What do you think?
Rate this book
Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen
Elizabeth I is arguably one of the greatest monarchs and women of English history. Against an uncertain political and religious backdrop of post-reformation Europe she ruled at the conception of social modernization, living in the shadow of the infamy of her parents reputations and striving to prove herself an equal to the monarchs who had gone before her.
This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life both before and after she ascended to the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth's decisions, both as a queen and as a woman.
Amongst the events examined are the death of her mother, the role and fates of her subsequent stepmothers, the fate of Lady Jane Grey and the subsequent behavior and reign of her half sister Mary Tudor, along with the death of Amy Dudley, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland, the Papal Bull and the Spanish Amanda.
This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life both before and after she ascended to the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth's decisions, both as a queen and as a woman.
Amongst the events examined are the death of her mother, the role and fates of her subsequent stepmothers, the fate of Lady Jane Grey and the subsequent behavior and reign of her half sister Mary Tudor, along with the death of Amy Dudley, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland, the Papal Bull and the Spanish Amanda.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2020
8 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 11, 2025
2.9 "a mixed yet valiant attempt" star !!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Pen & Sword Books for an ecopy. This was released April 2020. I am providing an honest review.
I wanted to read a little intro to Elizabeth I and decide whether I want to delve further. This little book whetted my appetite and I have shortlisted the large tome Elizabeth I to engross myself.
This book was not so much a historical biography but rather a haphazard exploration of the people and cultural forces that contributed to the reign of 16th century Elizabeth I. There was a fair chunk on Henry VIII (her father), Mary (Queen of Scots, her half sister) and other various caregivers and the men and women of her court. This was done in a semi-interesting and semi-coherent fashion.
The analysis, although earnest, felt very 3rd year undergraduate history. Despite the mixed results I quite enjoyed this read (3 to 3.25 star quality). I learned a fair bit but wanted very much more. (Also very cool that I finished this on Victoria Day here in Canada)
I have also added the following two books as possibilities for future reading:
-Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley
-Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Pen & Sword Books for an ecopy. This was released April 2020. I am providing an honest review.
I wanted to read a little intro to Elizabeth I and decide whether I want to delve further. This little book whetted my appetite and I have shortlisted the large tome Elizabeth I to engross myself.
This book was not so much a historical biography but rather a haphazard exploration of the people and cultural forces that contributed to the reign of 16th century Elizabeth I. There was a fair chunk on Henry VIII (her father), Mary (Queen of Scots, her half sister) and other various caregivers and the men and women of her court. This was done in a semi-interesting and semi-coherent fashion.
The analysis, although earnest, felt very 3rd year undergraduate history. Despite the mixed results I quite enjoyed this read (3 to 3.25 star quality). I learned a fair bit but wanted very much more. (Also very cool that I finished this on Victoria Day here in Canada)
I have also added the following two books as possibilities for future reading:
-Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley
-Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
April 19, 2020
DON'T LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU...
Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐
Despite the title of this book, this is not a biography of Elizabeth I nor a study of how she became queen. It is, however, the story of her time. Which is perfectly fine. Just not what I had expected...
👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍
Introduction: If you already now s fair amount about the Tudors and Elizabeth, then this is not the book for you. Are you, however, a novice and looking for an introduction to the subject, then you have found your perfect match!
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Elizabeth who?: I requested this book thinking it was going to be a biography of Elizabeth I. However, she plays very little part in this narrative. Her childhood and education is completely overlooked, giving way to the drama of her father's marriages and the tumultuous reigns of her siblings. In the first 40% of this book her name is perhaps mentioned 20-30 times. When she becomes queen, we don't get the story of her queenship, but rather the story of her cousin Mary, the religious upheavals in France and other such things. For a book named after her, she has a remarkably little role...
What else is new?: Elizabeth I may be one of the monarch whom most has been written about. She has been the subject of countless studies, scholarly as well as popular. So it is hard to say something new that hasn't already been said. This book failed to contribute anything new. And then, really, when it comes down to it, why are you even writing it?
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 2.5 ⭐
Despite the title of this book, this is not a biography of Elizabeth I nor a study of how she became queen. It is, however, the story of her time. Which is perfectly fine. Just not what I had expected...
👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍
Introduction: If you already now s fair amount about the Tudors and Elizabeth, then this is not the book for you. Are you, however, a novice and looking for an introduction to the subject, then you have found your perfect match!
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Elizabeth who?: I requested this book thinking it was going to be a biography of Elizabeth I. However, she plays very little part in this narrative. Her childhood and education is completely overlooked, giving way to the drama of her father's marriages and the tumultuous reigns of her siblings. In the first 40% of this book her name is perhaps mentioned 20-30 times. When she becomes queen, we don't get the story of her queenship, but rather the story of her cousin Mary, the religious upheavals in France and other such things. For a book named after her, she has a remarkably little role...
What else is new?: Elizabeth I may be one of the monarch whom most has been written about. She has been the subject of countless studies, scholarly as well as popular. So it is hard to say something new that hasn't already been said. This book failed to contribute anything new. And then, really, when it comes down to it, why are you even writing it?
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 11, 2020
An account of the political pressures of Tudor times.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The title and description of this book was very misleading. I thought it would be focussed on Elizabeth, who is one of the most fascinating figures in English history.
Instead, it was a broad look at important figures during the Tudor years. Starting with Elizabeth's father Henry VIII.
I did like that it looked into the lives of his six wives, and they all had different approaches to being part of the royal court, with very different fates. The book presents that this was educational for Elizabeth, that other intelligent women use their own strengths, and show the effects of those around them. But the fact that the lesson was aimed at Elizabeth was just tagged onto the end of each piece, to make it "relevant" and in-keeping with the title.
This is followed by the reign of Edward, Jane Grey and Mary. Each fully-dissected, with heavy focus on the religious uproar this royal family caused.
There is also a lot of time spent on the courtiers and nobles who managed to gain influence, shaping the future of the English crown with their greed.
Each section is well-researched, and for the most part Brennan writes in an informative manner that does not get overly bogged down, as some non-fiction accounts can.
Brennan supports her writing with several pieces of first-hand accounts, including letters from the people she is writing about.
Most of these are interesting, but I did feel like the narrative lost its fluidity, as Brennan sometimes (but not always) includes annotations or her own thoughts; whilst at other times leaving us to read the raw material. Honestly, I preferred the unedited pieces, which could have been followed by a concise paragraph of Brennan's interpretation. Instead, I was left feeling like sections of this book were private notes taken on a History course.
I found that the narrative jumped around, both chronologically, and in the timeline of any particular movement/person.
Elizabeth I is a legend, who has been covered in books and media countless times. I commend Brennan for trying to take a new approach to describing the background influences, when Elizabeth was a shunned princess; but I felt that the execution could have been better.
Overall, I think the book lost sight at who it was aimed at, drifting between different characters and events that didn't always add to Elizabeth's history.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The title and description of this book was very misleading. I thought it would be focussed on Elizabeth, who is one of the most fascinating figures in English history.
Instead, it was a broad look at important figures during the Tudor years. Starting with Elizabeth's father Henry VIII.
I did like that it looked into the lives of his six wives, and they all had different approaches to being part of the royal court, with very different fates. The book presents that this was educational for Elizabeth, that other intelligent women use their own strengths, and show the effects of those around them. But the fact that the lesson was aimed at Elizabeth was just tagged onto the end of each piece, to make it "relevant" and in-keeping with the title.
This is followed by the reign of Edward, Jane Grey and Mary. Each fully-dissected, with heavy focus on the religious uproar this royal family caused.
There is also a lot of time spent on the courtiers and nobles who managed to gain influence, shaping the future of the English crown with their greed.
Each section is well-researched, and for the most part Brennan writes in an informative manner that does not get overly bogged down, as some non-fiction accounts can.
Brennan supports her writing with several pieces of first-hand accounts, including letters from the people she is writing about.
Most of these are interesting, but I did feel like the narrative lost its fluidity, as Brennan sometimes (but not always) includes annotations or her own thoughts; whilst at other times leaving us to read the raw material. Honestly, I preferred the unedited pieces, which could have been followed by a concise paragraph of Brennan's interpretation. Instead, I was left feeling like sections of this book were private notes taken on a History course.
I found that the narrative jumped around, both chronologically, and in the timeline of any particular movement/person.
Elizabeth I is a legend, who has been covered in books and media countless times. I commend Brennan for trying to take a new approach to describing the background influences, when Elizabeth was a shunned princess; but I felt that the execution could have been better.
Overall, I think the book lost sight at who it was aimed at, drifting between different characters and events that didn't always add to Elizabeth's history.
February 6, 2021
An enjoyable read
November 8, 2020
Thank you to Pen and Sword for sending me a review copy of this book.
I really enjoyed reading this book about the life of Elizabeth I. There is a lot of focus on various different events of her reign and how they influenced her character and the way she ruled England. The split is pretty much half based around her queenship and half before her queenship, which is really interesting.
One thing that did annoy me and has knocked a star off my rating is that there are a few historical errors in the book. It says that the Duke of Cleves had two daughters but he actually had 3 - Anne, Amelia and Sybille. John Dudley is described as the Duke of Warwick but was actually the Earl of Warwick. Warwick and Northumberland are described as being two different people, but are actually the same person as the Earl of Warwick became the Duke of Northumberland. Anne Boleyn's last miscarriage is said to have happened in January 1535 but it actually happened in January 1536, no rumours of anything in January 1535 as far as I know.
Despite these few errors I still enjoyed reading it, and I thought that the writing was clear and concise, and the sources were all documented, with plenty of use of primary sources which are quoted throughout. One of the most enjoyable books I've read about Elizabeth I, easy to understand and pulling all the chapters back to how the event discussed in that chapter shaped Elizabeth as a queen and woman was really interesting.
I really enjoyed reading this book about the life of Elizabeth I. There is a lot of focus on various different events of her reign and how they influenced her character and the way she ruled England. The split is pretty much half based around her queenship and half before her queenship, which is really interesting.
One thing that did annoy me and has knocked a star off my rating is that there are a few historical errors in the book. It says that the Duke of Cleves had two daughters but he actually had 3 - Anne, Amelia and Sybille. John Dudley is described as the Duke of Warwick but was actually the Earl of Warwick. Warwick and Northumberland are described as being two different people, but are actually the same person as the Earl of Warwick became the Duke of Northumberland. Anne Boleyn's last miscarriage is said to have happened in January 1535 but it actually happened in January 1536, no rumours of anything in January 1535 as far as I know.
Despite these few errors I still enjoyed reading it, and I thought that the writing was clear and concise, and the sources were all documented, with plenty of use of primary sources which are quoted throughout. One of the most enjoyable books I've read about Elizabeth I, easy to understand and pulling all the chapters back to how the event discussed in that chapter shaped Elizabeth as a queen and woman was really interesting.
September 22, 2020
"Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen" is a book that looks at Elizabeth through the key events of her life. Divided into two parts, "Elizabeth the Princess" and "Elizabeth the Queen", this book delves into the most important events that had impact on Elizabeth's life.
Laura Brennan starts at the beginning, in 1533, the year of Elizabeth's birth. The other events include Anne Boleyn's execution in 1536 and its impact on Elizabeth's early life; the birth of Prince Edward in 1537 (he effectively displaced Elizabeth and her half sister Mary in the line line of succession); Henry VIII's remarriages in 1540-43; the death of Henry VIII in 1547; the Seymour scandal in 1548; the introduction of the new religious reforms in 1549; the death of Edward VI and its impact on Elizabeth's private and political life; the usurpation of Lady Jane Grey in 1553, the Wyatt Rebellion in 1554 and the death of Queen Mary in 1558.
In part two, the author started with Elizabeth's coronation in 1559 and proceeded to such events as the mysterious death of Amy Robsart in 1560, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland in 1561; Elizabeth's near-death experience in 1562; the murder od Darnley in 1567; the Northern rebellion in 1569; the excommunication from Rome in 1570 and many others.
The book ends with Elizabeth's death in 1603.
I found this format interesting because it shows Elizabeth as a human being rather than an icon she's so often portrayed as. When you look at the events that shaped her character, you'll see that although she was born as princess, Elizabeth experienced many vicissitudes of fate and often found herself close to death (if not of natural causes, like in 1562 when she contracted smallpox, then accused of treason and threatened with execution in the aftermath of Wyatt's rebellion in 1554).
I enjoyed this book very much because it's so different from other books on Elizabeth that are out there. Highly recommended.
Laura Brennan starts at the beginning, in 1533, the year of Elizabeth's birth. The other events include Anne Boleyn's execution in 1536 and its impact on Elizabeth's early life; the birth of Prince Edward in 1537 (he effectively displaced Elizabeth and her half sister Mary in the line line of succession); Henry VIII's remarriages in 1540-43; the death of Henry VIII in 1547; the Seymour scandal in 1548; the introduction of the new religious reforms in 1549; the death of Edward VI and its impact on Elizabeth's private and political life; the usurpation of Lady Jane Grey in 1553, the Wyatt Rebellion in 1554 and the death of Queen Mary in 1558.
In part two, the author started with Elizabeth's coronation in 1559 and proceeded to such events as the mysterious death of Amy Robsart in 1560, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland in 1561; Elizabeth's near-death experience in 1562; the murder od Darnley in 1567; the Northern rebellion in 1569; the excommunication from Rome in 1570 and many others.
The book ends with Elizabeth's death in 1603.
I found this format interesting because it shows Elizabeth as a human being rather than an icon she's so often portrayed as. When you look at the events that shaped her character, you'll see that although she was born as princess, Elizabeth experienced many vicissitudes of fate and often found herself close to death (if not of natural causes, like in 1562 when she contracted smallpox, then accused of treason and threatened with execution in the aftermath of Wyatt's rebellion in 1554).
I enjoyed this book very much because it's so different from other books on Elizabeth that are out there. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2020
***Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for a honest review***
Don't judge me for this but I am quite obsessed with Queen Elibazeth life .So ,no wonders why I was attracted towards this book.
This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life both before and after she ascended to the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth’s decisions, both as a queen and as a woman
If you are fan of Queen Elizabeth regime go ahead.You won't be disappointed.
Don't judge me for this but I am quite obsessed with Queen Elibazeth life .So ,no wonders why I was attracted towards this book.
This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life both before and after she ascended to the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth’s decisions, both as a queen and as a woman
If you are fan of Queen Elizabeth regime go ahead.You won't be disappointed.
April 19, 2020
Learning about Queen Elizabeth I was interesting because I believe that it’s important to “put [what is being studied] in its time and place,” a quote attributed to my former college professor. However I disliked how Brennan jumped from one event or person to another, then circled back again a few chapter or paragraphs later with information that would have been useful to know when she first began talking about that person or event. This made the book feel disjointed. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
April 17, 2020
This was very informative in regard to Elizabeths family dynamics and how they affected her reign and behavior towards others especially men.
May 23, 2022
A great overview of Elizabeth's life and the events and people that influenced her at every stage of her reign. Especially useful as a refresher for someone already familiar with her life, but definitely a concise, detailed crash course for a beginner historian as well.
February 26, 2026
niet wat ik had verwacht. wel super interessant!
December 29, 2020
One of the best-known Queens in history is Queen Elizabeth I of England, without a doubt. Many books have already been written about her and embarking on adding to that collection must be a daunting task. Laura Brennan's new book doesn't necessarily long to add to the pile of biographies already written about her and it doesn't pretend to want to.
Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen focusses on events that helped shape the course of Elizabeth's and these events are thus not always about her. The first part of the book focusses heavily on the life of her father while the latter part includes things like the assassination of William the Silent. The writing style is easy to follow and, except for a few errors, seems to be well-researched. However, it can be rather disappointing if you're expecting a biography about Elizabeth.
Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen focusses on events that helped shape the course of Elizabeth's and these events are thus not always about her. The first part of the book focusses heavily on the life of her father while the latter part includes things like the assassination of William the Silent. The writing style is easy to follow and, except for a few errors, seems to be well-researched. However, it can be rather disappointing if you're expecting a biography about Elizabeth.
April 29, 2020
I was interested in reading this book because I am very fond of Tudor monarchs and the history of that time. I hoped to read a more historical book about Elizabeth I, because so far, I only read fictionalized books about her. This book is easy to read, because it does not go into much detail about events of that time, but it didn't meet my expectations. I wanted to read about Elizabeth, her life and accomplishments, but instead, we got to see many events that had no connections to her (e.g. relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Catherine de Medici). There were certainly many events that influenced her decisions and actions, but in my opinion, there was no need to talk so much about all of that. Maybe just a brief reminder and then on to HER actions?
Another thing that bothered me is the fact that the author switched between using "half-sister/brother" and "step-sister/brother", with a great emphasis on using the "step" version when talking about Elizabeth, Mary I and Edward (who were all children of Henry VIII and therefore half-siblings) and couple of times when talking about Mary, Queen of Scots and her half-brother (they shared the same father), James Stewart, Earl of Moray. I see that the author was forced to mention their relationships quite often and maybe didn't want to keep using the same term over and over, but upon checking, I see that there's a clear difference between step-siblings and half-siblings (which I knew before checking). I believe that this was unnecessary, but as I'm not a native English speaker, maybe that is common when trying to avoid repeating words?
All in all, if expecting a full-on biography about Elizabeth, this is not is, but rather we see how events happening outside England influenced her decisions in important political matters.
Another thing that bothered me is the fact that the author switched between using "half-sister/brother" and "step-sister/brother", with a great emphasis on using the "step" version when talking about Elizabeth, Mary I and Edward (who were all children of Henry VIII and therefore half-siblings) and couple of times when talking about Mary, Queen of Scots and her half-brother (they shared the same father), James Stewart, Earl of Moray. I see that the author was forced to mention their relationships quite often and maybe didn't want to keep using the same term over and over, but upon checking, I see that there's a clear difference between step-siblings and half-siblings (which I knew before checking). I believe that this was unnecessary, but as I'm not a native English speaker, maybe that is common when trying to avoid repeating words?
All in all, if expecting a full-on biography about Elizabeth, this is not is, but rather we see how events happening outside England influenced her decisions in important political matters.
June 14, 2020
You can find my full review here: http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...
I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing new, and incredibly biased. Also contained errors that are very obviously incorrect and are unacceptable in even the most basic of Tudor literature.
I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing new, and incredibly biased. Also contained errors that are very obviously incorrect and are unacceptable in even the most basic of Tudor literature.
June 8, 2022
Firstly, I am sending my warmest thanks for sending me a review copy of this book.
General Information:
I always interested in studying, researching and reading about Queen Elizabeth I.
I need to say I enjoyed but I am not really satisfied while reading this book.
There are many topics and events before and during her reign and also this book discussed how the topics influenced her character and life.
The book consists of two parts, which are very meticulously divided into two separate parts.
Also in the part of Elizabeth’s queenship dominantly discusses the relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and her. Also I want to say that don’t be intimidated by having too many chapters, they’re just too short although it was not very detailed, it still contained satisfactory information.
Let me warn you, if you are looking for a book which written very detailed, this book is not going to be good for you, but if you want to look at it from a wide perspective and getting an information, this book is for you!
Other than a few errors in the book, I enjoyed reading it and thought the writing was clear and concise, and the sources were all documented and many primary sources cited throughout.
Detailed Information:
Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen focusses on events that helped shape the course of Elizabeth’s and these events are thus not always about her. The writing style is easy to follow and, except for a few errors, seems to be well-researched. However, it can be rather disappointing if you’re expecting a biography about Elizabeth.
‘Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen’ is written for audiences just discovering this English queen, looking for a brief overview without getting into too heavy details or politics.
This is a good introduction to some of the key events of the Tudor period.But the title is misleading, it really isn’t that much about Elizabeth I herself, but rather the political times before and during her reign. If you are already familiar with Tudor times and events, there’s really nothing new here, but if you are new to these topics it gives a decent overview.
General Information:
I always interested in studying, researching and reading about Queen Elizabeth I.
I need to say I enjoyed but I am not really satisfied while reading this book.
There are many topics and events before and during her reign and also this book discussed how the topics influenced her character and life.
The book consists of two parts, which are very meticulously divided into two separate parts.
Also in the part of Elizabeth’s queenship dominantly discusses the relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and her. Also I want to say that don’t be intimidated by having too many chapters, they’re just too short although it was not very detailed, it still contained satisfactory information.
Let me warn you, if you are looking for a book which written very detailed, this book is not going to be good for you, but if you want to look at it from a wide perspective and getting an information, this book is for you!
Other than a few errors in the book, I enjoyed reading it and thought the writing was clear and concise, and the sources were all documented and many primary sources cited throughout.
Detailed Information:
Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen focusses on events that helped shape the course of Elizabeth’s and these events are thus not always about her. The writing style is easy to follow and, except for a few errors, seems to be well-researched. However, it can be rather disappointing if you’re expecting a biography about Elizabeth.
‘Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen’ is written for audiences just discovering this English queen, looking for a brief overview without getting into too heavy details or politics.
This is a good introduction to some of the key events of the Tudor period.But the title is misleading, it really isn’t that much about Elizabeth I herself, but rather the political times before and during her reign. If you are already familiar with Tudor times and events, there’s really nothing new here, but if you are new to these topics it gives a decent overview.
May 4, 2020
This new biography of Elizabeth I doesn’t plan to give the reader a detailed look into her life and reign, or the social, economic, and political difficulties and changes that accompanied her Golden Age as queen.Or in-fact, why her reIgn is considered a Golden age in England. Instead, this book briefly gives readers a look at the events surrounding her life and some of the ways that they may have effected her choices as queen. Brennan argues that Elizabeth learned from watching her father, Henry VIII with his wives, then her half siblings and cousin in their reigns to become an adaptable monarch who learned from her mistakes, and those of others, to become one of England’s greatest queens. Brennan focuses much of her research and attention on religious aspects of the time and the fighting between Catholics and Protestants on national and international stages.
‘Elizabeth I’ is written for audiences just discovering this English queen, looking for a brief overview without getting into too heavy details or politics. In this it mostly succeeds, although anything on the changes Elizabeth made to strengthen England socially might have made it more interesting. Hopefully the final book (I read an ARC) is better edited than what I read, because my advanced copy was often awkwardly written, poorly edited, and repetitive enough to believe that the author didn’t think much of her audience’s attention span or intelligence. If those change in the final version, than this would be a book I could recommend to those not overly interested in history as a way to inspire interest in the real people behind the dates and events.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
‘Elizabeth I’ is written for audiences just discovering this English queen, looking for a brief overview without getting into too heavy details or politics. In this it mostly succeeds, although anything on the changes Elizabeth made to strengthen England socially might have made it more interesting. Hopefully the final book (I read an ARC) is better edited than what I read, because my advanced copy was often awkwardly written, poorly edited, and repetitive enough to believe that the author didn’t think much of her audience’s attention span or intelligence. If those change in the final version, than this would be a book I could recommend to those not overly interested in history as a way to inspire interest in the real people behind the dates and events.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2020
This book talks about important events that shaped Queen Elizabeth I’s life. These include the marriages of her father, Henry VIII, her feud with Mary Queen of Scots, and her battle with King Philip I of Spain.
I was disappointed that this book showed things that happened around Elizabeth, rather than her actual life. The book is supposed to be about events that shaped her life, but there was not much reference to Elizabeth’s actual life. The explanations of how these events affected Elizabeth’s life were quite short compared to the long descriptions of what happened. Almost the entire first half of the book was about Henry VIII and his wives. He was Elizabeth’s father so he greatly shaped her life, but she didn’t live with him at that time, so she wasn’t actually present for most of the book.
There was also a lot of the author’s opinion in the book, rather than just stating the facts. There were many parts where she talked down to the reader. For example, she said that people used paintings to see what other people looked like because they didn’t have cameras. If you’re reading this book about Tudor England, it’s presumed that you know they didn’t have cameras hundreds of years ago. She didn’t need to talk down to the reader to explain things like that.
This was a disappointing book that talked about events that happened during the life of Elizabeth I, but not her actual life.
Thank you Pen and Sword for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was disappointed that this book showed things that happened around Elizabeth, rather than her actual life. The book is supposed to be about events that shaped her life, but there was not much reference to Elizabeth’s actual life. The explanations of how these events affected Elizabeth’s life were quite short compared to the long descriptions of what happened. Almost the entire first half of the book was about Henry VIII and his wives. He was Elizabeth’s father so he greatly shaped her life, but she didn’t live with him at that time, so she wasn’t actually present for most of the book.
There was also a lot of the author’s opinion in the book, rather than just stating the facts. There were many parts where she talked down to the reader. For example, she said that people used paintings to see what other people looked like because they didn’t have cameras. If you’re reading this book about Tudor England, it’s presumed that you know they didn’t have cameras hundreds of years ago. She didn’t need to talk down to the reader to explain things like that.
This was a disappointing book that talked about events that happened during the life of Elizabeth I, but not her actual life.
Thank you Pen and Sword for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
Elizabeth I- The Making of a Queen by Laura Brennan isn't exactly what you call a biography. Yes it does talk about Elizabeth and somewhat about her reign as the Tudor monarch but what it also does and does very well is talk about how Elizabeth reached the throne. It talks about the circumstances in England that led to her crowning, the people involved and also about what was happening around England at that point in. time to give you a complete perspective on things.
What this does is let you know what an astonishing feat she, Queen Elizabeth I of England, managed to pull off what with being a woman who ascended the throne. She not only managed to keep her head on her shoulders but also proved to be an astute ruler warding off conspiracies to malign her name and conspirators to take away her throne.
Brennan writes with quite a command over her subject. There is already quite a bit of material over this queen of England and her approach has been a refreshing read. Of course, one desires that some more had been written about her rule and what she did for her own people and how that shaped the world but I believe that the author knows better than anyone else what her book is about and this one definitely is about The Making of a Queen rather than just the person of the Virgin queen.
Thank You NetGalley and the publishers Pen and Sword as well as the author for the advance copy.
What this does is let you know what an astonishing feat she, Queen Elizabeth I of England, managed to pull off what with being a woman who ascended the throne. She not only managed to keep her head on her shoulders but also proved to be an astute ruler warding off conspiracies to malign her name and conspirators to take away her throne.
Brennan writes with quite a command over her subject. There is already quite a bit of material over this queen of England and her approach has been a refreshing read. Of course, one desires that some more had been written about her rule and what she did for her own people and how that shaped the world but I believe that the author knows better than anyone else what her book is about and this one definitely is about The Making of a Queen rather than just the person of the Virgin queen.
Thank You NetGalley and the publishers Pen and Sword as well as the author for the advance copy.
April 20, 2020
A clear and concise account of the life of Elizabeth I , this may be a short book but it the perfect jumping off point for someone who is interested in this powerful and fascinating woman. Laura Brennan divides Elizabeth's story into two halves, her childhood and teenage years before she became Queen and then her life as a monarch. I really appreciated the author's thoughtful approach and her insights into how the people around her affected her policies and decision making,from the influences of her father Henry VIII and his various wives, most notably the last , Catherine Howard, to the strained relationships she had with her half siblings and then in later years her rivalry with Mary, Queen of Scots. Over the course of the book Brennan shows the impact of her formative years helped to shape the way she ruled as Queen, including her decision not to marry and to delay naming an heir for as long as possible. I feel that the author did a great job of breaking down a complex and often turbulent period of British history and shedding some light on one of its most fascinating and powerful figures.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
June 1, 2020
This book is more about factors and people that influenced the life of Queen Elizabeth than about Elizabeth herself. The author does a credible job of setting the scene surrounding Elizabeth's birth, and the complication succession issues following the death of her father. In the second part she covers the life of Elizabeth the Queen, but includes a lot of information about the life and mistakes of Mary, Queen of Scots. Whilst I appreciate that Mary was of great importance at the time, not to mention inspiring many Catholic plots, it would have been nice to hear about the dilemma and decisions in Elizabeth's point of view, and if possible in her own words. Overall there is very little new information, or even a reconsideration of existing primary sources, concerning Elizabeth herself - her letters, her view of life.
Overall I was a little disappointed. The book is very readable, although occasionally the style is more colloquial than academic, but it did not deliver what I was expecting - to hear Elizabeth's voice and see the events primarily from her stance.
A good textbook if you are studying the era, though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I was a little disappointed. The book is very readable, although occasionally the style is more colloquial than academic, but it did not deliver what I was expecting - to hear Elizabeth's voice and see the events primarily from her stance.
A good textbook if you are studying the era, though.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
192 pages
3 stars
This book has very little Elizabeth and much more about the history of the Tudor family and Edward and Mary's reigns. (Henry's many wives and what happened to them all.) And poor Lady Jane Grey. Which was interesting, don't get me wrong. And then we were on to Mary Queen of Scots. Far too much time spent there. I kept wondering just when we were going to get to Elizabeth.
Much has been written about Elizabeth and her Tudor family, and I have made a good effort in reading all of it. This would be a good book for beginners I think. It covers a vast area in not many pages. Just a very quick overview of the family and their “adventures.”
The writing was well done. There are some typos that will hopefully be corrected before final publication. I enjoyed the book as far as it went.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
3 stars
This book has very little Elizabeth and much more about the history of the Tudor family and Edward and Mary's reigns. (Henry's many wives and what happened to them all.) And poor Lady Jane Grey. Which was interesting, don't get me wrong. And then we were on to Mary Queen of Scots. Far too much time spent there. I kept wondering just when we were going to get to Elizabeth.
Much has been written about Elizabeth and her Tudor family, and I have made a good effort in reading all of it. This would be a good book for beginners I think. It covers a vast area in not many pages. Just a very quick overview of the family and their “adventures.”
The writing was well done. There are some typos that will hopefully be corrected before final publication. I enjoyed the book as far as it went.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
September 17, 2021
Many dozens of books have been written about Glorianna, Queen Elizabeth I of England. So what does this new entry bring to a much covered subject? It's short. Seriously, this book is a fantastic introduction to the famous queen for those who haven't read anything before and may be intimidated by large tomes that exhaustively cover her life.
The book is written almost like Cliff's Notes; it touches upon all the major events that shaped her, both before and after her rise to the throne: the death of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Seymour, the reigns of her siblings, her aversion to marriage and more. The book is an easy read, with enough detail to convey how these events affected QEI without becoming bogged down in minutia.
Overall, while there wasn't anything new here for me (having already read many books about QEI) I did enjoy this as a "recap" and feel it would be perfect for anyone just looking to learn a little about the famous queen.
The book is written almost like Cliff's Notes; it touches upon all the major events that shaped her, both before and after her rise to the throne: the death of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Seymour, the reigns of her siblings, her aversion to marriage and more. The book is an easy read, with enough detail to convey how these events affected QEI without becoming bogged down in minutia.
Overall, while there wasn't anything new here for me (having already read many books about QEI) I did enjoy this as a "recap" and feel it would be perfect for anyone just looking to learn a little about the famous queen.
April 29, 2020
Elizabeth I : the making of a queen is a fascinating, compelling account of the events that occurred around Queen Elizabeth I and of the people in her life that made her the queen and woman that she was.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and did so from cover to cover. You get the sense that the author is extremely familiar with Tudor history because the story just seems to flow from her pen, providing great overviews of significant events. I dislike history books that give quote after quote from sources used, making you suspect that the writer did not have a good enough feel or understanding about their subjects to be able to write using their own words. Quotes were not overused in Laura Brennan's book.
Definitely not an academic book and definitely one to be read and enjoyed.
Thank you Netgalley and Pen and Sword for the ARC. This is my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and did so from cover to cover. You get the sense that the author is extremely familiar with Tudor history because the story just seems to flow from her pen, providing great overviews of significant events. I dislike history books that give quote after quote from sources used, making you suspect that the writer did not have a good enough feel or understanding about their subjects to be able to write using their own words. Quotes were not overused in Laura Brennan's book.
Definitely not an academic book and definitely one to be read and enjoyed.
Thank you Netgalley and Pen and Sword for the ARC. This is my honest review.
January 3, 2023
This book promises to explore events surrounding Elizabeth I rather than her as either a person or a queen. But it's obvious that due to the size of the book, less than 200 pages, events will be covered briefly and superficially. And that's what happens. Brennan briefly touches on few major events while ignoring others and end result makes you wonder "why bother?" You can find much better overview of these events in other biographies or even Wikipedia. Plus Brennan constantly use term "Vatican" when talking about conflict between protestant England and Catholic Church when it should be either Papal states when talking about temporal power or Holy see when talking about leadership of Catholic Church, Vatican didn't come into existence until 1920s.
Honestly, a waste of money and time, you are better off getting any other biography or book about the period.
Honestly, a waste of money and time, you are better off getting any other biography or book about the period.
May 4, 2020
Once again my thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is undoubtedly a well researched book, well written with a real feel of history and for the time and place. However the famous 'Virgin Queen' of the title goes AWOL for great chunks of the book, due to details of her father's various Queens after her Mother, her half siblings, Lady Jane Grey, and of course Mary Queen of Scots. I accept they all played parts in what made Elizabeth the Woman and Queen she would become, and whilst it is very interesting and engaging i feel this left the reader somewhat short changed.
Interesting.
This is undoubtedly a well researched book, well written with a real feel of history and for the time and place. However the famous 'Virgin Queen' of the title goes AWOL for great chunks of the book, due to details of her father's various Queens after her Mother, her half siblings, Lady Jane Grey, and of course Mary Queen of Scots. I accept they all played parts in what made Elizabeth the Woman and Queen she would become, and whilst it is very interesting and engaging i feel this left the reader somewhat short changed.
Interesting.
May 13, 2020
This is a good introduction to some of the key events of the Tudor period. This is an accessible and satisfying read.
I think the title is somewhat misleading as I felt it that some sections of the book do not focus on Elizabeth at all. The beginning covers Henry VIII and his various marriages with some consideration as to how these may have impacted on Elizabeth and events in Scotland and the life and decisions of Mary Queen Scots are covered in detail.
This read more as a general exploration of the period and less of a biography of Elizabeth.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review
I think the title is somewhat misleading as I felt it that some sections of the book do not focus on Elizabeth at all. The beginning covers Henry VIII and his various marriages with some consideration as to how these may have impacted on Elizabeth and events in Scotland and the life and decisions of Mary Queen Scots are covered in detail.
This read more as a general exploration of the period and less of a biography of Elizabeth.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review
July 1, 2020
This is an interesting take on a biography, focusing not so much on the actual subject (in this case, Queen Elizabeth I) but instead on the various events that occurred in the world around her which likely affected her views and decisions throughout her life. That being said, it's helpful if you have some knowledge about the person before reading a "biography" like this, as you're not getting much detail on her actual life. The sections on the religious wars and massacres grew tiresome, but I really liked reading about Elizabeth's parents (Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) and her stepmothers, as well as the battles with the Spanish Armada.
April 24, 2020
Very well researched and well written. Focuses on a few specific events in Queen Elizabeth’s life from her youth, from her early reign and then the mid to latter part. It’s shows how she learned from the activities around her and incorporated them into her future state and also ties the various impacts together. A different approach, which I enjoyed. Recommend as a different spin on a typical Elizabethan bio.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
I was very excited to read this being a historian and huge Elizabeth fan. Unfortunately for me this book just didn’t work. The key problem is that the author references theories and events that have been shown to be widely inaccurate by modern scholarship. The authors work simply is not backed up by through research and as such adds nothing new. The idea to focus on events surrounding Elizabeth was a good one but this is just let down by poor research.
Not for me I’m afraid.
Not for me I’m afraid.
October 8, 2020
This book is basically a timeline of events in Elizabeth I’s lifetime, which is not what I was expecting based on the title and description. Given that the title has her name in it, I would have thought it would talk about the role the event being discussed played in Elizabeth’s queenship or her life, but I felt there were few connections made. Add to this that there are several errors, both grammatical and historical and I could not give more than 1 star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews