Customer Reviews

Young Bess (Good Queen Bess 1)

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One of the best-written and most evocative historical novels ever. I first read this when I was twelve, and it is still one of my favorite books. Due to this book, I conceived a passionate admiration for Elizabeth I which I've never lost, as well as an interest in English history that's provided years of fascinating research. (I also fell madly in love with the Lord High Admiral, but that's another story....)

I found this to be a wonderful, colorful, imaginative book. The plot was terrific and the characters very well evolved. It gave a thrilling account of the famous Queen Elizabeth's life as a young girl. I would advise it for ages 10 and over.

Margaret Irwin's novel "Young Bess" is the first in a series of three books on the life of England's Queen Elizabeth I
(reigned 1558-1603). The Virgin Queen was a Gloriana but she
had a difficult childhood and adolescence. Her mother Anne Boleyn was executed by Bess's cruel father Henry VIII. She was
accused of bastardy and had a strained relationship with her
two siblings: Mary (daughter of Katharine of Aragon-Henry's
first wife) and Edward (son of Henry's wife Jane Seymour). Followng the death of Henry the land was ruled by the sickly Edward who had Protestant leanings. The 15 year old monarch died in 1553 followed by the prickly "Bloody Mary" whose short reign
led to the persecution and burning of Protestants.
This book takes us from Elizabeth's girlhood to the moment when Edward has died and the succession is in dispute. It deals
in depth with Bess's relationship with the Seymour family. Thomas Seymour loved Bess and wed Henry VIII's last queen Katharine Parr. He was executed for treason during the reign of
Edward.
The book can be boring and seem old fashioned to those expecting garish desciptions of execution and vivid sexual scenes.
Irwin's style is rich and her prose sparkles. The book would most appeal to someone who has a basic knowledge of the Tudor
dynasty. All of the names and titles can be confusing to an American reader.
Overall this is a good, clean book dealing with the fascinating
Elizabeth.