Book Review: “Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets” by Sharon Bennett Connolly

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The typical image of a medieval princess often comes from fairy tales. They are seen as damsels in distress, waiting in a tower for their charming prince to whisk them away to create power alliances between their two countries and live happily ever after. Let’s be real, this is nothing but a fantasy. Some princesses did have happy marriages, but they weren’t wasting away in towers. They were learning how to be diplomats and rulers of their own domains, whether countries or counties. The stories of the Plantagenet princesses are especially colorful, and Sharon Bennett Connolly continues to tell their tales in the second book in her duology, “Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I enjoyed the first book in this duology, “Princesses of the Early Middle Ages,” so I wanted to see how she would conclude the duology. I know more about the later Plantagenets, so I was interested to see what new information Connolly would provide to this field of study.

This title traces the daughters of King Henry III to the daughters of King Edward IV. As those who study the Plantagenets already know, two, technically three, kings did not have daughters during this period: King Henry V, King Henry VI, and, if we extend the timeline past the reign of Edward IV, Richard III. We begin with the daughters of Henry III and his wife Eleanor of Provence, who often do not get much attention since Henry III had to deal with Simon de Montfort, rebuilding Westminster Abbey, and the Provisions of Oxford. They had three daughters, Margaret, Beatrice, and Katherine (who died young). Margaret would marry Alexander III of Scotland, and Beatrice married John II, Duke of Brittany. After the death of Henry III, his son Edward I became king, alongside his wife and queen, Eleanor of Castile, whose death would later be immortalized through the Eleanor Crosses. The couple would only have one living male heir, the future Edward II, but they did have five daughters who survived infancy: Eleanor, Joan of Acre, Margaret, Mary of Woodstock, and Elizabeth of Rhuddlan. Mary of Woodstock was the only daughter who did not marry, as she was reluctantly destined to be a nun. Eleanor married twice, to King Alfonso III of Aragon and Count Henry III of Bar; Joan of Acre married Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, and then married secretly to Ralph de Monthermer. Margaret married John II, Duke of Brabant, a strong alliance marriage. Finally, Elizabeth of Rhuddlan married twice, to John I, Count of Holland, and to Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford.

Edward II would marry Isabella of France, and amidst the conflict with the favorites Piers Gaveston and Hugh le Despenser the Younger, the couple would have an heir, Edward III, John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall, plus their two daughters, Eleanor of Woodstock and Joan of the Tower. Joan of the Tower would marry King David II of Scotland, while Eleanor of Woodstock would marry Reynald II, Count of Guelders. Edward III and his wife Philippa of Hainault would have five daughters, but only one of them reached her forties. Isabella, the eldest and the one who took the longest to get married, finally tied the knot with Enguerrand VIII, Lord of Coucy. Joan of the Tower was betrothed to Pedro, Prince of Castile, but on her way to Spain, she died of the Black Death. Blanche died as an infant, and Margaret of Windsor would be a child bride of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, before she died at a young age. Finally, Mary of Waltham would marry John IV, Duke of Brittany.

Connolly explores the life of Richard II before his cousin Henry Bolingbroke became Henry IV. Before he was created king, Henry IV and his first wife Mary de Bohun had two daughters, Blanche and Philippa, whose lives would change forever once their father became King of England. Blanche married Louis III, Elector Palatine, and Philippa married Eric Pomerania, King of Denmark and Sweden. Finally, Connolly explores the lives of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville’s daughters. Before their father Edward IV died suddenly in 1482, they each had a different path than the one they actually took. Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter, would marry Henry VII and help found the Tudor dynasty. Cecily of York married twice, to Ralph Scrope and John, Viscount Welles, while Anne of York married Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and Duke of Norfolk. Catherine of York married William Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and Bridget of York would become a nun.

This just scratches the surface of the amount of information Connolly includes in this book. She also includes illegitimate daughters, which adds even more depth to the past. I loved learning about the daughters of the later Plantagenet kings, and now I want to learn even more. If you enjoyed reading the first book in this duology or if you just want to learn more about Plantagenet princesses, I highly recommend you read “ Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets” by Sharon Bennett Connolly.

Book Review: “Women Who Ruled The World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy” by Elizabeth Norton

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Who runs the world? For most of human history, the typical answer is a King, Prince, Emperor, Sultan, or President. In short, male rulers. However, if we take a deeper dive into world history, we will see cases of women ruling their own countries. We think of women ruling as an anomaly, but in some parts of the world, it is quite common. How did these women come to power and fight for their right to rule? Elizabeth Norton explores centuries of ladies who held power in some way in her latest book, “Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy.”

I have been a big fan of Elizabeth Norton’s previous books and the information she shares about her travels around the world. When I saw that she was writing a book about female monarchies around the world, it caught my attention. I am a sucker for learning about female rulers, but I tend to focus on medieval European leaders. I wanted to expand my knowledge of world history, so when I read the description of this book, it sounded perfect for me.

To cover such a swath of women’s history, Norton has selected a few women to highlight in chapters dedicated to aspects of their reigns. You have your queens who took control for the men in their lives, those who took the throne for themselves, child queens, warrior queens, queens who were both famous and infamous, rulers who had to deal with colonization, empresses, and the queens of the 21st century. We begin in ancient Egypt and explore every continent, except Antarctica, from 5000 years ago to the modern day.

While there are some women whose names are familiar to me, such as Matilda of England, Cleopatra VII of Egypt, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I of England, Isabel I of Castile, Victoria of the United Kingdom, and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the majority of these women were new to me. You have the ancient queens like Merneith, Hatshepsut, and Arsinoe IV of Egypt, the Kandakes of Kush, and Zenobia of Palmyra. We get to explore further into European royalty with Margrete I of Denmark, Charlotte of Cyprus, Blanche II and Leonor of Navarre, Elizaveta and Catherine II of Russia, Tamar of Georgia, Jeanne of France, Maria Theresia of Austria-Hungary, and Juana la Beltraneja. Further east, we get to explore the lives of Wu Zetian of China, the 8 empresses who ruled Japan, as well as the rulers of Bora Bora, Bhopal, Sydney, Madagascar, and Tonga. Finally, we also get to learn about the Rain Queens of the Balobedu and the last queen of Hawaii, Lili ‘uokalani.

This was a delightful read full of fascinating female rulers. I must applaud Norton for the copious amount of research that went into this book and how easy it was to read. It gives readers like me a chance to explore different cultures through the lives of colorful queens. If you want a unique read about other cultures and centuries of female rulers, you must read “Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy” by Elizabeth Norton.

Book Review: “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon

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When we think about pirates, we often think of the scallywags of the late 17th and early 18th century. We think about predominantly men who sailed in the tropical waters of the New World, stealing and pillaging while drinking rum and avoiding the navies of Spain, France, and England. While this image is relatively accurate, piracy has been an occupation for centuries,s and it was not just a job for men. There were some famous women pirates like Anne Bonny and Mary Read, but there is one who does not get a lot of attention. Her name is Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen of 16th-century Ireland, who met with Queen Elizabeth I. How did Grace become a pirate, and what were the circumstances of her legendary meeting with Queen Elizabeth I? Ariel Lawhon explores the life of this extraordinary woman in her latest novel, “The Pirate Queen.”

I would like to thank Doubleday and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have heard of Grace o’Malley in previous books that I have read about Elizabeth I, but I didn’t know much about Grace. When I heard that there was going to be a novel about her life, I knew I wanted to read it. This is the first time I have read a novel by Ariel Lawhon, so I was excited to see how she would tell Grace’s story.

This novel is very unique in the way the story is told. It is based on the Trinity knot, in which Grace’s story is told in three separate parts: Maiden, Mother, and Matriarch. Each chapter focuses on one of the stages of Grace’s life. Grace O’Malley, also known as Grainne O’Malley, was the daughter of Eoin O’Malley, The O’Malley, and his wife Maeve. Grace also has an illegitimate brother named Donal, who is basically her best friend. All Grace wants to do is sail the seas like her father, but her gender hinders her ability to do so. To her family, she is a pawn in the marriage market to make a strong alliance with the O’Flaherty clan.

Through the Mother storyline, we see Grace’s tumultuous relationship with her first husband, Donal O’Flaherty, who likes to pick fights with everyone. Grace does not love her husband, but a childhood friend, Richard Bourke. However, Grace is a mother of three and a woman who is willing to fight on the sea for her family, even if it means she gains powerful enemies, including the Governor of Connaught, Sir Richard Bingham.

I enjoyed this book, even though the format took me a minute to get used to, as I prefer a novel in chronological order. The actual story was compelling,g and Grace was a strong female lead; I just wish we got to see more of her pirate antics. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope Lawhon continues writing about women in the 16th century and further back. If you want a novel about a female pirate, I suggest you check out “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon.

Book Review: “The Undying Lamb” by Paul Brous

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A single child can frighten kings and the pope just by existing. The year is 1230, and Europe is on fire with war and the repercussions of the Crusades. Caught in the middle are a baby boy and his protectors who must get to a safe location before forces who want to see the baby dead catch up to them. On top of it all, the Cathars are in danger of being eliminated due to their beliefs. Can the child and his protectors escape Rome, or will the child be killed? Will the Cathars survive,e or will they be persecuted for what they believe? Paul Brous explores these topics in his novel, “The Undying Lamb.”

I want to thank Rising Action and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I like reading about new aspects of medieval Europe. I saw this novel was going to feature a storyline featuring the Cathars, who don’t get much attention from casual history lovers. I wanted to see how he would tell the tale of the Cathars and how the story of a child everyone wants dead would be incorporated into this narrative.

We begin with an extensive glossary of terms used in this book, which includes phrases in Latin, Occitan, French, Sardu, and Italian, which I found extremely useful and showed how much research Brous poured into this novel before I started reading. The actual story starts with Sibilia meeting the mysterious Robin. They are given the task of protecting a baby they call Will, but his identity is the Grail Child, one whom people fear will bring forth the Apocalypse. The mission was put together by Pope Gregory IX and his right-hand man, Cardinal Goffredo Castiglioni, to protect Will from people like Blanche of Castile, who fears that the child would be a threat to her son,n while King Henry III of England threatens to invade France.

To make matters worse, you have the church going after the Cathars during the Albigensian Crusade. While many of the Cathars have been eliminated by the time of this novel, there are still pockets of resistance. Now, the church is sending an inquisition after one such group. So while we have the Grail Child storyline, we also have the Cathar storyline with multiple points of view. 

Personally, I think that the plotlines included in this novel would have been better as two separate novels so that the ideas could have been developed fully. Either that or have an ending that alludes to a sequel novel. Overall, it was an okay read for me; I just felt like he had too many ideas for one novel. If you want to read a decent medieval novel that explores a different aspect of the past, you might enjoy “The Undying Lamb” by Paul Brous.

Book Review: “The King’s Mother” by Annie Garthwaite

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The year is 1461, and a new king sits on England’s throne. Edward IV has earned his right to sit on the throne by winning the crown at the Battle of Towton. Now, he must fight for his throne against the Lancastrians and his own family. However, there is one woman who stands firmly by his side: his mother Cecily, Dowager Duchess of York. She earned another title the day he was crowned, that of the King’s Mother. As Edward fights his own battles, so too does Cecily to protect her family. Annie Garthwaite concludes Cecily’s story in her novel, “The King’s Mother.”

I remember reading “Cecily” five years ago and thoroughly enjoying myself. Cecily was such an amazing debut novel, and I was so excited to see how Garthwaite would conclude her story. 

We begin with the aftermath of Towton, the battle that secured the crown for the Yorkist cause for a while. Cecily finally believes that her family is safe, for now. But as the King’s mother, she knows that the position is fragile, as war can begin again at any moment, especially with Marguerite of Anjou still at large. Edward is arranging his court and is looking for a wife- well, a legal wife, because he was already technically married to one, Eleanor Talbot, but that surely would not become an issue later on, right? While there were plans for Edward to marry a French princess so they could create an alliance, Edward chose an English widow named Elizabeth Woodville to be his wife and queen. To say Cecily and Elizabeth got along like oil and water would be an understatement. 

This marriage caused a rift between Edward and his cousin/top advisor, Warwick, and in the end, Edward had to face off against Warwick, Marguerite, and his brother George. While Edward is able to fight back against Warwick and Marguerite, ending the Lancastrian cause for a while, it is his feud with his brother George that would have deadly consequences and tear the family that Cecily fought so hard to protect apart. With Edward’s sudden death, her only remaining son, Richard, goes from protector of Edward’s sons to the King of England, until he is defeated by the usurper Henry Tudor. 

To tell this story of the short-lived Yorkist dynasty and the rise of the Tudors through Cecily’s eyes was engrossing, heartbreaking, and a tremendous read. Cecily was not some wallflower, but a fierce protector of her family who earned the right to be considered the first King’s Mother. If you loved “Cecily” as much as I did, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read “The King’s Mother” by Annie Garthwaite.

Book Review: “Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds” by Taylor Wagmore

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Dogs have been man’s best friends for centuries. They are loyal, protective, and playful in the modern age. But how were dogs treated in different eras? While we could examine different pieces of literature to understand how owners loved their dogs, the Renaissance grants us a unique opportunity to see how pet owners wanted their furry companions to be viewed for centuries after they were gone. Taylor Wagmore examines the pups and the mutts painted by the finest Renaissance painters in her book, “Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds.”

I would like to thank Ten Speed Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Last year, I read a similar book about medieval cats in artwork, since I am a cat owner of an orange tabby named Colby. I thought it was only fair to read a book about Renaissance dogs this year. 

Since this book is mostly images and silly captions, I will keep this review relatively short. The paintings included in this book were beautiful, paired with some interesting factoids. The captions that Wagmore included, while humorous, were often distracting and felt unnecessary at times. Overall, this was an okay read. It feels more like a coffee table book instead of a serious academic book. If you want a novelty book for those who love the Renaissance and dogs, you might enjoy “Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds” by Taylor Wagmore.

Book Review: “Son of the Serpent” by Shauna Lawless

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Medieval Ireland is full of magic and danger, with the Anglo-Normans threatening to invade. Ireland is a fragmented nation of numerous kingdoms that can’t even figure out who their High King is, let alone figure out how to fend off the Anglo-Normans. Caught in the middle is Cuan, the man who is friends with Isolde, the Descendant who is trying to stay alive and learn about her powers. Cuan must fight for revenge for his father by surviving in his treacherous uncle’s court. Can Cuan and Isolde survive against the Irish and the Anglo-Normans, or will their worlds be burned to ashes? Shauna Lawless continues the Gael Song Era 2 series in the second book, “Son of the Serpent.”

I would like to thank Head of Zeus and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I enjoyed the first book in this series, “Daughter of the Otherworld,” when I read it a few months ago, so when I saw that there was a second book, I wanted to read it. The first book ended on such a cliffhanger that I had to know what happened next.

We begin this novel with Cuan’s story before he met Isolde. He was the son of a prince, and before his father became High King after his grandfather’s death, his uncle Ruaidri took the throne. Now, Cuan lives in his uncle’s court as a nobody, but he has secret powers of his own. Meanwhile, Isolde is learning about her gifts in Seir Kieran, including the gift of seeing visions of the future. She tries to use her powers to protect the other Descendants from the Fomorians and the destruction they bring.

On the other side of the conflict, we have the Fomorians, Donnchad, Angelo, and Gormflaith, who have their own schemes. Donnchad works with Strongbow on a planned invasion of Ireland. Gormflaith plays the cards she is dealt to become a powerful woman in the ranks of Strongbow’s court. Meanwhile, Angelo is on the hunt for the Descendants. Each has to use schemes and disguises to infiltrate and make their plans work. The way this novel ended was a shocking twist that I hope will be resolved in book 3.

It took me a minute to get into this book again, as I was trying to remember who these characters were and how they connected, especially Cuan and Isolde, but once I did, this was a fun ride. It was darker than the first book, filled with action and suspense. I cannot wait to see where the series will go next. If you enjoyed the first book in the Gael Song Era 2 series, you might enjoy “Son of the Serpent” by Shauna Lawless. 

Book Review: “House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France” by Justine Firnhaber-Baker

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The medieval world was a time of great change, epic battles, and warrior kings who kept expanding their kingdoms to levels that we know today. In England, the dynasty that we most associate with the medieval period was the Plantagenets. For medieval France, it was the Capetians, who reigned for centuries after the Carolingians. So how did the Capetians come into power? Who were the major figures and scandals that defined the dynasty? And how did the dynasty come to its end? Justine Firnhaber-Baker explores this topic in her book, “House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France.”

I have seen this book on social media for a while now, and the topic was intriguing to me. I have not read much about medieval France, except in supporting roles when studying medieval English history. I wanted to expand my knowledge about medieval Europe as a whole, so when I saw this book for sale in a bookstore, I knew I wanted to add it to my library.

There has been some debate as to when the Capetian dynasty ended, as the Houses of Valois and Bourbon could be considered smaller branches of the Capetian family. Firnhaber-Baker has marked the time of the Capetians between 987 and 1328, which is a few centuries of drama. The kings of the Capetian dynasty were: Hugh Capet, Robert II the Pious, Henry I, Philip I, Louis VI, Louis VII, Philip II Augustus, Louis VIII the Lion, Saint Louis IX, Philip III the Bold, Philip IV the Fair, Louis X the Stubborn, John I the Posthumous, Philip V the Tall, and Charles IV the Fair. Fifteen Kings of France grew the kingdom into a medieval powerhouse.

Firnhaber-Baker shows how the Capetians turned a fragmented realm that was left behind by the Carolingians into a nation. We get to see Hugh Capet become the first king of a new dynasty and set the groundwork for his predecessors. France slowly became a beacon of Catholicism and the crusading dream, as well as the birthplace of Gothic architecture. We see how one king became a saint and another the mortal enemy of the papacy. And of course, we get to see the Capetians face off against their English neighbors, the Plantagenets.

For a book that covers over 300 years of royal history, I found it extremely well researched and easy to follow. While I did not know a ton about the Capetians before reading this book, I want to learn even more about this dynasty and other medieval dynasties of Europe. If you want to learn more about the Capetian dynasty, I highly recommend you read “House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France” by Justine Firnhaber-Baker.

Book Review: “Henry VIII’s Quest for an Heir: The King’s Great Matter” by Helene Harrison

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The Tudor period in English history was marked by significant change for England and Europe as a whole. Yet, there was one moment that defined the dynasty. For centuries, the Great Matter has been viewed as Henry VIII’s desire to divorce his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. Of course, to get what he wanted, Henry had to fight against the Pope and change England’s religious landscape to do it. But if he just wanted a divorce, why go through so much trouble? The answer has to do with his desire for a son. What if the Great Matter lasted much longer than what is normally told? Helene Harrison explores this topic in great depth in her latest book, “Henry VIII’s Quest for an Heir: The King’s Great Matter.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Helene Harrison’s previous books, so when I heard she was writing about Henry VIII’s quest for an heir, I wanted to see what new information she would bring to this topic.

When we think of the Great Matter, the period we tend to think about is when Henry VIII asks for a divorce from Katherine of Aragon in 1526, until he finally marries Anne Boleyn in 1533. However, Harrison argues that the Great Matter lasted much longer. She believes that the Great Matter extended from the birth of Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519, to the birth of his legitimate son Edward VI in 1536. In other words, the Great Matter was the quest for a legitimate male heir for King Henry VIII to continue the Tudor dynasty.

So, where does that leave the men and, more importantly, the women who had their lives upended by Henry’s quest for an heir? While the Great Matter was detrimental for men like Thomas Wolsey, it helped elevate men like Thomas Cromwell. Then there are the women who were caught in the middle: Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary, Anne Boleyn, Princess Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour. The psychological toll that this must have taken on these women was immense, especially when you consider that Henry did not count either marriage to Katherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn as legitimate. Which in turn, meant that Mary and Elizabeth were declared illegitimate. It’s not how things normally work, but Henry was on a mission, and he didn’t care who got hurt. 

This was another brilliant book by Helene Harrison. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the women who were caught in the middle of Henry’s hunt for an heir. I have always thought that the Great Matter ended after Henry married Anne, but the matter was much deeper than that. If you want a book that explores the Great Matter, I highly recommend you read “Henry VIII’s Quest for an Heir: The King’s Great Matter” by Helene Harrison.

Book Review: “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley” by Rosemary Griggs

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When we think about monarchs, we tend to think about a central person who ruled alone or with someone they married. We tend to forget that behind the monarchy is an entire village of people supporting them in this endeavor. For the most part, they were loyal to the crown, not necessarily to whoever wore it. Yet, there are some whose loyalty to a particular monarch extended far before their coronation. Take, for example, the story of Kate Ashley, formerly Kate Champernowne, a trustworthy governess of Elizabeth I. While she made some questionable decisions, her loyalty to Elizabeth never wavered. So who was Kate Ashley? Rosemary Griggs hopes to answer this question in her book, “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books for sending me a copy of this book. I know a little bit of Kat Ashley’s story, primarily when it comes to the Thomas Seymour scandal. So I was hoping to learn more about this woman who was so close to Elizabeth.

Griggs begins with an explanation of the difference between a Lady Mistress and a governess, before diving into Kate’s family origins. The Champernowne family’s origins stretch as far back as the Norman Conquest. Kate was the daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne and Katherine Carew, and the sister of another Katherine and two sisters named Jane, just to add to the confusion. As a Champernowne, Kate was connected to the Courtenays and the Carews, which would be useful when Kate transitioned to the Tudor court, especially the connection to Anthony Denny. Griggs explains how Kate was able to join Elizabeth’s court shortly after the death of Anne Boleyn.

We get to see Kate move up the ranks to Elizabeth’s Mistress while falling in love and marrying John Astley. Kate was by Elizabeth’s side through most of Henry VIII’s reign, alongside Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I’s early reign. She went through so much for Elizabeth, including numerous arrests and plots, but Kate stayed loyal until her dying breath. I enjoyed this book so much. I learned so much about Kate Ashley and her family, alongside Kate’s sacrifices for Elizabeth. If you want a fantastic biography about someone very close to Elizabeth I, I highly recommend you read “Queen Elizabeth I’s Childhood Governess: The Real Kat Ashley” by Rosemary Griggs.