5 comments about Catherine the Great : Life and Legend.

1. First of all, contrary to the review now on line, this book was not written by John T. Williams, whoever he is, but by John T. Alexander. This biography is a much more serious and learned biography than Henri Troyat's, which I read in 1987. This book has dull parts, but the story it tells is an incredible one. Catherine had an amazing career, and of course her parade of favorites is legendary. I found this book to be good academic history and it well deserves reading.



2. Alexander does a marvelous job retelling history without sensationalizing it. Many past biographers undertaking the job of writing about Catherine the Great have often focused too much on her sexuality, rather than her political prowess. John T. Alexander, however, thoroughly examines the political and cultural context of her life, and refuses to insult the reader's intelligence by dishing gossip or repeating long-held opinions. Having read four other biographies of Catherine the Great, I can assure you this one is probably the best. Impartial, informative, and interesting.



3. I have read history books more interesting than this book. When i purchased the book i thought that it would be an interesting work. The book started off interesting. Then, as it progressed it got worse. Rent the movie. It would be much better. Trust me.



4. I have read several books on the history of Russia, like Peter the Great, and the Romanovs, but this book frankly bored me. The author definetly knows his stuff about Catherine, but I got so tired of reading about all the political stuff in this book. I wanted to know more about her personal life, more details about her comings and goings, not about how she ruled her Russian cabinet officers. Also the use of vocabulary was way over my head, so it made it hard to enjoy reading because many times I needed to get the dictionary, and I feel I have a fairly good vocabulary. I would not recommend this book unless you want to know about Russian administration in her time.



5. This is a good book to read to get a handle on the reign of Catherine the Great and late 18th C. Russia. Alexander covers the court intrigues, the attempts at reform, the complexities of foreign policy. He also avoids treating Catherine's personal life in a sensationalistic way.

   So if you read this book, you will learn a lot. On the other hand, the book doesn't really come to life in the way Massie's "Peter the Great" or Avrich's "Russian Rebels" did. It is recommended only to those with a serious interest in the time of Catherine, such as students, and not the casual reader.

5 comments about Richard and John: Kings at War.

1. I enjoyed McLynn's book, which is unashamed in its traditional bias. He is incredibly scrupulous about citing his sources, with a vast array needing practically the last 50 pages of the book to list. I only wish that he had drawn upon a somewhat wider vocabulary to match. After reading this and his 1066 book back to back, I would not be entirely inconsolable if I never came across the words 'uxorious' or 'contumacious' again which he is particularly fond of. Or a state of affairs described as a 'cockpit' of intrigue or tension.
   
   Still. I enjoyed Richard & John a great deal. Though it is clear, throughout the book, that whom he truly relishes writing about is Richard. John is pretty much an afterthought, beyond the fortunate circumstances of living a bit longer after Richard's death, which provides McLynn with the opportunity to take sadistic pleasure in detailing his failures in comparison with Richard's heroic nobility. If the Lionheart had lived a decade longer, this book might as well have been called 'Richard'. Which wouldn't have been bad. Since the book truly soars when Richard takes center stage. There is also fine treatment given to an array of memorable if little known characters, such as William Marshall, who had a rather hilarious affinity for tournaments.



2. Its nice to learn that "King John was not a good man", and that Richard actualy earned his reputation. Well written, exciting as a good detective story, history the way it used to be written and the way it should be written. Besides its fun to see the revisionists revised. A good read as well as good history.



3. I must say that I am very disheartened by some of the other reviews here that chide author McLynn for using big words or for going into excessive detail in Richard and John: Kings at War. For me, McLynn's prose was the highlight of this experience, his colorful and extremely engaging writing made exploring the often confusing and complicated world of medieval European politics and culture.
   
   I'm the kind of reader who likes a challenge, who enjoys coming across words that I need to look up in a dictionary, and relishes the opportunity to immerse myself in a vast, unfamiliar world like that of Richard the Lionheart and the Angevin dynasty. When I come across a word like "uxorious" or "gallimaufry," I don't resent the author for obfuscating his thoughts in the arcane or obscure, I'm thankful to be introduced to new methods of expression.
   
   Richard and John is a challenging read, without a doubt, but McLynn's approach is not condescending to the reader. Quite the contrary, by not dumbing down his text he reveals a level of respect to the reader, and puts his faith in our ability as learned adults to not merely allow the book to wash over us passively, but to actively engage the text, and include ourselves in the rich dialogue he has set-up.
   
   I enthusiastically recommend Richard and John as an excellent and exciting narrative which sheds light on the distant yet in many ways familiar world of medieval Europe and as an example of well-tuned writing that should invigorate readers, not discourage them.



4. The battle between church and monarchy for control of England in the 12th and 13th centuries is a fascinating look at greed, power, some chivalry and life during hard times. Throw in Robin Hood, Magna Carta and beautiful ambitious women for a great story.



5. Author McLynn has produced a very creditable work on the family of Henry II (& I should have added Philip Augustus in my title) from a traditionalist standpoint. Yes, his prose is interlaced with opinions, but I found them to be consistent with the evidence. I particularly enjoyed McLynn's portrait of Saladin and the difficulties he faced confronting both the crusaders and enemies within the Muslim world. In a phrase, there was no inside track anywhere.
   
   With respect to both Richard and John, it was refreshing to read a work from a modern academic author who does not condemn Richard for this love of battle or exalt John who faced the impossible task of keeping a patchwork of lands together that lacked a common language or heritage. In addition, the author completely refutes the notion that Richard was a homosexual (another favorite of politically correct authors). He sometimes ends up presenting a wearisome procession of political treaties, the breaking of those treaties and subsequent military conflict, but that was life among the perpetually squabbling petty kings and barons of Europe at the time.
   
   McLynn does yeoman work in attempting to present the Angevin empire as it was without moralizing and criticizing with 20th century hindsight and professed morality. At the time the crusades were seen as noble and in keeping with God's command. Richard was simply doing his duty to God. Today, academics generally condemn the crusades following on Hume's 18th century historical work that set the tone. No doubt we will be judged in the twenty-fifth century as equally misguided and feckless. One should never, never, never judge historical figures by anything other than the conditions and attitudes of their times. McLynn does this admirably.
   
   As a descendant of John (& Henry & Eleanor) I was hoping for some new or legitimate defense of his many faults, but alas, there was none. John has been much loved lately by revisionists (see Turner), but even with my possibly average knowledge of medieval sources, I knew such polemics possessed severe faults and biases. Maybe it is comforting to believe that all great leaders have feet of clay, but some are truly better than others.
   
   Richard was clearly the foremost military leader produced in Europe from 600 to 1700 CE and should be recognized as such. That he treated England as only a part of his empire (and not excessively important) might offend British historians, but that is their problem, not Richard's. His killing of the 3,000 Acre prisoners is usually used to prove his blood lust, but in medieval eyes this hardly raised an eyebrow.
   
   With John, on the other hand, it is difficult to find any redeeming virtues. Modern historians often make much of the difficulties he faced, but other leaders in history (Genghis Khan comes to mind) have faced far greater difficulties and overcome them. John's failures were his own, and the litany of them makes for difficult and boring reading. I can only imagine how difficult they were to write about over and over again.
   
   A sideline in McLynn's treatise is the venality of the Roman Catholic Church and its meddling for hire in the affairs of kings and governments. It was often difficult to separate religion from politics, and bribing Church officals was the order of the day. The recounting of one tiring manipulation after another by the clergy and Pope makes for daunting reading. Yet again, the participants at those times saw nothing unusual or even unethical in such activities.
   
   McLynn has produced a masterful and scholarly work, although like others, I sometimes found the writing style producing ennui. Nevertheless, it is well worth reading for a thorough understanding of the times and the major players affecting England. There were not a lot of new disclosures here, but through McLynn's encyclopedic presentation from medieval sources, the characters came to life in a setting that can be understood by the modern reader (if it can ever be understood given our a priori framework of knowledge). History is well served. What more can one ask?

No comments about China's First Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors.

1 comments about The Reign of Charles V (European History in Perspective).

1. First off, this is not a biography of Charles V. It is as the title says and what Maltby says in his Introduction, it is a history of the reign of Charles V. This glances quite a bit on Charles V, so you do see quite a bit of his life. Even more so you see his realms and the wars and laws that were enacted.
   
   For the most part this is a short and succinct analysis of this important ruler's reign. It is a bit dry and sometimes reads more like a recital of facts, but it does move well from chapter to chapter.
   
   I would recommend this book only to someone who has read a biography or is familiar with Charles V and would like a more close analysis of his reign.
   
   3.75 stars.

2 comments about The Cradle King: The Life of James VI and I, the First Monarch of a United Great Britain.

1. What machinations! The court of the Tudors and Stuarts in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century were not easy places to navigate. For a young boy left by his mother to the in-fighting of Lairds and nobles it was an even more difficult place. It would be considered tragic now, that a boy like James should be used as a pawn for others gains, but for his time it was simply a game, and a game with huge wins and losses.
   
   Alan Stewarts book is almost very very good but I felt it fell short on many points. It is a highly readable work, and it covers some excellent matieral I had never read about before - the plotting and constant scheming of the courts. It also, to my relief, treated the issues in context to the time. There was no moralising about what happened, but it was very much presentation of the facts and their consequences.
   
   James VI of Scotland had grown up literally an orphan with his mother imprisoned in England and then beheaded. While he managed to manipulate the Scottish court, the intricacies of the British Court escaped him and his ability to rule England was often compromised. Perhaps too, in comparison to Elizabeth I he paled in significance in all aspects.
   
   This is a pretty good presentation of the first of the Stuart Kings who lasted little more than a century - but in that time managed a huge amount of upheaval to the British landscape and temperament.



2. Often books about European royalty are so complex that the reader needs to have a finger forever on family trees as he/she wades though the chapters. This book about a critical leader in our Anglo-Saxon past is very easy to read and provides some important new information and highlights the critical bonds between England and Scotland at the end of the Tudor era. I highly recommend this very readable book

5 comments about Queen Victoria's Little Wars.

1. Queen Victoria fought more wars in her time then any queen in english history. Under Victoria the british government was involved in countless wars in the colonies across the world. This was the era of the great british empire, that the sun never set on. THis book details these wars from the war against the SIhks to the wars in Sudan and the Boer war and many more. Churchill wrote anumber of books on this period as well including his book the 'River war'. Unfortuantly this read tries to compact all these fascinating events into a single volume, but the text is horribly boring and tedious. Its a great resource and one of the only books of its kind(that focus on the entire period and detail every small skirmish and battle). It should be updated by a writer who will help you live history rather then a writer who writes like sheep, like a plodding lawnmower.



2. Magnificent job,describes the various military expeditions, little wars, rebellions, mutinies(well only one was the only big threat to the Queen Victoria Empire, the Indian Mutiny)and all the small affairs to repel a proboked attack, to save or to protect resident Britons, to avenge an insult or to stop any other Empire from extending it.

   A lively and compelling study of the Savage wars of peace and the eccentric personalities who fought them,from 1837 to 1901 continuos warfare to protect British Interest in Asia, Canada, Africa, Arabia, this is not a complete work but is one of the best, Mr. Farwell gave us a fascinating overview highly readable with many entertaining historical anecdotes of British colonial wars and bloody confrontations, well written.

   I know that there are other works that name all the battles or small campaigns(like the work of Philip J. Haythornthwaite "The Colonial Wars Source Book")but a fascinating and exciting story that was omitted was the Fashoda Incident,this was going to be one of the greatest collision of rival imperial ambitions, the French with their historic claims of the Nile try to take control of a small town call Fashoda and this was a big threat to the British control of the Suez Canal and Egypt so after the famous battle of Omdurman Kitchener was send to stop the young Colonel Marchand, at the end the Fashoda crisis was eventually resolved, the British gave the French a free hand on Morrocco and the French forget about Egypt.

   Even with out this the author made an exciting book and a valuable addition to military history, maps and pictures,well laid out, nice appendix, one on the British Regiment system essential to understand the British Military Mind and the other a easy to follow list of the Little wars from 1837 to 1901 this is a partial record of the conflicts for the "PAX BRITANNICA"




3. This extremely well-written book tells the reader, in somewhat condensed form, about the various wars, excursions, etc., that happened during the long reign of Queen Victoria. I don't think that it's completely comprehensive, because to even say a little about each event would mean this book would be three or four times its length. The author hits the "highlights" (if you will), and the reader who is interested in further in-depth resarch can do it on his or her own. There are a plethora of books about the various actions of Imperial Britain during the 19th century, but this one short book gives the reader guidance for them. It's a book that contains much savagery, but there is a touch of humor also, which relieves the almost constant tension. There are also thumbnail biographies of the most important personages of the times, which are quite helpful. This is an excellent short book on the apex of the British Empire.



4. This book, says the back cover quote from the Library Journal, "will be of value and interest to both the student of military history and of the Victorian Empire," but on the first page of the Foreword, Farwell writes, "Scant attention is paid [here] to the causes of the wars or the political manoeuverings which preceded the hostilities. They are not of much importance." Such matters are, however, of great importance to anyone wanting insight into "the Victorian Empire." And, as others have pointed out, this book is far too short to do justice to the military history, so unless a reader is looking for little more than a "light read," this book disappoints on all scores.



5. This is simply a terrific book for those who wish an overview of British military involvements in the 19th Century without having to sort through the literally thousands of works which have been written about them. It is not, and was plainly not intended to be, an exhaustive history of the subject, but rather a terse and readily digestible summary, made vital and appealing by Farwell's engaged and engaging writing style. As is true of his several other, and equally well-crafted, books, the author tells this story through the lives and exploits of the principal military leaders involved, from the brilliant but ultimately frustrated (and, he thought, betrayed) Garnet Wolseley, to that Hapless Hero, Evelyn Wood, who appears not to have been able to eat dinner without stabbing himself with his fork. They're all here, leading the finest soldiers in the world at the time, through a seemingly endless thicket of minor and major conflicts, many the product of hasty and defective thinking by their political masters, but nonetheless invariably costly in blood and treasure. Every time I read one of Farwell's books, I picture him as having picked up his pen (he died in 2000) thinking, "I'll write what I find interesting, and see if readers agree." We do.

5 comments about William's Princess: The Love Story that will Change the Royal Family Forever.

1. As an American living in London, I am treated to Robert Jobson's Royal coverage in the Evening Standard. Now, after reading his book, I am really looking forward to his articles covering the surely soon to be royal marriage of William and Kate. I hope before long he will share with us his speculations on her engagement ring. Will it be an heirloom or a new design? The intrigue of a Royal Wedding!



2. WILLIAM'S PRINCESS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE ROMANCE THAT WILL CHANGE THE MONARCHY is a pick for any who love the British Royal Family and want to know the latest. Such an audience may already be aware of Prince William's love life; but WILLIAM'S PRINCESS delves deeper into the romance and what it will mean for the monarchy overall, and is a satisfying exclusive account of how it happened. Public libraries will find it a popular leisure lend.



3. I didn't think it was necessary to write this book until - and if - William and Kate are married. I enjoy reading about Diana, William and Harry, but it just wasn't as interesting as I expected.



4. Prince William and Kate Middleton had dated for many years and actually lived together for a while also, but considering the track record of the royal men up till now I think that the author should have waited to see if this relationship would lead to marriage (which it oviously did not) before writing a book with this title.



5. I am a big Fan of Princess Diana and collect anything and everything I can
   of her. Since her death, I have followed stories on her sons and I admire
   them alot and think Prince William is doing a great job of keeping his
   Mother's legend alive and with his new love interest, she is adorable and
   I know Princess Diana would love her as a daughter in law. I enjoyed this
   book so much and if anyone is a great Fan like me of the Royal family to
   learn so much about what Diana and the boys are like, you'll love this
   book! Tami

4 comments about Queen Victoria (British History in Perspective).

1. Queen Victoria has more biographies written about her than any woman born after 1800. This biography takes note of the work done in the past and tries to fill in where the author thinks previous works have been lacking. She is a paradoxical monarch who is largely misunderstood. Becoming Queen in 1837 at the tender age of 18, her 64 year reign would span one of the greatest periods of cultural evolution in history. Europe was also unusually peaceful during this period. A shrewed politian, Victoria was the last British monarch to wield great authority. To help explain the "Victorian" zietgiest, a large portion is devoted to the relationship between Victoria and her Husband, Prince Albert. This book's greatest weakness is it's greatest asset: it is short (many other biographies are published in large volumes). At the expence of the druging details of history, he provides a biography that is both interesting and manageable. In the author's own words, he aims to "whet the readers appitite for more and to alert that same reader to the books and articles in which additional historical nourishment may be found." (p.13) A great book, an easy read; 4.5 out of 5 stars.



2. Written by a Professor Emeritus of History of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Queen Victoria is an engaging expose of both the private and public life of the princess who inherited Britain's throne as a teenager and became the strong guiding figure and symbolic head of the largest empire in the world. Drawing upon past studies and research as well as Victoria's own writings to illuminate her not only as a ruler, but as a human being gripped by concerns ranging from gender roles and religion to political machinations and the state of Ireland. An excellently researched and presented portrayal of one of the strongest and most influential women of history.



3. When you think of Queen Victoria, sometimes you visulize a cold and distant monarch. This book looks into to life of a very young queen and how her impact influenced a 3 generations. It will help the reader understand the English family and monarchy. Paced well and very enjoyable. It will be time well spent. Donna Pitcock



4. There's a lot of good information in this book about the history of Victoria's life.

5 comments about Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics.

1. Fun-to-read book about the romance of Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester. There seemed to be a lot of information compiled from many sources to make this a fascinating "tell-all" which is no small feat considering the limitations of digging up such old records which were often all but scarce. This book not only showed Queen Elizabeth I as a woman who could love, but also showed her intelligence in using her head as well as her heart to make her relationships work also to her advantage as queen and for love of her country and able to keep Leicester loyal to the crown until his death. The author did a great job.



2. Sarah Gristwood's new book is good, especially for understanding Elizabeth's relationship with her chief favorite, Robert Dudley, later Earl of Leicester.
   
   Gristwood tells the familiar story of Elizabeth's background and upbringing, and the not-so-familiar one of Dudley's. His father and grandfather were supporters of Edward VI and Henry VII, and were executed for their pains. The narrative picks up with earnest at Elizabeth's accession and appointment of Dudley as Master of the Horse. Rumors soon began about the queen's relationship with him, and Dudley's wife died in mysterious circumstances not too long after. Gristwood evenhandedly examines the possible explanations for her death, and with plenty of hedging, suggests that Cecil was the main beneficiary.
   
   Immediately after his wife's death, Dudley fell out of favor with Elizabeth for some time. Reconciliation followed, as did many more fallings out and reconciliations. Her many suitors were a source of conflict (and Dudley was one of them), as were the ladies at court who caught his eye and that he secretly married or promised to marry. Nevertheless, Dudley was at Elizabeth's side through most of her reign, influential and supportive, resented and admired.
   
   But this book is also disappointing in some ways. There are passages where so many rhetorical questions are used that the implications aren't clear; and awkward modern phrases occasionally intrude (e.g., regarding the birth of his long-awaited heir: "emotionally he must have been in the money"). Charts of family connections would also have been useful, especially for the Dudleys and Elizabeth's maternal relations.
   
   This subject is timely, what with all the recent interest in Elizabeth I and her favorites (Leicester and Essex respectively in the two parts of the HBO miniseries with Helen Mirren, Elizabeth I; and Leicester and Raleigh in the two movies with Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth (Spotlight Series) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age). For an introduction to Elizabeth's life and reign, I prefer Christopher Hibbert's The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I, Genius of the Golden Age. I recommend Sarah Gristwood's book for thorough collectors of Elizabethan material, or for people specifically interested in Leicester himself (books about him are somewhat hard to come by, but Derek Wilson's The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne is an alternative).



3. 
   With the primary documents basically known and castles and historic sites fully documented, 21st century writers are providing general readers with more focus on specific aspects of Tudor history and more interpretation. Recently I've read : The Pirate Queen: Queen Elizabeth I, Her Pirate Adventurers, and the Dawn of Empire, Edward VI: The Lost King of England and After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England These books, like this one, are devoted entirely to a particular aspect of a Tudor reign (or as in the case of one, the end of the Tudor reigns).
   
   Gristwood zeros in on the unique relationship of Elizabeth and Leicester who has been euphemistically called her "favorite". Griswold explores what this might be a euphemism for. There are lots of possibilities, but the author sticks with what is documented and what is credible. She also sticks with her focus, and brings in issues and people only as they relate to her main subject.
   
   I did not know of Leicester's role in sending Mary of Scotland her second husband, nor his role in Elizabeth's French flirtations. I knew of the death of his wife, Amy, but nothing of the other two women in his life. While I had assumed his motives in this royal romance, I never considered his emotional state as he waited for Elizabeth with whom he had shared the experiences of having a beheaded parent. Gristwood, who has obviously poured over every word related to these two as a couple, interprets her findings in a wonderfully readable way.
   
   I eagerly await the many more of these focused Tudor histories, that I presume are in the works. I'm guessing that the next generation of writing will provide more psychological analyis. Some of the topics are suggested by this book. They could be how the royals and their courtiers respond to the socially repressive dangers of the times or how their behavior or political posture results from the trauma in their respective families. One such interesting history could be a serious study of the Essex revolt through a psychological lens.



4. Gives the account of the ever-interesting relationship between Elizabeth I and her Master of the Horse, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. If you love Elizabeth, you will LOVE this analysis on her famous, and sometimes infamous relationship. Very interesting section analyzing Amy Dudley's death and her possible murder/suicide/accidental death...



5. I loved this book, its very detailed and goes into the real lives of the people, inculding their letters . If you love real history, not fiction, this is the book for you. Loved it. For real Tudor buffs!!!

5 comments about Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne (P.S.).

1. Elizabeth the struggle for the throne reads like an engrossing suspense novel. Starkey is the perfect literary tour guide for this eloquent biography about a woman's ascension to power. Starkey begins his tale with Elizabeth's birth, giving the reader a grand introduction to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Henry would play an intricate part in shaping Elizabeth's strong willed personality.
   Elizabeth, witnessing Henry's no nonsense approach to courtly conducted would later administer many of his methods since she inherited many of his distinguishing qualities. Of course, opinions very on whether this was a asset or a liability. Many historians would later refer to the Elizabethan era as the golden-age of England.
   What will infatuate most readers is Starkey's exploration and treatment of Mary Tudor (who is my favorite historical figure). His picturesque approach to Mary is delightful. Most English historical literature perceives Mary Tudor as an evil vindictive individual. This is far from the truth. Mary was an indecisive, timid ruler who was unloved. Her husband Prince Philip of Spain along with the Catholic Church, Bishop Gardiner, Cardinal Pole, and Lord William Paget were the ones pulling all the strings behind the throne. Also, Emperor Charles V played a large part in Mary's decision making.
   Insofar as Mary's relationship with Elizabeth was concerned, all was not well, especially when Henry VIII disowned Mary making her a bastard after he annulled his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. This manouevre would later cause envious feeling to proliferate toward Elizabeth, furthermore, religion became a factor since Mary was a loyalist to the Catholic Church.
   This book is chalked full of surprises: the executions of Lady Jane Grey and John Dudley (the Duke of Norththumberland), Sir Thomas Wyatt's Revolt, the Protestant Reformations, Elizabeth's salacious liaison with Thomas Seymour and many more exciting developments that one can't help but mused over. In a nutshell, this was one of the most enjoyable reads I ever had. This book is a pleasure to behold.



2. This is one of the most interesting books about Elizabeth I in years. Her actual reign in fairly well documented, but why did she approach issues the way she did (e.g., religious tolerance, possible marriage, etc.)? David Starkey, who frankly confesses that she fascinates him, has found in many diverse sources the threads that made up the adult woman who was queen. His analysis of the events and people who shaped her character and personality is gripping reading.
   
   This book also is an excellent counterpoint to Antonia Fraser's classic biography of Mary Stuart, Elizabeth's contemporary and Catholic rival for the throne of England (starting with the attempts of her de Guise uncles, when she was a young widow, to teach her sufficient statecraft to rule Scotland). The contrast between the two women, from their personalities to their mindsets to their approaches to governance, is eyeopening to say the least.



3. This is a nice introduction to Elizabeth. It is easy to read, moves along nicely, interesting and enjoyable to read. Nice color plates, as well.



4. her mother was murder by her father ,she was called the whore's [...].you would think she didn't have a chance to becom queen.but elizabeth amazing strenght of character and keeping her head got her through until she finally reach the hieght of queen of england.she survive to become england greatest queen,that turn her country world power.



5. Henry Tudor - Henry VIII - had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary, the older of the two, was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess first married to Arthur, Henry's brother who dies soon after. Henry files for divorce from Catherine, which the Pope rejects. Henry established the Church of England and names himself as its head. Henry claims the marriage to Catherine was never consummated and marries Anne Boleyn, a scheming sex trap who produces Elizabeth, second in secession for the crown of England after Mary.
   
   David Starkey's book Elizabeth, The Struggle for the Throne, provides flowing details of the battles between Mary, Elizabeth, the Catholic Church, and the budding new Church of England. This well-researched novel-like history recounts the life of Elizabeth in a series of gripping episodes from her struggle for the throne through the decades of her reign.