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Queen Elizabeth
There are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind; and every person who seeks for any degree of mental cultivation, feels desirous of informing himself of the leading outlines of their history, that he may know, in brief, what it was in their characters or their doings which has given them so widely-extended a fame. Consequently, great historical names alone are selected; and it has been the writer's aim to present the prominent and leading traits in their characters, and all the important events in their lives, in a bold and free manner, and yet in the plain and simple language which is so obviously required in works which aim at permanent and practical usefulness. This volume is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth.
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First published January 1, 1849
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About the author
Jacob Abbott
1,407 books91 followersAbbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820; studied at Andover Theological Seminary in 1821, 1822, and 1824; was tutor in 1824-1825, and from 1825 to 1829 was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College; was licensed to preach by the Hampshire Association in 1826; founded the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston in 1829, and was principal of it in 1829-1833; was pastor of Eliot Congregational Church (which he founded), at Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1834-1835; and was, with his brothers, a founder, and in 1843-1851 a principal of Abbott's Institute, and in 1845-1848 of the Mount Vernon School for Boys, in New York City.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He died in Farmington, Maine, where he had spent part of his time after 1839, and where his brother, Samuel Phillips Abbott, founded the Abbott School.
His Rollo Books, such as Rollo at Work, Rollo at Play, Rollo in Europe, etc., are the best known of his writings, having as their chief characters a representative boy and his associates. In them Abbott did for one or two generations of young American readers a service not unlike that performed earlier, in England and America, by the authors of Evenings at Home, The History of Sandford and Merton, and the The Parent's Assistant.
Fewacres in 1906, Abbott's residence at Farmington, Maine
His brothers, John S.C. Abbott and Gorham Dummer Abbott, were also authors. His sons, Benjamin Vaughan Abbott, Austin Abbott, both eminent lawyers, Lyman Abbott, and Edward Abbott, a clergyman, were also well-known authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 20, 2016
Queen Elizabeth is a very well researched book on the life and times of Queen Elizabeth. The author did painstaking research to get it right. He does a stupendous job at describing the area in which she lived as well as the costomes of the people which shaped her. I would recommend all books by this author.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
April 26, 2012
A brief but excellent and engaging account of the life and character of the most notable english queen that ever existed. Note that this is not the most extensive biography of Elizabeth I, but very useful as a starting point if you're interested in this period of history.
July 24, 2016
A great introduction to those interested in the rule and lifespan of one of the greatest English monarchs.
July 14, 2015
#1 of 22 in my personal (and rather random) challenge to read Abbot's Makers of History series. The series is most famously known for influencing Abraham Lincoln.
Jacob Abbot's historical biographies were famously read by Lincoln, who credited them for all his understanding of historical figures of power. I decided to start with his biography of Elizabeth I, the subject I felt I knew most about already. Despite being published over 100 years ago, it was a fresh read, engaging.
A couple things were impacted by the time it was written though. Some details were omitted, probably to avoid shocking people of Abbott's time. For instance, there was no mention that one of Anne Boleyn's accused lovers was her brother and that Anne was accused of incest. No discussion of Queen Mary's fertility issues and possible cause of death (uterine cancer). Basically anything sexually scandalous beyond adultery was omitted. Understandable not just because Abbott was writing in a different time, but also because his work tended to gravitate toward younger readers.
Another oddity. Abbott made several comments comparing Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth, suggesting that people of his time loved and romanticized Mary Queen of Scotts and had little interest in Elizabeth. He mentions how visitors to their tombs in Westminster Abbey pause only briefly at Elizabeth's tomb, but stand mournful in front of Mary's tomb. With all the interpretations of Elizabeth in recent decades, I think Mary has become more of a footnote to Elizabeth's life. Interesting how we view people of the past differently depending on our own world. I think feminism changed our perspective of her, making Elizabeth look more empowered and less power-hungry. Personally, I think Elizabeth's choice to not marry has nothing to do with her desire for power. I think it has more to do with witnessing her father's abuse of marriage during her formative years. At any rate, this biography gives us the benefit of another historical perspective. You won't see the pretty, regal, feministic Cate Blanchett in this work.
Queen Mary (Elizabeth's sister) on the other hand is viewed the same as you find in contemporary perspectives, pious and cruel, an unhappy woman in an unhappy marriage. Abbot's description of her relationship with Phillip of Spain was colorful, as was Elizabeth's similar torment with Essex. So despite the delicate handling of some subjects, Abbot still managed to invoke the passions of his subjects. He also maintained an honest representation of Elizabeth, who he admired for her cunning, but called out on her pettinesses.
A good, relatively quick read. I'll probably check out his Mary Queen if Scots biography next.
Jacob Abbot's historical biographies were famously read by Lincoln, who credited them for all his understanding of historical figures of power. I decided to start with his biography of Elizabeth I, the subject I felt I knew most about already. Despite being published over 100 years ago, it was a fresh read, engaging.
A couple things were impacted by the time it was written though. Some details were omitted, probably to avoid shocking people of Abbott's time. For instance, there was no mention that one of Anne Boleyn's accused lovers was her brother and that Anne was accused of incest. No discussion of Queen Mary's fertility issues and possible cause of death (uterine cancer). Basically anything sexually scandalous beyond adultery was omitted. Understandable not just because Abbott was writing in a different time, but also because his work tended to gravitate toward younger readers.
Another oddity. Abbott made several comments comparing Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth, suggesting that people of his time loved and romanticized Mary Queen of Scotts and had little interest in Elizabeth. He mentions how visitors to their tombs in Westminster Abbey pause only briefly at Elizabeth's tomb, but stand mournful in front of Mary's tomb. With all the interpretations of Elizabeth in recent decades, I think Mary has become more of a footnote to Elizabeth's life. Interesting how we view people of the past differently depending on our own world. I think feminism changed our perspective of her, making Elizabeth look more empowered and less power-hungry. Personally, I think Elizabeth's choice to not marry has nothing to do with her desire for power. I think it has more to do with witnessing her father's abuse of marriage during her formative years. At any rate, this biography gives us the benefit of another historical perspective. You won't see the pretty, regal, feministic Cate Blanchett in this work.
Queen Mary (Elizabeth's sister) on the other hand is viewed the same as you find in contemporary perspectives, pious and cruel, an unhappy woman in an unhappy marriage. Abbot's description of her relationship with Phillip of Spain was colorful, as was Elizabeth's similar torment with Essex. So despite the delicate handling of some subjects, Abbot still managed to invoke the passions of his subjects. He also maintained an honest representation of Elizabeth, who he admired for her cunning, but called out on her pettinesses.
A good, relatively quick read. I'll probably check out his Mary Queen if Scots biography next.
September 12, 2014
LibriVox.
It was a good reading.
It is about the life oft Queen Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
It was really interesting and totally worth to read / listen.
But it is not just about Queen Elizabeth I, but also about her fathers life - with his wives and trouble. So far, so good.
It was a good reading.
It is about the life oft Queen Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
It was really interesting and totally worth to read / listen.
But it is not just about Queen Elizabeth I, but also about her fathers life - with his wives and trouble. So far, so good.
March 17, 2018
Elizabeth was very vain of her beauty, though, unfortunately, she had very little beauty to be vain of. [grin]
I thought I knew Queen Elizabeth I. I knew her "I have, I know, only the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a king" speech to her troops before the battle with the Spanish Armada. That Elizabeth had her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded was another common fact. And I knew that Elizabeth was tutored by the excellent Roger Ascham, scholar and defender of archery as a noble pastime.
What I did not know was that age three she was both motherless and friendless. That she didn't allow her ladies in waiting to get married! That she had a quick intellect and a sharp tongue. Abbott paints Sir Francis Drake as the pirate that he was. Three of the leading men in Elizabeth's life were the Earl of Leicester, Duke of Anjou (with whom she was once engaged), and the Earl of Essex.
What takes place precisely between ladies and gentlemen when they break off engagements is not generally very publicly known, but the duke came out from this interview in a fit of great vexation and anger.
The Earl of Essex, the step-son of Leicester, gets his own chapter. More than thirty years younger than the queen, he was like a son. Later he was arrested, and eventually beheaded. It is a sad story of pride and presumption, of power and rebellion, of pettiness and resentment.
To sum up all, Elizabeth was very great and she was, at the same time, very little.
I thought I knew Queen Elizabeth I. I knew her "I have, I know, only the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a king" speech to her troops before the battle with the Spanish Armada. That Elizabeth had her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded was another common fact. And I knew that Elizabeth was tutored by the excellent Roger Ascham, scholar and defender of archery as a noble pastime.
What I did not know was that age three she was both motherless and friendless. That she didn't allow her ladies in waiting to get married! That she had a quick intellect and a sharp tongue. Abbott paints Sir Francis Drake as the pirate that he was. Three of the leading men in Elizabeth's life were the Earl of Leicester, Duke of Anjou (with whom she was once engaged), and the Earl of Essex.
What takes place precisely between ladies and gentlemen when they break off engagements is not generally very publicly known, but the duke came out from this interview in a fit of great vexation and anger.
The Earl of Essex, the step-son of Leicester, gets his own chapter. More than thirty years younger than the queen, he was like a son. Later he was arrested, and eventually beheaded. It is a sad story of pride and presumption, of power and rebellion, of pettiness and resentment.
To sum up all, Elizabeth was very great and she was, at the same time, very little.
November 15, 2016
I found this as an audiobook on All You Can Books.com.
I've had the pleasure of listening to other historical works by Abbott and I wasn't disappointed.
To learn more about the Virgin Queen through Abbotts eyes was fascinating because he keeps his opinion and factual points unbiased, disputing and reflecting from both sides of her story that paint her as a good Queen and a bitter enemy.
I've had the pleasure of listening to other historical works by Abbott and I wasn't disappointed.
To learn more about the Virgin Queen through Abbotts eyes was fascinating because he keeps his opinion and factual points unbiased, disputing and reflecting from both sides of her story that paint her as a good Queen and a bitter enemy.
June 13, 2022
The author, at the outset, explains that nothing is added to this story of Elizabeth I that does not have documented proof it happened. The interesting part of this book is that the author added tidbits about court life and intrigues that might not be included in an average biography. I'd always heard that Elizabeth's early life was traumatic and this shows the why and how. At one time, the person in charge of Elizabeth had to beg for clothing for the child.
I thought the author did a great job of explaining Elizabeth's relationship with her siblings, particularly Mary Queen of Scots. Before reading this, I did not know the legal argument about whether Elizabeth was a legitimate child, thus raising Mary Queen of Scot's place in line in the succession for Queen of England.
Another interesting interlude was the fascinating story about Elizabeth and the young Earl of Essex. I can see why history takes a dim view of Elizabeth's behavior toward the much younger Essex. Elizabeth must have been devastated when she learned why the ring she gave Essex was not returned before his death. I think the author offers a balanced view of Elizabeth's life and times.
I thought the author did a great job of explaining Elizabeth's relationship with her siblings, particularly Mary Queen of Scots. Before reading this, I did not know the legal argument about whether Elizabeth was a legitimate child, thus raising Mary Queen of Scot's place in line in the succession for Queen of England.
Another interesting interlude was the fascinating story about Elizabeth and the young Earl of Essex. I can see why history takes a dim view of Elizabeth's behavior toward the much younger Essex. Elizabeth must have been devastated when she learned why the ring she gave Essex was not returned before his death. I think the author offers a balanced view of Elizabeth's life and times.
May 2, 2019
This book gives lots of detail about Elizabeth I without going into so much conversations and minutia. It was first published in 1876, so the style of writing reflects the style from that era. It does give a lot of information about Elizabeth, the personality that she had, the way she dealt with her all male Parliment. She didn't give an inch. She was very much her own woman. This story follows her life from birth, through her trials of her half sister Mary, and with Mary, Queen of Scots. It touches on some of the marriage deals and proposals, through to her declining health at the end of her life. It also talks about the way that her inner circle left her as soon as her last breath was gone, only to make their way to James I of Scotland
August 16, 2018
(LibriVox) Biography of Queen Elizabeth I's life written in 1876.
Abbott takes a deep dive into the public events in Elizabeth's life, of which there were many. From her childhood to her imprisonment to her ascension to the throne to her favorite courtiers to her wars. She was a queen to be admired.
Abbott's book is written in the style of the time -- there's no humor nor much editorializing. But if you're interested in the topic already, it holds tons of interesting facts. I've never seen a more full timeline anywhere.
I'd recommend to people who love biographies of the period, and especially to people who love Queen Bess.
Abbott takes a deep dive into the public events in Elizabeth's life, of which there were many. From her childhood to her imprisonment to her ascension to the throne to her favorite courtiers to her wars. She was a queen to be admired.
Abbott's book is written in the style of the time -- there's no humor nor much editorializing. But if you're interested in the topic already, it holds tons of interesting facts. I've never seen a more full timeline anywhere.
I'd recommend to people who love biographies of the period, and especially to people who love Queen Bess.
May 7, 2018
I liked this book. It wasn’t extremely exciting as it was written (though these were very exciting, scandalous times) but was very informative and gave me a lot more insight into the character of Queen Elizabeth I. It didn’t change my opinion of her; I still feel like she was pretty callous and sometimes cruel, but, nonetheless, impressive and interesting.
November 21, 2022
1588年，嘉靖三十八年，这一年努尔哈赤统一女真部。英格兰童贞女王伊丽莎白一世1月15日的加冕，现代化的曙光已然轻抚这里。女王在位44年中有“知识就是力量的”的思想；“生存还是毁灭”的诘问，无敌舰队的毁灭还有玛丽傻的女王的人头……
书写于19世纪40年代，书写的四平八稳，与《人类群星闪耀时》这种作品，就有些无聊平庸。惟一挺让人动情的看到被自己处死的宠臣埃塞克斯伯爵的戒指绝食而死……
书好的地方就是前面有梗概。
书写于19世纪40年代，书写的四平八稳，与《人类群星闪耀时》这种作品，就有些无聊平庸。惟一挺让人动情的看到被自己处死的宠臣埃塞克斯伯爵的戒指绝食而死……
书好的地方就是前面有梗概。
March 16, 2018
A peak at Elizabeth the 1st. Reign.
She was strong, tenacious, a leader when Britain
needed a leader. She shaped the future as a world wide leader.
She was strong, tenacious, a leader when Britain
needed a leader. She shaped the future as a world wide leader.
Read
October 10, 2021My intro to Jacob Abbott's books. This one detailed the history leading up to Elizabeth, esp. the horrors and fallout from Henry VIII and his many women, the royal wars for power and dynasty.
September 23, 2025
Read this for a history project two years ago. Disgustingly rich and intriguing; well-researched and very informative. History buffs will likely find this a fascinating and entertaining read.
February 1, 2021
I read this as an audio book with the freebooks app. Read by different people from livribox.org. this book was very easy to follow. It stars off with a little bit of history from Henry VII and his six wives. Elizabeth's siblings and everyone who took the English throne after Henry VIII died. So basically is the life from Elizabeth before birth, infancy and all her reign.
Reccomend this book for theTudor period lovers, Mary Queen of Scotts followers and of course Elizabeth I fans!
Reccomend this book for theTudor period lovers, Mary Queen of Scotts followers and of course Elizabeth I fans!
February 22, 2015
This book was written more than 100 years ago and expectedly the author is not free from gender bias...nevertheless one can read it to get a general historical perspective of england during Elizabeth's era..Elizabeth maynot touch your soft corners but there is a grudging admiration and respect for her...she was able to rule england bcoz of her cautious approach , shrewdness and intelligence...suffered a lot in her early years and lead a single life owning to her ambitions to rule...It was during her 45 year rule that england flourished and was much peaceful ..all in all she deserves to be revered n respected ....it takes more statesmanship to maintain peace than to wage a war...
December 17, 2016
This book is part of the series, by the same author, titled "Makers of History". I firs began to develop an interest in Queen Elizabeth after watching the TV drama "Reign". She is portrayed as a clever Queen who has her country's best interests at heart. I can't decide who I like best, her or her cousin Queen Mary. However, there is no doubt as to which of the two was the most successful monarch. I enjoyed the book and it made me interested in reading an account of her father's life and maybe even tuning in to the TV show "Tudors"
February 12, 2013
Another in the Abbott series of short histories of major figures, this book documents the life of Queen Elizabeth as well as her father and his myriad of family. With the recent surge of interest in Elizabeth, including countless books and movies, the gaps in this volume are more evident to modern readers than others in the collection. It is still however consistent with his vision of having widely accessible and easy to read history books.
March 16, 2013
I kept in mind that this was a book geared more for YOUTH or someone who was looking for an OVERVIEW of this period of history. I didn't expect to get an IN-DEPTH history. It is a wonderful "beginners" book for a bit of history during Queen Elizabeth's reign. It was enough to motivate someone to do more research into her life and this period of history.
September 8, 2014
Another Librivox recording to listen to while I knitted, this one done by a variety of all female readers. I believe this short history of Elizabeth was written as part of a young adult history series by Jacob Abbott, but nonetheless did not shy away from most of the political complications, sexual intrigues, and violence. Not high literature, but well-written and lively. Enjoyed it!
June 7, 2012
Just as biased as the Mary QoS biography but less enjoyable. I'd rather read someone gush over their historical crush than the opposite - I can only take so much about how "manly" Elizabeth was (ew, gross, an aggressive woman!) before I get bored.
January 30, 2010
Although this book is well-researched, clear and purposeful, it lacks depth. It was like reading a history book; there was little feeling in it. The author failed to create an exciting plot.
August 11, 2014
A balanced and engaging biography, like all of the Abbott histories.
December 1, 2011
I listened to the audiobook edition.
January 8, 2012
Abbott seems a bit angry that Elizabeth was a moody spoilt queen but does give a decent and fair handed account of her queenship.
February 19, 2012
Was a bit hard to read with all of the typos, sometimes was like playing hangman, trying to fill in the blanks, but the book was good. Very informative and interesting.
May 14, 2012
I do agree with the other reviewers that it lacks depth, but it is a really good starting point for understanding Elizabeth and her times.
July 11, 2012
I just finished watching The Tudors on television and wanted to find out what happened next. It was very informative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews