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 | | The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel by Alison Weir ISBN-10: 9780345495358 ISBN-10: 0-345-49535-7 ISBN-13: 9780345495358 ISBN-13: 978-0-345-49535-8 Hardcover 2008-04-29 Ballantine Books Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description 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. | ||
Reviews | ||
Enjoyable, albeit flawed, read (3.5 stars) It's a story that has been explored many times, both in fiction and non-fiction, but the early life of Elizabeth I continues to fascinate. In "The Lady Elizabeth," Weir abandons the multiple first person narrative used in "Innocent Traitor" and adopts the omniscient third-person to tell the story of Elizabeth I, from early childhood until she became Queen. While I consider Weir to be a talented writer, she seems less confident using this narrative form. The novel starts off slowly - I found the first third of the book rather heavy going - and there are occasional, and distracting, changes in character point of view mid-page, sometimes mid-paragraph. Weir still has a tendency to write as if this is one of her biographies, so the narrative comes across as a little dry: telling, rather than showing. As the novel progresses though, particularly as we move into Elizabeth's teen years and her time under the care of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour (I use the term "care" very loosely, in the latter's case!), the pace picks up, and the writing seems more assured and vivid. Weir takes a big risk in exploring one of history's "what ifs" as part of her plot, which I found extremely confronting, and some readers who are fans of Elizabeth I may find it a bit much to take (I won't say any more than that, to avoid spoilers). Nonetheless, dramatically it works, and is handled with delicacy and an element of respect. I had a strong sense of Elizabeth as human being - despite her poise, intellectual precocity and wit, a vulnerable adolescent undergoing a traumatic experience, for which none of her formidable education has prepared her, and which, in the parameters of the novel, irrevocably shapes many of her attitudes and decisions as an adult. The novel proffers an interesting potential explanation for Kat Ashley's role and possible motives in the infamous Thomas Seymour saga, too. To her credit, Weir also acknowledges in no uncertain terms that her fictional version of events is by no means accepted historical fact, and draws a firm distinction between her conclusions as an historian and the literary licence she has taken as a novelist. Overall, "The Lady Elizabeth" is well-written and generally compelling, and once I got into it, I enjoyed it, despite its flaws (particularly in the early part of the novel). I'm in the minority, I think, but I prefer "Innocent Traitor" and think the author is more comfortable using the first person narrative voice. Nonetheless, Alison Weir shows great potential as a novelist. | ||
Amazon could not deliver Twice Amazon could not deliver to my address. Incidentally their head office is just about 15 block and 3 avenue from mine | ||
Fantastic blend of history and story! Alison Weir does a fantastic job with blending history with drama. It's compelling, fun to read and historically accurate. | ||
Not worth it If you have any love, whatsoever, for the true history of the early of Queen Elizabeth I, then just don't bother with this book. The first part of the book was decent, but forced. Some of the ideas of a four year old having the ability to restrain herself and think in a rather adult manner are really just preposterous. However, the interweaving of the quotes and actions of the time period known by historic record and the movement and thoughts of some of the grown characters did work out well. The second part of the book made me want to throw the book out. Other than the fact that Elizabeth did go to stay with the Queen and Thomas Seymour for a while, very little of it had any fact left in it. Yes, there was some talk that "the Admiral" was a bit too friendly with Elizabeth but other than that? Nothing. The way the book describes the seen, "the Admiral" pretty much rapes his ward and then makes light of the entire adulterous affair. Not only is there ZERO historical precedent for this, but it treated the characters unfairly and painted them in a very sick and twisted light. The idea that Elizabeth became pregnant due to the rape and spent the time elsewhere is extremely disturbing. Again, no historical precedent exists for this. Slandering the names of these historical figures is all this book seems able to do. Shame on you Alison Weir! The third part of book just left me confused. The incorrect descriptions of the characters really made me question what Weir was on when she wrote this book. Queen Mary, via the historical record, wore the modest high necked black velvet partlets while Elizabeth wore the tight, square necked gowns still. Given how much Weir makes of Elizabeth's clothing, calling it the high necked simple modest "protestant" dress, it seems odd that almost every single bit of portraiture and historical record has the dress Weir describes reversed! Anne of Cleves, or Anna of Cleves in the book, died a good year BEFORE Catherine Parr. In the book, Anna outlives Catherine for a good while. The massive historical errors and lack of understanding of a child's psyche, make this book a long and strenuous read. It's a bodice ripper and slanders the names of those that have long since been dead. Don't bother with something this poor. | ||
So far so Good I am in the middle of this book and I cannot put it down. I have a small problem, though. On page 9, she writes " Her big, magnificant father, King Harry the Eighth..." I thought her father was King Henry the Eighth and not Harry. I am surprised no one has caught this. | ||