Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen & the Men who Loved Her

Elizabeth I -  biographical sketches and a fictional memoir

cover art shows portrait, head and shoulders, of Elizabeth I as queen
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The Elizabethan golden age was peopled by a court of flamboyant and devoted men - each one unique, ambitious and talented. At its centre was a woman, Elizabeth, the Tudor princess who succeeded to the throne of England in 1558 and who vowed to her Parliament to remain unwed and a Virgin Queen for the rest of her life.

How did such a diverse group of red-blooded men view their ‘Gloriana?’ What were their aims and intentions? What were their dreams? And just how did Elizabeth manage to control and manipulate them?

A unique blend of fact and fiction brings the Elizabethan court and its inhabitants to life in an evocative collection of biographical sketches that will inform and entertain in equal measure.
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Reading time:

approximately 4 hours.

 

Print Editions:

Paperback ISBN-13: 979-8600672154

156 pages en-gb.

Library and bookshops: ask for ISBN-13 979-8602205794

 

“If you’re new to the Elizabethan period, this book can be a great starting point for learning more about court life, and the central courtiers who surrounded the legendary Queen.” Samanthaimperiatrix from Today in Dead Royalty
“What I loved about the book was the air of mystery, combined with the light-hearted style. It really is a history book with a difference.” Claire Ridgway, Tudor Book Reviews
“Unique and sumptuous.” Bridgett Trejo, author and Tudor blogger.
“Concise, understandable without being simplistic and enormously entertaining.” Kirsty Stonell Walker, author and biographer
“A great resource for those looking for a short but informative read with an unusual twist.” Arleigh Johnson, historical-fiction.com
Parry's ability to effortlessly cocoon fact within a story, within another story, while not compromising on the integrity of the work will not fail to impress.' Natalie Grueninger, author -On the Tudor Trail.
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Additional Information

  • A country house setting is the backdrop for a series of peculiar lectures on the life and times of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

 

  • A fictional memoir blending fact and fantasy.

 

  • During the course of a weekend, several biographical sketches are delivered on the principal men in Elizabeth’s life, including Henry VIII, Thomas Seymour, Robert Dudley, John Dee, William Cecil, Walter Raleigh, Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex and others.

 

  • Brief, fictional ‘vignettes’ accompany the biographical chapters, in which the relationship or romance with each man is explored through an imagined scene or conflict. Suitable, therefore, for those who also enjoy reading short stories with a twist.

 

  • Also includes observations on sixteenth-century Elizabethan court life and how Elizabeth became queen and remained in power for so long through her professed virginity.

Extra


For a discussion of the story with author and Victorian studies specialist Kirsty Stonell Walker (External link)
collage of images of Elizabethan courtiers, men, with Elizabeth 1st central
Elizabeth, men and courtiers
Elizabethan Era
Elizabeth Sieve Portrait - allegory and meaning
thumbnail image shows face of Elizabeth Tudor as queen
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