Elizabeth: Virgin Queen?

by Philippa Jones

'Gloriana', 'Faerie Queen', 'Queen Bess', are just some of the names given to Elizabeth I, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. But the name for which she is perhaps most remembered and which best explains why Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor monarchs, was the "Virgin Queen.'

But how appropriate is that image? Were Elizabeth's suitors and favourites really just innocent intrigues? Or were they much more than that?

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Tudor Period, British Literature, Historical, Royalty

328 pages, Hardcover

First published July 25, 2010

Reviews

[Naftoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit baffled by the title - at first. I did not notice the question mark. Consequently, I was disappointed that it was about Elizabeth's possible children, that is, secret illegitimate children. It read like a gossip rag, initially, and I struggled with the idea of just NOT reading it. Though once I buy a book I loathe a change of mind; I feel compelled to read it. Yet some 25 pages into it the narrative took a turn for the better. Indeed it became a captivating history of the Elizabethan era on par which other works of this topic. I enjoyed the fact that (1) it repeated many facts that I had read in other places thus providing me with a review and (2) that the author introduced scores upon scores of details gleaned from primary sources that I had never read in other Tudor histories. I believe that Elizabeth was one of the world's greatest monarchs AND managers! Though it was not the intent of the author, I was able to harvest a treasure trove of management strategies via the writer's explanations pertaining to Elizabeth's personal interactions with people of all stations - from her servants to her equals, visiting royalty.

[Michael Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Speculative Life

Writing nearly 500 years after historic events presents any author with huge difficulties, especially so as in this study of Elizabeth I, where documented proof is almost certainly sketchy. Jones necessarily must offer little more than speculation for much of her inquiry. The book is well.written but ultimately provides no solid proof of Elizabeth's chastity--or its absence. Human nature being what it is, it is at least highly plausible that the queen was sexually active as an adult, but history will never be sure.

[Aithne · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you - like me - don't know much about the Elizabethan period, this book may be a good way to painlessly learn some details about Elizabeth I, her childhood and reign. I guess people who have more idea on the topic won't find it as enjoyable as I did, as they probably already know most of the facts mentioned in here. And to be honest, apart from the general life history of Elizabeth, the book doesn't have much to offer. It is very repetitive, which can be useful at times (as when the author once again informs you who person X is, even though she already did it in the previous chapter - if you'd never heard the name before, probably you wouldn't remember it without this small reminder), but just as often is plainly annoying. She repeats unnecessary introductions over and over again, sums up things which have already been summed up more than enough, and the disastrous handlings of Robert Devereux are described - in detail - twice, in two subsequent chapters. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I'm reading a collection of essays rather than a properly planned and unified book - or a master thesis of someone who was trying hard to reach the minimum number of pages required.

As for the whole secret pregancy topic: I don't really care if Elizabeth was a virgin, a secret lover or a secret mother. I don't think it changes much. The apparent obsession of her contemporaries with this topic made me facepalm hard. Looks like in those times a lady couldn't afford getting sick if she wanted to avoid being accused of pregnancy! And there is absolutely no reason to assume Elizabeth DID have a child - the whole speculation is rooted either in wishful thinking or paranoia. All 4 candidates for Elizabeth and Robert Dudley's alleged sons are suspected of it only because 1) they were born in the right time, 2) they were meaningful at the court. Elizabeth didn't even LIKE all of them. And one of them she eventually beheaded. Don't you need some deeper reasons for such claims, even if it's all just speculation...?

To be fair, the author doesn't seem to be convinced by all this 'secret child' talk herself. Most of the time. Until the very last chapter, where, out of the blue, she claims:
"However, as certain evidence also points to the existence of a secret child borne of their relationship, it is likely that Elizabeth was not only sexually active, but a mother as well".
Which evidence? I'm on page 240 out of 264, what did I miss???

I might be a bit unfair to this book - my previous Tudor read was 'Young and Damned and Fair' which was amazingly documented and professional (...at times even a bit too professional for a non-scholar...), so my expectations were high. And I got slightly disappointed. I wish the author presented us with more original sources, more evidence to back up her claims, not only related to the whole pregnancy thing. I'm a mistrustful non-fiction reader, so when I encounter a sentence like "Elizabeth was heartbroken at her cousin's death", I want to be presented at least with a reason why the author thinks so - or, even better, with a source quote, so that I could decide myself whether she was heartbroken of not.

And, just as an afternote (as the book never claimed to be a deep analysis of Elizabeth's rule) - I wish the author mentioned some darker aspects of Elizabeth's reign. Philippa Jones seems to really like the queen, but let's face it: Elizabeth could be bitchy (Catherine Grey!). I guess English Catholics from her era might also have had a thing or two to add to the 'beloved queen Bess' picture.

All in all: I liked it. Kind of. More or less.

[Alisa Patience · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography kicks ass

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the historical genre. As a fan of Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy, I picked this book up at a real bargain and thought it would be a nice read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fast read but very thought provoking. I thought it was a well researched account of Queen Elizabeth's life, her consorts, her favorites, and a great analysis of the hypothetical notion that she had an illegitimate child or children.

I think that author's writing flows logically and smooth writing style. As I read, I could envision Elizabeth in her Privy room with her consorts and courtiers, feel her trials and tribulations, as well as, her struggle to be the Master of her Rule, but desiring and seek the friendship, love, and compassion that every person wants. This was a great addition in knowledge and insight to my experiences with the Philippa Gregory and Jean Plaidy books. Happy Reading!

http://cbbookreviews.blogspot.com/

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow read...nothing new I haven't read before and, more importantly, the author's stated premise was to investigate the possibility that Queen Elizabeth I birthed an illegitimate child was haphazardly follow-through upon (at best).

[Linda Ewankowich · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I really enjoy Philippa Gregory's books about British monarchy, but not this one. The first part of the book was good, it was interesting reading about the chain of events that happened to being Elizabeth to the crown. BUT, the second half of the book was boring and repetitive. It was more about her would be husbands and their lives than her. And it just went on and on.... The book would have been much more interesting if it had gone into her accomplishments during her reign, and not all the dribble that it did.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

With "Elizabeth: Virgin Queen", Philippa Jones delves into the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England in a book that is almost 2 in one which isn't necessarily a good thing. The first 2/3 of the book deal with the life of the monarch and her troubled beginnings mostly due to her father Henry VIII as well as the subsequent issues caused by the next 2 successors to the crown Edward VI & Mary. Jones in these segments of the book does a decent job of giving we the reader a biography of this queen as well as the turbulent times in England which she managed to calm down as well as all the potential suitors that were after her heart.Where the book does something that at times isn't helpful is in the last third where the question (which perhaps is why this book may need a punctuation mark in the title) of whether or not she had a bastard child comes into play. Jones in this section gives us 4 possible candidates to be an offspring of Elizabeth & concludes very likely that the queen herself known for being a virgin perhaps never was even though the historically it's never been completely proven.

Overall, the book does a decent job w/ Elizabeth's biography as well as being yet another insight into the Tudors; however, the insistence that she wasn't a virgin queen let alone how she may've lost her virginity & to whom make this book a bit of a distraction to me & is the reason I can only half recommend it.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about Elizabeth I, and this one was well written, but the author is like a graduate student with her thesis. She tells the (to me and probably to most of her readers) familiar story of Elizabeth's life, but intersperses the information with which man of the moment could be her lover, if she had a lover, and what child/ren may or may not have resulted. (Example of the kind of reasoning used. "If Elizabeth and Lord Thomas/Robert/unnamed courtier DID have a child, then that child would have to have been brought up far from court. And it happens that a child WAS brought up far from court that year!) I am Team Virgin Queen all the way but of course none of that really touches her legacy. I am happy I bought this book mainly because I love owning a book with my favorite historical portrait ever on the cover, even if ... wait for it. Seriously. Wait for it. Even if, in the credits cited, it is listed ON THE BOOK JACKET as a 2010 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II! Are you kidding me right now Metro Books, an imprint of Sterling Publishing? Someone there on Park Avenue South, New York, New York, had ONE job. Seriously, if you are interested in the life of Elizabeth I there are far better books and authors. If you are interested in titillating tidbits about the private life of royals, there are far more titillating magazines and memoirs. But the cover
picture rules.

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women in power have never had it easy, especially in centuries past. Philippa Jones does an extraordinary job of showcasing this in her book. She confirms, and dispels, many of the myths surrounding the "Virgin Queen's" life. It reads like a story rather than a history book, and taught me that even though Elizabeth I became a powerful queen, she suffered much to get there. She had to fight for her place as a woman with authority, always watching her back for men who wanted to usurp her power, and jealous women who wanted to see her fall. Many of us grew up listening to stories about kings, queens, princes, and princesses who lived charmed lives because of their wealth and status. As I got older and was exposed to true history, I learned that this was not the case. Philippa Jones is one of the phenomenal writers who cracked that myth right open for me. She digs deep to get to the heart of the people she writes about. This book is no exception.

[Alicia (Alley) Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's speculative history. I found it interesting but not particularly compelling. The author is careful to always use if rather than making a definite claim that Elizabeth I had any illegitimate children, which is intelligent and safe but also makes it seem as if the author doesn't quite trust the possibilities they posit. It was occasionally repetitive, but I imagine that was meant to make it easier for a lay audience who might find the various titles and histories confusing, especially as there are a lot of persons involved with Elizabeth I. I did find the extra biographies of the possible children to be interesting, though the book ends feeling as if nothing was really proven, which gives it a bit of an empty feeling for me.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mother is obsessed with all British royalty. This wasn't my favorite and I felt like I was reading snippets from OK! Magazine ans People. Obviously it focused on Elizabeth not being a virgin (for various guesses-and not because no one ever could be asexual let alone strong enough, especially as a female, to not want a suitor in that age! Plus she took her duty seriously!) Any potential children are discussed here.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed reading historical biographies, and Queen Elizabeth is one of my favorite people to read about. I enjoyed this brief biography but I think the concept of her having illegitimate children is ridiculous. I also do not feel like the author truly took the time to fully prove her point.

[Kathryn Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t be too hard on this book because I more or less enjoyed my experience of reading it. That being said, I think it could have used some editing. There were sentences that I had to read three or four times and they still didn’t make sense. It was also incredibly repetitive at times and seemed to get off topic frequently.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read the theories about supposed children Elizabeth had, but I don't believe she'd ever had children. From the way she seemed to be very adamant about what doctors could see her and had specific ladies in waiting, I think she was very concerned with being physically touched in an intimate manner. Also, the way she spoke about marriage--even from a young age.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. How she led her suitors on and then would let them down. But it wasn't a page turner. It was not the type of book that I had a hard time putting down.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like it needed a good editor. The author is repetitive like she's forgotten what was earlier in the book. There were also some scattered typos.

[Katrina Balle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly repetitious and vague.

[Aly K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like I was reading a tabloid. Oh well... At least it didn't require a lot of focus so I could read it while administering final exams.

[Avalon Bingamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written decent. The author is very well versed with the era and she makes a convincing, but presumptions argument.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was the 'Virgin Queen' image just Tudor propaganda? Historian Philippa Jones, author of the acclaimed The Other Tudors, challenges the many myths and truths surrounding Elizabeth's life and reveals the passionate woman behind the scenes. ‘Virgin Queen’ is the name for which the powerful and fearless daughter of Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn is best remembered, and may explain why Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor monarchs. But how appropriate is that reputation? Were Elizabeth's suitors and favorites really just innocent intrigues? Or were they much more than that? Was Elizabeth really a woman driven by her passions, who had affairs with several men, including Thomas Seymour, while he was still the husband of her guardian Catherine Parr, and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester—a man adjudged to have been the great love of her life? Are the rumors of Elizabeth's illegitimate children true?

I have always been fascinated by the Tudors and royal history. Phillipa Jones does a fairly good job of going through the actual facts of Elizabeth I's life based on what we know, using surviving letters, texts, and other evidence.
There have always been rumors about whether she ever had illegitimate children, but this was where things did get a little off base. She makes some interesting points that seem to dismiss the rumors during the history of Elizabeth, but at the end, she breaks down the most popular candidates, the "evidence" for and against, and uses her opinion as to whom she thinks may have been any of the children. Some of the evidence presented by her and others are fairly far fetched.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was officially my first bio on Elizabeth I, though I've read a lot about her father's reign and I own a biography on her mother, Anne Boleyn.

This particular one focused on whether or not Elizabeth had any children and the possibilities when they could have born as well as commenting on other things of Elizabeth's reign. I really enjoyed and I thought the author didn't have any bias on who might have possibly been Elizabeth's child. But like her previous book The Other Tudors: Henry VIII's Mistresses and Bastards I did notice a few mistakes. Just on birth date and years, but it was easily overlooked.

I give this book 4 stars. Very interesting, but it was a little light on other important aspects of Elizabeth's life, though I suppose if you're looking for a general biography of Elizabeth, you might look elsewhere.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent read, although I only gave it three out of five stars, I would still recommend this book if you are interested in this sort of history. While I think it was written in a way to make it understandable, it contained so much information that it took more time to read. Without sharing spoilers, I enjoy Philippa Jones' writing, I just do not agree with some of her conclusions. It is hard to really know what the truth is in most of this part of history since there is lack of documentation or more than one account can be found of the same subjects, peoples and events, but I find it very interesting. Some accounts are made for TV, some over reach in looking for closure but for the most part, the information gained makes for a good story!

[Briansmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes on the age-old question: was Elizabeth I really a virgin, or did she have lover/lovers or even possibly a child or multiple children? The author takes us through a detailed history of Elizabeth's relationships with men, and focuses on the most likely candidates to be her lovers. Then, she presents several men who could have been Elizabeth's offspring. While entertaining, of course it is all speculation, and I believe that it is rather far-fetched to believe that Elizabeth had any male offspring which she refused to recognize. Her reputation aside, it was, after all, the all-consuming pastime of her advisers to see her married off and with a male heir. Verdict? Virgin: maybe not; Mother: unlikely.

[Juliew. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a small amount of older information in it as it came out in 2011.Otherwise,I think it was an entertaining read for anyone who likes romance and especially someone interested in Elizabeth I or her times.The book questions whether Elizabeth I deserved the title of "Virgin Queen".Did she secretly marry and could she have had a child without it becoming widely known?The author examines each of her romances in an effort to discover could it all have been possible?

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Celebrity gossip packaged as a historical biography. It's enjoyable and there really is no harm in delving into the private affairs of long-dead royals, and it's not badly written or badly researched. I give it only two stars for two reasons: there's too much speculation, and it shouldn't be presented as a serious biography.

[Bon · Rating 2 out of 5]

While generally well written, this book was poorly organized. Many assumptions were made and the author often took a pure gossipy tone that very much undercut any effort to present her research seriously. I did enjoy learning more about Elizabeth's reign and personal life, but will be soon seeking out a much more respectable work.

[Kristen Corbin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because I did enjoy the author's biographical abilities. Otherwise it is a shaky thesis with absolutely no conclusion. It's also poorly organized and repetitive. Stick to Alison Weir.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one thing I really liked was that more detail was given about her early years and the lives of the people who were around her. I knew most of the information that was listed, but I did learn a few new things. It was interesting to see Queen Elizabeth portrayed in this new light.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and straightforward history of Elizabeth and her possible sexual dalliances. Compelling read.