Customer Reviews

All the Queen's Men: Elizabeth I and Her Courtiers

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This could be the best first book to read about the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England (reigned 1558-1603), one of the great monarchs in history. Witty, moderate, and strong, she has had few equals. She was not a feminist -- that was centuries ahead; she had to rule men, and by means of men. She drew the best to her, and charmed them which was better than forcing them. The wise understood, the rest grumbled, and England flourished. Neville Williams was a scholar with a knack for easy, popular writing. Here, at his best, with dozens of illustrations, he is colorful, thoughtful, short.

Elizabeth I was a master of applied psychology and manipulation of personalities, juggling with great success for many years the interests of the powerful men who surrounded her. She also had a happy knack for getting the most out of their talents to the benefit of the Crown and the country. Williams, Deputy Keeper of Public Records and a noted Tudor scholar, explores the ambitions, power-bids, marital politics, and "heroine worship" at Elizabeth's court and tracks the rise and fall of the Howard, Dudley, and Devereux families in a smoothly flowing, heavily illustrated narrative.

This is a keeper! The book has great detail on all the most important men in the life of Elizabeth I with numerous illustrations, many of which I hadn't seen before. I am sure I will reference this over and over.

absolutely AWESOME book!--fantastic illustrations throughout. it should be bought for the illustrations alone. the writing is a straight forward,easy reading style. i highly recommnend this book for queen elizabeth the first fans.