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I Elizabeth
Last in the line of succession to the English throne, Elizabeth inherited a country torn by religious differences, at war with Europe, and badly in debt. When she died in 1603, having ruled for forty-five years, her empire was solvent, the Spanish Armada had been defeated, the Church of England had been firmly established, and the men she favored, such as William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir Walter Raleigh, had made her reign the Golden Age still remembered today.
In this brilliantly conceived novel, Miles uses her acclaimed skills as a storyteller and historian to bring to life the woman behind the myth of the "Virgin Queen." By turns imperious, brilliant, calculating, and insecure, this Queen Elizabeth is as vividly alive today as she was in her own time. Nor is she only the public She reveals her most intimate thoughts and fears as she struggles to balance her needs as a woman against her duties as England's sovereign.
In this brilliantly conceived novel, Miles uses her acclaimed skills as a storyteller and historian to bring to life the woman behind the myth of the "Virgin Queen." By turns imperious, brilliant, calculating, and insecure, this Queen Elizabeth is as vividly alive today as she was in her own time. Nor is she only the public She reveals her most intimate thoughts and fears as she struggles to balance her needs as a woman against her duties as England's sovereign.
595 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Rosalind Miles
68 books427 followersRosalind Miles is an author born and raised in England and now living in both Los Angeles and Kent, England. She has written both works of fiction and non-fiction. As a child, Miles suffered from polio, and had to undergo several months of treatment. After being accepted to a junior women's college, Miles acquired a working knowledge of Latin and Greek, along with developing her life-long love of Shakespeare. At seventeen, she was promoted to St. Hilda's College, Oxford where she studied English literature, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, Latin and French. She obtained five degrees in all, ending with a Ph.D. from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham.
Miles later on became interested in jurisprudence, which resulted in her sitting as a lay magistrate in the English criminal and family courts, and eventually on the bench in a superior court in Coventry. She is also a regular commentator on the BBC, on Canadian Radio, and in The Times.
Miles later on became interested in jurisprudence, which resulted in her sitting as a lay magistrate in the English criminal and family courts, and eventually on the bench in a superior court in Coventry. She is also a regular commentator on the BBC, on Canadian Radio, and in The Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
September 2, 2014
"I, Elizabeth" is Rosalind Miles' first person narrative of Queen Elizabeth's life from early childhood to the peak of her glorious reign. Honestly, I thought that I would enjoy this novel a great deal more than I actually did. Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and I certainly have no qualms with an author taking liberties when they accept the challenge of blending fiction with historical fact. Unfortunately, I was mildly disappointed.
Being of an optimistic nature (and generally a soft critic), I'll start by mentioning the strengths of "I, Elizabeth" and why it's a fairly interesting concept. Of course we all like to read about famous people from the past, especially monarchs, because they were- face it- "the boss." How extraordinary it must have been to issue a command and have the entire court fall to its knees. And Elizabeth, last of the Tudor line, for all of her faults was truly a glorious leader. When you compare her doings to those of other monarchs who abused their power and ruled through a violent need for self preservation, it's hard not to want to root for her during the many struggles faced by England during her reign. Elizabeth was, and remains to be to this day, likable. With this in mind, I would like to congratulate Miles on creating a personality that can both amuse the reader and also stir his or her sympathy. The character of Elizabeth, which I imagine Miles constructed after conducting plenty of research and also applying a bit of her own imagining (one can only understand the personality behind a historical figure so well), is an extraordinarily believable one. Yes, Elizabeth was often kind, she was true to her country and serious about her position as monarch, and she ruled through rationality and a desire to preserve life. But she was not perfect, and Miles does not pretend otherwise. The character of Elizabeth is portrayed as a woman who is not without her own jealousies, her own greed, or her own cruelty. Must I mention how many times she mentally insults the women about her? I believe the term "plow horse" was used no less than a dozen times. I truly appreciated this: Miles was not afraid to show Elizabeth as a human being and not just a golden monarch adored by all of England (with the exception of those who bastardized her). And if it is anything to go by, Elizabeth was actually a rather greedy individual; she loved her jewels.
Now: although the character of Elizabeth was so believable, the content of the novel itself is what ultimately made me struggle through most of the story. It was not apparent at the beginning when the reader is introduced to Elizabeth as a child, and then a young woman nearing the throne, but following such I started to feel, well, bored. Don't get me wrong: Miles does incorporate much of the historical occurrences throughout Elizabeth's reign including the struggles with Spain, Catholic uprisings, and Elizabeth's own tenacious rival, Mary Queen of Scots. However, these elements are almost treated as an afterthought. The majority of the novel truly seems to be centered on Elizabeth's many love affairs. The first few were tolerable, but it soon became a common theme that overshadowed all else. This was fortified in turn by the overly flowery prose that Miles uses throughout the novel. On one hand, the prose is decent because it has an archaic air to it, allowing the reader to feel as if they truly are living in the time of Elizabeth. However, the common phrase is that one can always have too much of a good thing. In time, Miles prose becomes overly wordy, even choking, and it takes away from the story itself. Some of it is just so burdensome that one wishes to grab hold of Elizabeth and strike her across the face: "Get a hold of yourself, woman! Do you realize that your kingdom is in danger? Forget that man who is young enough to be your son!" If there was an award for having the most distracting prose, it would certainly be awarded to "I, Elizabeth."
In the end, whether or not you will enjoy this novel depends heavily upon your own interests. Looking for a story that goes into exhausting detail of Elizabeth's romantic feelings? You're in luck. Do you enjoy prose that hurts the teeth? Here you are. Of course, this is still a novel with quite a deal to offer. As I mentioned before, the earlier parts of the novel are a bit more concerned with Elizabeth's position before becoming queen, including the obstacles she faced following the death of her father, and that is what I enjoyed most. After all, sister Mary was a real charmer. Nothing quite beats the threat of being burned alive.
Being of an optimistic nature (and generally a soft critic), I'll start by mentioning the strengths of "I, Elizabeth" and why it's a fairly interesting concept. Of course we all like to read about famous people from the past, especially monarchs, because they were- face it- "the boss." How extraordinary it must have been to issue a command and have the entire court fall to its knees. And Elizabeth, last of the Tudor line, for all of her faults was truly a glorious leader. When you compare her doings to those of other monarchs who abused their power and ruled through a violent need for self preservation, it's hard not to want to root for her during the many struggles faced by England during her reign. Elizabeth was, and remains to be to this day, likable. With this in mind, I would like to congratulate Miles on creating a personality that can both amuse the reader and also stir his or her sympathy. The character of Elizabeth, which I imagine Miles constructed after conducting plenty of research and also applying a bit of her own imagining (one can only understand the personality behind a historical figure so well), is an extraordinarily believable one. Yes, Elizabeth was often kind, she was true to her country and serious about her position as monarch, and she ruled through rationality and a desire to preserve life. But she was not perfect, and Miles does not pretend otherwise. The character of Elizabeth is portrayed as a woman who is not without her own jealousies, her own greed, or her own cruelty. Must I mention how many times she mentally insults the women about her? I believe the term "plow horse" was used no less than a dozen times. I truly appreciated this: Miles was not afraid to show Elizabeth as a human being and not just a golden monarch adored by all of England (with the exception of those who bastardized her). And if it is anything to go by, Elizabeth was actually a rather greedy individual; she loved her jewels.
Now: although the character of Elizabeth was so believable, the content of the novel itself is what ultimately made me struggle through most of the story. It was not apparent at the beginning when the reader is introduced to Elizabeth as a child, and then a young woman nearing the throne, but following such I started to feel, well, bored. Don't get me wrong: Miles does incorporate much of the historical occurrences throughout Elizabeth's reign including the struggles with Spain, Catholic uprisings, and Elizabeth's own tenacious rival, Mary Queen of Scots. However, these elements are almost treated as an afterthought. The majority of the novel truly seems to be centered on Elizabeth's many love affairs. The first few were tolerable, but it soon became a common theme that overshadowed all else. This was fortified in turn by the overly flowery prose that Miles uses throughout the novel. On one hand, the prose is decent because it has an archaic air to it, allowing the reader to feel as if they truly are living in the time of Elizabeth. However, the common phrase is that one can always have too much of a good thing. In time, Miles prose becomes overly wordy, even choking, and it takes away from the story itself. Some of it is just so burdensome that one wishes to grab hold of Elizabeth and strike her across the face: "Get a hold of yourself, woman! Do you realize that your kingdom is in danger? Forget that man who is young enough to be your son!" If there was an award for having the most distracting prose, it would certainly be awarded to "I, Elizabeth."
In the end, whether or not you will enjoy this novel depends heavily upon your own interests. Looking for a story that goes into exhausting detail of Elizabeth's romantic feelings? You're in luck. Do you enjoy prose that hurts the teeth? Here you are. Of course, this is still a novel with quite a deal to offer. As I mentioned before, the earlier parts of the novel are a bit more concerned with Elizabeth's position before becoming queen, including the obstacles she faced following the death of her father, and that is what I enjoyed most. After all, sister Mary was a real charmer. Nothing quite beats the threat of being burned alive.
June 19, 2010
Oh, for cryin' out loud...Bridget Jones has more backbone than Elizabeth Tudor, at least as she's portrayed in this novel.
If Elizabeth I was as portrayed in this book, she wasn't just a queen of England, she was a drama queen. As portrayed by Miles, Elizabeth is a whiny, histrionic little brat with absolutely no strength whatsoever. She never commands her people; she "sobbed," she "wept," she "screeched," she "howled," she "screamed," she "told them tearfully," and "wept afresh." As far as I can tell, she spent about 50 years alternately sobbing, screaming and screeching.
One choice example, when she is signing a death warrant, "Madly I traced my way through the serpentine forms of my Elizabeth R, sometimes keening in pain, sometimes laughing the disordered laugh of a bedlam woman." Really? REALLY? You're telling me that Elizabeth I spent her life behaving like the lead in a bad Theda Bara film?
Miles also never gives any sense of place or time. Elizabeth is constantly in a sense of panic, going from crisis to crisis. The periods without crises aren't even mentioned in Miles' book. The problem with this is that Elizabeth is 30 years old on one page, and just a few pages later she's about to hit 40 (and has apparently been about to hit 40 for pages and pages). And since she always behaves like a spoiled 15-year-old throwing a tantrum, there's no character development to give the reader insight into the fact that she's aging.
The basic plot is fine - but it's actually Elizabeth's life, so no points there.
If Elizabeth I was as portrayed in this book, she wasn't just a queen of England, she was a drama queen. As portrayed by Miles, Elizabeth is a whiny, histrionic little brat with absolutely no strength whatsoever. She never commands her people; she "sobbed," she "wept," she "screeched," she "howled," she "screamed," she "told them tearfully," and "wept afresh." As far as I can tell, she spent about 50 years alternately sobbing, screaming and screeching.
One choice example, when she is signing a death warrant, "Madly I traced my way through the serpentine forms of my Elizabeth R, sometimes keening in pain, sometimes laughing the disordered laugh of a bedlam woman." Really? REALLY? You're telling me that Elizabeth I spent her life behaving like the lead in a bad Theda Bara film?
Miles also never gives any sense of place or time. Elizabeth is constantly in a sense of panic, going from crisis to crisis. The periods without crises aren't even mentioned in Miles' book. The problem with this is that Elizabeth is 30 years old on one page, and just a few pages later she's about to hit 40 (and has apparently been about to hit 40 for pages and pages). And since she always behaves like a spoiled 15-year-old throwing a tantrum, there's no character development to give the reader insight into the fact that she's aging.
The basic plot is fine - but it's actually Elizabeth's life, so no points there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
I read I, Elizabeth long time ago. I have strong good impression of this book. Miss Miles done a wonderful job bringing the history and the romance together. I feel sorry for Elizabeth. The queen who brought England to it's golden era and yet her childhood is spend on hiding.
A good book.
4 stars
A good book.
4 stars
August 4, 2008
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 a great disappointment for her.
It was a fascinating read though; I believe this is the book that the first Elizabeth movie starring Cate Blanchett was based off of....although it is interesting to note how that movie veers from historical record in that Sir Robert Dudley ends up ostracized when that is in no way what happened.
Anyways, a great read about one of the most powerful woman ever in world history.
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 a great disappointment for her.
It was a fascinating read though; I believe this is the book that the first Elizabeth movie starring Cate Blanchett was based off of....although it is interesting to note how that movie veers from historical record in that Sir Robert Dudley ends up ostracized when that is in no way what happened.
Anyways, a great read about one of the most powerful woman ever in world history.
August 3, 2009
I thought this book would never end! How is it that the author turned the great Queen Elizabeth into a whiny, simpering, love-sick fool?!?
January 24, 2011
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 feeble woman but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a King of England too...' Weak? Feeble? I think not! I first read this book in the United States, after a wonderful few hours in Borders. However, whilst an enjoyable read, it had obviously been adapted for the U S market. Elizabeth comments, on the efforts by her advisers to marry her off to the Dauphin of France, that he was too young, 'he was scarce out of diapers.' DIAPERS?!! In the Sixteenth Century? I left the book with my American friends. On returning home, I went to Waterstone's to buy a copy for a friend, and was assured most firmly by the sales assistant that this edition was blessedly diaper-free.
February 1, 2012
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. However, it still possessed too many chunks which can simply be described as frivolous and silly. The advanced Tudor reader would find these to be frustrating. Furthermore, many of the well-known events described feel rushed, too constrained, or even glossed over. Miles seemed to want to get the facts across but didn’t present them with a visionary, illustrious fictional path. Basically, I, Elizabeth was bland.
Further aggravating in I, Elizabeth, were the overly emphasized stereotypes in regards to the characters. Elizabeth as a child was portrayed in an overdose of child-like mentality, for instance, while her sister Mary was tightly squeezed into the villainous role with Elizabeth even calling Mary her “enemy” when she was merely 10 years old. Personalities weren’t explored out of the box or in an undefined way.
While speaking of characterizations; there was a large filter between the reader and Elizabeth which clearly causes dissonance as she is the main character. One never truly feels like Elizabeth’s ‘real’ psyche is explored and there is a major lack of intimacy.
On a more positive note, the prose is well-written, not too elementary, with a well-use of literary language and proper time period styles.
Although I didn’t click with this book, I CAN understand why others would. I would suggest I, Elizabeth for those not as familiar with the Tudors, as Miles gives a great introductory course into Elizabeth’s life and reign. Even the notes are helpful: the family tree charts are much clearer than that of most books (although it only states death dates versus birth), and the alphabetical glossary of well-known figures during the Tudor times (explaining their relations) would make a great leaflet for those who have to look up the characters while reading.
I am disheartened that I couldn’t get further in this novel. Perhaps, it would have gotten better as it progressed, but it was simply taking too long to do so.
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. However, it still possessed too many chunks which can simply be described as frivolous and silly. The advanced Tudor reader would find these to be frustrating. Furthermore, many of the well-known events described feel rushed, too constrained, or even glossed over. Miles seemed to want to get the facts across but didn’t present them with a visionary, illustrious fictional path. Basically, I, Elizabeth was bland.
Further aggravating in I, Elizabeth, were the overly emphasized stereotypes in regards to the characters. Elizabeth as a child was portrayed in an overdose of child-like mentality, for instance, while her sister Mary was tightly squeezed into the villainous role with Elizabeth even calling Mary her “enemy” when she was merely 10 years old. Personalities weren’t explored out of the box or in an undefined way.
While speaking of characterizations; there was a large filter between the reader and Elizabeth which clearly causes dissonance as she is the main character. One never truly feels like Elizabeth’s ‘real’ psyche is explored and there is a major lack of intimacy.
On a more positive note, the prose is well-written, not too elementary, with a well-use of literary language and proper time period styles.
Although I didn’t click with this book, I CAN understand why others would. I would suggest I, Elizabeth for those not as familiar with the Tudors, as Miles gives a great introductory course into Elizabeth’s life and reign. Even the notes are helpful: the family tree charts are much clearer than that of most books (although it only states death dates versus birth), and the alphabetical glossary of well-known figures during the Tudor times (explaining their relations) would make a great leaflet for those who have to look up the characters while reading.
I am disheartened that I couldn’t get further in this novel. Perhaps, it would have gotten better as it progressed, but it was simply taking too long to do so.
February 23, 2009
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, one-dimensional historical figure. I felt her joys and her fears, and I really, really kept on hoping she would finally find the love she desperately sought, even though I knew the ending of the story...She sacrificed herself for the love of her country.
This book trails Elizabeth from her days as a young girl all the way until she was an old woman who had been on the throne of England for over forty years. The character grows and matures, makes mistakes, is loved, and is betrayed so many times throughout the novel, and I just ate this story up. I liked the fact that Elizabeth's faults were shown--she was often too forgiving, and she let men wound her over and over again, yet she was so love-sick that she kept asking for more. I liked the fact that Miles didn't write her as a woman who was perfection itself, because Elizabeth wasn't. And the fact that she often made silly choices when it came to the opposite sex, the fact that she was often wildly jealous and possessive and prone to fits of depression, that made the character real, and it made her a woman. It was addictive, and I was sad to see it end.
Thanks for getting this for me, Warren!
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, one-dimensional historical figure. I felt her joys and her fears, and I really, really kept on hoping she would finally find the love she desperately sought, even though I knew the ending of the story...She sacrificed herself for the love of her country.
This book trails Elizabeth from her days as a young girl all the way until she was an old woman who had been on the throne of England for over forty years. The character grows and matures, makes mistakes, is loved, and is betrayed so many times throughout the novel, and I just ate this story up. I liked the fact that Elizabeth's faults were shown--she was often too forgiving, and she let men wound her over and over again, yet she was so love-sick that she kept asking for more. I liked the fact that Miles didn't write her as a woman who was perfection itself, because Elizabeth wasn't. And the fact that she often made silly choices when it came to the opposite sex, the fact that she was often wildly jealous and possessive and prone to fits of depression, that made the character real, and it made her a woman. It was addictive, and I was sad to see it end.
Thanks for getting this for me, Warren!
January 20, 2011
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 England through a 45 year reign. She survived her sister Mary Tudor, and she survived her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. She stood her ground against France and Spain without being completly preoccupied with war. And she did it all with the love of her people.
And now to compliment the book itself: I loved it. The writing style was at some points a little confusing to me, as it can be a little difficult to keep track of Lord this, Duke that, Earl of something, ect...But I like to read things that keep my attention.
Sometimes this story was absolutly heartbreaking. I nearly cried at the end of part 4.
I feel like after reading this I know Elizabeth I. I'm looking forward to reading Rosalind Miles other novels.
And now to compliment the book itself: I loved it. The writing style was at some points a little confusing to me, as it can be a little difficult to keep track of Lord this, Duke that, Earl of something, ect...But I like to read things that keep my attention.
Sometimes this story was absolutly heartbreaking. I nearly cried at the end of part 4.
I feel like after reading this I know Elizabeth I. I'm looking forward to reading Rosalind Miles other novels.
October 6, 2010
An interesting account of the life of Elizabeth I's life, written from her own perspective. I enjoyed it for the most part, though after the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, it felt like it was beginning to drag on.
One of the problems that I had was keeping track of the various secondary characters. While it's easy to remember characters like William and Robert Cecil, Walsingham, Robin Dudley, and Robert of Essex, the other various characters (mostly Elizabeth's Howard-Boleyn relations) seemed to run together, and it was hard to get a good grip on them.
I admit that I was also a bit skeptical about the part of Elizabeth's relationship with Robin where they ended up sleeping together with the intention of getting married. I agree that the whole "Virgin Queen" thing was very much a symbol for her to use in order to garner the love and support of her people, but personally I don't think she ever had any intention of marrying at all, and used her own wit and intelligence to string along everyone who was urging her to marry.
Overall, rather entertaining, though there were a few things to get caught up on.
One of the problems that I had was keeping track of the various secondary characters. While it's easy to remember characters like William and Robert Cecil, Walsingham, Robin Dudley, and Robert of Essex, the other various characters (mostly Elizabeth's Howard-Boleyn relations) seemed to run together, and it was hard to get a good grip on them.
I admit that I was also a bit skeptical about the part of Elizabeth's relationship with Robin where they ended up sleeping together with the intention of getting married. I agree that the whole "Virgin Queen" thing was very much a symbol for her to use in order to garner the love and support of her people, but personally I don't think she ever had any intention of marrying at all, and used her own wit and intelligence to string along everyone who was urging her to marry.
Overall, rather entertaining, though there were a few things to get caught up on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2008
I positively LOVE this book! Despite its size, I have read it several times, never tiring of the story. This is written as an autobiography and seeing things told from Elizabeth's viewpoint is amazing. It covers her entire life, from when she was about 4 years old up until about 2 years before her death in 1603. Miles does a wonderful job of getting her "voice" just right. It really shows the struggles she dealt with, publicly and privately. It really shows the sacrifices she (maybe) made to keep her kingdom safe and strong.
September 2, 2010
Read this several years ago... really enjoyed!!!
November 12, 2008
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. She is a good writer and I have read other books of hers that are better than this.
January 22, 2009
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.
June 21, 2009
Pretty accurate, from what I can tell, historical fiction. Most of the other stuff seems to me at least plausible, given what we know.
The portrayal of Mary Queen of Scots is fairly negative, but this is written from the perspective of Elizabeth I, hence I don't have a problem with it. (And I don't find the "notorious bad picker" a sympathetic, romantic figure to begin with.)
The portrayal of Mary Queen of Scots is fairly negative, but this is written from the perspective of Elizabeth I, hence I don't have a problem with it. (And I don't find the "notorious bad picker" a sympathetic, romantic figure to begin with.)
May 17, 2021
I don't know how much of this book was actually the product of research by the author, or her imagination, but it was a decently good book. It was a very intimate insight into the life of the first Elizabeth.
March 16, 2009
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 "whore", to the treacherous times before her accession to the throne, through her 45 year reign as Queen of England, until her death at the age of 69. Miles does a great job at putting you right there with her through it all...the good, the bad and the ugly!
The novel is broken down into 5 parts...Bastard, Virgin, Queen, Bellona and Gloriana, the five phases in Elizabeth's life. At a little over 600 pages, this is no light reading...but, do not fret, the chapters are short and it goes by quickly. Elizabeth is portrayed just how I imagined her...spunky, fiesty, strong, vain, gutsy, ornery and a tad bitchy! And it's a good thing that she was all those things, or else she never would've lasted against her Parliament!
The question of Elizabeth's virginity was handled very well in my opinion...she was such a passionate woman (being the offspring of two very amorous people, poor girl didn't stand a chance) and always surrounded herself with adoring men, it's easy to see how the scandals and rumors started. The matter of marriage never ceased to be a nuisance to Elizabeth and I can certainly understand her reluctance to it...after seeing what all the men in her life did to their wives, who could blame her?
The dialect in this novel was superb, Elizabeth has some great quotes that would make me laugh out loud or give me fantastic insight into that complex brain of hers.
Bottom line: Yours truly most enthusiastically recommends this outstanding novel to anyone and everyone who will listen!
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 "whore", to the treacherous times before her accession to the throne, through her 45 year reign as Queen of England, until her death at the age of 69. Miles does a great job at putting you right there with her through it all...the good, the bad and the ugly!
The novel is broken down into 5 parts...Bastard, Virgin, Queen, Bellona and Gloriana, the five phases in Elizabeth's life. At a little over 600 pages, this is no light reading...but, do not fret, the chapters are short and it goes by quickly. Elizabeth is portrayed just how I imagined her...spunky, fiesty, strong, vain, gutsy, ornery and a tad bitchy! And it's a good thing that she was all those things, or else she never would've lasted against her Parliament!
The question of Elizabeth's virginity was handled very well in my opinion...she was such a passionate woman (being the offspring of two very amorous people, poor girl didn't stand a chance) and always surrounded herself with adoring men, it's easy to see how the scandals and rumors started. The matter of marriage never ceased to be a nuisance to Elizabeth and I can certainly understand her reluctance to it...after seeing what all the men in her life did to their wives, who could blame her?
The dialect in this novel was superb, Elizabeth has some great quotes that would make me laugh out loud or give me fantastic insight into that complex brain of hers.
Bottom line: Yours truly most enthusiastically recommends this outstanding novel to anyone and everyone who will listen!
January 4, 2015
Elizabeth I has always fascinated me. The fact that she and I share a birthday only serves to heighten that fascination. Along with historical female icons like Matilda of Tuscany, and Boudica of the Iceni, Elizabeth I served her country with honor, integrity and courage. In a time when women were little more than property, Elizabeth I navigated the world of men with fearless cunning. Her exploits are legendary, but once one knows and understands her motivations, the spectacular nature of her victories becomes even more clear.
Countless biographies have been written about Elizabeth I, and I have read many of them. This version, by Rosalind Miles, contains all the requisite historical facts and figures, but presents them in a creative new delivery; from the mouth of the Queen herself. By spinning the tales this way, the author succeeds in revealing more thoroughly the vulnerabilities and emotions of this powerful English leader.
Written in a style that resembles Tudor jargon, the author skates close to the prose of the 1500s, while still making it understandable for modern readers. It is an excellent book; it will lay bare some of the mysteries of the time, beginning before Elizabeth I was born, effectively establishing the source of many of the Queen's motives and anxieties. It is recommended for any reader with an advanced ability, and plenty of quiet time; the real-life characters are many, and the historical plots are complicated and convoluted, which the author succeeds in decoding for present-day readers.
Countless biographies have been written about Elizabeth I, and I have read many of them. This version, by Rosalind Miles, contains all the requisite historical facts and figures, but presents them in a creative new delivery; from the mouth of the Queen herself. By spinning the tales this way, the author succeeds in revealing more thoroughly the vulnerabilities and emotions of this powerful English leader.
Written in a style that resembles Tudor jargon, the author skates close to the prose of the 1500s, while still making it understandable for modern readers. It is an excellent book; it will lay bare some of the mysteries of the time, beginning before Elizabeth I was born, effectively establishing the source of many of the Queen's motives and anxieties. It is recommended for any reader with an advanced ability, and plenty of quiet time; the real-life characters are many, and the historical plots are complicated and convoluted, which the author succeeds in decoding for present-day readers.
January 13, 2016
For a woman trying to be taken seriously in a man's position, the Elizabeth of this book "wept," "raged," and "screamed" an awful lot, especially at her advisors. She's very melodramatic, never just "saying" anything. I've read many books of both fiction and non-fiction about Elizabeth I, and I can't say this one added anything to my understanding of the woman or proposed any new ways of looking at her life. I think the author thought she was adding the perspective of Elizabeth spending her life trying to get approval from men like her father (her main crushes are conveniently red haired and focused on the physical), but there's nothing new in that hypothesis, and is tough to believe since even early on her father has so little presence in the book. The descriptions of clothes and jewelry are lovely, but they don't make a book. The repetition of certain phrases got tiresome ("pearls for tears," "my lord" this and "my lord" that instead of a name, his "well-shaped legs" and "blazing highlights in his hair/eyes," etc.) as did the inconsistent use of italics. The italicized text goes on for pages, I think trying to convey her state of mind, but the whole book is her state of mind, so why the formatting change? By the end of the book it was just annoying.
March 10, 2009
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 packed full of names and all their various titles and political positions the reading can be slow at times.
January 15, 2026
I ultimately rated this book three stars. While it is well written and richly detailed, I had several issues with how Elizabeth herself was portrayed.
Although Elizabeth is powerful in moments when the story requires it, she often felt more like a maiden bound to fate than the formidable queen history remembers. In this telling of her life, she is frequently desperate to please men, prone to tears, and emotionally driven in ways that made it difficult to see her as the strong and calculating ruler she is known to be.
She repeatedly flies into overly dramatic, almost beastly rages whenever her favourites at court or near lovers so much as look at another woman, let alone marry one. I cannot say with certainty how she behaved in real life beyond her long standing quarrel with Lettice Knollys, but here it often came across as childish and excessive.
Even after ascending the throne, it felt as though her character regressed rather than matured. Instead of aging with the elegance and authority of a reigning queen, she increasingly read as a petulant girl trapped in the same emotional patterns.
Ironically, the sections where I liked Elizabeth the most were during her youth, when she was confined to the countryside and longing for court life. The periods surrounding her father’s reign, and to some extent her brother’s, were arguably the strongest parts of the book. After that point, the narrative slowly began to lose its hold on me.
While I enjoyed the book for what it was, I am not sure I will ever pick it up again. It has been years since I last read a fictional, first person account of a Tudor monarch’s life, and I cannot say that this one rekindled any fondness for the style. Though, it’s definitely rich in historical accuracy of time, plots, and events, and even better told than most of the fictional parts.
This book does not quite reach the level of disappointment I felt with Philippa Gregory’s The Constant Princess, but my dislike for it is still very much present. That said, the author certainly succeeded in one respect. Every man Elizabeth ever showed affection for was deeply unlikable, which may very well have been the point.
Although Elizabeth is powerful in moments when the story requires it, she often felt more like a maiden bound to fate than the formidable queen history remembers. In this telling of her life, she is frequently desperate to please men, prone to tears, and emotionally driven in ways that made it difficult to see her as the strong and calculating ruler she is known to be.
She repeatedly flies into overly dramatic, almost beastly rages whenever her favourites at court or near lovers so much as look at another woman, let alone marry one. I cannot say with certainty how she behaved in real life beyond her long standing quarrel with Lettice Knollys, but here it often came across as childish and excessive.
Even after ascending the throne, it felt as though her character regressed rather than matured. Instead of aging with the elegance and authority of a reigning queen, she increasingly read as a petulant girl trapped in the same emotional patterns.
Ironically, the sections where I liked Elizabeth the most were during her youth, when she was confined to the countryside and longing for court life. The periods surrounding her father’s reign, and to some extent her brother’s, were arguably the strongest parts of the book. After that point, the narrative slowly began to lose its hold on me.
While I enjoyed the book for what it was, I am not sure I will ever pick it up again. It has been years since I last read a fictional, first person account of a Tudor monarch’s life, and I cannot say that this one rekindled any fondness for the style. Though, it’s definitely rich in historical accuracy of time, plots, and events, and even better told than most of the fictional parts.
This book does not quite reach the level of disappointment I felt with Philippa Gregory’s The Constant Princess, but my dislike for it is still very much present. That said, the author certainly succeeded in one respect. Every man Elizabeth ever showed affection for was deeply unlikable, which may very well have been the point.
October 20, 2020
This book was published in 1994; it hasn't been on my shelf THAT long, but for awhile, so I decided to give it a chance. At 618 pages, it was a challenge, but not a slog. Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, grew up apart from her father, the King. Ms. Miles presents her childhood with lots of detail, and of course, court intrigues. Her status changed over the years; at one point, she was officially declared a bastard! Here's her description of her father: He must have weighed thirty stone. He was as big as the biggest of beer barrels. . . His head alone looked like a great bladder of lard, he cheeks were slabs of sweated cheese, his eyes mere slits that never now would open, but neither could they close. . .
Ms. Miles details the negotiations around diplomacy in the age of absolute monarchs; marriages that took place between reigning houses around Europe. She describes the children and cousins and all the permutations that took place in England, to keep the royal line, in this case the Tudors, active. As Americans, we do not have this history of Kings and Queens and others. We also have been spared the tortures, the burning of human flesh, the Tower of London, the religious wars.
My criticism is that Queen Elizabeth is presented, in her private life, as the main character of a romance novel, always involved in a love affair, which cannot have been such a constant in her life.
Ms. Miles details the negotiations around diplomacy in the age of absolute monarchs; marriages that took place between reigning houses around Europe. She describes the children and cousins and all the permutations that took place in England, to keep the royal line, in this case the Tudors, active. As Americans, we do not have this history of Kings and Queens and others. We also have been spared the tortures, the burning of human flesh, the Tower of London, the religious wars.
My criticism is that Queen Elizabeth is presented, in her private life, as the main character of a romance novel, always involved in a love affair, which cannot have been such a constant in her life.
February 12, 2024
I love the Tudors, but tend to focus on the War of the Roses and the Six Wives of Henry the VIII. All three of Henry's heirs lives and time on the throne are lesser known to me. This is a fantastic story of Elizabeth from childhood throughout her reign. It's nearly 800 pages long (Thank goodness for my Kindle) and I loved every bit of it. I learned so much and want to read more about Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth.
September 18, 2008
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, Rosalind Miles seems to have done he research really well, I didn't notice any glaring errors, which is good, because that normally really annoys me, she seemed to be pretty accurate and she created a very believable voice for Elizabeth. There were no obviosuly modern phrases that jumped out of me or jarred with the narrative. My only problem with Elizabeth's narration was the fact that I could never quite work out who she was meant to be narrating to, it seemed to jump around a bit
I also found she brushed over a few areas of Elizabeth's life that I personally found really interesting (although obviously that is simply my own preference) but I was disappointed to see so little of her relationship with Alencon, especially when the book is based so heavily around Elizabeth's romances and Alencon was one of the few suitors to visit England in person. At the same time though I discovered things and characters that I didn't know much about so, ups and downs I guess
Overall I did enjoy it, but I think the last hundred pages should probably have been at least 50% shorter than they actaully were, then it might not have seemed like such a slow and whiney ending to such a spectacular life.
However, Rosalind Miles seems to have done he research really well, I didn't notice any glaring errors, which is good, because that normally really annoys me, she seemed to be pretty accurate and she created a very believable voice for Elizabeth. There were no obviosuly modern phrases that jumped out of me or jarred with the narrative. My only problem with Elizabeth's narration was the fact that I could never quite work out who she was meant to be narrating to, it seemed to jump around a bit
I also found she brushed over a few areas of Elizabeth's life that I personally found really interesting (although obviously that is simply my own preference) but I was disappointed to see so little of her relationship with Alencon, especially when the book is based so heavily around Elizabeth's romances and Alencon was one of the few suitors to visit England in person. At the same time though I discovered things and characters that I didn't know much about so, ups and downs I guess
Overall I did enjoy it, but I think the last hundred pages should probably have been at least 50% shorter than they actaully were, then it might not have seemed like such a slow and whiney ending to such a spectacular life.
October 16, 2015
Okay, I'll admit, this was a re-read. But since I last read it (for probably the tenth time at least, the binding was busted then, too) six years ago, I couldn't remember any of the cadences or even half of the plot, so I decided it counted as really reading it this year.
I was right, because in addition to all I had forgotten, I understood a lot more of its jokes now and was able to take much of what was said with more understanding of the world. And even though I'm sentimental over this book, I can say with full confidence that it's damn good.
I truly doubt anyone could write a better voice for Elizabeth I than Miles does. I've never seen it done, and I've read quite a few novels on the subject. Elizabeth echoes: her booming, demanding, even fearful voice brings everything to life in a way that feels entirely human. I get caught up in her patterns as I read it, and this review shows some of the dregs of reading it in four quick days. Elizabeth's voice is the greatest asset of this book.
But also wonderful is the plot. It's amazing how Miles was able to weave together all the events of Elizabeth's life, make a common person underneath while so much changed over time. The romances are my weak spot, but it also has the policies to back them up with the realization that Elizabeth was more than just the heroine of several love tragedies, she was among the best rulers England ever had.
I was right, because in addition to all I had forgotten, I understood a lot more of its jokes now and was able to take much of what was said with more understanding of the world. And even though I'm sentimental over this book, I can say with full confidence that it's damn good.
I truly doubt anyone could write a better voice for Elizabeth I than Miles does. I've never seen it done, and I've read quite a few novels on the subject. Elizabeth echoes: her booming, demanding, even fearful voice brings everything to life in a way that feels entirely human. I get caught up in her patterns as I read it, and this review shows some of the dregs of reading it in four quick days. Elizabeth's voice is the greatest asset of this book.
But also wonderful is the plot. It's amazing how Miles was able to weave together all the events of Elizabeth's life, make a common person underneath while so much changed over time. The romances are my weak spot, but it also has the policies to back them up with the realization that Elizabeth was more than just the heroine of several love tragedies, she was among the best rulers England ever had.
May 25, 2009
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 be too carnal and licentious for 16th century morals, social norms and sociatal capabilities. Yes, sex has been around forever but especially as a woman brought up in a culture expecting virtuous women to carry on an unpolluted succession of heirs, this novel portrays her as only capable of sexually frustrated thoughts. I felt the novel got worse as Robert dies and she moves her affections to the Earl of Essex (which does happen historically speaking) but I believe the portrayal to be very lewd. On a less critical note, the several characters surrounding Elizabeth, namely the Cecil's, I felt were dramatized well and in a way which made me want to read more of them. I'm still undecided on the novel's portrayal of Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII.
Not a great read; I'm very disappointed.
Not a great read; I'm very disappointed.
July 19, 2014
Elizabeth I, the last of the Tudor line, a bastard born of the "Great Whore" Anne Boleyn, was known as the Virgin Queen. She never married, but ruled on her own for 40 years. This novel delves into her reign from the day of her accession, with all of the politics, rumors, plots, and passion in her life. She had to rebuff suitors so as not to create war, had to protect her throne from would be heirs such as Mary Queen of Scots, and had to rule firmly but fairly so she could avoid uprising and rebellion in her own country. And she did all that without a king by her side. I love this time period and the Tudor Court; such an intriguing time. This book gave me a look at Elizabeth and much of what went on during her reign; all I knew before was that she was the Virgin Queen. Now I have more understanding of her as not only a queen, but a woman trying to make her way without a man to rule her life. One of the early feminists, I would say, though obviously that was not a goal of hers. She saw what happened to other women around her who married, and she did not want to suffer the same fate. And she managed to bring her country to prosperity. Proof that women can rule, if you ask me.
March 18, 2008
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 off a bit.
also...there are so many people in the book to keep track of. i found myself flipping to the back of the book (where the author has an "index of characters") constantly, to keep track of everyone. i still couldn't keep track. so eventually, i stopped flipping to the back and just read.
this is one of the first historical fiction books that i've read. i'm not sure i'd pick up another one anytime soon. it was a bit overwhelming for me...
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 off a bit.
also...there are so many people in the book to keep track of. i found myself flipping to the back of the book (where the author has an "index of characters") constantly, to keep track of everyone. i still couldn't keep track. so eventually, i stopped flipping to the back and just read.
this is one of the first historical fiction books that i've read. i'm not sure i'd pick up another one anytime soon. it was a bit overwhelming for me...
May 10, 2010
i love historical fiction, particularly anything about the tudors. i can also appreciate any attempt to write from a particular historical figures point of view. and this portrayal of Elizabeth was quite different than others I have encountered - no one author will capture everything about any one historical person so I can work with the differences presented by each author to create 'my own Elizabeth'. with that said, this was way too long. i felt that many themes were so overly used and abused (i.e., her pent up lust) that it started to bore me the last 100 to 150 pages. not to mention that the use of italics was annoying to read. i'm just glad i finished it.
July 25, 2008
Alright, I so desperately disliked this book I had to write about it and warn more of the general population to save themselves. If there was a way to give negative stars I would have done so. It was long, drawn out, repetitive to a fault, and overall not what I expected. As someone who LOVES history I can safely say this book almost killed my passion. Thank God I know better than to let one tragic read ruin something for me. Stay away...stay far far away from this book.
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