Elizabeth the Great

Elizabeth the Great Summary | Introduction Summary

The author's intention was to collect interesting personal information about Queen Elizabeth I. This point of view makes the book's shape irregular with important events briefly mentioned and minor ones detailed, since other historians have published books about the important people and events.

The author writes about the life of Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, from Elizabeth's perspective, without explaining the importance of historical events. Elizabeth lived during the time of the Reformation when England broke away from the Catholic Church and the Pope's authority. Catholicism does not recognize civil or courtroom divorce. As is typical of history books written in the 1950s, the author cites numerous names, places, dates and events. The author is inconsistent in her use of names for the same person, making the book difficult to understand at times. She also introduces characters without explaining who they are or their relationship or importance to Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth lived from 1533 until 1603 and was Queen of England for forty-five years, beginning at age twenty-five. While she reigned, Elizabeth established England as a major European naval and economic power and kept the country out of the on-going wars and insurrections at home and in Europe as long as possible. With peace came prosperity and modernization.

Last names are primarily geographically derived. England and Scotland, south of Hadrian's Wall, are divided into very large plots of land given, or in effect rented, to noblemen loyal to earlier kings. These noblemen were tax collectors for their land and had to provide soldiers for the Crown if asked. The primary landholders were barons, dukes and earls.