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The life of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, has
captured imaginations around the globe from the time of her death
in 1603 to the present day. A glittering figurehead, a passionate
mistress, and a charismatic politician, the powerful and opinionated
Elizabeth has been immortalized in hundreds of books, paintings,
stage productions and films, including the recent blockbuster Elizabeth,
featuring Cate Blanchett in an Oscar-nominated performance.
Yet never has any novel matched the scope and mesmerizing detail
of Rosalind Miles' breathtaking I Elizabeth. From her rise to power
amidst the religious upheaval and political scandal left in the
wake of Henry VIII, to her glorious final days as the unassailable
Virgin Queen, I Elizabeth recreates Elizabeth's own voice and razor-sharp
wit, and re-imagines her reign in brilliant color and nuance.
Miles effortlessly weaves years of research into heartstopping storytelling
and arrives at an unforgettable portrait of one of history's greatest
heroines. This guide is designed to help direct your reading group's
discussion of I Elizabeth.
ABOUT THE BOOKS
It is the year 1546 and King Henry VIII is not long
for this world. He leaves behind three young heirs, from three dead
wives, and decisions must be made that will ensure a smooth succession.
As Princess Elizabeth leaves behind the safety of her country home
and enters the king's court - a world where rubies are the size
of hen's eggs, where every shadowy corner contains a spy, and where
a slip of the tongue may be construed as treason and is punishable
by beheading - she knows her young life will never be the same.
Quickly plunged into the terrifying, exalted world of sovereign
power, rife with political intrigue and deadly plots, Elizabeth
must turn against her own siblings in the quest to establish a just
monarch on England's throne. Once ensconced as queen, however, she
finds the jeopardies double. Spain lurks, sniffing for war; Mary,
Queen of Scots challenges Elizabeth's claim to the throne; and Rome
considers Elizabeth little more than the bastard daughter of a corrupt
king and his whore.
Turning to her council for guidance, she finds nothing but pressure
to marry and produce an heir as quickly as possible, and grumblings
around her court when she resists doing so. And as the Virgin Queen
explores love at her own pace, hidden from the all-probing public
eye, she discovers that even the truest bonds of devotion can harbour
betrayal and disaster.
Only one man, Sir William Cecil, Elizabeth's Secretary of State
and Lord Treasurer, provides her with undying loyalty. And in the
end, Elizabeth betroths herself to England alone, dedicating every
drop of her blood and every ounce of her strength to the nation
she loves. In a sweeping, utterly
fascinating journey through Elizabeth's six decades in the spotlight
of history, Miles presents the dazzling Virgin Queen as she's never
been seen before.
I,
Elizabeth
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