Elizabeth I

A Novel

By: Margaret George

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 31 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Margaret George captures history's most enthralling queen as she confronts rivals to her throne and to her heart.

One of today's premier historical novelists, George dazzles here as she tackles her most difficult subject yet: the legendary Elizabeth Tudor, queen of enigma - the Virgin Queen who had many suitors; the victor of the Armada who hated war; the gorgeously attired, jewel-bedecked woman who pinched pennies. England's greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. What was she really like?

In this novel, her flame-haired, lookalike cousin, Lettice Knollys, 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 had 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 - and each vying to convince the listener of her own private vision of the truth about Elizabeth's character. Their gripping drama is acted out at the height Elizabethan age's flowering. Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dudley, Raleigh, Drake - all of them swirl through this novel as they swirled through the court and on the high seas.

This is a magnificent, stay-up-all-night listen that is George's finest and most compelling novel and one that is sure to please readers and listeners of Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory, and Hilary Mantel.

©2011 Margaret George (P)2011 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Deeply engaging, it sets a new benchmark for the genre.” (New York Times best-selling author Alison Weir)

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

All the Tudor you could possibly want

What did you love best about Elizabeth I?

The detail, covering every aspect of Elizabeth's life at that time. More than most biographies do.

What did you like best about this story?

That Elizabeth was not always perfect, or right in her decisions.

What aspect of Kate Reading???s performance would you have changed?

Nothing. Characters always distinguishable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Elizabeth's reactions when her friend/servant died.

Any additional comments?

If you want something zippy and simple, watch a movie. This is a book and acts like it. It takes its time to develop characters and scenes and incidents, as it should. This is history, not an action-action-action thriller.

I was disappointed in one aspect of the book. I didn't read the description closely enough, and expected a full-length biographical novel. This book begins at the time of the Spanish armada, well into Elizabeth's reign. So be ready.

Riveting story: QE1, from two perspectives

We get the confessional tell-all memoir of Elizabeth herself, plus the insights--and often biting commentary--of her bitter and vanquished rival, Lettice Knollys. It's the story of QE1 and her reign told from the perspectives of these two women. Both passionate, intelligent, and in their own ways ruthless. What's not to love?

Margaret George is her usual masterful self here, spinning a wealth of historical detail into a riveting character-driven story. As an ardent Elizabeth I buff (well, er, that's putting it mildly), I loved the scope of this book. George takes on the intimacy of the privvy chamber, the clamor and jockeying of the Court, the self-destructive forces of the Earl of Essex and his ilk, and the struggles of 16th-century England on the world stage--and make them all compelling. And yes, here and there it may be a bit overwrought, but so was the queen herself. So I take those bits in stride. This is lively and vivid historical fiction at its best.

The bonus at the end is George's reckoning of fact with fiction. In a brief afterword she walks us through the parts of the books that are steeped in historical accuracy (that is, about 90% of the story), and lets us know where and why she took license to invent scenes and conversations.

A different take on Gloriana

What made the experience of listening to Elizabeth I the most enjoyable?

The author presents Elizabeth as an older woman. The first person viewpoint is extremely well done and the combination of material and narrator are just perfect. We see Elizabeth as a willful woman and shrewd politician, smart, well educated and very much used to getting her way...she can do almost everything but stop time. I love historical fiction and the Tudors in particular and just when I thought everything that could be done in literature with the Tudors had already been done and I had read it, I found this. Of course I knew what happened; the historical events are well known....but I was not expecting this Elizabeth, past middle age but so sharp and of course, not easy...never easy. This is good writing by Margaret George who seems to be able to inhabit her characters with great ease. If you are willing to put up with this sometimes annoying Elizabeth, you will enjoy this listen. I did!

my favorite listen, even the 4th time

This book is mesmerizing. while some may find it dry, the intense descriptive force of the author brings the world of London to life. magical!

Overall, Very Informative

Did not disappoint however, it was a little long winded. Now I am moving on to Mary Queen of Scott's, by same author Margret George.

must read if you love history

the first book I read by Margaret George was Mary, Queen of Scots. I was enthralled by her rich beautiful language and how true she stayed to real history. I applaud her research and efforts to portray and get to know her characters. Elizabeth 1 exceeded these expectations. oh how I wish I could have been there!

Caveat

I had expected this book to start much earlier in Q.E.'s life than age 50, but it was probably in order to show how she ruled rather than rehashing her miserable beginning and cruel childhood. My caveat is that somene who is not quite familiar with certain names and personae (Dudley, Cecil, Lester, Essex, Devereaux, Lancaster, Plantagenet, York and others) may be overwhelmed by confusion. Otherwise a delightful and engrossing book.

Repetition, Anybody?

Kate Reading is one World Class Wonderful Reader. (Yes, I do think she's that good. Thank you for asking.)
Try her reading "Revenge of the Blood Lilly."
Here she's held prisoner by an overwhelmingly repetitious, repetitive story that also keeps saying the same things nearly endlessly.
Oh. yes. by the way. It repeats a lot.
I started it on audio, gave up. On an extended trip I took it along as a sleeping pill and it was too dull - being annoyed with a book does not put this reader to sleep.
"It's not your fault, Kate!" Even the best reader may be a victim to a l - o - n - g and boring novel.

incredibly bad

What would have made Elizabeth I better?

a plot
a totally pointless mess
an insult to a dead person
every woman is bad or stupid
every man is ancient or sensual

Would you ever listen to anything by Margaret George again?

very cautiosly

How did the narrator detract from the book?

she did not much

What character would you cut from Elizabeth I?

tough question none serve any purpose or generate sympathy

Any additional comments?

also very L-O-N-G

Sadly boring

I love Margaret George. I've read most of her books and was excited to see she had a new one. I'm about halfway through and I keep hoping things are going to get more interesting. I'm finally ready to give up. Honestly, there just isn't enough interest for me in Elizabeth's life from age 50+ to keep going. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic or deep. Too bad.