“I observe and remain silent.”
Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until she died in 1603 and was the last monarch of the House of Tudor. The only surviving child of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (who was executed when Elizabeth was only two years old), Elizabeth has gone down in history as one of England’s most famous and popular rulers. Setting out to rule by good counsel and pursuing mostly moderate and tolerant policies, her relatively stable forty-four years on the throne helped forge a sense of national identity.
From the emergence of English drama through the works of Shakespeare to the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the heyday of dashing English piracy, and the fiery side of the red-haired Virgin Queen, join us at What We Reading for the best books on Queen Elizabeth I!
Elizabeth: The Struggle For The Throne – David Starkey
One of the most recognisable British historians and a renowned expert on the Tudor dynasty, David Starkey sheds light on Elizabeth I’s early years and rise to the throne in his 2000 book, Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne.
Through examining the formative years that forged her astute character, Starkey’s work provides context on how Elizabeth was able to navigate the choppy waters of Tudor politics and establish such a successful reign. From snug years as Henry VIII’s heir, banishment from court to her imprisonment and potential execution at the hands of her half-sister, Queen Mary I, Starkey allows readers to understand how Elizabeth’s cunning and patience paved the way for one of the most formidable rulers England has ever seen.
The Life Of Elizabeth I – Alison Weir
A New York Times bestseller from respected historian Alison Weir, The Life of Elizabeth I sets a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war to cut through the myths surrounding the Virgin Queen. She presents an enthrallingly epic and surprisingly intimate portrait of perhaps the most influential sovereign in British history.
Through brilliant, extensive research, Weir’s biography of Elizabeth gets to the heart of the complexities and contradictions of her character. From whether her choice to forgo marriage was a result of seeing what happened to her mother, to how her love for the Earl of Leicester may have resulted in the order to kill his wife, The Life of Elizabeth I presents new interpretations and fresh perspectives that any reader will find fascinating!
Elizabeth I And Her Circle – Susan Doran
Elizabeth I is known for being an extremely private person, so those confidants who did manage the trust of the queen remain some of the enigmatic and mysterious figures from her time on the throne. In Elizabeth I and Her Circle, Susan Doran lifts the lid on the queen’s inner circle and the human relationships that determined both her personal and political life.
Doran reveals the true extent of the complex relationships with her father, half-brother and sister as well as her Stuart relatives that would come to take the throne following her death. She also delves into her courtiers and her councillors (her ‘men of business’) to give the clearest insight into how her relationships with the likes of Leicester and Essex influenced her political management right into the final years of her reign. One of the best Elizabeth I books for truly grasping what made the queen tick, Doran takes readers into the heart of a Tudor court.
Elizabeth I: Collected Works – Leah S. Marcus
Leah S. Marcus offers readers the most comprehensive portrait of Queen Elizabeth I from the woman herself in one single volume. Collected Works pulls together all of the clumsily-written letters from her childhood, the early speeches from a queen still finding her feet and all the musings, poems and prayers from Elizabeth’s later years.
The first collection of its kind to be published, the book reveals brilliance on two fronts. First of an accomplished queen, a mesmeric writer and a profound intellect spearheading the English Renaissance. Second, the editors whose extensive annotations make the book essential reading for causal historians and scholars looking to understand Elizabeth I better.
Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons From The Leader Who Built An Empire – Alan Axelrod
In one of the more innovative Elizabeth I books, historian and business management expert Alan Axelrod reveals how the Virgin Queen met the challenges that faced them, overcame daunting obstacles and led her country to greatness.
Elizabeth I’s long reign offers lessons on fostering a leadership attitude and an image that wins intense loyalty. Enhanced by personal dynamism and an ability to manipulate, control and inspire creativity from others, Axelrod takes a different approach to deconstruct what made Elizabeth such a great leader. Opposed to other works on the Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I CEO is a book for business leaders, exploring issues that are relevant in today’s world and showcasing how a ruler in the sixteenth century was able to overcome them all.
Elizabeth’s Women: Friends, Rivals, And Foes Who Shaped The Virgin Queen – Tracy Borman
Most Elizabeth I portrayals, adaptations and biographies focus on the Virgin Queen’s relationship with men. Historian Tracy Borman presents a fascinating new angle on the life and times of Elizabeth by presenting her as a product of women.
Elizabeth’s Women offers a brilliantly researched account of one of England’s most enigmatic rulers, shedding light on how the Tudor court viewed femininity, the power held by fecundity and flirtation, the meanings and purpose of costumes during the Renaissance, and the contradictions and complexities of Elizabeth’s personal opinions on female inferiority. The narrative explores Elizabeth’s enchanting mother, who taught her never to mix love and politics, the women subjects who adored her, and the intimates who challenged and even threatened to destroy her.
Blood, Fire And Gold – Estelle Paranque
Applauded as a tale ‘told with verve and passion’, Blood, Fire and Gold is a stunning portrayal of two of the most powerful women in European history and their grand rivalry. Estelle Paranque brings to life Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici, two extraordinary rulers who came to hold power against all odds.
A story packed full of compelling details of diplomacy, intrigue and court life, Paranque chronicles the complicated thirty-year relationship between Elizabeth and Catherine, mapping their friendship, competition and conflicts that defined Europe. Drawing on new research and the personal letters exchanged between the pair, it is one of the best Elizabeth I books filled with ceaseless calculations, politics, love, war and wisdom that pays homage to these two rulers and the lasting imprint they left on European history.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
