Elizabeth I

A Novel

By: Margaret George

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The New York Times bestseller from Margaret George—a captivating novel about history's most enthralling queen, the legendary Elizabeth Tudor.

England’s greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. But what was the Virgin Queen really like? Lettice Knollys—Elizabeth's flame-haired, look-alike coussin—thinks she knows all too well. Elizabeth’s rival for the love of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and mother to the Earl of Essex, the mercurial nobleman who challenged Elizabeth’s throne, Lettice has been intertwined with Elizabeth since childhood.

This is a story of two women of fierce intellect and desire, one trying to protect her country, and throne, the other trying to regain power and position for her family. Their rivalry, and its ensuing drama, soon involves everyone close to Elizabeth, from the famed courtiers who enriched the crown to the legendary poets and playwrights who paid homage to it with their works.

Filled with intimate portraits of the personalities who made the Elizabethan age great—Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dudley, Raleigh, Drake—Elizabeth I provides an unforgettable glimpse of a woman who considered herself married to her people. A queen who ruled as much from the heart as from the head.

Critic reviews

“Deeply engaging, it sets a new benchmark for the genre.”—New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir

“A rare unfusty take on the Virgin Queen.”—Vogue

MORE PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF MARGARET GEORGE

“An evocative portrait.”—The New York Times

“If only history lessons had been like this.”—Cosmopolitan

“Delicious.”—People

“A scintillating historical novel.”—The Chicago Tribune

“Engaging and intelligent fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Readers looking to be transported to another place and time will find their magic carpet here.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“An impressive feat of research and imagination.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon

Fascinating Listen

I had never read about Elizabeth's later life, so found this story fascinating for that reason alone. Margaret George also tells a great story. The characters really come to life, and I found myself caring about so many of them. The narrator was excellent. I have just downloaded Margaret George's book, The Autobiography of Henry VIII, which sounds as good if not better.

Excellent!! More like history than fiction!

If you could sum up Elizabeth I in three words, what would they be?

compelling, must read!

What other book might you compare Elizabeth I to and why?

Any of Philipa Gregory books only I liked this one better! Reason: similar genre

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

excellent reading skills and accurate depiction, helping the listener to visualize the story.

Any additional comments?

This book included information about the Boleyn family, historical figures, and cultural facts that help the reader understand Elizabeth I 's family and time period in a creative novel.

No action, no plot

I have enjoyed previous books by this author. I agree with other reviews, this is mostly a recitation of events from Elizabeth 1's perspective, little depth in characters. I listened to the entire book, hours and hours.

Not boring to me

I didn???t find this book at all boring as others have but then it might be that much of the information about the Tudor era is new to me. Perhaps some scenes could have been cut but I thought they all added to the story. Plus, I thought Kate Reading gave an excellent performance

This story made me think of an odd kind of organic chemistry where two (and more) compounds come together, share electrons, separate, combine with others and then come together again,,, the two main compounds being Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Lettice and the story of how their lives orbited about and entwined with each other.

Perhaps the lack of instant explosive reactions made the story too slow for some but I thought it was a good picture of a time without electronics, digital gadgets and other forms of instant communication. It could take weeks to learn of a battle's outcome and waiting for the answer to a letter must have seemed like forever. The fact that religion and superstition were on the same plane as pseudo-science could only muddy the already murky waters of understanding.

One thing that resonated strongly for me was the Crown's concern with money ??? ???There is no money??? ???We don???t have the money??? The Queen was constantly concerned with finances and Parliament allowed that having a frugal and non-married monarch was a good deal financially. Still she would have to be very creative to get money approved for projects.

WOW A government that had to live within its means! What a concept! I guess borrowing the country into oblivion is a recent concept!

Boring - Was it the writer or the reader or both?

I have enjoyed other Margaret George books I have read - Henry VIII, Cleopatra, Mary Queen of Scot and Helen of Troy. I have a lot of interest in Elizabeth I. I have always found her one of the most intriguing women in history. I had absolutely no interest in Helen of Troy. So why did I enjoy the Helen novel and not the Elizabeth novel? That is a question I am asking myself. Typically the joy of a long book is that you get to know the characters so deeply. The author mentions at the end that Elizabeth's contemporaries felt they never knew what Elizabeth was thinking and I felt the same about the author. I couldn't feel for Elizabeth because I didn't know her. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters. It felt hollow. There were some very interesting facts that I was unaware of about both people and events. Had the book been shortened in half I could have still found those out and known just as much about the characters. What didn't help is I found the reader unbelievable. If George was confused about Elizabeth's character Reading seemed lost. Maybe I would have enjoyed the book better if I had read it myself. If Margaret George writes another book I will buy. Even the best writers have a book that just isn't as good as the others and the author had set herself a high level to meet. I don't think I will try the reader again though, unless it is for something fluffy.