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Elizabeth: A Novel of Elizabeth I
A historical novel spanning the first thirty years of Elizabeth I’s reign, telling the intimate story of England’s greatest sovereign
The sickly Catholic fanatic Mary Tudor has reigned for six years when her half-sister Elizabeth ascends to the throne. After enduring years of exile following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, the twenty-five-year-old Elizabeth inherits a realm divided by religious turmoil and financial collapse. She has already survived her own personal hell, nearly losing her life after her stepfather seduced her at thirteen. The ambitious Lord Admiral left her virginity intact, but took something far more valuable—her dignity and pride. Elizabeth learned a bitter There’s no place for love in a royal’s heart.
This novel journeys through the first three decades of the reign of Elizabeth I, including her volatile relationship with Lord Robert Dudley. From bedroom intrigues to affairs of state, Elizabeth brings to life the passion and the power, illuminating the woman who, in spite of herself, still yearned for human connection. She found it with Dudley’s successor, the wealthy, dazzlingly attractive Earl of Leicester. Award-winner Evelyn Anthony chronicles the monarch's long battle with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, for the throne, and advances a fascinating theory about who murdered Lord Robert’s first wife, Amy Dudley.
The sickly Catholic fanatic Mary Tudor has reigned for six years when her half-sister Elizabeth ascends to the throne. After enduring years of exile following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, the twenty-five-year-old Elizabeth inherits a realm divided by religious turmoil and financial collapse. She has already survived her own personal hell, nearly losing her life after her stepfather seduced her at thirteen. The ambitious Lord Admiral left her virginity intact, but took something far more valuable—her dignity and pride. Elizabeth learned a bitter There’s no place for love in a royal’s heart.
This novel journeys through the first three decades of the reign of Elizabeth I, including her volatile relationship with Lord Robert Dudley. From bedroom intrigues to affairs of state, Elizabeth brings to life the passion and the power, illuminating the woman who, in spite of herself, still yearned for human connection. She found it with Dudley’s successor, the wealthy, dazzlingly attractive Earl of Leicester. Award-winner Evelyn Anthony chronicles the monarch's long battle with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, for the throne, and advances a fascinating theory about who murdered Lord Robert’s first wife, Amy Dudley.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1960
32 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Anthony
115 books96 followersEvelyn Anthony was the pen name of Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Stephens Ward-Thomas,
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 26, 2024
This was a strong depiction of queen Elizabeth. She was a strong queen who ruled with her head. It depicts queen Mary of Scotland as weak. She did have a lot of issues to deal with no true supporters save just a very few. Elizabeth ruled with a strong hand for her country whereas Mary wanted to be loved. It was a hard time for women. Stay single as Elizabeth did and you are constantly hammered to take a husband and make an heir. Mary took husbands and lost her throne because of it. She had an heir and never got to love him or be with him. Her brother was always against her. Queen Elizabeth our golden queen forever loved then and now.
June 16, 2016
Interesting
I've read many books about Queen Elizabeth I, some college reading materials as well. The movies made have followed the highs and some selfish lows of the late Queen. I enjoyed this take on her as her emotional upheavals were more known and makes her more personable in life. I will obviously continue to read the other books on her life and reign throughout my life just because she interests me greatly. I enjoy the authors different views based on their own personal beliefs. A definite must read for any lover of the Elizabethan era.
I've read many books about Queen Elizabeth I, some college reading materials as well. The movies made have followed the highs and some selfish lows of the late Queen. I enjoyed this take on her as her emotional upheavals were more known and makes her more personable in life. I will obviously continue to read the other books on her life and reign throughout my life just because she interests me greatly. I enjoy the authors different views based on their own personal beliefs. A definite must read for any lover of the Elizabethan era.
April 1, 2017
I only noticed once I finished this book that it was published in 1960. As such, the straight forward story telling free of the modern tendency to prevarication on the lives these royal persons. It is very much a historical book with interesting character developments of Elizabeth Tutor, Robert Dudley, Mary Stuart and Philip of Spain and their internal and external struggles. Once I was accustomed to the dry writing form, I really enjoyed this book.
July 14, 2017
A very interesting read. I had trouble putting it down, even when I got so sleepy I could hardly see the page. I would love to see more like this one. She made the characters real and not just a picture in a museum. Well done.
December 2, 2018
Over the years, I have read MANY historical novels by Evelyn Anthony but this is the first one I've picked up in perhaps 15 years. And what a treat! Awarded four stars on Goodreads.
First of all, there is a sophistication to Anthony's writing that few historical novelists match. Reading her narrative feels like you've traveled back in time. Her characters speak to each other differently than we do. More formally, but without being obscure or difficult to understand. And the consistency of this style helps keep the reader firmly placed in Tudor England.
Then, there is the exceptional way Anthony digs into the psychology of historic personalities. Figures like Queen Elizabeth I, her favorite Robert Dudley, Mary Queen of Scots, Mary's second husband Henry Stuart, Mary's third husband James Hepburn, Elizabeth's chief advisor William Cecil, Spain's King Phillip II, even Elizabeth's look-alike cousin Lettice Knollys (and Dudley's second wife) are thoughtful, subtle and fully three-dimensional human beings.
Each character's actions feel fully believable and natural -- because they are backed up by such rich detail and explanation on how each person interprets information and transforms it into distinctive motivations. (Anthony has a particularly unique and intriguing explanation of the infamous abduction and rape of Mary Queen of Scots by James Hepburn, Lord Bothwell.) I can't think of another historical novelist who matches Anthony for level of insight or provides her characters with more depth or more understandable flaws.
Though I already knew the facts and stories of this time period (from Elizabeth's ascension to the throne through the death of Robert Dudley), I came away feeling I truly understood why historical events unfolded as they did -- perhaps for the first time. Because they were simply reflections of the human beings involved in the events.
Like, for example:
• How supremely intelligent Elizabeth I was, when compared with most of her contemporaries, and what an advantage she made that.
• What it was about Lord Burghley that made him Elizabeth's most trusted advisor, and what his shortcomings were.
• Why Robert Dudley's romance with Elizabeth I was bound to be doomed, by his own foibles.
• And how Mary's (Queen of Scots) pampered upbringing in France made her unprepared to go up against Elizabeth and win.
If you love historical fiction as much as I do, or have a passion for Tudor England, don't miss this one.
First of all, there is a sophistication to Anthony's writing that few historical novelists match. Reading her narrative feels like you've traveled back in time. Her characters speak to each other differently than we do. More formally, but without being obscure or difficult to understand. And the consistency of this style helps keep the reader firmly placed in Tudor England.
Then, there is the exceptional way Anthony digs into the psychology of historic personalities. Figures like Queen Elizabeth I, her favorite Robert Dudley, Mary Queen of Scots, Mary's second husband Henry Stuart, Mary's third husband James Hepburn, Elizabeth's chief advisor William Cecil, Spain's King Phillip II, even Elizabeth's look-alike cousin Lettice Knollys (and Dudley's second wife) are thoughtful, subtle and fully three-dimensional human beings.
Each character's actions feel fully believable and natural -- because they are backed up by such rich detail and explanation on how each person interprets information and transforms it into distinctive motivations. (Anthony has a particularly unique and intriguing explanation of the infamous abduction and rape of Mary Queen of Scots by James Hepburn, Lord Bothwell.) I can't think of another historical novelist who matches Anthony for level of insight or provides her characters with more depth or more understandable flaws.
Though I already knew the facts and stories of this time period (from Elizabeth's ascension to the throne through the death of Robert Dudley), I came away feeling I truly understood why historical events unfolded as they did -- perhaps for the first time. Because they were simply reflections of the human beings involved in the events.
Like, for example:
• How supremely intelligent Elizabeth I was, when compared with most of her contemporaries, and what an advantage she made that.
• What it was about Lord Burghley that made him Elizabeth's most trusted advisor, and what his shortcomings were.
• Why Robert Dudley's romance with Elizabeth I was bound to be doomed, by his own foibles.
• And how Mary's (Queen of Scots) pampered upbringing in France made her unprepared to go up against Elizabeth and win.
If you love historical fiction as much as I do, or have a passion for Tudor England, don't miss this one.
March 2, 2016
Love all books about Elizabeth
September 6, 2018
Popsugar 2018: A book from an author with a different ethnicity.
January 29, 2025
Rated 4 stars. This was first published in 1960's. It's also my first read by this author. Wonderful dialogue and descriptions of the reign of Elizabeth I and her contemporaries.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews