Publicly declared a bastard at the age of three, daughter of a disgraced and executed mother, last in the line of succession to the throne of Engla...
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Oct 06, 2010
Kim
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Aug 04, 2008
Hobie
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As a fan of the historical figure and popular interpretations of Elizabeth I, I tend to read anything I can get my hands on dealing with this fascinating part of world history. 'I, Elizabeth' interprets the story from Elizabeth's own perspective as if these are her final diaries while recounting her life.
Amusingly, her later self frequently comments on her recollections, usually with regret and embarassment, especially when she's talking about the Earl of Essex, who turned out to be More...
Amusingly, her later self frequently comments on her recollections, usually with regret and embarassment, especially when she's talking about the Earl of Essex, who turned out to be More...
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Nov 12, 2008
Robyn
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I got so frustrated at this book when I was reading pages in the 400's or so. It is so historically inaccurate that I had to stop. For other novels you don't expect the level of accuaracy that you do of this book because it is supposed to be written from the perspective of Elizabeth herself. I overlooked a lot of inaccuracies but the way that Miles choses to portray Mary Queen of Scots execution is completely inaccurate. I'm sure it's a good story if you don't know the history behind it. Sh
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Jan 24, 2011
Patricia
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An amazing book. Rosaline Miles writes in the first person, so we are reading this account of the life of probably the most powerful woman in history as she might well have written it. Our preconceptions of Elizabeth I are skewed a little by misty myth, particularly the one about the virgin queen. She was also mistress of spin, before anyone knew what that was. Her rallying speech to the fleet at the time of the Spanish Armada, for example: (paraphrased)'I may have the body of a weak and fee
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Jun 18, 2010
Nicole
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May 25, 2009
Breanne
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I was anticipating a great historical fiction approach to Queen Elizabeth as the author has many acclaimed novels. I did enjoy the writing but I thought her approach to Elizabeth was crude and frustrating. History hails Elizabeth as the "Virgin Queen". The author spent the whole novel, (600 plus pages) with Elizabeth agonizing over her sexual vulnerability and frustration. Each chapter is dedicated to pages of her pining over "her Robin" in every manner which I believe to
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Jul 16, 2010
Redfox5
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As much as I admire Elizabeth her life story is just not as exciting as her mothers. However it was still a good read. Although this is just a work of fiction I felt it got across all the things Elizabeth sacrificed for England. It must have been horrible living when others around you were always plotting your downfall. And the poor Tudors with no glasses to help their sight or anything to clean their teeth. I wish I could travel back in time and present her with a toothbrush and tooth paste! We
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Jan 20, 2011
Kari
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I've been wanting a novel that embraced all sides of this Woman and Queen, and I'm glad I picked this one to read. I've read other books that show Elizabeth I as a vain jealous woman, and her character really didn't develop much past that. This book however, doesn't fail to express all aspects of her person. Yes, she was vain AND jealous. But she was also intelligent, strong, passionate, witty, and loving. Whatever faults she had, and every person has faults, she rose above them to lead Engl
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Feb 22, 2009
Lindsey
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This book helped me get through my steroid shot insomnia last night, and I finally finished the last 100 pages around 4 this morning. It was excellent. I'm so in love with this time period, the Tudor line, and Elizabeth I. She is without a doubt my favorite monarch ever, and the book portrayed her spirit beautifully.
She was a tease, a feminist, vulnerable, yet with a steel core, and so intelligent. Rosalind Miles wrote Elizabeth as a real person, not as an untouchable, emotionless, More...
She was a tease, a feminist, vulnerable, yet with a steel core, and so intelligent. Rosalind Miles wrote Elizabeth as a real person, not as an untouchable, emotionless, More...
Jul 29, 2011
Mirah
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I was disappointed by how bored I was while reading this. I found it tedious and repetitive...bastard, not a bastard; in love, not in love. I was really expecting to like it because I love historical fiction, especially about the Tudors. The writing was okay but at times it was hard to follow...like Miles was intentionally leaving out names to see how well the reader was paying attention. I found myself having to backtrack a few times to figure out who "my lord" was because several
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Mar 10, 2009
Lindsey
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This book a novel but I think it doesn't stray too far from the truth of Queen Elizabeth I's life (as far as what I personally know about her). Miles does a good job of writing the struggles of what the first female queen would have went through -- men doubting her, her love life and the pressures of getting married and killing the Mary Queen of Scots. It's written in a first hand account of her life and lets the reader get into Elizabeth's psyche. Great read! Only problem is that because it's p
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Sep 26, 2011
Lauren
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This book...I technically haven't finished it yet, though I haven't picked it up in a couple of years. The author borrows liberally and anachronistically from other authors and from Shakespeare. I enjoyed the portrayal of Elizabeth's relationship with Dudley, but reached a point in the narrative where my willing suspension of disbelief wasn't so willing anymore. Then when I tried to take it back up again it just wasn't working, so I haven't tried again in a while. I imagine someday I will finall
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Sep 13, 2010
Caitlin
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This is absolutely the best historical novel I have read. It is beautifully written and fleshes Queen Elizabeth I out to be a vivacious, shrewd, powerful woman. She brought England into world power status, where it stayed for 300 years. Yet, she suffered very personal losses by never marrying and being betrayed by lovers. And of course, her great (but ultimately neccessary) sin of killing her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Ironically it is Mary's son, King James I who gains the throne of England, a
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Aug 20, 2011
Sheena
rated it:
Too long and kind of boring. Particularly the large chunks where Elizabeth can't stop talking about how much she loves Robert Dudley, then near the end she goes on about the Lord of Essex. I was much more interested in the politics, but Miles didn't really go into that much, which is surprising. It appears as though Miles did her research; with a historical novel, I like to see a bibliography, but unfortunately, Miles does not include one. Also, the number of characters and their name changes be
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Feb 01, 2012
Orsolya
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Historical fictional buffs are quite used to the endless supply of Elizabeth Tudor books with beautifully decorated covers. Sometimes, though, there are too many books and too little time to stick to reading one which isn’t as satisfying.
As hard as I tried to “truck” through “ I, Elizabeth”, by Rosalind Miles; I simply could not continue after 200 some odd pages. The novel wasn’t overly scholarly and was accurate enough which I thoroughly welcome in historical fiction literature. Ho More...
As hard as I tried to “truck” through “ I, Elizabeth”, by Rosalind Miles; I simply could not continue after 200 some odd pages. The novel wasn’t overly scholarly and was accurate enough which I thoroughly welcome in historical fiction literature. Ho More...
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May 30, 2011
Suzanne
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“He will make a good death, they say. The better for him, for he could never make a good life. Nature made him a king among men, and offered him a king’s fortune, too. But Cecil, always the wisest of my counselors, called him ‘the Wild Horse,’ and true, it was he never could be backed or broken.”
To get inside the mind of Queen Elizabeth the First, would make for a wonderful novel, and that is precisely what Rosalind Miles did. From her pre-teen years, when she was aware of th More...
To get inside the mind of Queen Elizabeth the First, would make for a wonderful novel, and that is precisely what Rosalind Miles did. From her pre-teen years, when she was aware of th More...
Apr 16, 2010
Page (One Book At A Time)
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I picked this book up because Queen Elizabeth I fascinates me. I've read many different historical fictions about her. I really liked the first part of the book. Most things I've read start were her half-sister Queen Mary has her in the Tower of London. So, I haven't read much concerning her childhood and when her father was still alive (at least were she was the focus of the story anyway). I felt that reading about that time period helped me better understand some of her actions as an adu
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Mar 16, 2009
Amy
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Rosalind Miles, oh Rosalind Miles...how happy I am to have found you! You have written a most excellent novel about my favorite monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, and gave me hours of reading ecstasy that I will never forget! I loved every minute of this book!!!!
I, Elizabeth is a fantastic read of the life, loves, trials and tribulations of Queen Elizabeth I, "The Virgin Queen". We follow Elizabeth from childhood, when she was labeled a "bastard" and her mother a " More...
I, Elizabeth is a fantastic read of the life, loves, trials and tribulations of Queen Elizabeth I, "The Virgin Queen". We follow Elizabeth from childhood, when she was labeled a "bastard" and her mother a " More...
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Sep 18, 2008
Kim
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I seem to agree with most people who have reviewed this, I found the first part really good to read, but found myself losing interest the further I got into the book. My the time I got to the last fifty or so pages I was skimming rather than reading it because I didn't care as much about her anymore. I know it was based on history and that limits what the main character can do, but I don't think she needed to moon over Robert for anywhere near as long as she actually did.
However, Ros More...
However, Ros More...
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Jul 06, 2009
Amie
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Goodreads rates a 2 star book as "ok." I'm giving this 2 stars, not because I didn't like it, because I did, but just that it was OK.
First of all, it was very very long. Almost 600 pages and like 1,000 words per page. I exaggerate, but truly, this was not a quick read. I've been reading this for a week straight, hours a day, and it drug on for a while.
Second of all, there are literally hundreds of characters. This book spans around 60 years, and honestly, f More...
First of all, it was very very long. Almost 600 pages and like 1,000 words per page. I exaggerate, but truly, this was not a quick read. I've been reading this for a week straight, hours a day, and it drug on for a while.
Second of all, there are literally hundreds of characters. This book spans around 60 years, and honestly, f More...
May 22, 2008
Laura
rated it:
I absolutely love this book and I have read it several times. I have never read another novel about this era that written so beautifully or with so much (I believe) accurate information. As I reread it I have to admit, it does become somewhat of a romance novel in the parts where Elizabeth and Robert Dudley are together, but the first time through I really didn't notice because I was loving the writing so much. In addition to the usual "I began to breathe heavily as his fingers fumbled w
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Jan 03, 2008
Jennifer
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If you enjoy learning about the British monarchy, especially the Tudors, you will love this novel. Although fiction, the novel gives excellent insight into the rule of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and, of course, Elizabeth I. It also is rich on detail about life at the time, from the use of cosmetics to palace life to fashion to food.
The novel also gives a voice to one of England's greatest and most fascinating monarchs. It is impossible to know how accurate Miles' portrayal is in More...
The novel also gives a voice to one of England's greatest and most fascinating monarchs. It is impossible to know how accurate Miles' portrayal is in More...
Feb 02, 2009
Melodee
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This book is about Elizabeth I, and it is so well written, that you begin to feel that it is a diary, and not fiction. The characters are all represented from Elizabeth's point of view, so there is no omniscience, only her personal take on events and people's actions. In the process, you also learn quite a bit about British royal history (if you are not already versed in such). I really enjoyed the book. It was one of those books that you just hate putting down until you get to the end. There wa
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Mar 18, 2008
Beth Anne
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so. when i started this book...i was all into it, it was crazy good, a real page turner. then i got half way (almost 3/4) through the book, and i was just...well...confused and a bit bored.
it's an extremely long book...and the author, i think purposefully, portrays the "human" side of Elizabeth as a bit of a weak woman at times. i'm no historical buff, or anything, but i just don't like Elizabeth being portrayed as a lovesick fluffy woman. i dont know. it turned me o More...
it's an extremely long book...and the author, i think purposefully, portrays the "human" side of Elizabeth as a bit of a weak woman at times. i'm no historical buff, or anything, but i just don't like Elizabeth being portrayed as a lovesick fluffy woman. i dont know. it turned me o More...
Jun 02, 2011
Colleen
rated it:
Actually 2.5 stars. This book seemed to drag on forever (in fact I was so bored through it that I read several other books at the same time). I felt that it was dry. It was a very in-depth portrayal of Elizabeth, but as another reviewer mentioned, it only seemed to hit on the crises that Elizabeth dealt with, it didn't seem like she had much "down time". I really liked the way her relationship with Robin Dudley was portrayed; I would like to think that she did have some happiness i
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Apr 15, 2009
Tabitha
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I really read this book with curiosity. It was an interesting perspective to me, from her as a child to adulthood. Completely historical fiction, likely light on the historical. Because this book was so interesting, I really want to read more on her life and learn more of her history. Right now the star rating is foreign to me, I pretty much put this book on the category as a very interesting read.
Jan 18, 2011
Ravin
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This book, written in first person from the perspective of Elizabeth I, was fantastic. It took some time to get through it, but the payout in the end is totally worth it. I would not advice someone who is just stepping into the historical fiction genre to start with this book because it is a bit heavy, and any seasoned historical fiction reader will love this.
Jan 22, 2009
Sam
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This was a pretty decent read. I found the beginning to be better than the end as I started to tire of the endless struggles of her rule. I also thought her obsession with the much younger man was a little wierd. It was a much more historical and detailed account than you get with the Philippa Gregory novels, but less of a page-turner at the same time.
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Dec 27, 2008
Mark
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I enjoyed reading this book, primarily because I had seen the goddess Cate Blanchett in the recent Queen Elizabeth film. This book seemed to parallel much of the themes and cast of characters that were in the film. Can one ever get enough of this most amazing woman in history? It's fiction, I know, but I live anything about Elizabeth, fiction or no.
Mar 15, 2010
Jenn
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Just because Elizabeth didn't marry, doesn't mean she didn't love passionately and feel intensely. I think she was an interesting woman in history and the period of time she lived in was crazy.
There was some language and some intimate scenes that made it hard to recommend the book to anyone, but if you don't mind good, strong passion- an excellent read.
There was some language and some intimate scenes that made it hard to recommend the book to anyone, but if you don't mind good, strong passion- an excellent read.
