Customer Reviews

Elizabeth

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I have just begun reading this book, and I definitely do not recommend it. The movie is a much better depiction of the screenplay. The grammar in here is atrocious, and the constant errors and strangely worded phrases interrupt the flow of the novel. I recommend the movie, but as for the novel, a doorstop is the only function I can think of for this piece of "literature".

I would be lying if I said I thought it was a good book. It reads as though the screenplay was merely rearranged into paragraphs and left at that. The characters lack depth and substance. I haven't seen the movie but this book didn't tempt me to pay money for that pleasure. I have noticed that proofreading has become a lost art since the advent of the personal computer. This book is a prime example of the over-reliance of authors (and editors?) on spell checks. Why didn't they go so far as use the grammar check as well? At least I would have been spared reading a description of Margaret(?) of Guise that starts "Her dark over eyes..." and, if I'm not mistaken, further on in the book "... paid her complements.." Would some publisher out there like to pay me to proofread their books before publication? My rates are very reasonable... :-)

This novelization is frankly inconsistent with the movie upon which it is based. Certain key scenes (such as the one which opens the film) are simply missing, and others are contradicted altogether (in the film, the poisoned dress is fatal; in the book, the wearer survives and is sent to the Tower). Conversely, Amy Robsart's name and questionable death are in the book, but not the movie.

These points might come about if the movie were loosely based on the book, but IIRC the book is based on the screenplay. The book is fine on its own, but as a novelization, it's mind-bogglingly bad.

I don't have a lot to say about this book... What I do have to say is that I loved the story....but I found my self reading the same lines over and over to understand what the author was trying to say...It could have been a fantastic book...but the author forgot that the people buying this book are from the 20th century and have no idea what some of the wording meant..

I started this book because I heard the movie was great. However, I have a homework assignment thats due this Friday(its now Wednesday)I do not understand a word in this book: its all in 15th century english! I do NOT recommend this book for an asignment!

The world would never be the same because of the mechanisms of Tom Wyatt to oust Queen Mary and put Ann Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth (father was Henry VIII) on the throne.

This is a novel based on the screenplay by Michael Hirst, movie starred Gweneeth Palthrow. She won a trophy for this role of a lifetime. Thrust into the role of monarch, she inherits a disenchanted country who had endured an era of religious repression. There were bitter hatreds (like today), plots upon plots as in Shakespeare's time, and much violence (couldn't be as bad as Iran and Iraq today).

At that time Elizabeth was not allowed to marry Robert Dudley, just as Margaret could not marry her first love -- but now Charles married his long-time lover (nothing hid about that affair) Camilla. What is this world coming to? Is nothing sacred?

It's time to do away with royalty in Britain. They are just figureheads anyway. Since Diana's son has finished his education, he should by rights be the next King, but with the treacherous and lecherous Charles, he will never get the chance. And poor Harry may not even finish school, because of all the threats about his safety. They got rid of Diana, that's for sure, so that Camilla could do what Mrs. (George's wife) could not do -- become queen while being a commoner.

In a game of high political risks and personal sacrifice, she must prove worthy to rule for the fate of that so-called nation hung in the balance. Well, it survived, but for what?