The Lady Elizabeth Book

Elizabeth I ruled England for 45 years and was the last of the Tudor monarchs. She ascended the throne after the death of her Catholic sister Queen Mary who burned thousands of heretics at the stake and led the country to the 'reformed faith' to become one of the most popular monarchs in history.

The book begins in 1536 with three year old Elizabeth declared a bastard after the execution of mother, Anne Boleyn, and facing her young life away from her father's court. She is raised by a loyal household including her governess Kat Astley who becomes one of the most important people in Elizabeth's young life. At aged 10, Elizabeth is invited back to court by her father and his new wife Kathryn Parr with whom she bonds and becomes close to as her father's health deteriorates.

After her father's death Elizabeth is delighted to be invited to live with Kathryn Parr at Chelsea but finds she is attracted to Kathryn's new husband Tom Seymour. Their inappropriate behaviour does not go unnoticed, especially by Kat who tries her best to put an end to it and also by Queen Katherine who does not want to acknowledge that it might be going too far. Weir, who up until this point has stuck to historical fact creates a story around this speculation which adds some drama to the novel.

After her younger brother Edward's premature death, Elizabeth's sister Mary ascends the throne. It is the most difficult time of her life as she and her household are questioned for months over a plot which has been uncovered to overthrow the new Queen and to instate Elizabeth as Queen of England. I liked the way that Weir tackles the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary and their rivalry, yet always maintaining that they loved and trusted each other. Their religious differences are always at the centre of the book and the death of Lady Jane Grey reveals how strongly Mary feels about her Catholic faith.

A lot of people compare Weir to Philippa Gregory who writes in a similar genre. I have read a lot of Gregory's books and have enjoyed them all but feel that Weir's books have more depth and are more historically accurate. I love the way Weir has brought Elizabeth to life and given her a personality and opinions and the book has added to my knowledge of the period. I actually enjoyed both of Alison Weir's other novels more than this one, however this doesn't stop me giving The Lady Elizabeth 4 stars out of 5.

England 1536. Home to the greatest most glittering court in English history. But beneath the dazzling facade lies treachery...Elizabeth Tudor is daughter to Henry VIII the most powerful king England has ever known. She is destined to ascend the throne and deferred to as the King's heiress but that all changes when her mother Anne Boleyn - Henry's great passion and folly - is executed for treason. Elizabeth 's life alters in a heartbeat. A pawn in the savage game of Tudor power politics she is disinherited declared a bastard and left with only her quick wits to rely on for her very existence.