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Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen
Elizabeth I was born into a world of women. This title explores Elizabeth's relationships with the key women in her life. Beginning with her mother and the governesses and stepmothers who cared for the young princess, including her beloved Kat Astley and the inspirational Katherine Parr, it focuses on her formative years.
450 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
204 people are currently reading
7139 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Borman
23 books855 followersTracy Borman, PhD, FRHistS, FSA is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth's Women.
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 5, 2016
This is the perfect introduction to Elizabethan female royal society. Let me stress INTRODUCTION. Having read bios on many of the women briefly discussed, I learned nothing new. However, if one is just beginning to read about this period, this book is perfect.
December 4, 2013
The thing I hate most in history books is when the author can't be bothered to get her most simple facts right. This book is a prime example.
1)The author says that Katherine of Aragon was regent when Henry was on campaign in Scotland. WRONG. She was regent when Henry was in FRANCE and she fought a war against the Scots when the Scottish army invaded England as soon as Henry left for France.
2)She refers to Anne Boleyn's famous 'A' necklace. WRONG. The famous necklace she wore was the initial 'B' around her neck as seen in many portraits of Anne.
3)Elizabeth's governess is continually called Kat Astley. WRONG. Every other historian I've read who has written about Elizabeth calls her Kat Ashley! Seems this author likes to change things and the truth be damned.
In the first 100 pages of the book came these glaring errors. I dread to think how many other errors and distortions there are throughout the book. I'm sorry author, but if you can't get your basic facts right, I have no interest in reading your books!
1)The author says that Katherine of Aragon was regent when Henry was on campaign in Scotland. WRONG. She was regent when Henry was in FRANCE and she fought a war against the Scots when the Scottish army invaded England as soon as Henry left for France.
2)She refers to Anne Boleyn's famous 'A' necklace. WRONG. The famous necklace she wore was the initial 'B' around her neck as seen in many portraits of Anne.
3)Elizabeth's governess is continually called Kat Astley. WRONG. Every other historian I've read who has written about Elizabeth calls her Kat Ashley! Seems this author likes to change things and the truth be damned.
In the first 100 pages of the book came these glaring errors. I dread to think how many other errors and distortions there are throughout the book. I'm sorry author, but if you can't get your basic facts right, I have no interest in reading your books!
November 24, 2012
Tracy Borman took on a large scale project. Some of the women in Elizabeth's life are famous in their own right and have already been extensively studied. There had to be a lot of editorial decisions about the depth of content for these women and how to balance it so they would not crowd out space for the lesser knowns.
With less emphasis on the "big events", the book becomes a treatment of both Elizabeth's daily life and of her intimate and lasting relationships. We learn how her court functioned, how she viewed and treated her female rivals for the crown, her rivals for the affections of her favorites and those who served her.
The first relationship explored is that with her famous mother. Most histories speed past this noting only Elizabeth's scant mention of Anne Boleyn. Borman writes how Anne doted on her daughter, even wanting to breast feed her, an unconventional idea for its time, quashed by the king himself. Though separated, as was the custom, Anne saw to Elizabeth's welfare as best she could. Elizabeth kept a locket with her mother's likeness and at her coronation adopted her mother's emblem, the falcon, as her own. Elizabeth maintained friendships with Boleyn cousins such as Lady Katherine Howard (with whom she was raised) and many who remembered her mother. She appointed to court positions and otherwise assisted many Boleyn relatives.
The book provides a personal focus on famous events. For instance, the very thorough treatment of the Thomas Seymour flirtation emphasizes what it meant emotionally over what it meant politically. Borman shows how it strained Elizabeth's relationship with mentor and mother-figure, Katherine Parr; how it was viewed by her half-sister Mary; and how it defined and solidified her relationship with her governess Kat Astley. This kind of focus provides a whole new dimension. It shows Elizabeth's courage and loyalty in regards to her governess and how the experience shaped her views.
The chronological arrangement of the emotional highlights, free from other events of the time, allows for the reader to digest their intensity for Elizabeth. For instance, very early in her reign, while she was still feeling her way as a woman at the helm, threats to her reign appeared at once. The timing of the unsanctioned marriages of Katherine Grey and Mary Stewart and their subsequent male off-spring couldn't have been worse. This (and personal jealousy) may have set the pattern for Elizabeth's strong reaction to the many unsanctioned marriages that followed.
This is the first good look I've had at Margaret Douglas who appears here and there in Elizabethan histories. (I've not found a full bio.) Margaret is everywhere, scheming to marry one son into a kingship, another to another high born, visiting Mary Queen of Scots in her imprisoned quarters, thrice imprisoned herself by Elizabeth, and scheming to put her granddaughter in the line of succession all the while expressing her devotion to Elizabeth.
The chapter "That She-Wolf" tells of the Earl of Leicester's two secret marriages since they are the ones that most impact his relationship with Elizabeth (major editorial/space decision, I'm sure, to leave out the first wife). Robert Dudley's story is more intriguing than shown here. Those interested may want to try "Sweet Robin: A Biography of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester 1533-1588" or the more recent "Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics".
Borman tells the stories of a host of staffers that have only cameos in other books. There are many from the long serving and most intimate such as Blanche Perry and Kat Astley to newer but still long termers such as Helena Snakenborg and Mary Radcliffe. There are some short termers from Lady Tyrwhit to Lady Warwick. Through their stories you learn of their living conditions and the dedication it took to serve Elizabeth. Most give up family time and some give up marriages. Some succumb to male flirtation and earn Elizabeth's wrath. Some, such as Mary Sidney are not appreciated. Many use their positions to advocate for their families and friends. All are virtual slaves.
This book is a big accomplishment for its author. I don't know how much fully new material has been presented, but there was a lot new to me. This book can serve as a basis for subsequent researchers to explore more deeply the domestic and personal aspects of Elizabethan England. The concept could very well be applied to the women in the reign of Charles II or Queen Victoria, or even in the US to the life and adminstration of FDR.
I recommend this book for all who are interested in this period. Tudor readers may yawn at the recounts of the "big events" (digested as they may be), but in each of them they will find new insight on Elizabeth and her most intimate relationships with the women of her age.
With less emphasis on the "big events", the book becomes a treatment of both Elizabeth's daily life and of her intimate and lasting relationships. We learn how her court functioned, how she viewed and treated her female rivals for the crown, her rivals for the affections of her favorites and those who served her.
The first relationship explored is that with her famous mother. Most histories speed past this noting only Elizabeth's scant mention of Anne Boleyn. Borman writes how Anne doted on her daughter, even wanting to breast feed her, an unconventional idea for its time, quashed by the king himself. Though separated, as was the custom, Anne saw to Elizabeth's welfare as best she could. Elizabeth kept a locket with her mother's likeness and at her coronation adopted her mother's emblem, the falcon, as her own. Elizabeth maintained friendships with Boleyn cousins such as Lady Katherine Howard (with whom she was raised) and many who remembered her mother. She appointed to court positions and otherwise assisted many Boleyn relatives.
The book provides a personal focus on famous events. For instance, the very thorough treatment of the Thomas Seymour flirtation emphasizes what it meant emotionally over what it meant politically. Borman shows how it strained Elizabeth's relationship with mentor and mother-figure, Katherine Parr; how it was viewed by her half-sister Mary; and how it defined and solidified her relationship with her governess Kat Astley. This kind of focus provides a whole new dimension. It shows Elizabeth's courage and loyalty in regards to her governess and how the experience shaped her views.
The chronological arrangement of the emotional highlights, free from other events of the time, allows for the reader to digest their intensity for Elizabeth. For instance, very early in her reign, while she was still feeling her way as a woman at the helm, threats to her reign appeared at once. The timing of the unsanctioned marriages of Katherine Grey and Mary Stewart and their subsequent male off-spring couldn't have been worse. This (and personal jealousy) may have set the pattern for Elizabeth's strong reaction to the many unsanctioned marriages that followed.
This is the first good look I've had at Margaret Douglas who appears here and there in Elizabethan histories. (I've not found a full bio.) Margaret is everywhere, scheming to marry one son into a kingship, another to another high born, visiting Mary Queen of Scots in her imprisoned quarters, thrice imprisoned herself by Elizabeth, and scheming to put her granddaughter in the line of succession all the while expressing her devotion to Elizabeth.
The chapter "That She-Wolf" tells of the Earl of Leicester's two secret marriages since they are the ones that most impact his relationship with Elizabeth (major editorial/space decision, I'm sure, to leave out the first wife). Robert Dudley's story is more intriguing than shown here. Those interested may want to try "Sweet Robin: A Biography of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester 1533-1588" or the more recent "Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics".
Borman tells the stories of a host of staffers that have only cameos in other books. There are many from the long serving and most intimate such as Blanche Perry and Kat Astley to newer but still long termers such as Helena Snakenborg and Mary Radcliffe. There are some short termers from Lady Tyrwhit to Lady Warwick. Through their stories you learn of their living conditions and the dedication it took to serve Elizabeth. Most give up family time and some give up marriages. Some succumb to male flirtation and earn Elizabeth's wrath. Some, such as Mary Sidney are not appreciated. Many use their positions to advocate for their families and friends. All are virtual slaves.
This book is a big accomplishment for its author. I don't know how much fully new material has been presented, but there was a lot new to me. This book can serve as a basis for subsequent researchers to explore more deeply the domestic and personal aspects of Elizabethan England. The concept could very well be applied to the women in the reign of Charles II or Queen Victoria, or even in the US to the life and adminstration of FDR.
I recommend this book for all who are interested in this period. Tudor readers may yawn at the recounts of the "big events" (digested as they may be), but in each of them they will find new insight on Elizabeth and her most intimate relationships with the women of her age.
July 11, 2012
It wasn't the book I wanted to read. I was hoping for a study of how Elizabeth influenced politics and was influenced in politics by her women. What this was about was how Elizabeth inflluenced love matches and how those matches influenced Elizabeth. While I acknowledge that would be impossible to exclude love matches from a study of Elizabeth and her women, I also feel a large part of the story I wanted to read was not told. You mean to tell me that Bess of Hardwick's only political interest was the promotion of her direct blood to the throne? Such a formidable woman had no interest in the politics of their world? I have trouble believing that. Yes, I KNOW that Mary of Scotland was an incredible idiot in how she threw away what she could have had in life through a succession of worse and worse marriages. But how did Mary affect the politics of her world? Elizabeth finally reluctantly signed Mary's death warrant because Mary was involved in treason...although one can argue it isn't treason when it isn't your country....but how did her problems with Mary, Queen of Scots, affect her relationship with Scotland? Yes, I've read other books and have an idea as to the answer. However, I was hoping for more detail on this and got none. The closest the book came to being what I wanted was in showing the impact that a few of her numerous step mothers had on Elizabeth, particularly Katherine Parr and Anne of Cleves. I felt that a lot of the book spent way too much time on the romantic partsand not enough on the actual effect these women had on their world. I know the two younger Grey sisters defied the queen and married for love. Particularly with the youngest, Mary, you'd have thought she'd have learnt something from the fates of her two older sisters and tried the one approach none of these seem to have tried: go straight to the queen, say I'm madly in love and will sign a declaration stating that neither I nor my heirs will claim the throne. Particlarly since Mary married way way below her status and her kids would be almost worse than illegitimate: low class. Hopefully somebody will do the research and produce the book I'm interested in. with all of these incredibly well educated women all over the place, I can't believe that none besides Elizabeth were interested in the political world they lived in. The book that was written was an ok book. I think a lot of the conclusions were not really thought out since the author seemed fixated on love and Elizabeth's virginity. Oh well. If one wants romance, there's plenty of it in this book. It is a scholarly book, footnoted etc. but very definitely, romantic!
March 30, 2012
I love the idea behind this book, Elizabeth is always portrayed as something of a 'man's woman', so it was interesting to consider her relationships with the women around her. However, there are a lot of little inaccuracies and claims that are not backed up by any evidence, and this ruined things a bit for me. Some examples of these are:
Page 16 "Mary [Boleyn] had borne a son with mental disabilities whom Anne would not suffer to be at court." - This is not backed up by any reference and is very unlikely to be true. There is no evidence that I'm aware of that Mary had a son with mental disabilities. A fuller discussion of this can be found at http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/201...
Page 167 "Although [Anne of Cleves] had been just short of forty-two years of age when she died, she had won the dubious honour of being the longest lived of all Henry's wives." - This is misleading. Although Anne of Cleves was the last of Henry's wives to dies, Katherine of Aragon had the longest life, dying at the age of 50 in 1536.
Page 168 "No preparations were made for the birth... The Queen [Mary] entered her confinement shortly after her younger sister's departure." - Contradiction, preparations must have been made (even if few believed her to be pregnant) if the Queen then entered into confinement.
Page 16 "Mary [Boleyn] had borne a son with mental disabilities whom Anne would not suffer to be at court." - This is not backed up by any reference and is very unlikely to be true. There is no evidence that I'm aware of that Mary had a son with mental disabilities. A fuller discussion of this can be found at http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/201...
Page 167 "Although [Anne of Cleves] had been just short of forty-two years of age when she died, she had won the dubious honour of being the longest lived of all Henry's wives." - This is misleading. Although Anne of Cleves was the last of Henry's wives to dies, Katherine of Aragon had the longest life, dying at the age of 50 in 1536.
Page 168 "No preparations were made for the birth... The Queen [Mary] entered her confinement shortly after her younger sister's departure." - Contradiction, preparations must have been made (even if few believed her to be pregnant) if the Queen then entered into confinement.
September 23, 2021
A highly promising subject, but the author indulges in far too many myths which are simply false and leave me with concerns. Among them:
1. The accusation that Anne of Clevez was ugly and smelled bad. Largely discredited as propaganda spread by Henry VIII and allies, possibly to explain away his impotence.
2. The author accuses Catherine Howard of being a sexual predator, when Catherine was herself the victim of sexual predation and a child.
3. States Catherine Parr was complicit in Thomas Seymour's weird sexual assault behavior towards Elizabeth and her pregnancy hormones are the reason why. Absurd and unacceptable.
4. Brings up the hypothesis that Elizabeth was intersex and had Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. Impossible as individuals with CAIS do not have uteruses and cannot have periods. Elizabeth most definitely did.
There are others but these were the biggest offenses I knew about. I am disappointed by the wasted potential of this book more than anything.
1. The accusation that Anne of Clevez was ugly and smelled bad. Largely discredited as propaganda spread by Henry VIII and allies, possibly to explain away his impotence.
2. The author accuses Catherine Howard of being a sexual predator, when Catherine was herself the victim of sexual predation and a child.
3. States Catherine Parr was complicit in Thomas Seymour's weird sexual assault behavior towards Elizabeth and her pregnancy hormones are the reason why. Absurd and unacceptable.
4. Brings up the hypothesis that Elizabeth was intersex and had Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. Impossible as individuals with CAIS do not have uteruses and cannot have periods. Elizabeth most definitely did.
There are others but these were the biggest offenses I knew about. I am disappointed by the wasted potential of this book more than anything.
January 15, 2024
I originally picked this up as a reference for a research project, expecting it to be perhaps a little dry and academic, but it turned out to be quite the page-turner. Leave it to the Tudors, with all their extended family dysfunction, political upheavals and plots, suspected plots, and paranoia, to keep things interesting. There must have been years when the Tower was standing room only.
While I knew the outlines of the events covered in this book and some of the details, Tracy Borman’s extensive research from both contemporary and secondary sources enabled her to paint a lively, intimate picture of the relationships between Elizabeth I and her relatives, courtiers, ladies, and other important players in the late 16th century, focusing on the women in her inner circle. Fans of this era should enjoy this.
While I knew the outlines of the events covered in this book and some of the details, Tracy Borman’s extensive research from both contemporary and secondary sources enabled her to paint a lively, intimate picture of the relationships between Elizabeth I and her relatives, courtiers, ladies, and other important players in the late 16th century, focusing on the women in her inner circle. Fans of this era should enjoy this.
November 4, 2010
I was so excited when this book arrived from Amazon.com. I couldn’t wait to dive into it. After all, it promised a brand new view of Elizabeth I, “…portrayed here as the product of women….” The reader is assured that it is “…a thrilling new angle by the brilliant young historian Tracy Borman.” The author herself guarantees that she has “…focused the story upon those women who help to reveal Elizabeth the woman, as well as Elizabeth the Queen.” 418 pages later, I am still waiting for a revelation.
This book is only interesting to readers who know little or nothing about Elizabeth I. For the rest of us, it is just a tiresome rehashing of all the familiar stories. Elizabeth’s relationships with her half-sister, Mary and Mary, Queen of Scots. Her ladies in waiting, both those who served her selflessly and those who “betrayed” her with secret pregnancies and secret marriages, usually in that order.
There are no new insights into any of these women, their lives nor their influence on Elizabeth. The only original thinking in the book is a few brief pages on Elizabeth’s similarity to her mother, Anne Boleyn. Most biographers point out her similarities to her father, Henry VIII. This biographer looks at her resemblance to her mother both in looks and personality and how she used both to manipulate the men around her, again like her mother.
This single original thought could have fit comfortably into an article or academic paper. There was no reason to write a book.
This book is only interesting to readers who know little or nothing about Elizabeth I. For the rest of us, it is just a tiresome rehashing of all the familiar stories. Elizabeth’s relationships with her half-sister, Mary and Mary, Queen of Scots. Her ladies in waiting, both those who served her selflessly and those who “betrayed” her with secret pregnancies and secret marriages, usually in that order.
There are no new insights into any of these women, their lives nor their influence on Elizabeth. The only original thinking in the book is a few brief pages on Elizabeth’s similarity to her mother, Anne Boleyn. Most biographers point out her similarities to her father, Henry VIII. This biographer looks at her resemblance to her mother both in looks and personality and how she used both to manipulate the men around her, again like her mother.
This single original thought could have fit comfortably into an article or academic paper. There was no reason to write a book.
June 9, 2020
Sigh. There were a bunch of small errors that in the grand scheme of things shouldn't weigh that much - except that they make you wonder whether the author was as cavalier with her primary points. It was an important concept that had never been fully addressed - but didn't feel all that fully addressed here either (Elizabeth reigned for a long time and not all of it was well-represented...or was that just because it was unimportant?). I am assembling information for my upcoming trilogy on Elizabeth so it was a must-read - but I didn't come away with reams of notes as I'd expected. Still, I suspect I will be returning to it more than I expect right now....so I gave it the extra star.
July 22, 2010
Excellent nonfiction study of the important women in Elizabeth I's life, including her mother, her sister, her cousins, and her servants and ladies. I found the sections on Elizabeth's various cousins (with competing claims to the throne) and on her ladies, some devoted and not so devoted, to be the most interesting.
September 14, 2010
As an avid reader of all things Tudor, I found Elizabeth’s Women to be very accessible despite some minor flaws. I was pleased with its good progression and chronology and anyone not as familiar with Elizabeth I’s life would enjoy Borman’s approach. It effectively demonstrates the influence of the women who surrounded Elizabeth I, whether in the role of surrogate mother, lady in waiting or contender to the throne. These were women who could spark her jealousy or benefit from her goodwill.
I was exposed to a number of characters who were imperative to Elizabeth but scarcely mentioned in histories written about her. There were some names were familiar, but many were new to me. In the chapter titled “That She-Wolf,” I learned of Robert Dudley’s controversial courting of Lady Douglass Sheffield, the mother of his son Robert, and his second wife Lettice Knollys. However, I was surprised that there was no mention of the scandalous death of Amy Rosbart, his first wife, under mysterious circumstances. Obviously Amy was not as influential in Elizabeth’s life as her other rivals for Dudley’s affections, but omitting that significant even in a chapter addressing Dudley’s consorts seemed strange. Nevertheless, I was intrigued with the courtly drama that only women can instigate. There was some repetitiveness in the book that did not go unnoticed (I couldn’t keep track of how many times Elizabeth “precociousness” as a child was mentioned), but this did not detract from the overall solidity of the work as a whole. There was no question that Elizabeth was surrounded by both loyal servants, dangerous conspirators and everything in between, and they all come to life in this comprehensive look at the Queen and her women.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
I was exposed to a number of characters who were imperative to Elizabeth but scarcely mentioned in histories written about her. There were some names were familiar, but many were new to me. In the chapter titled “That She-Wolf,” I learned of Robert Dudley’s controversial courting of Lady Douglass Sheffield, the mother of his son Robert, and his second wife Lettice Knollys. However, I was surprised that there was no mention of the scandalous death of Amy Rosbart, his first wife, under mysterious circumstances. Obviously Amy was not as influential in Elizabeth’s life as her other rivals for Dudley’s affections, but omitting that significant even in a chapter addressing Dudley’s consorts seemed strange. Nevertheless, I was intrigued with the courtly drama that only women can instigate. There was some repetitiveness in the book that did not go unnoticed (I couldn’t keep track of how many times Elizabeth “precociousness” as a child was mentioned), but this did not detract from the overall solidity of the work as a whole. There was no question that Elizabeth was surrounded by both loyal servants, dangerous conspirators and everything in between, and they all come to life in this comprehensive look at the Queen and her women.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
October 5, 2012
Very well written, very interesting, look at the women in Elizabeth I's life, from ladies in waiting, servants, and rivals, among them Lettice Knollys, Mary Queen of Scots, the Grey sisters, and Bess of Hardwick. I was very taken by the story of Helena Snakenborg, it would be great material for a novel. A keeper.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Tracy_...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Tracy_...
April 4, 2020
I would have liked more organization, maybe because of repeat titles and everyone having one of ten first names and one of like 5 surnames. I also wanted more information about more of her ladies, but I think too much of the book is taken up with Mary Queen of Scots and other large figures. I get that they're important in the scheme of things, but they're such large subjects that it's difficult to fit into someone else's life.
November 26, 2023
A lot of shit talking on Mary Boleyn early in the first chapter about Anne, and that’s not cool. “Like Francis, he (Henry) quickly tired of bait so easily caught.“
Gross. I will not stand for slut-shaming Mary. DNF.
Also mentions in intro how Mary, Queen of Scots was “so dangerous” to Elizabeth for 30 years. Well, maybe if she had not imprisoned Mary illegally, she wouldn’t have been such a threat. If she would’ve welcomed her at court and not locked her up, things probably would’ve been a lot different.
Gross. I will not stand for slut-shaming Mary. DNF.
Also mentions in intro how Mary, Queen of Scots was “so dangerous” to Elizabeth for 30 years. Well, maybe if she had not imprisoned Mary illegally, she wouldn’t have been such a threat. If she would’ve welcomed her at court and not locked her up, things probably would’ve been a lot different.
September 6, 2010
I loved this book! I ordered it from Britain before it's US release because I did not want to wait (check out the Book Depository or Amazon UK when you simply can't wait for a US release of a book ). This cover is the British edition cover. I liked it better so I used it here - you can see the US cover now on any book seller’s site! I think this is just about my favorite book about Elizabeth I. It's jam packed with small details and information about Elizabeth that are most often overlooked by many authors who seem to concentrate on her relationships with men and her political acumen.
This book is about Elizabeth I - the queen who has always captured my imagination and has held my interest. I wish I could time travel so that I could hear her voice - see her walk. No - not yet possible!
I think that Elizabeth was so much more than we can ever know. I think she was, most likely rather officious and rude to many of her ladies and maids in waiting - but charming and gregarious when handsome men were involved! That being said said Elizabeth was an amazing female ruler in a time when it was anathema for a country to have such a strong, apt, female leader! This book is about the women in Elizabeth's close circle of trusted female confidants. It's an aspect of Elizabeth's life - a large aspect of her life, that is often overlooked in favor of the larger issues of Elizabeth's life. The book is broken into sections that cover, her mother, Anne Boleyn, her sister, Mary, her step-mothers, Jane, Catherine and Katherine, her governesses, ladies in waiting, cousins, men and the travails of being a female ruler in a country that believed no female could effective rule by herself. Although this edition was 392 pages of relatively small print it flashed by like a novel - I could not put it down!
Ms. Borman's style is easy to read but she in no way "dumbs down" the information. I am off to order her first book now - if I can find one that I can afford that is! " Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress. Queen's Servant". If you love history I think you too will love this book! No disappointment here !
This book is about Elizabeth I - the queen who has always captured my imagination and has held my interest. I wish I could time travel so that I could hear her voice - see her walk. No - not yet possible!
I think that Elizabeth was so much more than we can ever know. I think she was, most likely rather officious and rude to many of her ladies and maids in waiting - but charming and gregarious when handsome men were involved! That being said said Elizabeth was an amazing female ruler in a time when it was anathema for a country to have such a strong, apt, female leader! This book is about the women in Elizabeth's close circle of trusted female confidants. It's an aspect of Elizabeth's life - a large aspect of her life, that is often overlooked in favor of the larger issues of Elizabeth's life. The book is broken into sections that cover, her mother, Anne Boleyn, her sister, Mary, her step-mothers, Jane, Catherine and Katherine, her governesses, ladies in waiting, cousins, men and the travails of being a female ruler in a country that believed no female could effective rule by herself. Although this edition was 392 pages of relatively small print it flashed by like a novel - I could not put it down!
Ms. Borman's style is easy to read but she in no way "dumbs down" the information. I am off to order her first book now - if I can find one that I can afford that is! " Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress. Queen's Servant". If you love history I think you too will love this book! No disappointment here !
December 10, 2012
Although this book is highly readable, at times that seems to come at the expense of sound historical methodology, and occasionally even at the expense of continuity. Borman too often says that one thing [definitely] led to another, or that a certain event in Elizabeth's life made - not "contributed to," but "made" - her act in a certain way later in life. Additionally, there were times that the author contradicted herself. For instance, when discussing Mary, Queen of Scots' marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, in one paragraph, Borman says that it is likely that Mary only married Bothwell because he had raped her and she had no other choice. In the very next paragraph, though, Borman goes on to say that actually this marriage shows how deeply conventional Mary's views on gender roles were, and that she married Bothwell because she needed a man to do the leading, etc. If that's not a direct contradiction, it is at least a discontinuity of argument, and it was not the only such one.
In all, it was these little - but frequent - hitches in Borman's arguments that made me rank it as low as I did. There are equally-readable books out there on this time period, ones which have a sounder grounding.
In all, it was these little - but frequent - hitches in Borman's arguments that made me rank it as low as I did. There are equally-readable books out there on this time period, ones which have a sounder grounding.
May 14, 2015
Borman opens new way for readers to understand Elizabeth as a woman who lived and worked around other women. After all, women were her personal servants from the waiting rooms to her bedroom and were the people who brought her news of the court and who provided her with personal secRetail services and who provided her with emotional succor. And the experience of other queens, including that of her mother, Anne Boylen, taught her and warned her of how to conduct herself wisely in a man-filled world. Great insights. Thank you, Ms Borman.
January 9, 2026
Re-read, just as excellent a second time around!
September 7, 2018
For my full review: https://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/...
The concept behind this book was intriguing; Borman argues that Elizabeth I worked hard to be treated as a man in the public sphere and that therefore her female private circle has been neglected in biography. This reminded me of how Hilary Clinton described how herself and other female Secretaries of State would travel to countries such as Saudi Arabia and be treated by government officials as men, since acknowledging their womanhood would make it too complicated for them to work together. Elizabeth famously told her armies before the Spanish Armada that she had the 'heart and stomach' of a King despite having the body of a 'weak and feeble woman', she refused to take a husband and described herself as married to her country. She rejected the contemporary norms for how a woman should be, so how did she relate to the women in her life?
Much of the book is fairly well-trodden territory, going over Elizabeth's early life and her mother's sudden and savage downfall. Borman is an engaging writer however with an eye for picking up on under-reported details, such as the similarities with how Anne Boleyn ran her household and the manner in which Elizabeth later ran her own, implying a stronger feeling towards her mother than is typically depicted. Borman traces carefully through the various female care-givers who were significant in Elizabeth's young life, from Lady Margaret Bryan to the infamous Kat Ashley (strangely referred to as Astley in Borman's book) and also Elizabeth's various stepmothers.
I was interested by the way that Borman covered the infamous episode around Thomas Seymour. The blind eye which Katherine Parr seemed to turn for the first while always seemed puzzling, but Borman places it convincingly as part of a wider tension between Katherine Parr and Kat Ashley over Elizabeth's affections. I have read a number of Elizabeth-related biographies and I never can take to Kat Ashley. No matter how sympathetic the writer, there is no hiding the woman's consistent negligence and indiscretion. Elizabeth must have truly loved her as there is no other explanation for why she kept such a liability on the payroll for so many decades.
Another point which Borman raises was around the practical challenges of having a female sovereign. Previously with male monarchs, roles within the royal household and council could overlap and function relatively interchangeably. With the advent of Mary and Elizabeth, suddenly there were household functionary roles too intimate for a man to carry out. It also led women into positions of confidence and potential influence in an unprecedented way. The strangest thing though was how many of these women had such key positions so close to the throne and yet remain so utterly unknown to history. Even as a long-term Tudor fan, much of the biographical detail provided around Blanche Parry and Helena Snakenborg was new to me.
Borman analyses Elizabeth's fears around marriage with even-handedness. She seems to discount Elizabeth's alleged closeness to Katherine Howard as an explanation but does point out the lessons that Elizabeth seems to have drawn from the example of Mary I. The public humiliation suffered by Elizabeth's sister over her repeated phantom pregnancies damaged Mary's stock both as a woman but also as a monarch. While discounting the more outlandish theories around whether Elizabeth was a normally functioning woman, Borman does consider whether Elizabeth herself had concerns about her own biology. Having suffered similar menstrual problems to Mary since adolescence, Elizabeth may have concluded that the risks around publicly displayed infertility did not outweigh the uncertain benefits of producing a legitimate heir of her own.
Of course, even if Elizabeth did choose the virgin state for health reasons, it did seem to lead her into conflict with other fertile women. Borman suggests that part of her fury towards her cousin Katherine Grey was founded upon her jealousy at the ease with which the latter brought forth healthy sons. Mary Queen of Scots also represented a threat not only as a fellow monarch but as a fertile one at that. We talk so much in the modern era about the sensitivities around women who are unable to become mothers, it was fascinating to consider these uneasy dynamics existed even so many centuries ago.
That being said, there are certain areas where Elizabeth's Women does seem to skim over the finer detail. There are a few points of minor inaccuracy which seem more like typos (e.g. Kat Ashley/Astley) but which should have been avoidable. Puzzlingly, Borman also refers to Mary Boleyn's son Henry Carey as being mentally handicapped, even citing this as a possible genetic fear around why Elizabeth chose not to procreate. Strangely, she then refers to Henry Carey's later court career without seeming to note the conflict. This would appear to be related to a misconception in an earlier biography which Borman had failed to examine more closely. Additionally, having read Leanda De Lisle's The Sisters Who Would Be Queen on the Grey sisters and Alison Weir's The Lost Tudor Princess concerning Lady Margaret Douglas, I felt that those books provided far greater nuance on their subjects than Borman was able to. While it will never be possible to say for certain, particularly in the case of Lady Margaret Douglas, it felt that Borman was providing broad brush strokes only.
The over-arching impression from Elizabeth's Women however was that Elizabeth I did not particularly like other women. In the modern era we look distrustfully upon women who are unable to maintain female friendships and this does seem to be something that Elizabeth struggled with. Her demands of blind obedience and utter loyalty lead to fury when any of her ladies in waiting had the temerity to get married, still worse if they happened to wed any of her favourites. Few of Elizabeth's described interactions with her ladies paint her in a particularly positive light, even if some of the sources cited by Borman do appear a little speculative.
Elizabeth was not seeking a sisterhood, she did not want to fit in with other women, she wanted it be clear that she was above them, more than, better than - she wanted to be a man. Unlike her cousin Mary Queen of Scots, she refused to sit and sew during the council meetings while the men did all the big thinking - she wanted it to be clear that she was in charge. This determination for mastery translated to all areas of her life. Like her father before her, she wanted to believe herself loved and desired by all. This does not necessarily translate to being an easy person to have around. Despite some of my doubts about Borman's referencing, this was an enjoyable piece of popular history which shone a light on Elizabeth's domestic sphere, a side of her that she was very keen to minimise.
The concept behind this book was intriguing; Borman argues that Elizabeth I worked hard to be treated as a man in the public sphere and that therefore her female private circle has been neglected in biography. This reminded me of how Hilary Clinton described how herself and other female Secretaries of State would travel to countries such as Saudi Arabia and be treated by government officials as men, since acknowledging their womanhood would make it too complicated for them to work together. Elizabeth famously told her armies before the Spanish Armada that she had the 'heart and stomach' of a King despite having the body of a 'weak and feeble woman', she refused to take a husband and described herself as married to her country. She rejected the contemporary norms for how a woman should be, so how did she relate to the women in her life?
Much of the book is fairly well-trodden territory, going over Elizabeth's early life and her mother's sudden and savage downfall. Borman is an engaging writer however with an eye for picking up on under-reported details, such as the similarities with how Anne Boleyn ran her household and the manner in which Elizabeth later ran her own, implying a stronger feeling towards her mother than is typically depicted. Borman traces carefully through the various female care-givers who were significant in Elizabeth's young life, from Lady Margaret Bryan to the infamous Kat Ashley (strangely referred to as Astley in Borman's book) and also Elizabeth's various stepmothers.
I was interested by the way that Borman covered the infamous episode around Thomas Seymour. The blind eye which Katherine Parr seemed to turn for the first while always seemed puzzling, but Borman places it convincingly as part of a wider tension between Katherine Parr and Kat Ashley over Elizabeth's affections. I have read a number of Elizabeth-related biographies and I never can take to Kat Ashley. No matter how sympathetic the writer, there is no hiding the woman's consistent negligence and indiscretion. Elizabeth must have truly loved her as there is no other explanation for why she kept such a liability on the payroll for so many decades.
Another point which Borman raises was around the practical challenges of having a female sovereign. Previously with male monarchs, roles within the royal household and council could overlap and function relatively interchangeably. With the advent of Mary and Elizabeth, suddenly there were household functionary roles too intimate for a man to carry out. It also led women into positions of confidence and potential influence in an unprecedented way. The strangest thing though was how many of these women had such key positions so close to the throne and yet remain so utterly unknown to history. Even as a long-term Tudor fan, much of the biographical detail provided around Blanche Parry and Helena Snakenborg was new to me.
Borman analyses Elizabeth's fears around marriage with even-handedness. She seems to discount Elizabeth's alleged closeness to Katherine Howard as an explanation but does point out the lessons that Elizabeth seems to have drawn from the example of Mary I. The public humiliation suffered by Elizabeth's sister over her repeated phantom pregnancies damaged Mary's stock both as a woman but also as a monarch. While discounting the more outlandish theories around whether Elizabeth was a normally functioning woman, Borman does consider whether Elizabeth herself had concerns about her own biology. Having suffered similar menstrual problems to Mary since adolescence, Elizabeth may have concluded that the risks around publicly displayed infertility did not outweigh the uncertain benefits of producing a legitimate heir of her own.
Of course, even if Elizabeth did choose the virgin state for health reasons, it did seem to lead her into conflict with other fertile women. Borman suggests that part of her fury towards her cousin Katherine Grey was founded upon her jealousy at the ease with which the latter brought forth healthy sons. Mary Queen of Scots also represented a threat not only as a fellow monarch but as a fertile one at that. We talk so much in the modern era about the sensitivities around women who are unable to become mothers, it was fascinating to consider these uneasy dynamics existed even so many centuries ago.
That being said, there are certain areas where Elizabeth's Women does seem to skim over the finer detail. There are a few points of minor inaccuracy which seem more like typos (e.g. Kat Ashley/Astley) but which should have been avoidable. Puzzlingly, Borman also refers to Mary Boleyn's son Henry Carey as being mentally handicapped, even citing this as a possible genetic fear around why Elizabeth chose not to procreate. Strangely, she then refers to Henry Carey's later court career without seeming to note the conflict. This would appear to be related to a misconception in an earlier biography which Borman had failed to examine more closely. Additionally, having read Leanda De Lisle's The Sisters Who Would Be Queen on the Grey sisters and Alison Weir's The Lost Tudor Princess concerning Lady Margaret Douglas, I felt that those books provided far greater nuance on their subjects than Borman was able to. While it will never be possible to say for certain, particularly in the case of Lady Margaret Douglas, it felt that Borman was providing broad brush strokes only.
The over-arching impression from Elizabeth's Women however was that Elizabeth I did not particularly like other women. In the modern era we look distrustfully upon women who are unable to maintain female friendships and this does seem to be something that Elizabeth struggled with. Her demands of blind obedience and utter loyalty lead to fury when any of her ladies in waiting had the temerity to get married, still worse if they happened to wed any of her favourites. Few of Elizabeth's described interactions with her ladies paint her in a particularly positive light, even if some of the sources cited by Borman do appear a little speculative.
Elizabeth was not seeking a sisterhood, she did not want to fit in with other women, she wanted it be clear that she was above them, more than, better than - she wanted to be a man. Unlike her cousin Mary Queen of Scots, she refused to sit and sew during the council meetings while the men did all the big thinking - she wanted it to be clear that she was in charge. This determination for mastery translated to all areas of her life. Like her father before her, she wanted to believe herself loved and desired by all. This does not necessarily translate to being an easy person to have around. Despite some of my doubts about Borman's referencing, this was an enjoyable piece of popular history which shone a light on Elizabeth's domestic sphere, a side of her that she was very keen to minimise.
March 25, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the women in Elizabeth’s life and their influence on her. She was clearly a demanding employer, expecting her women to put her first in all things and, preferably, to forgo any life of their own so as not to impinge on their attention to her.
A couple of people have mentioned the historical errors, two of which I picked up on myself, namely that Catherine of Aragon was regent while Henry was in France and that the woman I have always read of as Kat Ashley is referred to throughout as Kat Astley. I wonder where that came from as the notes in the appendix say that she spelt her own name as Aschely? It would be interesting to know why the author uses Astley.
I haven’t read much about any of these women individually, so the book was a good introduction to all of them and a base for further reading. Despite the couple of historical anomalies it was a good read and I enjoyed it.
A couple of people have mentioned the historical errors, two of which I picked up on myself, namely that Catherine of Aragon was regent while Henry was in France and that the woman I have always read of as Kat Ashley is referred to throughout as Kat Astley. I wonder where that came from as the notes in the appendix say that she spelt her own name as Aschely? It would be interesting to know why the author uses Astley.
I haven’t read much about any of these women individually, so the book was a good introduction to all of them and a base for further reading. Despite the couple of historical anomalies it was a good read and I enjoyed it.
January 25, 2023
En bred genomgång av hovlivet under Elizabeth.
July 25, 2024
super interesting look into Elizabeth I’s life through the perspective of various women. love the Tudor family lore
May 1, 2021
3.5 stars
January 25, 2011
This is the second Tudor history book I've read this month, and this was by far the more enjoyable. I've read a lot of books (fiction and non-fiction) about Elizabeth but never one like this that focused on the women who surrounded the Virgin Queen and helped shape her views on life and leadership. Though the cast of characters is huge, and many of them share names, Borman did a good job of helping the reader keep track and differentiating between the Janes and Katherines that populated Elizabeth's world. One weakness that I see is that Borman assumes a level of knowledge about the history of the time that makes it clear this book is not for the uninitiated. That said, anyone who has read a couple of books about Elizabeth will have no problem following the action. All in all, an interesting and innovative treatment of a much analyzed figure in history.
January 25, 2011
Wonderful history of Queen Elizabeth I and her relationships with women, family, friends and foes. A lot has been written about how she worked with men, in a "man's world" and how she loved men, yet shunned marriage. This book focuses on the women who helped her in life and in her regency as well as some historical figures we know little about. I learned a lot and it is written so well it is easy to follow. Anyone who knows Tudor and Elizabethan history knows there is plenty of intrigue and scandal; to keep the story going. Well worth it for history buffs or even fans of historical fiction who may want to learn more about the minor and major historical figures who star in many recent novels.
October 11, 2010
I was excited to pick up a book which looks at Elizabeth I’s life from a different perspective. All the histories I have read (sorry Alison Weir – you too) seem to only treat her as a powerful monarch (which she was).
Borman explores what she might have felt as a precocious girl, a teen, a young woman – and how her life experiences shaped her psyche and her character - almost all the people in her life were women. Strong, smart women.
Unfortunately, the narrative bogged down in the second half (as does every other book about Gloriana I have read), when her life became consumed by the great high school lunchroom that was the British royal court.
Borman explores what she might have felt as a precocious girl, a teen, a young woman – and how her life experiences shaped her psyche and her character - almost all the people in her life were women. Strong, smart women.
Unfortunately, the narrative bogged down in the second half (as does every other book about Gloriana I have read), when her life became consumed by the great high school lunchroom that was the British royal court.
March 6, 2014
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Abridged - Emma Fielding reads from Tracy Borman's biography of Elizabeth I, which explores the relationships she had with the women in her life. These women brought out the best and the worst of Elizabeth, who could be loyal and kind but also cruel and vindictive. They all influenced Elizabeth's carefully-cultivated image as Gloriana, The Virgin Queen.
Abridged - Emma Fielding reads from Tracy Borman's biography of Elizabeth I, which explores the relationships she had with the women in her life. These women brought out the best and the worst of Elizabeth, who could be loyal and kind but also cruel and vindictive. They all influenced Elizabeth's carefully-cultivated image as Gloriana, The Virgin Queen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2010
This book took me forever to finish, but I believe that is because Elizabeth I didn't interest me that much. My only two complaints about the book, which are more nitpicks, are that Borman uses the word "precocious" too often, especially in the beginning of the book, and I'd rather all the quotes be written in modern English rather than medieval English as it slowed me down trying to decipher them.
August 11, 2022
Re-reading this seven years later, I guess I’m realising I meanwhile developed a feminist conscience that’s making me find some passages of this book shockingly sexist, especially for a study about women written by a woman. Some of the takes here (Jane Seymour was an ugly bitch! Anne of Cleves smelled badly! Fourteen-year-old Katherine Howard was as much of a predator as her adult music teacher!) might not even be conceived by David Starkey.
March 27, 2011
Disappointing to say the least. Had very high hopes for this book and besides not presenting any new interpretations, Borman made mistakes and would make some very sweeping statements. Guess I am a very tough audience for Elizabethan materials. This was a gentle enough read for most people but I did get a bit impatient with it.
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