Selected Works

by Elizabeth I (Editor)

A carefully researched collection of the British monarch's public and private writings, timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of her death, includes works of poetry, speeches, letters, prayers, and translations.

Genres: History, Poetry, Historical

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2004

About the author

Elizabeth I, succeeded Mary I Tudor, a Catholic, from 1558 as queen of England and Ireland and reestablished Protestantism; several plots to overthrow her, the execution of Mary Stuart of Scots in 1587, the defeat of the Spanish armada in 1588, and domestic prosperity and literary achievement marked her reign.

Roger Ascham as her Latin secretary advocated the use of the vernacular.

Mary Stuart as the Catholic monarch and queen of Scotland fled to England in 1568; Elizabeth I imprisoned her, but supporters plotted to place her on the throne and resulted in her trial and execution for sedition.

James VI, the son of Mary Stuart, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, heir of Elizabeth over England.

From 17 November 1558, people knew her simply until her death and the accession of Elizabeth II. People sometimes called this fifth and last monarch of the dynasty as the virgin, Gloriana, or good Bess. Anne Boleyn, bore this princess to Henry VIII but died two and a half years afterward, and people declared her illegitimate. Edward VI, her half-brother, bequeathed the crown to lady Jane Grey and cut out his two half-sisters in spite of statute law to the contrary. People set aside his will and Jane Grey. Reign of her half-sister imprisoned Elizabeth for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting rebels.

Elizabeth set good counsel to rule and depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers, whom William Cecil, baron Burghley, led. One of her first moves ruled as the supreme governor of the church. This Elizabethan religious settlement later evolved into Church of today. People expected Elizabeth to marry and to produce an heir to continue the line. Despite numerous courtships, she, however, never married. The portraits, pageants, and of the day celebrated a cult around famous virginity of older Elizabeth.

Cautious Elizabeth in foreign affairs moved between the major powers of France. She imprisoned her rival in 1568 eventually until 1587. In the mid-1580s, people no longer ably avoided war, and she finally decided to defeat attempt to conquer in 1588 in the popularly viewed greatest victory in history.

In the famous Elizabethan era, playwrights, such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe led the flourishing of drama amid the seafaring prowess of adventurers, such as Sir Francis Drake. Towards the end, a series of economic and military problems weakened her popularity. People acknowledge this charismatic performer and a dogged survivor in an age of ramshackle and limited government as monarchs in neighboring countries faced internal problems that jeopardized their thrones.

After the short half-siblings, 44 years of Elizabeth on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped to forge a sense of national identity.

Reviews

[Hope Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rough read but cool on Queen Elizabeth I for writing poetry

[C.B. Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the closest I could find to what I had to read for British Lit, which was a short collection of Elizabeth I's poetry and a few speeches. Definitely interesting, but very hard to read, because of the word selection.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful