Book: The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

Book Info: Published by Ballantine Books; 473 pages; hardcover; from the library

Goodreads Summary: Following the tremendous success of her first novel, Innocent Traitor, which recounted the riveting tale of the doomed Lady Jane Grey, acclaimed historian and New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir turns her masterly storytelling skills to the early life of young Elizabeth Tudor, who would grow up to become England’s most intriguing and powerful queen.

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.

I really liked this book.  I’m a big fan of Alison Weir, and I thought it would be nice to read it after reading Innocent Traitor.

It felt a lot more historical accurate than some of the other historical fiction books out there.  This is most likely due to the fact that she’s well-known for her books on Tudor history, and while I’m not going to nit-pick about how historically accurate a book is (or isn’t), it was nice knowing that Weir’s book would be well-researched.  It’s definitely full of details that made everything come to life.

It was an enjoyable read, and nice to read about Elizabeth’s life from a young age, until she becomes queen.  You really get her innermost thoughts and her struggles with the different people and events going on around her.  I liked seeing her relationship with Mary, and how much Mary struggled with how to deal with Elizabeth.

I give it a 4 out of 5.  I really liked reading it, and there were times I almost forgot I was reading fiction.