Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History (Paperback)

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Strachey dramatizes one of the most famous and most baffling romances in history-between Elizabeth I, Queen of England, and Robert Devereux, the vital, handsome Earl of Essex.

About the Author

Lytton Strachey (1880-1932), among the most famous writers of his time, was a member of the Bloomsbury group and the author of a number of biographies. His Eminent Victorians, published in 1918, inaugurated a new style of biography distinguished by irony, wit, irreverence, and elegance of language. He is also the author of Elizabeth and Essex, Biographical Essays, and Literary Essays.

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Product Details Paperback: 312 pages Publisher: Mariner Books (March 19, 1969) Language: English ISBN-10: 0156283107 ISBN-13: 978-0156283106 Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,288,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #64 in  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > British > Elizabeth I

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THE English Reformation was not merely a religious event; it was also a social one. Read the first page

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Citations (learn more)

16 books cite this book:

• The Shakespeare Trade: Performances and Appropriations (New Cultural Studies) by Barbara Hodgdon on 5 pages
• The Culture of History: English Uses of the Past 1800-1953 by Billie Melman on page 299, and Back Matter
• England's Elizabeth: An Afterlife in Fame and Fantasy by Nicola J. Watson in Front Matter, and page 187
• The Language Of The Eyes: Science, Sexuality, And Female Vision In English Literature And Culture, 1690-1927 (SUNY Series in Feminist Criticism and Theory) by Daryl Ogden in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• English Biography in the Seventeenth Century: A Critical Survey by Allan Pritchard in Back Matter

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	95% buy the item featured on this page: Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History 4.0 out of 5 stars (2) $10.20
	5% buy Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $17.00

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews 5 star:    (0) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 25 of 26 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful prose but on shaky ground psychologically, May 26, 2000 By  Charlene Vickers (Winnipeg, Manitoba) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Elizabeth and Essex is perhaps the finest example of Strachey's incomparable style. More poetic than prosaic, ripe with imagery and atmosphere, Strachey's elegant, vigorous prose is a treat to read. This is all the more unusual given that Strachey is a historian. In most cases, his style doesn't get in the way of the story; his subjects are usually represented accurately and with respect. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite succeed in this case. Strachey's Victorian sensibilities and Freudian view of his subjects often take him on wild flights of fancy that fail the test of Occam's razor. For instance, he asserts that Elizabeth was sexually disorganized based on a smattering of rumours which, he claims, prove that she had a deep-seated fear of sex and perhaps a hysterical block which prevented her from engaging in intercourse. Pretty convoluted reasoning, especially considering the fact that Elizabeth had perfectly sound political reasons to remain single. Strachey's portrait of Essex is likewise suspect. He turns the proud scion of an ancient family into a manic-depressive basket case, but his evidence for this is scanty and his reasoning difficult to follow. Again, is it really likely that Essex plotted to overthrow the government because he saw himself as the true King of England, when a much more simple explanation (he was angry and felt insulted) comes to mind? Yet even through the flights of psychological fancy and the wildly improbable motives, Strachey's portrait continues to enchant. I cannot stress strongly enough how enjoyable and entertaining this book is. Yes, one does have to take Strachey's explanations with a grain of salt, but the journey itself is a lot of fun and should not be missed. I highly recommend this book. 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A nice introduction to the personality of QE, March 24, 2000 By  V. Houmes (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    If you are interested in the personal details of the latter half of Queen Elizabeth's life, this is an excellent book to read. Her wars and reconciliations with the headstrong Lord Essex (many years her junior) are covered in just the right level of detail, so that the reader is never gorged on nor starved for insights into what made Gloriana such a remarkable figure. Strachey's first chapter gives a particularly adept placement of the Queen's personality within the court of England and the field of late-16th century Europe. Following chapters contain less politics and more humanity. (The slow, initially frustrated but inevitable rise of Francis Bacon's star is interesting.)		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (March 19, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156283107
• ISBN-13: 978-0156283106
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,288,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #64 in

  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > British > Elizabeth I

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful prose but on shaky ground psychologically, May 26, 2000

By	Charlene Vickers (Winnipeg, Manitoba) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Elizabeth and Essex is perhaps the finest example of Strachey's incomparable style. More poetic than prosaic, ripe with imagery and atmosphere, Strachey's elegant, vigorous prose is a treat to read.

This is all the more unusual given that Strachey is a historian. In most cases, his style doesn't get in the way of the story; his subjects are usually represented accurately and with respect.

Unfortunately, he doesn't quite succeed in this case. Strachey's Victorian sensibilities and Freudian view of his subjects often take him on wild flights of fancy that fail the test of Occam's razor. For instance, he asserts that Elizabeth was sexually disorganized based on a smattering of rumours which, he claims, prove that she had a deep-seated fear of sex and perhaps a hysterical block which prevented her from engaging in intercourse. Pretty convoluted reasoning, especially considering the fact that Elizabeth had perfectly sound political reasons to remain single.

Strachey's portrait of Essex is likewise suspect. He turns the proud scion of an ancient family into a manic-depressive basket case, but his evidence for this is scanty and his reasoning difficult to follow. Again, is it really likely that Essex plotted to overthrow the government because he saw himself as the true King of England, when a much more simple explanation (he was angry and felt insulted) comes to mind?

Yet even through the flights of psychological fancy and the wildly improbable motives, Strachey's portrait continues to enchant. I cannot stress strongly enough how enjoyable and entertaining this book is. Yes, one does have to take Strachey's explanations with a grain of salt, but the journey itself is a lot of fun and should not be missed.

I highly recommend this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice introduction to the personality of QE, March 24, 2000

By	V. Houmes (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are interested in the personal details of the latter half of Queen Elizabeth's life, this is an excellent book to read. Her wars and reconciliations with the headstrong Lord Essex (many years her junior) are covered in just the right level of detail, so that the reader is never gorged on nor starved for insights into what made Gloriana such a remarkable figure. Strachey's first chapter gives a particularly adept placement of the Queen's personality within the court of England and the field of late-16th century Europe. Following chapters contain less politics and more humanity. (The slow, initially frustrated but inevitable rise of Francis Bacon's star is interesting.)