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The Lady Elizabeth
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel | Alison Weir
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alison Weir's Mary Boleyn. Following the tremendous success of her first novel, Innocent Traitor, which recounted the riveting tale of the doomed Lady Jane Grey, acclaimed historian and New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir turns her masterly storytelling skills to the early life of young Elizabeth Tudor, who would grow up to become Englands most intriguing and powerful queen. Even at age two, Elizabeth is keenly aware that people in the court of her father, King Henry VIII, have stopped referring to her as Lady Princess and now call her the Lady Elizabeth. Before she is three, she learns of the tragic fate that has befallen her mother, the enigmatic and seductive Anne Boleyn, and that she herself has been declared illegitimate, an injustice that will haunt her. What comes next is a succession of stepmothers, bringing with them glimpses of love, fleeting security, tempestuous conflict, and tragedy. The death of her father puts the teenage Elizabeth in greater peril, leaving her at the mercy of ambitious and unscrupulous men. Like her mother two decades earlier she is imprisoned in the Tower of Londonand fears she will also meet her mothers grisly end. Power-driven politics, private scandal and public gossip, a disputed succession, and the grievous example of her sister, Bloody Queen Mary, all cement Elizabeths resolve in matters of statecraft and love, and set the stage for her transformation into the iconic Virgin Queen. Alison Weir uses her deft talents as historian and novelist to exquisitely and suspensefully play out the conflicts between family, politics, religion, and conscience that came to define an age. Sweeping in scope, The Lady Elizabeth is a fascinating portrayal of a woman far ahead of her timean orphaned girl haunted by the shadow of the axe, an independent spirit who must use her cunning and wits for her very survival, and a future queen whose dangerous and dramatic path to the throne shapes her future greatness.
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aliasNayNay
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Pickpick

The Lady Elizabeth is a fascinating story of a woman far ahead of her time-a orphaned girl haunted by the shadow of the axe, a girl who must use her wits for her very survival, and a future queen whose dramatic path to the throne shapes her future greatness. It has suspense, tragedy and intrigue that you would expect of this time. It has the strong and vivid characters we long to read about. One of Alison Weir's best novels.

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SaraFair
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Pickpick

Covering her birth through her titling as queen, it gives the history of Mary Tudor‘s rule and the brief rule of Edward. Hard to find books on that in between part of history. Weir is my favorite for teaching the history and giving the fictional thoughts of the subject as well. This book gave me a greater knowledge of Elizabeth‘s early relationships, vast intelligence, and place within all the other personalities in this time period.

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AyaOfSiwa
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Start to read this book. Love Tudor history.

#croatianedition

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Born.A.Reader
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#bookhaul from my bi-monthly visit to my 2 favorite used bookstores. All these for $17. 😀😀 Now to find room for them....😨
Anyone see anything they loved? Or couldn't stand?

writerlibrarian Night is on my to read list. 7y
TrishB Firefly Lane 💜 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Winter Garden and Firefly Lane 💕 7y
Leigh0906 I loved March, but I was only so-so with The Paris Wife 7y
36 likes4 comments
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Gezemice
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Bailedbailed

I have learned from Alison Weir's work how smart, self-composed and wise Elizabeth was, even young. No - she would not have whispered something so trite and trivial. This convo - no. Sadly, there are many like this, or worse.

The writing is terrible. I found myself editing in my head to make the sentences flow.

I highly recommend her non-fiction. The real story is riveting - I recommend The Children of Henry VIII instead of this.

LeahBergen I read her book, Innocent Traitor, and was underwhelmed 😬 8y
Gezemice @LeahBergen Yeah, me too, but I could finish. I still adore her nonfiction and will re-read 8y
LitHousewife @LeahBergen LOL! That was the one I liked. I guess stay away from them all. 😝 8y
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LeahBergen @LitHousewife Well, I DID finish it and didn't actually loathe it or anything ? I just thought it should have been a bit more "page-turny" with a subject like Lady Jane Grey. And I do like her non-fiction! 8y
TheNextBook I couldn't do it either. I barely made it 50 pages. 8y
Gezemice @TheNextBook I guess we all agree that she should stick with non-fiction. 8y
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Gezemice
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Currently reading for my historical fiction category. I adore Alison Weir's nonfiction and read The Children of Henry VIII, which deals with the same period, so I know the story. I must say her fiction is not at all impressive - the writing is almost childish - she writes nonfiction almost like a novel, but a novelist she clearly is not... the story is compelling, however.

Dragon I agree her nonfiction is very good but I bailed on this book 8y
WordWaller I have a hard time with this. Most historical fiction I find is a great story but terrible writing 😫 8y
KVanRead Interesting to know. I guess I will stick to her non-fiction. I loved 8y
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LitHousewife I didn't care for this book at all. I did enjoy her novel about Lady Jane Grey, though. I'd read that first. This one disappointed me so much I've never gone back to her fiction. 8y
Gezemice @Dragon @WordWaller @KVanRead @LitHousewife I adore Weir's nonfiction, but this is just appalling. I highly suggest her nonfiction, but I am bailing on this. 8y
Gezemice @WordWaller Unfortunately much of contemporary "historical fiction" is just a romance novel in a historical setting, which is not my cup of tea. If you want to read a well-written one, I suggest "I, Claudius" and "Claudius, the God" from Robert Graves - those are my favorite books of all time. The Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon is also incredible and finally available in English. It blew me away back when I read it! 8y
Dragon I second your opinion on Robert Graves Claudius books. Loved them and the old BBC miniseries 8y
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lucy_literati
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Pickpick

I am now a total Alison Weir addict. This is the second of her historical novels and tells the story of Elizabeth I's early life and her battle to secure the crown. I have been totally immersed in Tudor England for the last two books. Absolutely brilliant. On to another...

shawnmooney I read and loved Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' this year. You might enjoy it too. 8y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I love the Tudor series by Philippa Gregory, but struggled with Mantel's Wolf Hall. Adding Weir to my list! 8y
lucy_literati I have Wolf Hall waiting for me... 8y
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lucy_literati
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Ok, new addiction. Can't get enough of Weir's Tudor fiction. I think I could happily read her entire backlist back to back right now.

lucy_literati @DivineDiana this is the second one. Can't get enough! 9y
DivineDiana @bookworm_1978 Thank you! Looking forward to reading them! 9y
Eastbriar I haven't read any of her fiction yet, but have been into her non fiction. I love the way she writes. I've been really into Tudor history lately, it's fascinating! 9y
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Scithighs I love her work! I've read all her Henry the eighth stuff. I need a weir fix soon. 9y
lucy_literati @Eastbriar @Scithighs Is her non fiction easy to read too? 9y
Scithighs Her non fiction reads like fiction. Sometimes better than fiction! 9y
lucy_literati Ok sold! Off to look at her backlist... 9y
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