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Elizabeth I: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,166 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The New York Times bestseller from Margaret George—a captivating novel about history's most enthralling queen, the legendary Elizabeth Tudor. England’s greatest monarch has baffled and intrigued the world for centuries. But what was the Virgin Queen really like? Lettice Knollys—Elizabeth's flame-haired, look-alike coussin—thinks she knows all too well. Elizabeth’s rival for the love of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and mother to the Earl of Essex, the mercurial nobleman who challenged Elizabeth’s throne, Lettice has been intertwined with Elizabeth since childhood. This is a story of two women of fierce intellect and desire, one trying to protect her country, and throne, the other trying to regain power and position for her family. Their rivalry, and its ensuing drama, soon involves everyone close to Elizabeth, from the famed courtiers who enriched the crown to the legendary poets and playwrights who paid homage to it with their works. Filled with intimate portraits of the personalities who made the Elizabethan age great—Shakespeare, Marlowe, Dudley, Raleigh, Drake—Elizabeth I provides an unforgettable glimpse of a woman who considered herself married to her people. A queen who ruled as much from the heart as from the head.
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"Nothing makes me happier then the news of Margaret George coming out with a new novel. Give me a big fat historical novel and I am in bliss. She is the master of historical novel. From The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, The Memoirs of Cleopatra (a favorite of mine), Helen of Troy, etc. she delivers the goods. Filled with atmosphere, food, love, desire and insight. I can never get enough of her books."
— Tema (4 out of 5 stars)
Elizabeth I Listener Reviews
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" Interesting, but a bit too much detail...it was boring at times. Overall, an interesting view of the complicated person that was Elizabeth I "
— Kmhanley, 2/7/2014 -
" Margaret George explored the latter years of Elizabeth I's reign, which is actually pretty interesting territory. She devotes a great deal of the book to the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert Devereux, which may be accurate, I don't know enough Tudor history to know, but it actually makes for rather a dull book. He was bad, she forgave him--repeated in endless cycles. Until she can't, and he is executed. Then she dies. "
— Ellen, 1/31/2014 -
" i didn't finish it and thats why i gave it 1 star. i got half way and it was too boring. i was really disappointed because i really liked mary of magadelene by this author. "
— Sarah, 1/29/2014 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Elizabeth I is my all-time favorite historical character. I learned a great deal more about her life, understanding that it is fiction. George proved herself worthy of this monumental task and writes beautifully. "
— Helen, 1/9/2014 -
" It was good, and it focused on a time period (post-Armada) that isn't usually covered in historical fiction about Elizabeth. But there is much faster-paced historical fiction about her out there that I've enjoyed more. "
— Cwelshhans, 1/8/2014 -
" Excellent stuff, especially if you like this period in history. "
— Susan, 12/28/2013 -
" long, so very, very long. "
— Tracy, 12/11/2013 -
" God this thing drags on. Goes off on tangents. Just die already! "
— Annika, 10/20/2013 -
" Good dialogue, character development and historicity. I just didn't like that it only dealt with the latter half of Elizabeth's reign. This book should really be Part 2. "
— Caden, 6/2/2013 -
" Although this is speculative historical fiction based on a person for whom there is not much actual information, it conveyed the story of Queen Elizabeth's later years fairly well. However, it was a 670-page investment and may have been a better book had it been shorter. "
— Lisa, 4/28/2013 -
" Great big book, well-researched, great read. "
— Vince, 12/10/2012 -
" Margaret George really brings Elizabeth I to life in this masterpiece. It is a fascinating in depth look into the last 14 years of Elizabeth's reign. I highly recommend it! "
— Kathryn, 8/2/2012 -
" I love Margaret George's novels. She has the ability to bring history to life! "
— Cathy, 4/9/2012 -
" I liked this book... but it felt like it took forever to finish it. It is about the last years of her reign... and so it focused on her "age" a lot which was kind of depressing! But overall a good book.. I gave it 5 stars! "
— Kristine, 1/14/2012 -
" I liked how this book covered the last part of her reign. Most stop where this one began. "
— Ashley, 12/6/2011 -
" Not as good as Helen or Mary Magdalene but it kept my interest through out and I really enjoyed it. "
— Viola3323, 12/2/2011 -
" Too many details got in the way of the story. "
— Debbie, 9/26/2011 -
" Decent read, well paced, strong characterizations. "
— Adrian, 9/23/2011 -
" Covers the last 20 years of her life and the narrative is split between Elizabeth I and Lettice Knollys, each speaking in the first person. It was good, but not as good as her others. "
— Lindat16, 5/4/2011 -
" Again, another case where we need half stars. "
— Jen, 5/2/2011 -
" Another wonderful book by Margaret George. I hated for it to end! "
— Diann, 5/1/2011 -
" Not bad, although I think the author glosses over the more idiosyncratic aspects of the queen's character ad it is known through the historical record. "
— Nisha, 4/30/2011 -
" Wonderful book! This was my first by Margaret George and I am looking forward to reading more from her. I know some people would be overwhelmed by a book this size (688pgs) but I actually enjoy these because you can really become invested in the story and the characters. "
— Jen, 4/28/2011 -
" Unlike most biographies of Elizabeth I, this one focuses on the latter half of her reign. I learned a good bit and enjoyed the character development. "
— Krista, 4/24/2011 -
" Excellent stuff, especially if you like this period in history. "
— Susan, 4/23/2011 -
" Excellent, excellent HF about the last 15 years of the reign of Elizabeth I. "
— DonnaR, 4/23/2011
About Margaret George
Margaret George specializes in epic fictional biographies of historical figures, taking pains to make them as factually accurate as possible without compromising the drama. Her bestselling Autobiography of Henry VIII continues to be popular, and The Memoirs of Cleopatra is the basis for the Emmy-nominated Cleopatra miniseries from ABC. All of her books have been bestsellers, with twenty-one foreign translations.
About Kate Reading
Michael Kramer is an AudioFile Earphones Award winner, a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, and recipient of a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award. He is also an actor and director in the Washington, DC, area, where he is active in the area’s theater scene and has appeared in productions at the Shakespeare Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Theater J.