Tag: England

Book Review: “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy

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Women rulers in the past have either been praised or pushed down. They are either seen as ideal women or power-hungry villains. One such figure who suffered the worst from having her image raked through the mud for centuries was Mary Stuart, known throughout history as Mary, Queen of Scots. The Queen of Scotland who was married three times, was once the Queen of France, the mother of the future King of both England and Scotland, accused of having a hand in her second husband’s murder, plotted to overthrow Elizabeth I, and was executed for treason. Her story is well known, but what does the archival information tell us about Mary Stuart? John Guy scoured the archives to find the truth about this queen and presented his research in his biography, “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart.”

I have heard about this particular title for a few years, as it inspired the Mary Queen of Scots movie. I have read similar books about Mary Queen of Scots, but this biography is so revered that I wanted to give it a shot. 

Guy begins at the end of Mary’s life, with the day of her execution and the details that made her death legendary. Mary Stuart was the daughter of King James V and Mary of Guise of France. Five days after she was born, her father James V died after the battle of Solway Moss, and the young girl was proclaimed Queen of Scotland; it was solidified nine months later at her coronation. She didn’t have much time to enjoy her youth as she had to deal with the Rough Wooing from England, which was Henry VIII’s attempt to have Mary marry his son Edward VI, which did not end well. Guy shows how Mary’s education began in Scotland before she moved to France, where she would continue to learn how to become a queen before she married Francis II. While in France, Mary started to fight for her claim to the English throne as her father James V was the son of Margaret Tudor. Francis II and Mary would become King and Queen of France for a short time as Francis would tragically die from an ear infection, which meant that Mary had to go back to her native Scotland.

It is in Scotland where we get to see Guy’s research truly shine as he shows how Mary had to navigate her tumultuous court. Mary had to navigate being a queen while searching for her next husband, who ended up being Henry Stuart Lord Darnley. To say their relationship was rocky would be an understatement. Even though Henry was the father of the future James VI/I, he was not the most liked person in court and it ended up costing him his life. Shortly after the death of Darnley, Mary married for a third and final time, to James Hepburn Earl of Bothwell, who was one of the men who allegedly was behind Darnley’s murder. It is the last portion of this book where Guy focuses on the trial, the Casket Letters, and the schemes that led to Mary’s imprisonment and ultimate execution. 

I found this a very rich and well-researched biography. I found myself taking my time reading this book as I wanted to fully understand the points Guy was making about Mary and her reign. If you want an excellent biography about a queen whose reputation has been tarnished for centuries, I highly recommend you read, “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy.

Book Review: “Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor” by Nathen Amin

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The date is August 22, 1485, and a young man stands in the middle of a battlefield. He has done what seemed nigh impossible, he defeated the last Plantagenet king Richard III to become the new King of England. His heritage makes this man unique and qualified to start a new dynasty. His mother’s family the Beauforts have been explored quite heavily by historians and authors alike. They see this victory as a change in English history whereas his father’s family sees it as a sign of something deeper. To the Tudors and Henry’s fellow Welshmen, it is the fulfillment of a centuries-old prophecy. So who were Henry Tudor’s ancestors and what did it mean for Henry to be the titular Son of Prophecy? Nathen Amin tells the remarkable story of the Tudors and how their struggles and triumphs led to Henry Tudor taking the throne in his latest book, “ Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor.”

I want to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Amin’s previous books, “The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown” and “Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick,” When I heard that he was writing a book about the origins of the Tudors from the Welsh perspective, I knew I had to read it. I don’t know much about Welsh history, so I was looking forward to learning more. 

Amin begins by explaining that while those who study the life of Henry Tudor know that he was Welsh, they don’t highlight his Welshness as a unique aspect of his life. However, as Amin argues, it is the king’s Welsh heritage that makes his story so fascinating as the Tudor story in Wales spans eight generations and it is the story of warriors and diplomats. We begin with the warrior Ednyfed Fychan, who served Llwelyn ab Iorwerth Prince of Ewynedd during the Welsh War of Independence. Now, for those who are paying attention, you will notice that his surname is not Tudor, but Amin takes the time to explain the origins of the Tudor name as well as how English and Welsh relationships changed over time, starting at the time of the Saxons to the start of the Tudor dynasty. 

What I found fascinating is how the family that would later be known as the Tudors in English history were not afraid to get their hands dirty and be at the forefront of change for Wales. They fought tooth and nail for their Welsh rights and those who considered themselves the Prince of Wales, even if it meant putting their lives at risk. It was the stories of these men who created the foundation for Owen ap Maredudd ap Tudur (Owen Tudor) to leave his native Wales for England, work under Walter Hungerford, fall in love and marry the Dowager Queen Katherine of Valois, and have his sons Edmund and Jasper Tudor. This is the point that most people know as the “origins of the Tudors,” but by going back, Amin is showing his audience the depth of Henry’s Welsh roots and it would be on that battlefield on that August day where that Welsh loyalty would become a defining factor between victory or defeat. 

I was enthralled by this book and the copious amounts of notes that I took while reading. It was so much fun learning about historical events and figures that were unfamiliar to me in the context of the Tudor story. This book will revolutionize how you view the Tudors and how Henry Tudor gained the throne. If you are a Tudor nerd who wants to learn more about the Welsh connections to this dynasty, “Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor” by Nathen Amin is an absolute must-read.

Book Review: “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe” by John Julius Norwich

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The 16th century is known to be a century full of powerful women rulers; Mary I, Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, and Mary Queen of Scots, just to name a few. However, these rulers were towards the end of the 16th century. For the first half of the 16th century, Europe and the Middle East rulers were predominantly male. Four men truly dominated this period, each with their objectives and desire for glory; Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor, and Suleiman the Magnificent the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. In his book, “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe,” John Julius Norwich hopes to shed some light on the relationships of these men and how they shaped the political landscape of Europe.

This book caught my eye when I was used book shopping one day. The cover was beautiful and then when I saw what the book was about, I knew I wanted to read it. The stories of Henry VIII and Francis I are tales that I know pretty well and I know some facts about Charles V, but when it comes to Suleiman the Magnificent, I know very little about his life.

Essentially this book is four biographies of the princes Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, and Suleiman the Magnificent. While Norwich could have broken this book into four parts, focusing on each prince individually, he chose to incorporate their stories into one cohesive book, starting with the birth of Francis I and ending with the death of Suleiman. Each man ruled his kingdom in different ways. Francis was the more Renaissance prince who encouraged education and was a patron of the arts. Henry VIII was the second son who was not destined to rule, but when his eldest brother died, Henry was declared King of England and began to rule with an iron fist. Charles V was full of ambition and was industrial which allowed him to become the Holy Roman Emperor. Finally, Suleiman the Magnificent was the outlier of the group as he was the only Muslim leader who brought forth the golden age of the Ottoman Empire.

Norwich was able to keep a balanced approach to this book, never truly favoring one prince over another. I found his narrative easy to follow and pretty well-researched, even though I think what he had to say about the women in the lives of the four princes was a bit dated compared to modern research. I must say that I did enjoy reading about Charles V and Suleiman the Magnificent whereas I found the points about Henry VIII and Francis I a bit of a review. I think if you want a solid book that explores a different aspect of the 16th century, I would recommend you read, “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe” by John Julius Norwich.

Book Review: “A Good Deliverance” by Toby Clements

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A Good DeliveranceThe world of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is filled with stories of adventures and romance. Many authors have tried to tell these tales in a way that will allow their books to live for centuries, but none were more successful than Sir Thomas Malory and his book Le Morte Darthur. King Arthur, Lady Guinevere, Sir Lancelot, Merlin, and Sir Gawain embark on numerous adventures including the Lady of the Lake, Camelot, the sword Excalibur, and the Quest for the Holy Grail. These tales were the epitome of chivalry and valiant knights in shining armor, but the author behind them was anything but perfect. Sir Thomas Malory has had his fair share of time in a prison cell. Who was Sir Thomas Malory and why did his book about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table still resonate with readers centuries after it was written? In his latest novel, “A Good Deliverance,” Toby Clements hopes to reveal the truth of this famous author whose story has been overshadowed by the myths he wrote down in his legendary tome.

I would like to thank Faber Books for sending me a copy of this novel. I have heard about the book Morte Darthur, as it is considered one of the most prominent texts about King Arthur, but when it comes to the author himself, I know nothing about his life. When I heard about this novel, the premise intrigued me enough to read it.

Clements begins his novel with Malory’s surprise arrest at a very old age. Malory is unsure why he has returned to prison as he has tried to live an honest life after he spent some time in the same cell over 20 years ago. He is at the mercy of King Edward IV. While imprisoned, waiting for word from his lawyer, Malory befriends a boy who is the son of one of the jailers named Brunt and he tells the young man his tale. Malory was the son of a knight who fought under King Henry IV in the search for the Welsh miscreant Owen Glendower. We get to see Malory become a knight and his fascination for King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table that would become his magnum opus Morte Darthur. We see Malory’s moments of glory and utter defeat, his rivals, and the women that he admired from afar. Through Malory, we get to see how England changed, starting with Henry IV to his son Henry V, the young King Henry VI, and finally the first Yorkist King Edward IV. We also get to witness events such as the year of the 3 popes, the coronation of Henry V, Agincourt, the death of Jeanne d’Arc, the coronations of King Henry VI, and the beginning of the conflict known as the Wars of the Roses.

In a way, Clements created his Arthurian legend for Sir Thomas Malory with the way he chose to write this novel. However, it was the structure of this novel that bothered me when I was reading it, specifically the bullet points that Clements chose to include. When I am reading a novel, I want to read a cohesive piece, but the bullet points made it feel messy, which was probably used to simulate Malory as a storyteller figuring out what he wants to say to his young audience and what he wants to omit, however, it was just irritating for me to read. I don’t mind bullet points in nonfiction books, but it just doesn’t work for me in historical fiction. As for the main character, Sir Thomas Malory is okay, but there were moments where he rubbed me the wrong way. I did, however, enjoy his relationship with the boy.

Overall, it was a decent book. I think there were elements that I didn’t enjoy entirely, but the way Clements was able to incorporate the changes of the 15th century with the Arthurian legends to tell the story of this author was very unique. I think if you are a fan of Sir Thomas Mallory, the Arthurian legends, or the events of the 15th century, you might enjoy, “A Good Deliverance” by Toby Clements.

Book Review: “Death of Kings”(Book Six of the Saxon Stories series) by Bernard Cornwell

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Death of KingsThe ninth century is coming to a close and England is at a major crossroads. King Alfred the Great is dying and England being unified is still a long-term goal. The only hope for a united England lies in the hands of his son and successor Edward. However, the road to the throne will be challenging as other Saxons and Viking warriors desire the throne. Only one man can help the young king, but which side will Uhtred of Bebbanburg choose? The fight for England’s future continues in book six of the Saxon Stories, “Death of Kings” by Bernard Cornwell.

We begin with Lord Uhtred as he works hard to maintain the lands he earned through fighting for Alfred. But let’s be honest, the quiet life is not for Uhtred of Bebbanburg. A horde of ruffians attack Uhtred at his home, which he can fend off, but he soon finds out that it was a Saxon lord who wishes for his death. At the same time, the dying King Alfred has sent a group to Uhtred to create an alliance with King Eohric to fend off the Danes who are beginning to amass armies against the Saxons.

However, Uhtred soon realizes that Eohric desires power over peace and aligns himself with Sigurd to kill Uhtred. While Uhtred is about to confront Sigurd, he is told about a woman named Aelfadell, who allegedly knows the future. She tells Uhtred of a prophecy that seven kings will die, the women he loves will die, the son of Alfred will not rule, and the Danes will rule all of England. Such a cheerful prophecy that will come into play later on.

As Uhtred deals with the aftermath of all of this, he finds out that Alfred is on death’s door and Edward, his son, and heir, is facing an affair scandal with a woman named Lady Ecgywynn and her children, all while he is betrothed to Aelflaed. With the death of King Alfred, Uhtred is free from his promises to the Saxon king and is given a choice. He can either swear loyalty to the young king and fight for the hope of a united England or he can put down Serpent-Breath and let Alfred’s dream die. I am not going to spoil what choice Uhtred made, but rest assured, his decision will change the course of history, at least this fictional version of Saxon England.

Overall, I found this an enjoyable middle book in a series. It is a solid setup book with a thrilling final battle which helps the readers to realize that the fight for England is not done and that there are many more adventures for Uhtred of Bebbanburg. If you have read the previous five novels in the Saxon Stories series, I would recommend you read, “Death of Kings” by Bernard Cornwell.

Book Review: “Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History” by Philippa Gregory

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Normal WomenThe field of history for centuries has been focused on men and the struggles that mankind has had to endure for society to survive. We tend to get only a mere glimpse at the lives of women when they are next to powerful men. Some will write about women, mostly royal women, who lead extraordinary lives and left an imprint on the past. But what about those who lived ordinary lives? What about the women who lived daily, fighting to survive every obstacle? What can we learn about history through the eyes of ordinary women? Philippa Gregory has taken on the mammoth task of trying to answer these questions and more with her tome, “Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History.”

I would like to thank Harper Collins and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have had an interesting background regarding Philippa Gregory’s books. When I was in middle school/ high school, I started reading novels by Gregory and I became fascinated with the stories that she was weaving. It was only when I read other books that disproved some of the things that Gregory had included in her novels that I stopped reading them. When I saw this book and its praise, I decided to give Gregory another shot because, in the end, I enjoyed her writing style.

As the title suggests, Gregory covers over nine hundred years of English women’s history, from the Norman Conquest to the modern day. It is a daunting undertaking, but the way Gregory presents the information is so easy to follow that it allows the depth of the subject material to sink in without it being too overwhelming. Each part of this book focuses on a different era in the history of England and has segments that highlight important developments during the era when it comes to women’s roles in society. As readers, we can see changes in society like how the church accepted women, how society accepted women, what kind of rights women had, what jobs women could do for money, how women viewed relationships with men as well as other women, and how men viewed women’s nature.

Unlike Gregory’s previous books and novels, the focus of this book is not the women who wore crowns, but women who lived everyday lives and survived whatever life handed them. Mothers, wives, daughters, soldiers, protesters, doctors, factory workers, Suffragettes, guild widows, pirates, highwaywomen, and women husbands are all represented in this book. By including small snippets of stories from women of every walk of life over centuries, Gregory allows her readers to discover more about these women for themselves, which is an exciting prospect.

I am so glad I read this book and gave Philippa Gregory a second chance. This book was fresh, innovative, challenging at times, and overall a fascinating read. By letting the facts and the stories of these women speak for themselves, Gregory presents the past in a way that is both inspirational and heartbreaking, raw and real. If you want to learn more about English women’s history or you are a fan of Philippa Gregory, I highly suggest you read, “Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History” by Philippa Gregory.

Book Review: “Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe” by Nancy Goldstone

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Four QueensIn southeastern France, there is a region called Provence, known today for its lavender fields and its vineyards. In 13th-century France, Provence would be known as the birthplace of four queens who dominated European politics. The daughters, Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice were the daughters of Raymond Berenger V Count of Provence, and his wife Beatrice of Savoy. They would become the queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily. While the sisters were known for their beauty, how they acted as queen consorts for their husbands cemented their legacies in history. Nancy Goldstone tells the tale of these remarkable siblings and how they changed European history in her book, “Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe.”

I am always looking for a new history story to familiarize myself with to read and grow as a history nerd. I was familiar with Eleanor of Provence as she is mentioned in biographies about Henry III, but her sisters were a complete mystery to me and so when I heard about this book and its exploration into the sister queens and 13th-century European history, it intrigued me.

Goldstone begins with a story of how the English King Henry III met with the French King Louis IX in Paris during Christmas 1254, and this extraordinary meeting was orchestrated by two sisters, Eleanor and Marguerite of Provence. We then jump back in time to the childhood of the four sisters in Provence, full of wine and songs of the troubadours. At the heart of this glamorous court was Raymond Berenger V and Beatrice of Savoy, Count and Countess of Provence, along with their four daughters; Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice. All around Provence, wars raged, and without a male heir, Raymond Berenger V and his beloved Provence risked the wars coming into his home and taking everything he loved. What is a father to do, but make exceptional matches for his daughters?

Marguerite, the oldest daughter, was married to the young Louis IX of France, thanks to the deal made by her father and her new mother-in-law, the formidable Blanche of Castile, the White Queen. Guillaume of Savoy, the sisters’ uncle, decided to arrange the next marriage, which was between Eleanor of Provence and the King of England, Henry III, who had been ruling a turbulent nation for over 20 years. The two eldest sisters would help weather civil wars and crusades to allow the dynasties that they married to survive.

The younger sisters, Sanchia and Beatrice, married men who were also younger siblings and were fighting for their rights to rule in Europe. Sanchia married Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the younger brother of Henry III. They would become King and Queen of Germany for only a brief time, but they would pave the way for the Habsburgs. Finally, Beatrice married the younger brother of Louis IX, Charles Count of Anjou; they would soon become the King and Queen of Sicily.

In the world of 13th-century Europe which was dominated by kings and popes fighting crusades and civil wars, it was the women at home and their husbands’ sides that helped stabilize nations. Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice were fierce women who were loyal to their own families even if that meant that they had to step in the way of their sister’s glory. Goldstone can weave together a narrative of all four siblings that is compelling, engaging, and academically fascinating. If you want a book that explores the familial bonds of four sisters and the lengths that they had to go to to protect what they loved the most, I highly suggest you read, “Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe” by Nancy Goldstone.

Book Review: “The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England” by M.J. Porter

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royal womenWhen we think about England, we often think about a unified country with an illustrious history of wars and triumphs. However, England in the 10th century was drastically different. It was barely a country as it was newly formed through politics, but it faced the risk of elimination with a carousel of kings and Viking raiders. Some of the most notable kings of this era include Alfred, Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edward the Martyr, and Aethelred II, but the most fascinating figures of this time were the women who were hidden in the shadows of the past. M.J. Porter uses the written record from the 10th and 11th centuries to tell the tales of these remarkable women in her book, “The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have heard of M.J. Porter and her historical fiction novels ( I even hosted her for a guest post on my blog), but I had never read her books. I saw this particular title and I was curious as the history of 10th century England is a weak area in my historical research and I wanted to know more about the royal women who lived during this era.

Porter begins by explaining the concept of the long 10th century in England, which starts with the death of King Alfred in 899 to the death of Lady Elfrida in 1001/1002. In that span, ten kings reigned: Alfred, Edward the Elder, Aethelweard, Athelstan, Edmund, Eadred, Eadwig, Edgar, Edward the Martyr, and Aethelred II the Unready. Although this was a turbulent time, it was the women who kept England together. Women like Lady Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians and Elfrida, the first crowned Queen of England, were not afraid to get their hands dirty whether that meant fighting off Viking invaders or potentially killing off her stepson so her son could be king. Some less famous women were daughters, sisters, mothers, saints, and abbesses/nuns who saw England transformed and whose stories survived through wills, charters, and chronicles.

While I did find the information in this book fascinating as I did take copious notes while reading, I have to be a bit critical of the actual structure of this book. The structure as it was published made it a bit difficult to follow along and I was struggling to keep track of who was who as some women shared the same name. I feel like Porter should have done an introduction to the events of the period in the beginning, then dived into what sources she will use in the book, and then gone into the more minutiae details of the lives of the royal women in chronological order.

Overall, it was a decent read that was extremely informative, but it could have been structured differently to make it even better and a more enjoyable read. Porter’s passion for this period of the past is evident on every page and I wonder how it translates to her historical fiction novels. If you want to learn more about the royal house of Wessex and the women who were close to the throne, I would recommend you read, “The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England” by M.J. Porter.

Book Review: “Foundation: The History of England From Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors” by Peter Ackroyd

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FoundationEngland is a nation that is rich in history and conflicts galore. Through the centuries, England has seen so much change. Many of us know the stories of the medieval and the Tudor kings and queens of England, covered in numerous books, but Peter Ackroyd has taken this concept a step forward. Ackroyd embarked on an epic quest to chronicle the history of England from its prehistoric origins to the modern age. In “Foundation: The History of England From Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors,” Peter Ackroyd begins his epic journey into the past to explore the origins of English history.

This book is one that I have seen every time I go to a bookstore and look at the history nonfiction section. I have heard great things about Ackroyd and this series, however, I have yet to read any of his books. It was always an intriguing book to me, but it was one that I never read until now.

Ackroyd has decided to begin his book with one of the most ancient sites in all of England, Stonehenge, explaining that before the first stone was set in Stonehenge, the origins of England were centuries old. We travel through the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and into Roman Britain before we dive into the time of the Anglo-Saxons and the Viking invasions. There is a lot of history to cover in less than a hundred pages, but Ackroyd can get his point across about how much change England went through during that time and that it continued to grow throughout the following centuries.

We see the impact that the Norman Conquest and William the Conqueror’s reign. The fall of the Normans with the death of King Stephen led to the rise of the Plantagenets and the reign of King Henry II. It was the Plantagenets that Ackroyd focuses the bulk of this book on as the dynasty lasted over 300 years and witnessed much change. From the Crusades, the Hundred Years War, and the Wars of the Roses, to the Black Death, rebellions, and religious changes, the Plantagenets saw England through major highs and lows. It was not just the monarchs that Ackroyd highlights in this book, he also examines how normal life changed with each dynasty and through the centuries, which adds a bit of depth to his examination of the past. Ackroyd concludes with the fall of Richard III and the rise of Henry VII and the Tudor dynasty. I wish Ackroyd would have waited until his next book to discuss the reign of Henry VII, but it is a minor qualm in the long run.

Overall, I found this an enjoyable and informative read. This is not only a tale of warring kings but a story of the people of England and what makes England so unique. A story whose origins are centuries old, but are rich and vivid in details. I look forward to seeing how Ackroyd will chronicle the Tudors and the rest of England’s history. If you want a book that explores as much of the beginnings of England’s story through multiple dynasties and dramatic changes, I would suggest you read, “Foundation: The History of England From Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors” by Peter Ackroyd.

Book Review: “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou” by David Lee

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the queen's frog princeRomances in the Tudor era are legendary for their effects on English, European, and world history. From international matches to domestic love stories, the Tudors had a way of capturing our attention with whom they married. The one Tudor whose relationships caught everyone’s attention just as much as Henry VIII is his daughter with Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I. The legendary “Virgin Queen” did have some men who caught her eye and some that she even considered marrying. There was Robert Dudley, but the one who may surprise a lot of people is the French prince, Francis Duke of Anjou. So how did this whirlwind romance begin and why did Elizabeth choose to stay single instead of marrying to secure a strong alliance with France? In his latest book, “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou,” David Lee explores the heart of this long-forgotten international romance.

I would like to thank Chronos Books for sending me a copy of this book. I am always looking for a new book about the reign of Elizabeth I. I will admit that I was one of those people who did not take her relationship with the Duke of Anjou as a serious infatuation, but when I heard about this title, I wanted to see if I could be proven wrong.

Unlike many books dedicated to the reign of Elizabeth I, Lee begins in 1579, when the relationship between Elizabeth and the Duke of Anjou began. Elizabeth knew that if she was going to marry anyone, it had to be soon or there would be no Tudor heirs to inherit the throne. The top contender for her heart, Robert Dudley, betrayed the queen and married Lettice Knollys behind her back in 1578. The following year, she was presented with an opportunity to marry the younger brother of the King of France, Francis Duke of Anjou.

The bulk of this book examines the correspondence between Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou through their letters from 1579 until the end of the relationship in 1581. When we think about Elizabeth I and her international romantic relationships, we often have an image of a stoic queen who wants to keep relationships with other countries cordial even when she rejects their advances. These letters are so heartfelt and present a new side of Elizabeth I which I was not expecting to see, especially not for someone who was not Robert Dudley. There was true passion and love between the queen and her frog prince, but it was not meant to be as religious differences, her age, and the question of Elizabeth’s ability to rule with a man by her side made it impossible for the relationship to continue.

Lee has presented a heartbreaking tale of love and loss between a queen and her frog prince. He has done meticulous research to show a different side of Elizabeth I that I did not know even existed. It begs the question if nothing was standing in her way, would Elizabeth have married the Duke of Anjou and how would that have affected English and European history as a whole?

If you want a book that makes you question the end of Elizabeth I’s reign and her last international romance, I highly recommend you read, “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou” by David Lee.