Historical Fiction: The Lady Elizabeth, by Alison Weir

The girl who would be queen

Historian Alison Weir weaves her considerable knowledge about the early life of Elizabeth Tudor into an enchanting novel about the girl who would be queen. Born into the most powerful family in the land, the upbringing of the daughter of Henry VIII was anything but a bed of roses. Deprived of anything resembling parental love, officially designated a bastard, and caught up in the deadly impasse over religion, it is a wonder that Elizabeth survived to fulfill her destiny.

Weir’s Elizabeth is strong-willed, observant, intelligent, and a natural born scholar, a mixture of humility and assertive self confidence. She learned early to mistrust the  motives of those around her, to  think for herself and rely upon her own wits and instincts. She also learned from mistakes, both her own and those of others. Weir’s Elizabeth is a survivor, in a circumscribed world full of pitfalls and danger, and although she does have her fears, she does not give in to them.

The audio version of this novel is ably read by the talented Rosalyn Landor, who has a well modulated voice and is adept with accents and characterizations. Listening to the story brought a degree of drama and reality not possible on the printed page. Highly recommended.