Elizabeth I: Collected Works [Paperback]

Elizabeth I (Author), Leah S. Marcus (Editor), Janel Mueller (Editor), Mary Beth Rose (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226504654 | ISBN-13: 978-0226504650 | Publication Date: May 1, 2002 | Edition: 1

This long-awaited and masterfully edited volume contains nearly all of the writings of Queen Elizabeth I: the clumsy letters of childhood, the early speeches of a fledgling queen, and the prayers and poetry of the monarch's later years. The first collection of its kind, Elizabeth I reveals brilliance on two counts: that of the Queen, a dazzling writer and a leading intellect of the English Renaissance, and that of the editors, whose copious annotations make the book not only essential to scholars but accessible to general readers as well.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This collection shines a light onto the character and experience of one of the most interesting of monarchs. English professors Marcus (Vanderbilt), Mueller (University of Chicago), and Rose (University of Illinois-Chicago) have collected the speeches, letters, poems and prayers written by Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603), arranged into four chronological groupings. The writings of the first period, from 1533 to 1558, contain no speeches because Elizabeth was then only a princess, daughter of the executed Anne Boleyn, and her principal job was, literally, to keep her head on her shoulders; the less she said, the safer she was. But even after she assumed the crown, she was still faced with the formidable task of staying alive as she forced her advisers to accept a woman as a sovereign and to obey her wishes. Her writings provide an excellent record of how well she was able to accomplish these goals. The speeches of this archetypal Renaissance figure (she wrote in several languages, including ancient Greek) sometimes read more like memos and her prayers occasionally seem like propagandaAbut overall she was proficient enough to write in an elegant, clear voice. Because of the volume of writings contained herein and the extensive, helpful annotations the editors have added, we are likely never to get a closer or clearer look at her. An intriguing and intense portrait of a woman who figures so importantly in the birth of our modern world, this book, though aimed primarily at scholars, could be profitably read and enjoyed by any interested reader. Illus. not seen by PW. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

In a single extraordinary volume, Elizabeth I: Collected Works, Marcus (English, Vanderbilt) and her coeditors have collected the Virgin Queen's letters, speeches, poems, and prayersDtranslated from French, Latin, Italian, Spanish, and ancient Greek, when necessary. From an early (1544) letter of the Princess Elizabeth to Queen Katherine to a long letter about Ireland addressed to Lord Mountjoy (February 1603) shortly before the queen's death, the editors have put together an impressive, heavily footnoted volume. While browsers will certainly find items of interest (e.g., a touching condolence letter from the queen to her ambassador to France upon the death of his son), this scholarly work will be of interest primarily to scholars. Highly recommended for academic libraries and for public libraries with strong collections of Elizabethan history.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226504654
• ISBN-13: 978-0226504650
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > British > Elizabeth I

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elizabeth in her own words, August 30, 2000

By 

Chris Laning (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Elizabeth I: Collected Works (Hardcover)

Queen Elizabeth I of England has had hundreds of books written *about* her, but very few of them allow us to hear what she has to say in her own words. I found this an accessible, well-edited collection, not of *all* her words, but of a very good sample. It includes all of the speeches, prayers and poems she wrote that are available from reliable contemporary sources (as with all famous people, things have been attributed to her that she never wrote). It also includes -- and this is my favorite part -- a selection of her letters; sometimes the replies are also included, as with a series of angry letters she exchanged with King James of Scotland (all the while addressing him as "my right dear brother and cousin"). The documents range from formal speeches to Parliament to the occasional playful, teasing or personal note, such as the one she wrote to Lord Leicester in the Netherlands that begins, "Rob, I am afraid you will suppose by my wandering writings that a midsummer moon hath taken large possession of my brains..." Spelling and punctuation have been modernized, and unusual words have been footnoted, but the words are otherwise unaltered, and the texts are presented in full, sometimes in several versions where they differ significantly. I did find that a basic knowledge of the outline of the events of her life is immensely helpful in understanding who she is addressing and why, which is often mentioned only briefly in the notes. There is a certain amount of theorizing in the book's Preface about the "strategic gendering of Elizabeth's self-representation" -- but the texts really speak for themselves. This is a rare chance to see historical material that's often hard to locate, and an enjoyable chance to be "inside the head" of a fascinating historical person.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trust the source!, May 2, 2006

By 

Jem (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Elizabeth I: Collected Works (Paperback)

There are countless books on Tudor England and Elizabeth I in particular. So, it is refreshing to finally read some of the letters so many authors have used as source material in their books about the Virgin Queen. There's little doubt that she was well educated and highly intelligent. Now, readers ready and willing to dive into medieval letters, in the formal language of the time, will be rewarded by the ability to form their own opinion about whether this woman was politically savvy, or a political pawn.

You be the judge--no, really:)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great personal insight into the Elizabethan era, August 14, 2008

By 

J. Santee (Astoria, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Elizabeth I: Collected Works (Paperback)

This is an outstanding collection of letters and documents relating to one of the most important and influential person in English history. My only problem how the edition was published - the type font is way too small. I realize that the subject matter is wide ranging and some economies are necessary to keep the printing costs down - reducing the type front to squeeze in more text is one of them. Unfortunately, this makes casual reading very difficult.