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Elizabeth I.

by Margaret George
Elizabeth I. Viking. Apr. 2011. c.671p. ISBN 9780670022533. $30. F
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George is a long-established novelistic chronicler of historic lives, from Cleopatra to Helen of Troy. In her latest book, she lightly fictionalizes the later years of Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned over England in the 16th century. She familiarizes her readers with the famous people in the Queen's life, such as Shakespeare and Sir Francis Drake, and walks them through the political strife and intrigue inherent in a turbulent court. Set against the monarch is Lettice Knollys, Her Majesty's cousin. Lettice's family and fortune are at a downturn, and she will try, through scheme and conspiracy, to regain her status even if it means making an enemy of the most powerful woman in the world.
VERDICT George's writing is of an older, more formal style; neither cinematic nor intimately personal. Her story arc is leisurely to the point of plodding, her focus much more on the accurate history of her subjects than the fiction that breathes life into them. This is a book that would be treasured by history buffs but may try the patience of casual readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/10.]
Reviewed by Therese Oneill, Monmouth, OR , Feb 01, 2011
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