The Myth of Elizabeth

by Susan Doran (Editor), Thomas Freeman

Elizabeth I is one of England's most admired and celebrated rulers. She is also one of its most iconic. This wide-ranging interdisciplinary collection of essays examines the origins and development of the image and myths that came to surround the Virgin Queen. The essays question the prevailing assumptions about the mythic Elizabeth and challenge the view that she was unanimously celebrated in the literature and portraiture of the early modern era. They explain how the most familiar myths surrounding the queen developed from the concerns of her contemporaries and continue to reverberate today. Published to mark the 400th anniversary of the queen's death, this volume will appeal to all those with an interest in the historiography of Elizabeth's reign and Elizabethan, and Jacobean, poets and dramatists.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period

269 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2003

About the author

Dr Susan Doran is a British historian whose primary studies surround the reign of Elizabeth I, in particular the theme of marriage and succession. She has published and edited sixteen books, most notably Elizabeth I and Religion, 1558-1603, Monarchy and Matrimony and Queen Elizabeth I, part of the British Library's Historic Lives series.

She is currently a tutor and member of the history faculty at Christ Church, Oxford University where her specific area of interest is stated as being Early Modern British and European history. Previously, Doran was a reader in history, Senior Lecturer in History and Teaching Studies and Director of the History Programme at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, part of the University of Surrey.

She is also a Director of Studies for history at Regent's Park College and Senior Research Fellow for History at Jesus College

Reviews

[Anya Quinn 🐞📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! Some parts I skim read because i only need portrayals of Elizabeth’s marriage prospects, but a great book with many historical approaches and how the queen was presented in literature. I especially liked Susan Doran’s chapter ‘Virginity, Divinity, Power’ as she mentioned more paintings than the other chapters, such as Elizabeth I and the three goddesses by Hans Eworth and comparisons to Aeneas and Dido in the Sieve portrait. Any comparisons of the Aeneid to monarchs makes me very excited, so will be using this for my module through comparisons of Dido and her “destiny was to reject marriage and found an empire” which links to Elizabeth’s statement at the start of her reign that she has no interest in marriage.

I wouldn’t read this if you are looking for her actual potential husbands as it’s the portrayals of her as queen rather than the partnerships she was offered, there is brief mention of Francis Duke of Anjou, but still great when studying John Foxe and his criticism, or just wanting to know more about her! The last chapter of Elizabeth I portrayed in Tv shows is great.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doran and Freeman situate this collection of essays within the debate over the 'cult of Elizabeth' and so this is about receptions and representations of Elizabeth rather than a history of the woman and queen.

As such, they take on both Strong and Greenblatt and their differing views on whether Elizabeth controlled her representation as virgin queen, Gloriana etc. or whether these were images imposed on her by the culture and society in which she lived.

These essays explore both these positions in greater depth, and are organised around three points of time: the contemporary view of Elizabeth; the Jacobean view following her death; the modern view. They're particularly interested in the way gender has shaped her imagery while focusing on the competing myths of her as virgin and promiscuous woman.

Taking in texts, portraits and other visual imagery, and even modern films, this is an interesting take on Elizabeth which foregrounds the multiplicity of images which she has engendered.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays from some of the foremost Tudor historians, delving into many of the sources and myths surrounding the 'cult' of Elizabeth. The essays provide a modern yet extremely detailed analysis on everything from contemporary myth-builders like Foxe and Camden to the queen's portrayal in recent films, overturning many cherished beliefs as the discussion moves on.
Given the nature of the work, it is obviously a very academic piece, more suited to the scholar than to the general reader. The writing can be clunky and assumes a level of knowledge that most people will not possess, but it is essential reading for those people utilizing sources like Harington and the 'Annales', as the background it provides enables a more thorough and mature awareness, and therefore understanding, of the works used to study Elizabeth.