catherine Parr, and Parr's new husband Seymour, but also from the childhood echoes of her own mother's execution - an event she could barely remember, but which was echoed in the beheading of another stepmother when she was eight. Apparently she told Leicester at one point that she had been determined never to marry since the age of eight; as Jenkins more or less puts it. join the dots.[return][return]Armed with this assumption, Jenkins has Elizabeth enjoying the thrills of the romantic chase but consciously or subconsciously determined never to reach the point that her male suitors desired to reach - she almost got caught out by the Duc d'Alen
August 16, 2009
While many important events are glossed over or barely mentioned in this book (it's not a book on the history of England, after all), Jenkins makes an excellent study of a fascinating and complex woman. Jenkins insightfully theorizes that Queen Elizabeth never intended to marry and used the planning of marriage as a negotiating and diplomacy tool to attain the treaties and alliances she wanted, then abandoned each suitor once she got what she wanted. Manipulative, perhaps, but given her experiences before she became Queen it's understandable. She spent her whole life in peril of being beheaded, but she proved to be a master politician. I wonder how much of this was used as research for the HBO miniseries Elizabeth I?
This book is out of print, but a number of cheap used copies are available on Amazon.
This book is out of print, but a number of cheap used copies are available on Amazon.
August 3, 2014
Excellent bio of Elizabeth I. Published over 60 years ago, I'm sure this is not definitive, but it is great storytelling and well worth reading. I'm glad I got some background in the basic history before tackling this because it is definitely a very selective take. Jenkins is strongly focused on interpersonal relationships within Elizabeth's court and other circles of power, which it turns out are pretty fascinating. As another reviewer noted, the Spanish Armada is covered in about a page and a half, while Elizabeth's farcical but deadly serious courtship of a young French prince is recounted in great detail over several chapters. Jenkins has a great feel for the strange and highly mannered social interactions of the time; 16th-century Europe comes across as a world nearly as alien as that of Frank Herbert's "Dune" novels.
March 18, 2012
I really liked this biography. I always enjoy reading about the Tudors. I think this is a very complete history of Elizabeth, but it is biased towards her. I happen to agree with a lot of the opinions stated in the book, but it isn't a straight forward statment of facts.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you aren't interested in history, I believe this is a fascinating period, and an inspiring woman, but not everyone will enjoy it. Also there are a lot of people, events, places, and changing relationships, due to the many changing factors it can be very hard to follow, but that is due to the nature of the period, not the writer's style or talent.
This might be one of my favourite books about Queen Elizabeth the First.
I wouldn't recommend this book if you aren't interested in history, I believe this is a fascinating period, and an inspiring woman, but not everyone will enjoy it. Also there are a lot of people, events, places, and changing relationships, due to the many changing factors it can be very hard to follow, but that is due to the nature of the period, not the writer's style or talent.
This might be one of my favourite books about Queen Elizabeth the First.
September 7, 2015
While I found the subject very interesting and the book to be fairly comprehensive in describing her life and times, there were a couple of negatives for me. First, I found the writing style to be more dry and it was more challenging to get through it. Second, the author spends and inordinate time talking about her marriage prospects and speculation on her suitors and sex life. Yes, I get that the fact she remained unmarried throughout her reign was an important part of her ability to stay in power, but there is much more that could have been discussed in detail. I would like to have learned more about her impact on society beyond her death and have a better understanding of why that period during the late 1500's is called the Elizabethan era.
May 31, 2016
I was culling my books and picked this off the shelf - an old, falling apart paperback. Because I've always been interested in Elizabeth, I thought I'd read a chapter or two before donating it or trashing it. Hmmm - I've now finished it! So much detail, evidently taken from minutes of meetings (!!) and letters. In fact, the detail can overwhelm the history. On the other hand, to be so deep in the court goings on was fascinating. As others have said, sometimes it's difficult to keep the players separate. I know a lot of this history and was still confused occasionally. But the thrill of the story carried me through - and for the first time I understood the birthline of Mary Queen of Scots which made her such a threat.
April 10, 2013
While it was a slightly dry narrative at times, the detail and clarity of writing made the historic events accessible and understandable. The reader gets a sense of just how remarkable Elizabeth was, as well as how flawed. One of the most touching take-aways from the book is an understanding of how her council and ministers worked together with her and managed around each others' quirks and habits.
This is an excellent companion to the more recent work by David Starkey, detailing the few years in her early life.
This is an excellent companion to the more recent work by David Starkey, detailing the few years in her early life.
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