Wonderful! Your appreciation for a beautifully-written phrase is just another reason why you are among my very *favourite* biographers, along with Jane Ridley (props also to Dan Jones for his truly magnificent Henry V.)
Seriously, I keep rereading your Joan of Arc for the sheer pleasure of it, and now I understand why.
Also the Notre Dame build ROCKS! ...and you're a damn sight more organised with your Lego builds than I am, if your desk photos are any indication! 🤣
My son the Lego master keeps me in line when it comes to build discipline... (Still have to find the picture of the Death Star under construction – will see what I can turn up!)
I'm really looking forward to this book - both for your insights and your always exquisite turn of phrase when crafting the narrative. In the mean time I send all good thoughts as your immerse yourself in the creative and rigorous process!
It's lovely that the first sentence in Elizabeth Jenkins's history stayed with you. She dedicated it to her father, who first got her interested by persuading her, as a child, to read Mandell Creighton's Queen Elizabeth and partly pay for it with her own pocket money, as she describes in her memoir. More in my next post! Congrats on your own forthcoming book, very exciting.
And I was very excited to learn that you are doing a full-length biography of Elizabeth. We need to do an Author Fan Tour in the England of Elizabeth - London, Hampton Court, Hatfield, Tilbury. Would be neat.
From Agnes Strickland's Elizabeth (Part of her Queens of England series, 1849 (it's a long second sentence!): "We now come to the most distinguished name in the annals of female, that of the great Elizabeth, second queen regnant of England. The romantic circumstances of her birth, the vicissitudes of her childhood, and the lofty spirit with which she bore herself, amidst the storms and perils that darkened over her during her sister's reign, invested her with almost poetic interest, as a royal heroine, before her title to the regal succession was ratified by the voice of a generous people, and the brilliant success of her government, during a long reign, surrounded her maiden diadem with a blaze of glory which has rendered her the most popular of our monarchs, and blinded succeeding generations to her faults."
A lovely piece! For me it is Jean Plaidy for childhood memories every time. But some good beginnings, and I laughed at loud at the Twain quote. I must steal that for somewhere...
Great. If the Elizabeth book is anything like the Eagle and the Hart it will be magnif. Can't wait. Read the C. Hibbert when it came out, 35+ years ago,
Not recent but I loved Elizabeth I by Paul Johnson which I borrowed from the Library when I was in my teens in the 70s. Need to read it again - it doesn’t seem to be around now.
' She had been allowed to come out to the royal flagship, and had been eating cherries and strawberries dipped in wine. All round her the sea was a flaming white glitter, the air was hot high summer, the wind in a mad mood; she was twelve years old, and Tom Seymour, Admiral of the Fleet and her favourite step-uncle, was talking to her as though she were rather more; he was joking and chaffing her, but then he did that with all women, even with the Queen.'
The opening paragraph of Margaret Irwin's 'Young Bess', the first book of her fictional trilogy on the young Elizabeth. Hindsight does sometimes inform both conversations and narrative, but I think it's still pretty effective in portraying how 'Bess' navigates the uncertainties, temptations and dangers of her situation as they arise.
I hadn't heard that particular Mark Twain line before, but thanks for quoting as it's an absolute banger! Does the rest of that biography live up to that promise? The wonderful thumbnail sketch suggests the author knew her subject and so the rest of it probably is pretty good.
I'm also curious to know what she said directly after that majestic opening, as she seems to be setting up something like "So there are of course already many books about Elizabeth I...but here's why you should read this one". Is that where she goes with it?
And you're bang on the money: from 'Where there is scanty evidence, there is endless debate' – and then a survey of attitudes to Elizabeth over the centuries – to this:
'So why yet another biography? In part the answer is self-evident, Elizabeth is indeed an addiction. In part, it involves two other fascinations: the impact of personality on politics and the nature of success. In the midst of change, crisis and conflict, the twentieth century is obsessed with the quality of leadership, even to the point of endowing university chairs to study how our leaders stumble into decisions of no one's making. Elizabeth constitutes one of the most unique and baffling examples of what might be called the metaphysics of political success, for the quality and measure of her achievement were purchased at the price of endless failure – failure on the part of men and women who would not or could not respond to her particular style of political control, and failure on her own part to resolve most of the major problems of her reign.'
As I say, you might not agree but it makes you think!
What a super list of works to set you on your way. As we expect of your extensive and meticulous research that underpins all your work that leads then to your wonderful writing and other forms of presentation.
I’m afraid that the only biography of Elizabeth that I have read is the one written by you. I wasn’t very interested in her, preferring the monarchs and events of later reigns. However, having been exposed by your writings to the events of the 14th/15th centuries I started to read more widely. I’m now looking forward very much to reading your biography of that very interesting queen. I found your initial excerpts from the various biographies and novels very interesting, of course - what a clever way to pique our interest. Thank you, Helen!
Hello, fascinating by the rhythm of the language in the paston letters. Had the ladybird Elizabeth. I think I’ve just got starkey but my childhood history compendium had a lovely painting of her on the cover.
Wonderful! Your appreciation for a beautifully-written phrase is just another reason why you are among my very *favourite* biographers, along with Jane Ridley (props also to Dan Jones for his truly magnificent Henry V.)
Seriously, I keep rereading your Joan of Arc for the sheer pleasure of it, and now I understand why.
Also the Notre Dame build ROCKS! ...and you're a damn sight more organised with your Lego builds than I am, if your desk photos are any indication! 🤣
Thank you SO much – and seconded re Jane and Dan!
My son the Lego master keeps me in line when it comes to build discipline... (Still have to find the picture of the Death Star under construction – will see what I can turn up!)
Your research is always so meticulous.. its evident in the high quality of your books! And will certainly be the case with this one too!
Laurie, thank you so much
I'm really looking forward to this book - both for your insights and your always exquisite turn of phrase when crafting the narrative. In the mean time I send all good thoughts as your immerse yourself in the creative and rigorous process!
Thank you so much, Pam!
It's lovely that the first sentence in Elizabeth Jenkins's history stayed with you. She dedicated it to her father, who first got her interested by persuading her, as a child, to read Mandell Creighton's Queen Elizabeth and partly pay for it with her own pocket money, as she describes in her memoir. More in my next post! Congrats on your own forthcoming book, very exciting.
Oh I’m delighted to know this! And must read her memoir… Looking forward to your next post, and thank you!
And I was very excited to learn that you are doing a full-length biography of Elizabeth. We need to do an Author Fan Tour in the England of Elizabeth - London, Hampton Court, Hatfield, Tilbury. Would be neat.
Oh it would!
From Agnes Strickland's Elizabeth (Part of her Queens of England series, 1849 (it's a long second sentence!): "We now come to the most distinguished name in the annals of female, that of the great Elizabeth, second queen regnant of England. The romantic circumstances of her birth, the vicissitudes of her childhood, and the lofty spirit with which she bore herself, amidst the storms and perils that darkened over her during her sister's reign, invested her with almost poetic interest, as a royal heroine, before her title to the regal succession was ratified by the voice of a generous people, and the brilliant success of her government, during a long reign, surrounded her maiden diadem with a blaze of glory which has rendered her the most popular of our monarchs, and blinded succeeding generations to her faults."
But what a sentence!
Jean Plaidy. Someone, who along with Norah Lofts, ignited a fire inside me for the Tudors.
Great piece, thanks!
🙏
A lovely piece! For me it is Jean Plaidy for childhood memories every time. But some good beginnings, and I laughed at loud at the Twain quote. I must steal that for somewhere...
Me too! (Laughing, not stealing - I'm not sure I have the style to carry it off, but you absolutely do!)
Great. If the Elizabeth book is anything like the Eagle and the Hart it will be magnif. Can't wait. Read the C. Hibbert when it came out, 35+ years ago,
Thank you! And doesn't time fly...
Not recent but I loved Elizabeth I by Paul Johnson which I borrowed from the Library when I was in my teens in the 70s. Need to read it again - it doesn’t seem to be around now.
So much not around that I haven't read it – thank you very much indeed for the recommendation
' She had been allowed to come out to the royal flagship, and had been eating cherries and strawberries dipped in wine. All round her the sea was a flaming white glitter, the air was hot high summer, the wind in a mad mood; she was twelve years old, and Tom Seymour, Admiral of the Fleet and her favourite step-uncle, was talking to her as though she were rather more; he was joking and chaffing her, but then he did that with all women, even with the Queen.'
The opening paragraph of Margaret Irwin's 'Young Bess', the first book of her fictional trilogy on the young Elizabeth. Hindsight does sometimes inform both conversations and narrative, but I think it's still pretty effective in portraying how 'Bess' navigates the uncertainties, temptations and dangers of her situation as they arise.
Wonderful...
I hadn't heard that particular Mark Twain line before, but thanks for quoting as it's an absolute banger! Does the rest of that biography live up to that promise? The wonderful thumbnail sketch suggests the author knew her subject and so the rest of it probably is pretty good.
I'm also curious to know what she said directly after that majestic opening, as she seems to be setting up something like "So there are of course already many books about Elizabeth I...but here's why you should read this one". Is that where she goes with it?
Isn't it? And yes it does – whether you agree with the characterisation and conclusions or not, it's a superbly written and thought-provoking read.
In fact, to my surprise, Lacey B-S turns out to have been a male academic who taught at Princeton, MIT and Northwestern https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacey_Baldwin_Smith
And you're bang on the money: from 'Where there is scanty evidence, there is endless debate' – and then a survey of attitudes to Elizabeth over the centuries – to this:
'So why yet another biography? In part the answer is self-evident, Elizabeth is indeed an addiction. In part, it involves two other fascinations: the impact of personality on politics and the nature of success. In the midst of change, crisis and conflict, the twentieth century is obsessed with the quality of leadership, even to the point of endowing university chairs to study how our leaders stumble into decisions of no one's making. Elizabeth constitutes one of the most unique and baffling examples of what might be called the metaphysics of political success, for the quality and measure of her achievement were purchased at the price of endless failure – failure on the part of men and women who would not or could not respond to her particular style of political control, and failure on her own part to resolve most of the major problems of her reign.'
As I say, you might not agree but it makes you think!
What a super list of works to set you on your way. As we expect of your extensive and meticulous research that underpins all your work that leads then to your wonderful writing and other forms of presentation.
Thank you so much, John
I’m afraid that the only biography of Elizabeth that I have read is the one written by you. I wasn’t very interested in her, preferring the monarchs and events of later reigns. However, having been exposed by your writings to the events of the 14th/15th centuries I started to read more widely. I’m now looking forward very much to reading your biography of that very interesting queen. I found your initial excerpts from the various biographies and novels very interesting, of course - what a clever way to pique our interest. Thank you, Helen!
Thank you, Tom, so much – and will hope to justify having dragged you backwards in time!
Hello, fascinating by the rhythm of the language in the paston letters. Had the ladybird Elizabeth. I think I’ve just got starkey but my childhood history compendium had a lovely painting of her on the cover.
The people flocked there amain
The multitude was great to see;
Their joyful harts were glad, and fain
To view her princely maiesty,
Who at length came riding by,
Within her chariot openly;
Even with a noble princely train
Of lords and ladies of great fame.
Carolly Erickson, The First Elizabeth, 1983. The book that started it all for me.
And loving the Lego thread, too!